Happy Friday

It is EXTREMELY hot today so we opted for a morning inside.  Samuel went with me to the gym while Charlie napped and Ryan did some work at home.  Once Ryan left for work we played cars, attempted (for less than 2 minutes) to see if we could tough the heat, and now we're enjoying some floor time and lunch on the couch!  Charlie is SO CLOSE to crawling...he is up on all 4s and shifts back and forth but just hasn't figured out he can move his hands and knees! It will be any day though!  Love my time with the boys!

Beach Wednesdays are Back

We certainly have missed our Wednesday morning beach days.  This week Ryan, Charlie and I headed out for a morning of quiet and relaxation!  Ryan caught up on the news and emails, I read a couple magazines and Charlie just rolled around and took a little nap!  Nothing beats living at the beach!

Our Big Fish

Samuel is really loving swimming these days. He asks almost every day to go to "Nemo's pool" (our swimming lesson instructor-that's what he called her) or Alex and Maddie's pool (our neighbor).  We often head next door for about an hour twice a week, we certainly don't want to overstay our welcome! Samuel is doing great and I know he will just keep improving over the rest of the summer!

No Nap Monday

Today both Charlie and Samuel decided they didn't want to take a nap.  I was surprised because we had a pretty busy morning.  Nevertheless!  Charlie spent part of his time at my feet playing with some toys while I folded laundry and Samuel followed me around asking me to read pirate book after pirate book (we have about 4 and we read all of them about 3-4 times a day!).  I started working on my grocery list and tried to do just a couple things I had planned to do during nap time when I heard lots of laughter from the other room.  It just made me smile and laugh and remember that these times will not be here for long, to enjoy the laughter and not to get frustrated when I lose my couple hours of alone time.  I have been super excited for the time when my boys would play together and it is starting, and this is totally worth it!

Baby Food

Today I made baby food (all before church, I was a busy lady!) for the month.  We bought sweet potatoes, butternut squash, apples (next time I will just buy unsweetened applesauce from costco, it's cheaper that way), peaches, blueberries, and a bag of mixed organic veggies.  Total it cost me about $16 and I made 83 containers total.  That's about $0.20 each!  I am pretty excited that it is all done and that I do not have to make any food for about a month, and my hope by that point is that we will be introducing more solid foods so we'll be done with pureeing foods!

Being Artistic

Samuel got a new art easel for his birthday and has had lots of fun "making art" as he calls it.  He LOVES his markers (thankfully they was off pretty easily!).  Thanks BeBe and Pops for a great gift that the kids will  use for many years!

Very proud of his Snakes, rocket, and people (I drew the people, but he takes the credit!)

Getting a lesson on how to hold the marker

The Birthday Boy

We had an Olympic themed birthday party this year.  Unfortunately it was SO HOT that we decided to forego the structured games we had planned (3 legged race, weaving through the cones, "discus" throw, and a few others) and just brought out the water toys.  The kids had no idea they missed the games, they just had a great time!  I know that Samuel is very excited that he is now 3, and tells just about everyone that he comes in contact with!  I love you buddy, you are awesome!

I made cupcakes and put them in the form of the olympic rings.  Samuel has been asking about his party for about a week now, so he was thrilled to see his cupcakes when he woke up.  He kept saying, "mommy, when my friends get here I am going to have my party and eat my cupcakes".  Here he is counting the  red ones

this awesome water park was great for the babies, they enjoyed splashing and grabbing at the water.

Charlie and Hadley playing together

I just loved June's face at the bottom of the slide

Samuel and his best lady friend!  I said to smile and he says cheese with his mouth full and she makes a crazy silly face!  So typical, but so sweet!  I have enjoyed watching these two grow up together!

Sweet Hadley...I think this was her 5th piece of watermelon, she kept finding wedges and eating them...she just loved it!

Charlie's first "food" in true form!  He wasn't so sure about it, but he did enjoy it after a few minutes

Of course all the kids would climb the stairs and then slide down.  Samuel decided to JUMP off the top of the slide into the water!  He is such the dare devil, it scares me sometimes!

The wind picked up about 5 minutes before we went outside, so it was pretty difficult to light the candles!

Samuel, and the boys, blew out the candles first, and then we sang happy birthday!

Samuel LOVED it when we sang to him, he did sing with us during most of it, but he then also got so excited that it was HIS birthday and this was HIS birthday cupcakes.

What are friends for?  I love Charlotte's face and that Samuel had no problem helping her lick her frosting off her cupcake!

We nixed the games, but still had a water balloon fight.  The kids had a great time throwing the balloons.  The dads, of course, threw the balloons at each other and the wives stayed nice and dry under the tent, in the shade.

Charlie's lady friend, Hadley.  These 2 are 4 months apart, excited to see them grow up together just like their older brother and sister!

The Children's Museum and the 4th of July

We spent the day at the Children's Museum of Atlanta and then hung out with BeBe while we waited to go downtown for the 4th of July.  This is probably my all time FAVORITE holiday and I was so excited to be at home with the family to celebrate it as we usually do!  We went to the Ritz this year, thank you Laura, and actually started the race near the start line (never done that before...I always jump in at the Embassy Suites), went to Lenox for the fireworks (across the street from the hotel) and swam all afternoon!  I'd say it was a great year!  Excited for next year!

Samuel and Ryan walked through and played in the Centennial Olympic Park fountain.  Samuel was a bit hesitant at first, but by the time we needed to go he didn't want to leave!  I love that he can have a great time anywhere!

Drinking daddy's drink while he wasn't looking!

The best way to eat an Oreo...double fist them!

and then tempt your Uncle Zach with a bite! 

Ryan and I ran the race this year while Dad and Mom watched the boys!  Dad still kept his shirt though...it was totally worth it!

Zach and Laura

Traditional watermelon...do you know how hard/impossible it is to find a watermelon with seeds?  No seed spitting contest this year!

Waving his flag and checking out the sparkler

Watching the fireworks with Daddy.  This picture brought tears to my eyes!  I love this holiday because our family has always been together.  We celebrate our country and the freedom we have.  I love the music in the background that reminds me of the amazing place I live.  I LOVEd seeing Samuel get so excited about the fireworks and even cuddle with his Daddy as he sat in awe at the beauty in the sky!

Samuel spent a large amount of the fireworks show standing on the cooler, pointed excitedly at each new firework and waving his flag!