11 Months

A certain someone is going to be 11 months old tomorrow! How did that happen!??! We are so blessed by this little guy! He is a little "wild man" as of late and is getting into more and more! He now sits up after doing his army crawl when he gets to his desired location. We fear that his "On the side GQ Pose" is being phased out. SADness! But with each thing he outgrows, something new is added in it's place-- which is fun! He can do this silly "Ernie Laugh" sound back to you if you do it first...it's hilarious! (I'll have to try to capture it soon on film!) He loves to smile and is typically a happy little guy! The only times you see him turn into "The Hulk" are when something he wants is taken away and when he is being dressed...he is not a fan of these 2 things at all and he will let you know! I got on the scale with and without him the other day and the difference was 25 lbs! It wouldn't surprise us! He is a solid little boy! Not chubby...just solid! Mommy is warming up to the idea that he might play football one day! We love him so much and can't believe this time next month we will be celebrating his First Birthday!

The Big 3-Oh!

We headed down to NC for the weekend to celebrate Aunt Laura's 30th B-Day (which is actually in a couple of weeks, but we will be up north)...

We spent a lot of time hanging out in the back yard...chatting and playing a little Bocce (Daddy taught Mallory the game this weekend and she was a big fan...)

Going for walks and stopping to smell the flowers :) ...

Feeding the birds... (and rechecking it multiple times a day to be sure it was full...)

Playing in the pool with and w/o water...Carter is at an awkward age outside bc all he wants to do is grab everything and try to eat it! The pool was a nice place for him...

And watering the plants...

Thanks for hosting us Auntie Lu! We know we kept you busy! The kids had a blast and so did we! We can't wait for our next visit!

Hocus!!! Hocus!!!

Mallory loves wearing her hooded towel after bathtime and twirling around and saying, "Hocus!!! Hocus!!! You can't see me!" (Just like Little Bear...minus the Pocus part :)) Today when we were at the park I asked her "Are you my Boo-schnickle? and she said, "I Mah-reee!!!" (Someday soon I know she is going to learn to say her name for real! and I don't want to forget the Mah-ree days...)

We are having a good week with lots of "I love you mores!" which is such a blessing bc last week was a doozie with a combo of Time Outs for behavior and Potty Training...so I am grateful that the Lord answered prayers for a smoother week! :)

Aunt Susan even stopped by this evening for a recipe and stayed for bedtime!

Summer Summer Summertime!!!!

Aren't they just glowing!?!?!? (Check out more fabulous pics by Ginny here...) What a wonderful wedding! One of my College Roomies got married Friday night. It was such an elegant and thoughtful wedding...just check out the programs...the coolest ever!!!! :)

It was such an honor to be a Reader for such a dynamic couple...We are so happy for them!!! And it was so nice to have a mini-college reunion at the reception and the kiddos enjoyed their stay at MiMi and PaPas while we were away!

The summer has been super busy and I haven't been able to do my hobby (ok...well....addicition) that often...with summer school, potty training, painting the playroom, and trips it has been a little crazy around here! But fun none the less...

Swimming and going to the library...always a hit! :)

She's 9!

Abby has been talking about doing a real campout (usually we set the tent up in the Fam Room) this yr for her B-Day Slumber Party and last night was the night! The girls were so excited! :)

We always think of our friends who gave us our camping gear for our wedding when we use it...we love it! (We are going camping (First fam trip! Wish us luck!!!) with friends at the end of Aug!...should be quite the adventure!)

We lucked out with unseasonably cool weather and decided not to put the rain cover over it so we could look up at the sky... :)

Here is a look at our "campsite" before we headed to Chickfila...(we missed out on Cow Day! We could've eaten for way cheaper if we dressed as cows....sadness! I can't believe we forgot...we will def have to hit up 7 eleven today for our free 7/11 slurpee! :)

We put Carter to bed when we got home and let M stay up...she was beyond hyper and was jumping all over the tent! "This is FUN!!! This is FUN!!!!" (Mike put mattresses into the tent to ease Abby into camping since she had never roughed it before...)

Mike FireMan Morin... :)

Waiting on Smores with Betty Lou...After smores Abby said, "I'll admit it...I'm tired" so we headed into the tent to go to sleep...Mal tried to settle into her spot 2 times and then said, "I want to go inside..." so inside we went and then I think she regretted her decision and started crying...but I knew it was a little much for her so I put her to bed in her room and she was fine...After I put her down I went back outside and peeked in on Abby and she was already asleep so I got to hang out with Mike at the fire...he played his guitar and we got to chat! Then I crawled in with Abs for the night and Mike went in with the chi-rens...When Abby woke up she said, "It's so great to be outside so early in the morning"...I love waking up outside too! Then we came in for breakfast and cartoons...and Mal just woke up at 9 and the first thing she said was, "I want to go in the tent..." so we are headed back out there in a few! :)

Wakin Up

How fun is it to go get this little guy up from nap!??!?! :)

Chuckles No Friend of Cats...

