Myrtle Beach 2014

I hadn't been to Myrtle Beach in at least 5 or 6 years so I was really excited to relive the excitement of my childhood and take the boys there this year. It was our first trip as just a family of four (all of our other vacations have either been with Brian's or my family.)  Like I used to, the boys love amusement park rides.  So we spent two of our three nights at the Pavilion Nostalgia rides at Broadway at the Beach.  We stayed at a hotel that had a really fun pirate ship kids pool that the boys loved.  We had gorgeouse weather and were able to go out on the beach each day we were there.  The boys built sand castles, dug holes, played in waves, and ran around collecting shells.  Other trip highlights included eating at some yummy restaurants including Abeulos Mexican Food Embassy, a Pancake house, and at Dead Dog Saloon in Murrells Inlet.

Digging in the sand

In front of our hotel playing in the sand

Will loved having his legs buried 

Building a castle

The marshwalk at Murrells Inlet

The boys

The family

Enjoying the pirate ship pool

Daddy got soaked when the bucket turned over

Will's Toy Story Party

This year we didn't have a super big party for Will's birthday.  We were at the beach for his actual birthday so a few days before my mom had us all over for dinner and cake.  He opened presents from us that night.  He really enjoyed the cake and balloons!

 Brian wasn't there yet, so I forgot to get a family pic of all four of us

Will requested a Woody cake, so Mama got this from Sam's, it was really good for $15 (It was huge, we had over half left with only 6 people eating it.

Blowing out his 3 candle

Daddy and Will with party favors

Jackson and Daddy playing

Will really enjoyed his cake

Opening gifts

Birthday loot

Happy 3rd Birthday Will!

Dear Will,

It is hard to believe my baby boy just turned 3 years old or as you say "fwee."  Will, you are such a treasure to us.  Your sweet smile and laugh fill our house with so much joy!  You are the complete opposite of your brother, but we love y'all both exactly the same amount!  Right now you love super heros, especially Batman and Spiderman (piderman is what you say.)  You are still loud as ever although you are getting a little better at using your inside voice in public places.  You love to cuddle, hug and kiss (which I eat up!)  A lot of mornings when you wake up you say, "Cuddle with me on the couch mommy,"which I can never turn down not even if we are running late.  You still love your bear bear lovie, although it is not getting near the love since you have to give up papoo.

The Clifford series and Mo Willems books are your favorite things to read.  Your favorite toys are Woody, Buzz Lightyear, your stuffed Mike Wazowski, and the big green snake. You like to ride your tricycle, but you still won't give your big boy bike much of a try.  Jackson and you love to dress as superheroes and play around the house.  Wrestling, building tents, singing, and coloring are your other favorite pastimes.  Jesus Loves Me, You are my Sunshine, and Mocking Bird are you favorite songs, and you have Daddy or me sing them to you each night.  You don't much care for video games yet like brother, but you love a good movie.  Right now you have been on a Little Mermaid kick.  Our whole house went through the Frozen craze, but it seems now we only have to listen to the soundtrack in the van each day, but y'all are over the movie for awhile.  Your favorite shows are Calliou and Sheriff Callie's Wild West.

You are still not very crazy about being dropped off anywhere like MMO or church.  The past month you have finally stopped screaming and holding onto me when I drop you off.  Your teachers say you have a blast once you are there, you just have separation anxiety.  You adored your 2K teacher, Mrs. Mary, and you love all of your little school pals.  You have learned your colors, but haven't learned any letters so far that I know of.  If I had to summarize your personality, I would say your a cute, sweet, cuddly, cut up who loves to be silly, dramatic, and get attention.  I just can't wait to see what the next year holds for you.  I pray God will keep you safe, protected, and you will keep growing into a strong Christian man.  I love you!!!!


Mama

Easter Time

I'm the first to admit that I can get really wrapped up in the cute cuddly bunny, fuzzy chick, baby animal, spring time fever part of commercialized Easter.  I love all of the beautiful pastel colors, and soft fuzzy animals pictured in the advertisements.  I love seeing big poofy Easter dresses on little girls wearing white patent leather shoes with little lacy white socks standing beside little boys in cute dressy suits.  

This year, I'm trying to really reflect on what Christ did for me so many years ago.  I'm trying, I really am trying to be continually thankful and grateful to Jesus in all circumstances.  It is hard, because I have the tendency to be so whiny and ungrateful.  After thinking of all Christ did for us and continues to do everyday, I should thank him and praise him every minute!  I want my family to see beyond all of the cutesie parts of Easter, and see what really matters and that is JESUS!  With all that being said, here are some pictures of doing cutesy Easter stuff, and some other random pictures from the past few weeks.

Jackson in his Easter Bunny ears he made at school

Will and I doing a selfie, but of course we weren't both looking at the camera

Last Sunday morning before church

Daddy and the boys dying eggs

Jackson with some of our finished eggs

Will about to dunk an egg, his hands were dyed a bright blue by the end of the night

Enjoying the inflatables at the church wide egg hunt

Jackson going down backwards

Finding eggs at an egg hunt at our friend's house

Another one from the egg hunt

At our friend Carrie's Easter party

So excited to open Easter surprises from Grammy and Pap Pap

Very happy to get a Nerf gun

Will opening up his surprises after nap

Praying for My Future Daughter-In-Laws

I loved the blog post below I read from the MOB Society website.  I hope my boys will grow up to know how important picking the right spouse is for their lives. Ever since I found out I was having two little boys, I try to pray regularly to prepare their hearts for the right women that they will marry one day.  I pray for those little girls (or little girls that may have not even been born yet) that will marry my boys one day.  I pray they will love Jesus, and have grateful hearts.  I hope I can be close with them as if they are my own daughters.  So Jackson and Will you better pick some good ones!

Letter to future daughter-in-law 

The End of an Era

Around our house for the past four years, we've had a lot of pacifiers come and go.  I'm embarrassed to say that I probably have spent at least a hundred dollars or more on them through the years, first with Jackson and then with Will.  As newborns, they both loved the soothies like they have at the hospital, and then they moved on to the Nuk brand.  The cute little designs and colorful patterns were so cute stuck in their little mouths.  At age two and a half, the Easter bunny left Jackson some special prizes in exchange for his pappies (as he called him.)  After about three days, we were doing great.  He never really asked for them any more.  

Will has had a little bit harder time giving his up.   He decided he would "mail" his pappoos (as he calls them) to his cousin Harper and her friends, in exchange for a toy sword he had been wanting.  Jackson also got a sword too for being the helpful big brother.  The first night went really well, he only cried a few minutes.  Nap times have been a little harder since he has had a hard time winding himself down with out his favorite soothing mechanism.  After two weeks, we are finally getting into a routine without any pappoos.  He will still occasionally ask if they will be mailed back to him, and he tells us he really misses them.  He isn't crying for them anymore which is great!  Just this past weekend, we also set up his big boy bed.  He has done wonderful with that transition.  I can't believe how fast my little guys are growing up!

The Easter bunny leaves Jackson a special note back when he left his pappy for him

Jackson loved them so much that he needed two!

T

Two and a half year old Jackson

Brotherly love, the last day with pappoo

Last night with pappoo

Getting their new swords since Will is a big boy!

Mailing off the pappoos  :)