We're Down One This Week

2 days.

2 days until Sam gets back from his first ever vacation away from us. (He's in Pennsylvania with Pop-Pop and Nana, visiting Bob's grandparents).

I'll tell you what, I miss that little guy. I've been trying not to focus on it too much because I get a little teared up every time we even get off the phone. Sad. I know he's going to seem like a 15 year-old when he gets home. I've kinda gotten used to the almost-three-year-old being the "big kid."

Grey, Bo, and I have been thoroughly enjoying each other this week though. I do appreciate all the one-on-one time I've gotten to have with each of them, especially thanks to my sis, Julie (AJ), our live-in for a couple months. Well I should say I've been enjoying it, who knows what they really think. Every time Grey chooses to misbehave and in turn, chooses a little discipline, he cries for Ebee, or Ya-Ya. I keep assuring him they want him to learn to obey too. I don't think he's buyin' it.

He is so thoughtful though. He asks all the time if Charley is kicking. And the other day he asked me when he's going to heaven. After I gave that explanation my best shot, he asked very sweetly, "are you gunna go wit me?" Ugh, precious.

Bo's busting out with some crazy talk too. That little guy asked me tonight, "is baby Charley kicking?" As in, a 4 word sentence from our almost 19 month-old. Craziness. By the way, there's a lot of talk about the baby kicking around here...obv.

While I've been getting some more concentrated time with the two younger guys, Sam has been having a blast. We're talking ice cream, popsicles, shave ice, tons of fruit snacks, and visits to the pool in the backyard almost every day. He has told me multiple times that he's having so much more fun than me. Probably true.

 

So Sam, I'm incredibly proud of you. I'm choosing to be proud that you haven't gotten homesick ONE time, that I know of...instead of sad that you haven't gotten homesick ONE time :/. I'm proud of the reports of good manners and good behavior. I'm proud of all the cool stuff you're building with racetrack and tiny legos (that we don't play with much at home since a certain two people I know can't keep those little pieces out of their tummies).

I'm thankful you're getting to spend so much time with Pop-Pop and Nana, that you're creating fun memories with them, as well as with Grammy and Pop-Pop, just like Dad used to do. I'm enjoying hearing you ask to talk to your brothers and carry on phone conversations with them, telling them you miss and love them. I'm enjoying hearing them ask about you and saying they miss and love you too.

We're all really ready for you to get home so hurry up and ride safely!

A Picture Heavy Post for Cuteness Documentation Purposes

It's true, the more children there are, the more difficult it is to get pictures of them.

This is my feeble attempt to push back against that.

Sam: 4 1/2

Grey: 3 3/4,  2 3/4  Can I blame that on pregnancy brain?

Bo: 18 months

Baby Girl (not pictured): 20 weeks gestational age ;)

So cool...too cool to even look at the camera most of the time.

So handsome too.

Melt my heart, sweet kid.

This one loves to pose for the camera...

and give "loves."

Dumping loads every where he goes.

Happy kid...

with a touch of attitude.

Wearing small glasses and conquering playhouses.

Also, conquering little brothers.

Dating Advice

We try to take our kids on "dates" pretty regularly. As in, one parent with one kid for a little quality time where they get all of our attention. Usually we end up at Yogurt Mountain for these dates. I don't hate that. Sometimes, we just go run an errand. This is, of course, fun for them because they get to walk inside, instead of ride in a cart, and put all the merchandise up on the conveyor belt, or "pay for it."

A few days ago, I picked up Chick-fil-a and Grey, Bo, and I went and had a little picnic near Sam's school while we waited to pick him up. I mentioned to Grey that it was kinda like we were having a date (since Bo was strapped in a stroller and therefore, was pretty low maintenance).

I complimented Grey on holding the door open for me and using good manners. I reminded him that was the way he should act when he gets older and takes a girl out on a date. Here's how our conversation went.