Here is half the reason the hearth is so cool..."he's looking at the "babe" in the mirror...oh yeah!"

Just hanging out with my boy this a.m. waiting for babysitting kids to arrive and for "Sleeping Beauty" to awaken...Mike's school was in T-F this week bc of the holiday...

Mags loves her family and is such a sweet heart...however Carter does not know how to be gentle yet and was involved in his first "Cat Fight" the other day...he got a hold of Maggie and wouldn't let go...looks like she has wised up to his ways now though... :)

Con-grad-jew-la-shun Daddy!

Yesterday Mike turned the big 3-6! We celebrated with my side of the fam (minus Lu) and had a steak dinner and gifts! Fun was had by all and Carter enjoyed his first piece of cake 1 month before his B-Day! We love you so much Mike! :) At bath time last night M said, " Con-grad-jew-la-shun Daddy....it's you birfday!" :)
We have had a busy week adjusting to Summer School...the kids are enjoying their special time with MiMi and I'm enjoying having a professional outlet for a month (and Mike has a great class too)!! Here is a look back at when MNM was Carter's age during the summer...it's one of my fav MiMi and Mal pics! :)

"Hearth Vader" and a Quote...

Peek-a-boo!

Daddy called his boy "Hearth Vader" today...Crazy little guy! He is everywhere! And last night he pulled up on the side of the tub during bath time...what in the world!?!?! Bath time just got trickier!

We have had a relaxing rainy day easing back into "real life"...and while Mike and Mallory were doing puzzles today she said, "I have my Daddy back...he's not going to work!" :) Love the summer!

Happy 4th!!!

Before we headed home today half the crew hung out in the driveway while the last few things were done in the house...and a neighbor brought over popsicles for us to eat bc they were headed home today as well and couldn't take them in the car...so nice!

Carter was excited to get back to his hearth...

And Mallory asked to put on her Abby costume first thing!

Mike unloaded the car and I played and hung out with the kids before putting them to bed on time tonight (the first time all week!)...

We are so grateful to live in America and to be blessed with so much...so overwhelming to think about all the things that we are able to enjoy that others can't. It's very humbling that God put us here out of all the other places we could be born....I'm overwhelmed by it a lot of times, but especially on this holiday...I about bawled my head off when I read and bought this book tonight at the grocery store after the kids were in bed...how blessed are we that live in a country where we can dream such wonderful things for our children??!!? Happy 4th! :)

Beach Montage 09

coming soon... :)

Year 26!

Mallory was so excited to go to the beach this year that she tried to put her clothes on over top of her PJs! Mike did an amazing job perfectly packing the car for our journey! Carter's high chair and Mallory's bed (aka Carter's crib mattress) were some of the last items to be crammed :) in the van...When it was time to go I said, "I need to go grab my purse and then we can go..." and M replied..."and your phone and your camera!!!" Funny and a little sad! :)

Checking out our basement "apartment" in the cottage! We were upstairs last time...

Carter enjoyed his first beach trip! He was little scared of the waves at first and spent most of the week in the pool under our tents...

And being loved by his Aunties...

And in the surf a bit too!

Mallory on the other hand couldn't get enough of jumping the waves and the first day she was overcome with happiness and said after I swung her over a wave..."Momma I love you...You're my best friend!!!" :) Thought my heart would burst!

The 3 kids had so much fun together (we missed you R, E, and C...if Rob's fam had been able to make it we would have had kids ages 3,2,1, and 10 months!) Hopefully next yr all the kids can come!! We had to use the "kiddie coral" for Carter this yr...he is the first beach baby of the group to hit the beach during "the crawling I get into tons of trouble stage"...can you see him???

It was so nice having 10 other adults to love and care for our little ones all week! Here is Aunt Susan building a sand castle...

It was an amazing week....I'm so sad that it is over...but so grateful to have been doing this tradition for so long! (Click here for year 24 and 25)

Fam Beach Shots...

We took some fun pics on the beach in front of our cottage the last day... (maybe next yr we can even dress up a bit for them! :))

The Graham Girls and us...

And of course MiMi and PaPa...thanks for an incredible week at the beach!!!