Another Day in Paradise

The waterslide view from our deck. The boys (and Kevin) are having a blast on it!

This neat tower is right off our balcony too. We walked to it today and it has a spiral staircase to the top. There are a few landings along the way where you can step out and enjoy the view. At the top there is a bench and fireplace. I can't wait to get the kids back out there to take some pics of them...maybe our Christmas cards for this year if everyone cooperates!


The day started with a relaxing snuggle with Daddy on the balcony

Then we got on our glasses to head out to the beach

Sometimes they go on our head to be like Mommy and Daddy :)

Even though we're staying at a condo on the bayside, we have a place within driving distance where we can enjoy the Gulf. The boys are heading out with their pails to see the beach. This is JC's first time at the beach that he can remember...he was 1 the last time he was here.

The last time Mads was at the beach, she was in utero...she loved the sand. But, she fell face forward into the ocean right after this pic! She was scared of the waves after that and avoided the ocean!

Throwing sand is always fun!

Having a nice bowl of ice cream is a good way to end a day...it's always a treat to drink the melted ice cream from the bowl!

And the ice cream mustache is really cool too!

Beach Trip - Day 1

We made it to the beach today. The kids did great on the way down. I had a stash of stickers and coloring books that kept the boys busy and MG took a short catnap. The DVD player certainly keeps everyone entertained too! They were so excited and ready to get their bathing suits on as soon as we got here! Once Kevin got the car unloaded, we got dressed and headed down to the pool. I'll have to take some pics of it tomorrow, but there's a neat lazy river and several pools, along with a water slide. JC is our brave little guy...he was the first one to run up the steps to the water slide and go down all by himself. He cried after he went under the water at the bottom though! I was standing on the steps watching him go down and knew there was trouble when I saw his little face right before he hit the water...sheer terror! Kevin rode down the waterslide with everyone after that. I had one trip down with MG too...once was enough for me! Everyone went to bed early, but JC kept crying because he wanted to go home and get in his bed. I have a feeling he'll be fine by tomorrow night though. We can't wait for Nana and our friends to get down here with us!

Birthday Girl

Our baby girl turned 2-years old today! She is such a joy! She brings a lot of silliness and laughter to our family. MG is our only girl, so we also get to experience clothing in all different shades of pink, baby dolls, princess costumes, and pigtails. She's sweet, sensitive, and shy, but she can also hang with the boys. We're starting to see her rough and tumble side too. We are so thankful for her!

Out of my thriftiness and love of strawberry cake, I made her birthday cake this year. It actually turned out to be pretty yummy!

We had to sing happy birthday and let her blow out the candles twice. She kept saying "again" over and over, but twice was enough! We'll do it again tonight when friends come over to have some cake. :)

Blowing out the candles

Yeah! Brothers actually blew the candles out for her...but she's too young to know the difference this year!

I think she was a little embarrased and excited when opening presents--she kept hiding her face and smiling at her Daddy

A tunnel!

Brothers helped her open her presents

She likes her new tunnel!

Apparently Daddy likes the tunnel too!

Her new "girlie" race car

Let Me Hold You Longer

This is a precious poem that author Karen Kingsbury wrote for her children and later made it into the book with the same title. It is so sweet and I just love it and it is especially fitting as we are approaching my baby girl's 2nd birthday in a few days.

Long ago you came to me,
a miracle of firsts,
First smiles and teeth and baby steps,
a sunbeam on the burst.

But one day you will move away
and leave to me your past
And I will be left thinking of
a lifetime of your lasts…

The last time that I held a bottle
to your baby lips
The last time that I lifted you
and held you on my hip.

The last night when you woke up crying,
needing to be walked,
When last you crawled up with your blanket,
wanting to be rocked.

The last time when you ran to me,
still small enough to hold.
The last time that you said you’d marry
me when you grew old.

Precious, simple moments and
bright flashes from your past-
Would I have held on longer if
I’d known they were your last?