Me: Grey, you sure are being a gentleman...holding the door open for me and using such nice manners!
Grey: Yea...
Me: That's how you should act when you get older and take a girl on a real date. Guys should take care of girls on their dates.
Grey: (silence)
Me: Really, the only difference is that you'll need to pay for the girl.
Grey: How she gunna fit? (with quite the confused face)
Me: Huh?
Grey: How she gunna fit on da paya? (Translation: How is she going to fit on the conveyor belt?)
Me: Oh, hahaha, no honey...I mean you'll need to buy her food for her, not actually pay for HER.

That's an entirely different conversation.

A Great Day That Ended With Grey Throwing Up Everywhere

My grandparents and aunt, my dad’s parents and sister, recently came to visit. They stayed out at my parents’ house and the boys spend all day out there with them. Bob and I headed over for dinner and to celebrate my grandfather’s birthday.
It was so nice to see them and they boys especially loved seeing their great-grandparents.
Thanks for coming, Maw-Maw, Paw-Paw and Janie!

Cheese faces all around.

My dad and his dad don’t look anything alike do they….?
So what if Grey puked all over the place right before we left? When will I learn my lesson not to force him to eat?

It Was Like a Breath of Fresh Air

*If you can believe it, I started this post quite a few weeks ago. I’m finally getting around to posting it. Just keep that in mind as you read the part about me just getting on top of the laundry. I have since, gotten behind and back on top of it roughly 3 times.


Bob and I just got back from a 4 day vacation...without kids. I have 2 main points.
1 - It.was.amazing.
Getting the house back under control is a tough task. We actually got back Monday night and I'm just beginning to feel like I'm getting on top of the laundry. It's beginning to look like we vacation in search of cooler weather, even to the beach!

Bob and I consider it to very important to take time out for each other. I'm talking about regular date nights or meals out with friends as well as overnight and (gasp, is it possible!?) multiple overnights away with just each other.
I can't tell you what the quiet does for me.

Let's sit for a minute and just sit...


I'm typing this while the kids are asleep and/or resting so it is actually quiet in this house. That doesn't happen often. I've got nap times lined up and it seems like there are just never many days where everyone sleeps as long as they should or stays in the bed when they should be resting, ahem,
Sam, I'm talking to you.

So yea, back to the quiet.

Bob's parents and mine were so, SO gracious to watch our 3 little bundles of energy while we took a much needed and thoroughly enjoyed vacation. As always, the anticipation of the trip was half the fun. On particularly challenging days, we'd look at each other and say, "just think...in a couple weeks, we'll be all alone." We expected it to be great.

2 - It was wonderful.

At the beginning of the year, I begged and pushed for we decided to plan a trip for the two of us. Lots of stuff needed to be taken care of but the big one was childcare. Cue amazing grandparents. Both sets live relatively close by and we recognize what a huge blessing that is. Our kids will know all of their grandparents very well. And most importantly, they love spending time with all of them! Being able to leave the kids with our parents, knowing they will be cared for, loved, disciplined if need be, and knowing they will have fun makes it easy for us to leave for a couple days and really, really enjoy ourselves.

Nana & Pop-Pop, Ebee & Poppa, thank you.
I suspect you know how much I mean that, since you obviously have  children, but seriously, thank you. It may seem like it, but we do not take you for granted.
Anyway, here's what our "days away" looked like:


A beautiful, long beach with only a few holes of golf between it and our hotel.

And speaking of golf. Bob played quite a bit and I drove the golf cart, quite a bit.




Bob played really well, especially considering it had been about 5 years since he had hit. There were a few of these moments though.


Playing oceanfront, with Victor, a little guy we picked up along the way.



Sick houses on the golf course / oceanfront.



Plenty of beautiful scenery.



A fun meet-up with an old friend , Stephanie (who just had her first son a couple days ago!!!)



Lots of delicious food. As in, every meal we ate was either amazing food or really good food with a great atmosphere.  We ate at this one, Pepper’s, twice.



This place served as much as they could from local farmers. It was like an old farm house, situated on a quaint downtown street. We ate outside on the front porch. So fun! We walked down the road afterwards to listen to a band we spotted (and heard) while eating.



