Iphone Unload {Catching up on life)

Warning: lots of pictures in this post.  I'm not sure if we have been that much busier or if I'm just taking more pictures, but here we go...

My trip to Ft. Lauderdale in a nutshell...

How big is McClain? Soooo big! 

Steve Spurrier prodigy in the making.

Snuggling and tickling with Mommy at the beach.

How we make it through meals in restaurants with two little, active people...
Don't judge.

Snoozin' at the beach.

All smiles by the ocean.

The fun parent.

Ready to hit the lake on a Sunday afternoon.

Captain McClain!

They had a blast on the boat, despite these expressions.  I assume it was the boat, but hey it could have been the snacks they loved the most!

My little helper cleaning the windows.  I wonder how long this will be fun for her?

Daniel and Tucker came for a visit last month and the children made a game out of feeding Tucker one morsel of food at a time.  Poor pup.

Birthday party bouncin'

My 17 month old is still obsessed with his "ba-ba." And his sweet Sissy likes to play mommy and feed it to him.

Like father, like daughter.

How random is this?
Travis' old roommate and his sweet family came in from the northwest for a visit.  Adam is a physical therapist and he turned our kitchen counter into his work space to perform his magic on Trav's ailing back.

Tutu also came by for a quick visit on Mother's Day and Lucy Mills enjoyed showing her how Mommy takes pictures with her iphone.

Happy Mother's Day to me.

My loves!

Trav went camping with some great guys and they had an absolute ball together.  It's been almost a month since the trip and I'm still hearing stories about their adventures.
I'm ready for a girls trip ladies!

My handsome outdoorsman.
{Thanks for the pictures Lucas!}

Lucy Mills' latest interest is anything ballet oriented.  She always wants to wear this tutu bathing suit from last summer.  She prances around the house with her arms up in the air whispering I'm a ballerin-a, I'm a ballerin-a!  I'm looking to get her involved in some sort of dance so she can unleash her twirls and curtsies  to the fullest.

Reading with her friend Ilona.

Cruisin' for chicks.

Doing arts and crafts at Mary Wallace's house.

Lucy Mills with her amazing CBS teacher Ms. Colleen.  Lucy Mills has thrived being in her class on Thursday mornings and we will miss her over the summer! She has been the perfect teacher for my sweet girl, teaching her bible verses and stories, the pledge of allegiance, songs, and cute crafts week after week.

Bathing beauty.

Doing side walk chalk with Mason.

McClain has become obsessed with VeggieTales. Tutu bought the children Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber along with a VeggieTales video.  I have to say that these are the cutest, bible-based videos.  Everyday he asks for "Tales."

Lucy Mills' favorite reading spot.  Behind all the pillows in Mommy and Daddy's bed.
Mama, I doin' my bible study, I so com-tble (comfortable). 

Anniversary dinner date night! Thank you for babysitting Suggie.

Heading to Pop Pop's on Memorial Day.

Reading together on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Enjoying a picnic together on the back deck.

Ok, I think that brings us up to date on all the pictures in my phone from the past 2 months.  Told you that was a lot.  These days are flying by!

Redneck Swimming

Last weekend Trav and I tackled the dreaded project of cleaning out the garage.  It was beginning to look like something from an episode of Hoarders, so it was high time we cleaned out that bad boy.  Our house does not have an ideal amount of storage space so it seems that the garage has become the go to spot when we don't know where to put the superfulous stuff. 

The children woke up from their naps and we were only about halfway through "Operation: Attack Garage," so we blew up the baby pool that I bought from Target for $0.99 at the end of last summer.  It entertained our two long enough for us to accomplish our project.  I'm sure our neighbors enjoyed the view of our redneck swimming pool, but hey, we now have a clean garage and two babies that love to swim.  

As always, the cautious one looks on from afar.

And tests out the water tempurature before entering.

She agreed to get in the pool, but was still slightly hesitant to get too soaking wet. 

Love her. 

And this guy was not so shy.  He jumped right in and splashed all over the place.  

My favorite moment (other than the clean garage that I can now park my car in!) was when Lucy Mills kept saying "It's okay Buddy, I hep you get in da pool."

"Come play wif me McClain-Clain,"

He loved every minute.  In fact I had to drag him out of the pool when everything was said and done. 

Summer 2012.  Bring it on. 

To the One I Love:

Happy Four Years Travis! 

In some ways I can't believe fours years of marriage has come and gone so quickly, and in other ways I feel like "really...just fours years? It seems like it's been at least seven or eight." {And I mean that in the kindest way possible! We've covered a lot of ground in this short span of time!}

I remember the day we met and the courtship that followed.  You were unlike anyone I had ever met, and you pursued me in a way that was honorable yet romantic.  I hope our own daughter is so blessed one day. 

While I didn't know what the future held for us, I love how God so beautifully crafted our love story. 

 Travis, thank you for loving me when I don't deserve it, supporting me in my role as a wife and mother, and leading this family in such an admirable way.  

My very own Prince Charming...

So thankful for you. 

Love, your bride.

McClain

McClain, if I had to hand pick you off the store shelf, YOU are the little boy I would chose to take home. 

You have the most pleasant disposition - much like someone else I know...

While you are always on the move, you catch my eye and offer up a quick, flirty smile before heading off in into the next mischievous activity.  Boys! 

At 17 months old you love bats and balls, baths and swimming, your "ba-ba," books, Dora the Explorer, saying hey to anyone and everyone we pass, climbing on things that are not meant to be climbed on, putting inedible objects in your mouth, saying Dada when I ask you to say Mama, playing outside, and keeping up with your Sissy in everything she does. 

Even though you are in constant motion during the day, I can always count on a bedtime rocking and snuggling with you sweet boy.

I'm so thankful for you buddy!

Sweet Girl

She is a helper, that is for sure. 

Rather if it's with the dust buster, the laundry, wiping the table down, or grabbing the handful of dog food out of her little brother's white-knuckled grip, she loves to be needed and to be praised. 

I always wanted a little girl.  She is the perfect combination of sugar and spice.  

I love that she looks up to me, wants to be like me, wants to make me proud of her.  While I know that won't always be the case, I sure enjoy my celebrity status with her in these fleeting "little" years. 

She is a gift.