Vacation and a birthday!

In July we went to North Myrtle Beach, SC with the whole family.  It was even more fun than I imagined it would be! We haven't been to the beach since Savannah was born and the last time we went Logan was only 1 and can't remember it, so the best part was taking the kids and watching them have so much fun! They were perfect ages for it.  They could have played ALL day long at the beach from sun up to sun down and never gotten tired of it.  They loved playing in the sand, wading in the water and most of all, looking for seashells.  We spent so much time looking for seashells together and they were so good at finding the good ones.  Savannah found the best ones out of anyone!

Here are Logan and Daddy walking the beach looking for seashells:

 Daddy getting ready to play in the waves and Logan sifting through the sand:

 Watching Daddy playing out in the waves:

Poor Logan kept getting stuff in his eyes and then he would try to wipe it off with his sandy hands and make it even worse.  I kept telling him he couldn't wipe his eyes with his hands when they were all sandy or it would get more sand in there. He was getting so frustrated and finally just took a break and gave up:( Just sat down, closed his eyes, and made sure not to touch a thing with his sandy hands...

 Savannah playing in the sand. Check out those long legs people.

 Such a poser:) I love it! Finally cooperating for pictures!

 One day when the tide went out it left a little shallow pool on the beach. The kids had SO much fun playing in it for hours! Perfect little kiddie pool.

 Daddy introducing Logan to the waves while Grandpa rides the wave next to him and his cousins get clobbered...

 Getting completely buried in sand sounds like a nightmare to me, but this kid loved it:)

 By the end of the week, he was getting pretty good at riding the waves in and loving every second of it:

Logan loves to jump in from the side of the pool. Now that he has completed his swim lessons he is especially proud of doing it without floaties. I love Jared and Savannah's excited faces for him too.

 Savannah and her BFF cousin Campbell.  These girls are 7 months apart and are two peas in a pod.  They love to hang out.  I can't imagine what lies ahead when these girls start driving...

 What?! We have a family picture where everyone is smiling?! Frame that sucker...and try not to be annoyed Savannah isn't looking at the camera.

 We went and played putt-putt one night and Logan LOVED it. He was so sad when it was over and asked if there was any place at home he could do it because he couldn't wait to go again.  I had no idea he would love it so much. Future golfer?

 Who can resist taking a picture in these things?

No comment.

 Logan was fascinated that the sign said "Warning alligators and wildlife may bite"...He could have stayed there all night trying to see an alligator.  He was pretty determined, but we never saw anything.

Logan went deep sea fishing with Daddy and uncle Phil and cousins on a boy trip one day.  Someone caught a shark and they all got to touch and hold it.  This boy was in heaven.

 Logan had his birthday while we were on vacation and we decided that it must have been the best birthday ever.  He played at the beach all day and then we went to a big shopping plaza where they had all sorts of fun shops and things.  There were funny mirrors...we all got a kick out of these.

 Rode around and watched the street performers perform magic and cool stunts while on Daddy's shoulders:

 We waited to celebrate Savannah's birthday with the family until that night and had a joint celebration for her, Logan and cousin Zach who also had a birthday on vacation a few days later.  Blowing out birthday cupcake candles.

 Opening presents:

 Can you tell Savannah is excited to get presents?

 Out at dinner...Logan hadn't climbed around to get in picture yet but Savannah smiled so cute...

 And then once we get the whole family in, of course, the picture gets a little crazy...

What a great trip! We can't wait to go to the beach again! 

What in the world...

How is it possible that my little girl is THREE!!? I seriously can't believe it.  She had her birthday a couple of weeks ago.  We didn't have her official party on her birthday but she still woke up to a ton of balloons, got to wear a tiara all day, go swimming, make cupcakes, and open a few gifts from Mommy and Daddy on her birthday so it was still a pretty special day!  She was LOVING that it was her birthday.  She had been patiently waiting for HER birthday. We went to a few birthday celebrations in the weeks before her birthday so when I told her that the day was finally hers she was in heaven!! Just a few things I can think of off the top of my head to describe her right now:  She has the spunkiest, sassiest, funniest personality around. She keeps us laughing that's for sure.  She talks SOOO good. She has talked so good for what seems like forever.  She insists on doing everything herself, no matter what it is.  She does not like help unless she has already tried something over and over and then realizes that she does indeed need help.  She probably eats twice as much food as Logan every day.  She loves anything sparkly, pink, princess, or just about anything that screams "girl". She is very friendly and loves to be with friends. Even if she talks to someone she doesn't know for two seconds she will tell me that she is just talking to her friend. Even though she can be so strong willed and difficult, she is such a good snuggler.  She loves to snuggle and if you tell her you love her she always says "I love you too" back. It melts me every time.
Couldn't possibly love my little girl any more:)!!
This is the face of an extremely happy girl waking up to balloons and realizing that it is her birthday:

 Here is the birthday girl wearing her birthday tiara (by this point most of the jewels we put on there had fallen off but she didn't care):

Summer Fun

Last month we spent a few weeks at my parents house to take care of their house while they were travelling in Europe. My kids were in heaven. There is so much for them to do there and I loved that pretty much the whole time we were there my kids never watched an ounce of TV!! They were too entertained by everything else. Awesome.