My made-to-order omelet from the hotel restaurant. It was delicious!! The resort even had a huge assortment of fresh fruit and cheese, as well as a gluten-free table complete with a few types of baked goods, bread, a dedicated GF toaster, and a couple cereals. Great news for anyone with a gluten allergy!



We rode bikes quite a bit. I borrowed one from Amy. (and now I want my own) This was one of my favorite parts of the trip. The weather was fantastic so it was great to be outside so much!


And lots of self-portraits that I’ve narrowed down to two.

I love, love, love that guy.
Hey Bob, thanks again for taking me on vacation! I love living our lives together!

Happy Birthday, Momma

Yesterday was my mom's birthday...my wonderful mom's birthday.

What a selfless, sensitive, friendly, kind, warm, caring, beautiful, sweet, loving, and wise woman with an awesome wheeze laugh when we really get her going. She deserves to be celebrated way more than we ever actually make happen.

Mom, you are an integral part to making our family function as well as we do. Thanks for being a sounding board for all of us. Thanks for loving us all and putting up with our craziness. You are the best mom anyone could ever hope for and you're suited perfectly for dad and us girls!

I love you!

And to MY Dad, From Your Bottom-Line Daughter

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

You are a wonderful father and friend.
I distinctly remember our conversation(s) where you told me we were moving towards more of a friendship than a parent/child relationship.
Thanks for having such a healthy relationship with me.
Thank you for caring for, providing for and protecting me right up until the time you turned that responsibility over to Bob.
Thanks for doing that completely and not looking back.

Thank you for how you treat my kids. I feel loved by the way you love them.
Thanks for being so involved with them, for wanting them to have fun, for teaching them about the Lord, about character, and about integrity.
You're a great grandfather.

We're all blessed to have you in our lives!

Dads

These dads wrestle and hug.
They teach and instruct.

These dads give fives and "pounds".
They give spankings and time-outs, too.

These dads work hard...really, really hard.
They also slow down and observe.

These dads know about cars, home improvement, finances, electronics, and building stuff.
They know about honesty, integrity, loyalty, sacrifice, and family.
They know how to be men.

These dads have made me who I am...then bettered that person.
These dads are molding and shaping my children.
They're leading my family.

These dads love.

------

Happy Father's Day to the dads in my life. You may never realize the impact you've had and are having on me and my family.

Thank you for all the things you think go unnoticed.

The Day James Spann Got it Right

I feel for the guy, I really do, but his predictions usually end up being quite liberal.
This time, he got it right.
And here we are enjoying it :).

I loved this. Grey did not.

Our hill.

Between the free Dora 4-wheeler, my old Cozy Coupe and the authentic sled, what do you think traveled the fastest? Vintage Cozy Coupe, friends. I'm so proud.

Wow, check out that snowman!


And a picture to show the actual size of the snowman.

Sam and Ya-Ya catching snow.
(You're welcome, Laura).

Sam and me. Wonder why he's making such a weird face...

Ya-Ya and me. So glad she got to be here for the "snow day"!

Snow babies. I love a baby in a toboggan.

6 Months

6 months....6 MONTHS! It really can't be 6 months from the time we first met your sweet little face, Grey. It seems like so much has happened in 6 short little months.

3 months is definitely a magical age but 6 months is too. You've just started sitting up, which rocks. You smile and laugh so easily. Truth be told, one of the things I have looked forward to the most about having two kids is watching Sam make you laugh. We're there and it is awesome.

And like my friend Amy says, "6 months...he's closer to being a year old than being born!"

Moon Pie, Whaaat?

My dad has taken on the arduous task of introducing Sam to any and all kinds of dessert. (Love you, Dad!)

Last weekend, Sam learned about Moon Pies. For some reason, he just started saying this...



"Moon Pie, whaaaat?" And he thinks this video is hilarious.

Holla-atcha Boy. I'm Out, Mom.

I wish I could tell you this was Sam's first attempt at running away. Packing up his own bag in a huff, and heading down the road much like his dad may, or may not have done, around the tender age of 4. However, this was an arranged vacating of the house. This is just Sam headed to the grandparents' for the evening.