Happy 4th of July from Crystal Beach!

I have never been on the beach for the 4th of July...

I won't make that mistake again! It was gorgeous!


Brady and Pawpaw had a good spot from the hood of the Tahoe.


As far as we could see down the beach to our right, and to our left, was a solid stream of firworks exploding. Nothing coordinated, just families and friends celebrating on the beach.


My guys under the star spangled sky...


Yeah, we'll definitely be there next year! :o)

Crystal Beach Vacation - Day 1 continued

After the rain....


Boat ride!

Here comes Pawpaw with the boat, it's a real Trophy isn't it?? heh heh


Doug and Cade waiting at the dock to grab the rope.


Here comes Brady to help.


Brady behind the wheel again and Cade giving his signature 'thumbs up!'


hmmm...see a familiar trend going here?


Not sure what he's thinking about, but it's gotta be something important.


I'm pretty sure that Brady is doing some sort of sound effects with his mouth. Boat noises perhaps?


And we're off!


This is pretty cool!


Look at all the boats!


This is Bird Island. There were THOUSANDS of birds! It was an amazing sight...


...not such an amazing smell.


Proof that I was really there! ha ha

Crystal Beach Vacation with Nana & Pawpaw - Day 1

Over the 4th of July weekend, we went camping with mom & Bruce. We had such an awesome time! Lots of relaxing, hanging out, playing at the beach, fishing, eating, fireworks..... While we were there, we found out that the offer they had made on a beach house was accepted! We were all so excited! Can't wait to spend more vacations with them at the beach. Here are a few pictures from Day 1:


This was the first of MANY rocks/shells that Cade collected over the course of our weekend.


For a kid with no license, Brady spend most of his vacation behind the wheel.


The wind picked up and the temperature dropped....


The clouds rolled in....


Pawpaw and Brady off to check on something important, I'm sure.


Doug supervising something important, I'm sure.
**sidenote: this was the first of many 12 oz curls that Doug did over the course of the weekend. :oP **


The guys think this is the coolest. ride. ever.


The boys had spent the previous week with Grammy and Harley Pawpaw and were cool dudes when they arrived to meet us at the campsite in their 4th of July attire. (Thanks Grammy!)

"That's my wife"

says Brady as I walked into the room.

"No...that's MY wife, that's your Mommy" says Doug.

"Where's my wife?"

"You don't have a wife"

"oh."

Nice to know that I've got males fighting over me. :oP

Okay, so apparently I'm not too good at this blog thing...

but I'm gonna try to pick it up again. It seems like EVERYBODY has a blog. I really like the idea of a blog...a place to ramble and record your day to day thoughts. So, I hereby vow that I will jump back into this blogging thing and make it stick this time.

I'll just consider the last 9 months away a leave of absence. :oP

Sunday at Cookie Granny's

Tom and Melanie went on the road about 4 months ago. They are touring the country in their motor home and loving every minute of it. We got a call a few days ago that they were back home in Stephenville for a few weeks so we went for a visit today.

Here are some pics from our day:


Here's Katie


Sam, braving the big water slide


Look at all the beads on that girl!



Uncle Scott joining the fun


Cookie Granny, Doug, Granny Nell



Sam & Brady

Wednesday was one of "those mornings"

For me, those mornings entail speaking through clenched teeth, counting to three to get something accomplished added on top of my usual role of referee/negotiator/nurse/hairstylist/chaffeur.

Part of it is my fault, I know....I stay in bed until the last possible second and then begrudgingly get up and start the torture of the morning ritual of getting ready, all the while I'm trying to keep the boys from fighting and tearing up the house. I admit I am not a morning person and am short on temper and patience in the hours before 10am. I know this. As a result my children have to live with the wrath of Mommy every morning. Poor things....

Anyway, this morning as I was dropping Cade off in his classroom, he told me to wait, he had something for me. He ran to his cubby to retrieve a paper chain and ran back all excited. He stopped, tore one of the paper loops off and handed it to me saying, "Here Mommy, only 8 more days!"

8 more weekdays left until he starts Kindergarten.

It hit me like a ton of bricks....I really should be thankful for these mornings while they are here. These sweet boys still think Mommy is cool and can do anything!

Kindergarten already?!?! Where did all the time go? *sigh*

Here is Cade at 9 months....


Here he is at 5.

Kindergarten, here we come! It's a bittersweet time for Mommy.