Our last adventure to the park,
your final midday nap,
The last time when you wore your favorite
faded baseball cap.

Your last few hours of kindergarten,
those last few days of first grade,
Your last at bat in Little League,
last colored picture made.

I never said good-bye to all
your yesterdays long passed.
So what about tomorrow-
will I recognize your lasts?

The last time that you catch a frog
in that old backyard pond.
The last time that you run barefoot
across our fresh-cut lawn.

Silly, scattered images
will represent your past.
I keep on taking pictures,
never quite sure of your lasts…

The last time that I comb your hair
or stop a pillow fight.
The last time that I pray with you
and tuck you in at night.

The last time when we cuddle
with a book, just me and you
The last time you jump in our bed
and sleep between us two.

The last piano lesson,
last vacation to the lake.
Your last few weeks of middle school,
last soccer goal you make.

I look ahead and dream of days
that haven’t come to pass.
But as I do, I sometimes miss
today’s sweet, precious lasts…

The last time that I help you with
a math or spelling test.
The last time when I shout that yes,
your room is still a mess.

The last time that you need me for
a ride from here to there.
The last time that you spend the night
with your old tattered bear.

My life keeps moving faster,
stealing precious days that pass,
I want to hold on longer-
want to recognize your lasts…

The last time that you need my help
with details of a dance.
The last time that you ask me for
advice about romance.

The last time that you talk to me
about your hopes and dreams.
The last time that you wear a jersey
for your high school team.

I’ve watched you grow and barely noticed
seasons as they pass.
If I could freeze the hands of time,
I’d hold on to your lasts.

For come some bright fall morning,
you’ll be going far away.
College life will beckon
in a brilliant sort of way.

One last hug, one last good-bye,
one quick and hurried kiss.
One last time to understand
just how much you’ll be missed.

I’ll watch you leave and think how fast
our time together passed.
Let me hold on longer, God,
to every precious last.

Batman Is Hurt

Someone recently told me that our family has had 6 trips to the ER recently. I guess I didn't realize it had been THAT many times. Between a weird, painful stomach virus, and my oldest son's super-hero mentality, we've managed to have a lot of time eating dinner out of snack machines and reading magazines in waiting rooms. Our first trip this year was when KK busted his chin by running in the kitchen with footed pjs...he slipped and fell chin first on the hard floor. It was a deep gash, but it was fortunately a straight cut that allowed them to glue it shut. Our next four trips were all related to a stomach virus...bizarre, huh? But, my husband can attest to the fact that it was one MEAN stomach bug. He was in extreme pain when I dropped him at the curb at the nearest ER. It was sad driving off and leaving him alone, but I had 3 kids that needed dinner. I did go back and pick him up later!

Well, our 6th trip of the year was this week. I am SO grateful that Kevin was home working on Monday. KK had run inside to change clothes and then ran outside crying--in full Batman costume I might add. He didn't seem overly upset, but said he hit his head falling down the stairs...when I saw blood soaked through his Batman mask, I knew it must be bad! This is the part where I was SO thankful Kevin was at home. I really don't know what I would have done without him! KK's hair was matted to his head with blood and I didn't have the stomach to look any further. Doctor Kevin cleaned the wound, applied pressure, and a nice head bandage. We had a hard time figuring out how to bandage a head gash with all that hair...we certainly couldn't just stick a band-aid up there. Doc Kev monitored KK over the course of several hours and finally decided to take him to the ER for some stitches. Here are some pics of our KK. He certainly is our strong child--he barely flinches when he's hurt. We had to keep him from running and jumping because he is so active, even with a head gash!

Isn't he cute with his bandage?

Good as new--meet Dino Thunder Power Ranger (KK) and Dash from The Incredibles (JC). They are fighting evil everywhere!