There are a few motorized cars there for the kids to drive around but I especially love when Logan and Savannah drive each other around in the Barbie Jeep.  They just crack me up driving all around (it gives me a scary glimpse into the future too....yikes!)

 Playing around:

 He takes his turn driving very seriously (I must say he is a pretty good driver!) and Savannah LOVES having a personal chauffeur:

 One morning right when they woke up they looked out the window and saw a turtle so they sprinted outside to get a closer look (that explains the pajamas and serious bed head):

 Logan walking like a turtle along with his new turtle friend:

 Then while I was taking pictures I told Savannah to give Logan a kiss and she surprisingly cooperated!

 Even though at one point she decided trying to put sticks in his ear was a better idea:

 Back to cute kisses!

Preschool Graduation

Honestly, this was probably the cutest day ever mixed with the saddest day ever.  Logan was so so cute but my heart could barely take the fact that my little boy was graduating from preschool and is technically ready for Kindergarten (I'm still having issues with deciding if he is going or not....I can't let go, I have issues). I have him all registered but in the end, I may decide to keep him home until he's six. We will see!
Anyways, here he is doing his graduation walk. Man oh man did this boy look proud. He was doing his classic proud face (trying to so hard not too smile which means he usually ends up with a funny smirk on his face).

 Saying Pledge of Allegiance (I was having issues getting a photo in terrible lighting)

 Walking so proudly to get his diploma (by the way the teachers had asked the children earlier what they wanted to be when they grew up and then announced it was the children were walking to get their diplomas. Logan evidently said he wanted to be a construction worker when he grows up!:) )

 One handsome boy and his proud mama!

T-Ball practice

Logan had his first T-ball practice. He was so excited to go and I am so proud of him for just getting right out there and doing it. There was no hesitation at all whatsoever. It is pretty cute to see these little tiny boys out there doing their best to play even though they have no idea what they are doing. Logan and his good friend Bennett are on the team together and it was so cute that first day of practice they stayed side by side the whole time. Savannah loves TBall too, even thought she obviously doesn't play. If she hears one of us say it's almost time for TBall she screams "I wanna go! I wanna go!". She loves to climb up and down the bleachers the whole time (I am terrified she is going to fall so hard one of these times) or sometimes she even sneaks out onto the field. Good thing the people on the field don't take the game too seriously at this age!

Here is the team just running the bases:

Warming up doing jumping jacks. Yes he is standing there next to his friend of course, and yes, he is going to be lanky like his momma.

 Not sure what they are doing here:

 Practicing throwing the ball:

 More running the bases ( I think this was their favorite part -that, or the jumping jacks) and I'm pretty sure he knows I'm taking his picture because that is the face he makes when he is proud and happy but he is trying not to show it.

 Next to his BFF in every single one:)

Hot Air Balloon

Last week we were at my parents in the backyard and a hot air balloon flew over us. Instead of being in a basket, the guy was just sitting in a chair that was attached to the balloon. Craziness. Then we got in the car to drive home and could see the balloon dip below the trees and land in the distance. So we drove that direction and got lucky to find the field that it landed in. We pulled up and the guy that drives the trailer that picks up the balloon came and asked us if we wanted to help put the balloon away. Needless to say, we agreed and were excited. This is how the crazy guy rode - just hangin' out in a chair! Jared thought it would be awesome. I think it would be my worst nightmare.

When we first walked up he lit the fire. It was crazy how hot it was even from where we were standing...and it was SOOO loud. It terrified Savannah and so she stayed with me the whole time and wouldn't take her eyes off it. She warmed up a little towards the end but wasn't interested in getting close to it.

Logan thoroughly enjoyed helping take it down and being able to get so close.

Here are Logan and Jared helping stuff the balloon back in a big carrying bag.

When we got in the car Logan said "That was TOTALLY AWESOME!!!". I've never heard him say that before so that alone was well worth the experience. So cute.