Beach Season Begins and a Birthday

We packed up our crew and headed to the coast to celebrate Trav's birthday.  

While we had a wonderful time being together and even got to see Aunt Tutu while we were there! The little saying April showers bring May flowers is apparently true.  We scored about a day and a half free of thunderstorms, so the children ate up every minute of beach time. 

My children have a completely different body temperature than I do.  I thought it was way too chilly and windy to even think about getting wet, so I layered them up in long sleeves, fully clothed.  Lets just say that within about 20 minutes of being on the beach we had two naked babies running around, jumping in and out of the bone-chilling waves. 

They loved every minute.  In fact, the little girl who once cried about getting sandy on the beach now rolls around making sand angels on the shore.

She was a little uneasy about the waves rolling in and out.  She let them chase her but never once catch up with her.  McClain on the other hand planted himself right on the edge and didn't mind getting wet a bit. 

Last year at the beach he was just learning to sit up on his own.  It was fun seeing him enjoy the beach to the fullest this time. 

Sweet thing. 

Daddy showed them how to make mud pies.  What a treat this was! 

Hours of entertainment I tell you. 

Upon awaking after naps or first thing in the morning, the first words out of Lucy Mills' mouth was "let's go pay at da ocean Mama.  You wanna pay wif me?" 

Of course I do. 

And since boys will be boys, 

there was lots of stick playing, shell throwing, and sand eating as well. 

And even some best buddy moments to charm the luckiest mama around. 

Happy Birthday my Love - thank you for the the fun beach memory. 

A Morning at the Park

The weather has been beautiful here this week.  We have taken full advantage and ventured to the park three out of the last four days.  We are hooked. 

Does this face say happy or what? 

Sweet girl has finally overcome her fear of swinging high.  

She once held her breath if the swing moved more than a few inches in motion.  Now she constantly asks to go higher and higher. 

This one is more of a risk-taker.  

He will swing as high as you'll push him which usually gives me a heart attack because he leans so far forward that I think he will fall out on his head.

Let me tell you that even more exciting than flying high on the swing set, are the little rocks on the playground.  In the world of boys there is nothing like getting your hands dirty and playing with rocks.  

It's like finding gold for him. 

And like everything else he touches it has to go in his mouth.  Gross. 

Playing with sticks is a close second. 

Oh the things little fellas get in to! 

The children also loved the slides.  

{Check out that drool shot! This guy makes a constant supply I tell you!}

While her brother goes down head first most of the time, Miss Priss sits like a lady and proceeds with caution. 

Nothing like a fun family outing to start the weekend out! 

My Boyfriend

"So there's this boy.

He kinda stole my heart.

He calls me Mom."

That's right.  He finally said it.  The word I have been waiting months to hear.  While Dada, Sissy, and Gee have been on his lips for months , Mama, was what I wanted to hear him say.
Oh and it melts my heart when cuts his eyes at me and that little raspy voice speaks my name.
Love it.  Love him. Love being his mama. 

iphone Friday

I catch so much more of the "real life" moments with my camera phone than with my big camera.
Here is Superbud climbing up in the big boy chair. 

At the zoo looking for the penguins swimming. 

Isn't my sis so pretty? 

Lucy Mills and I enjoyed a girls night with Tutu in Greenville last month. Here they are making up some scrumptious oatmeal together for a breakfast picnic. 

I am truly blessed with some pretty cool friends.  And what is great is that while us mama's have close friendships, our kiddos are all around the same age and have a ball together.  One Friday night we let all the daddies get together for a guys night out while the mama's and the children had a pizza and pj party.  Here are the little ones snuggled up for the big show.
PS - guys - next time yall get the children. :) 

Lucy Mills went through my dresser one day and started "gettin' ready for exacize." Oh dear.  Before I knew it she had some of my sports bras and all of my undies around her torso.  Yeah that was fun getting off of her and organized again. 

Superstar! 

Typical.  Aren't his red shoes adorable? 

Hollywood is ready for the beach! 

Jamming out in daddy's hat. 

It's been a very unfun week at our casa.  First McClain came down with hand, foot, & mouth disease (which just sounds like the grossest thing ever).  Then I was in the bed sick for 3 days, and then he passed on the germs to big sister.  The only thing worse than having sick babies is being sick yourself.  I mean I could barely function. 

Thank the good Lord in Heaven for this man. 

He came to the rescue, big time! He took care of all three of us sickies, did the cooking, cleaning, grocery store runs, you name it - he did it and he did it with a happy heart at that. Love him.  Love him so much. Once our fevers broke and we were feeling slightly better I had the brilliant among brilliant ideas to do some potty training with LM.  My thinking was "well, we are stuck at home anyway, lets take the diaper off and see how it goes.
Even though I let her wear her princess crown she was not amused.  

I made up for the lapse in judgment and took the children on several milkshake runs.
Sugary cold drinks + sore throats, fever, and blisters = content babes. 

I am happy to report that we are healthy again, and even happier to report that I am on my way to a girls weekend in Florida to get my tan on.  I haven't done anything like this since I became a mama. I know, poor me. ;) 

Tea Time

When she woke up from her nap today I told her that a special surprise awaited her.  Angelina wanted to have tea and cookies with my sweet girl.  She was thrilled. 

My parenting got a big, fat fail earlier in the day.  I allowed my fustration, my weariness, my sinfulness to cloud what my expectations of my children should be. 

When I was a teenager and used to babysit other people's children, motherhood didn't look so hard.  Dare I say it even looked e-a-s-y.  Well sure, Lil, when you show up at the end of the day, serve a meal someone else prepared, slap some clean pj's on the kiddos, read a book or two to put them to sleep all before retiring on the couch to enjoy their flat screen, it is! 

In fact, this gig takes constant training along with a dose of humble pie to realize that I don't have it all figured out.

By His grace though, I know the One who does.  I know the One who knit these babies together from the beginning.  I know that He calls this duty a privilege, not a waste. 

On my refrigerator are these wise and encouraging words...
Today, I will pray to speak words that are only strong words, words that make these children feel strong.  Grace words.  Grace is the only non-toxic air.  All other words I breathe are death words.

Today I will pray to be consistently consistent.  I will create safe rhythms that our children find security in.

Today, when I feel most repelled by a child's behavior, that is the sign I need to draw the very closest to that child. 

Today, my priorities will be all Things Unseen.  

Today, I will laugh!  And I will let the little children laugh!  I will create a culture of joy! - Ann Voskamp