Beach Trip

I got to go to the beach Friday for a quick whirlwind trip. My sister got married Friday evening and I met my mom and we drove down together. I took KK with me and Kevin stayed home with the other two kiddos. The beach was SO windy due to Hurricane Ike--25-35 mile an hour winds and double red flags posted (no swimming allowed!) My sis said there were actually policemen manning the beach on Thursday to make sure no one attempted to get in the water! Anyway, the wedding had to be inside due to the wind, but it was still a very pretty ceremony and my sister looked gorgeous. I wish I had a pic of her in her dress! The photographer got some good shots, so hopefully I can post some of those later. We were also bombarded with 5- million love bugs on the way down there...my mom's car was absolutely covered and they kept sneaking into the car every time we'd make a stop, so we were fighting those boogers constantly! We had some good food and lots of fun. Here are some highlights of our trip.

KK heading to the beach

Checking out the big waves with Nana

Baby River has the cutest little cry--like a little kitten. She hardly ever cries, but she didn't like her bonnet!

Much happier with paci IN and bonnet OFF!

KK was so excited that his cousin got to come spend the night with us at our hotel. The boys love each other and had fun playing with Super Hero figures and swimming!


KK making a sand angel

Isn't it cute?

Our Morning

In a few more weeks, we'll be putting up our bathing suits for the season...today was a good day to enjoy the last days of summer. Not only that, but my baby girl will be turning 2 soon. She looked so cute in her new bathing suit and pigtails.

Chocolate Chip Cookies and the Letter 'd'

No, this isn't an episode of Sesame Street in which a furry blue monster eats the letter 'd', but rather a snapshot of our morning. Part of our schoolwork always involves handwriting. One of KK's biggest challenges has been forming his 'o's and letters similar in shape (like lowercase 'a', 'q' and so forth). We worked on the lower case 'a' yesterday for a long time. This morning I wasn't sure if we should move on to another letter or keep practicing the 'a.' So, I did a trial-run of practicing his 'a's for a while. I think a lightbulb finally went off for KK, so we moved on to lowercase 'd'. He practiced on the chalkboard first and then wrote his 'd's on handwriting paper. Here's a pic of his letter beside mine--his is on the right. I was SO proud of him for persevering and not giving up in spite of the challenges! It has really been hard!


Later this morning, we made chocolate chip cookies. In spite of salmonella issues, I still let my kids lick the cookie dough off the beaters and out of the bowl--who doesn't have fond memories licking bowls of cake or cookie batter as a child!? Here's some pics of the kids anxiously watching the cookies bake!

Lesson 12 Goat - "MAA MAA"

This is what real love is: It is not our love for God; it is God's love for us in sending his Son to be the way to take away our sins. 1 John 4:10

The theme for this lesson was 'Jesus died for my sins.' We talked about how people a long time ago used to sacrifice goats and other animals in order for God to forgive their sins...and how we don't have to do that anymore because Jesus was sent to live the perfect life for us and he died for our sins. We read a lot of books about goats and farms and even took a trip to the petting zoo to see all the animals. We had a puppet show and also tasted goat milk...I have to say it was totally NASTY, but I'm glad I tried it!

Our little "taste test"...cow's milk verses goat's milk....JC actually drank all the goat milk! KK and I thought it was gross!

Mads enjoyed chasing all the animals and petting them

KK checking out the chickens

The rooster doing what he does best! This dude was loud too! We almost had to cover our ears. Once we figured out his rhythm, we were cracking up to see him gearing up for the "cockle doodle doo" --first he pumps his neck up high (which is really comical to me!) and then he lets out his crow!

JC petting a goat

"MAA MAA" ...any SNL fans remember Goat-Boy? I loved those skits!


Checking out the pig

KK reluctantly petting the sheep

MG's turn...

"Peacock Girl"...as the boys affectionately called MG. She was a wild woman chasing the Peacock the entire time we were there! Luckily, she never caught up with it!

She gave it a pretty good run for it's money though

Our puppet show...we sang "Old McDonald" and the kids had fun making the animal sounds

I just like this picture of MG...wonder what she's thinking...