Playing Outside

Warning, this is a picture heavy post...mainly because I couldn't decide which ones to weed out...and also for the sake of the grandparents!!!

We have been spending almost every evening in our front yard for the past couple weeks! The weather is LOVELY and Samuel is always asking "the car the road, mommy?" Meaning he wants to play with the cozy coup! So we get our shoes on every night after dinner and play until it is Samuel's bedtime! It has been a great way to be outside, say hello to the neighbors, and for Samuel to get the rest of his energy out! Ryan and Samuel run up and down the street in the coup, Samuel pushes it up the driveway to me and I push him back down to Ryan in the road. He is AWESOME at getting out of the road immediately when he hears a car, I think we passed in putting the fear of God in him when he sees a car in the road, he steers clear, THANK GOODNESS!!!

The boys also pulled out the frisbee and football last night. Samuel LOVED watching Ryan punt the ball "really high up" again and again. Samuel is quite the frisbee expert, I'd almost say he can throw better than I can (though that's not saying too much, but come on-he's 2).

I am so very thankful for my 2 handsome guys and the joy they bring to my life!!!

You can really see the joy in his face as he pushes the car up to the top of the driveway. He will either ask me to push him back down or will just turn the car around and push it himself.

Running to say hi to mommy.

I know this is blurry (I had my shutter speed on auto) but I just love how happy he is!

not sure if Samuel spends more time riding or pushing, but he does love them both equally!

I just can't believe how big he is getting. I feel like he is such the "big" little boy. He really does melt my heart on a daily basis!

Samuel LOVES to go "faster faster" as he says with his arms raised high. The funny thing is that Ryan is often more dizzy than Samuel after each turn!

Samuel is so happy, he squeals with each turn and laughs and giggles as he comes to the ground.

A little tickle after landing never hurt, right?

Asking to go "faster faster again daddy"

He has quite the arm

Watching for the football to come back down after daddy punted it "really high up"

He's certainly got the game face here!

Daddy teaching Samuel how to hold the ball for daddy to kick, I was a little nervous, but I think Samuel was more scared when daddy started to advance!

So they decided to reverse rolls. As you can see, Samuel is much happier about this setup!

Horrible picture of both of us, but proof that I was there too!

Just a Normal Saturday

Since Ryan works on Saturdays Samuel and I get to spend our mornings together. Today we played outside in the crisp fall air and then headed inside for some puzzles and choo choos. We had a great time together, as always! I am loving watching Samuel explore and find new things, and even enjoy the old things too! He really is coming into his own these days, always wanting to do something new.

Putting together his "B C" puzzle. He loves to dump this one out, put a few letters on and then say "Mommy fix it", which means I'm done, you put it away!

Excited that he found the right letter on the first try.

Pushing Thomas around the new track mommy just made.

He just finished saying "oh no, apart mommy" but quickly figured out how to put them back together, and obviously very proud of himself as he said "Samul got it"

Cheesing it up for the camera just before he made the basket!

Throwing the bean bag to mommy for her to throw back. We could do this for about an hour.

Who made you?

What a sweet sound it is to hear your little one talking about God. I sing to Samuel at nap time and bed time each day. He is often asking for "the Grace Song" which translates to "Amazing Grace". Today as I was singing it he tried to sing along with me. He certainly didn't get it word for word, but many of the words/sounds were spot on! Of course I choked up and started crying as I was singing and he just looked up and smiled at me! Here is a fun video of what Samuel knows already about God!

Happy Birthday Crawford

Today we met at the park to celebrate Crawford's 5th birthday. We had a great time forming a parade with all our fun musical instruments. We walked the loop at the park and then read some parade books, ate some yummy cupcakes and played on the playground! Crawford, we are happy you were born and thank you for letting us celebrate with you!

In the car on the way over I told Samuel we were going to Crawford's birthday party. He quickly said "Birthday, CAKE!!!" Glad this kid has his priorities!

I asked Charlotte to smile for me and she gave me this sweet little pose! She's is so fun!

Climbing on the ropes! Samuel had so much fun exploring a new playground!

Anna had so much fun with the shakers, she smiled the whole time! Isn't she precious?

Caroline eating the icing first, the best way to do it!

Cooking Class

We go to the Children's Museum of Wilmington on Thursday mornings. Our little group is growing and we have so much fun! We start in cooking class and then find our way around playing with many different things. Today I only took pics in cooking class, but I'll try to get some more on another day!

Cooking class is so much fun. We start by washing our hands then finding a place on the floor for story time. We always cook something that coordinates with what we read about. We got there late this time, so we missed the story, but we made homemade applesauce! They had already cooked the apples, so we mashed them, added apple juice, maple syrup and cinnamon!

I was asking Samuel what he was making, and unfortunately this was the best pic of the bunch! Oh well!

LK testing to make sure she got the right amount of cinnamon!

Caroline mashing her apples.

Charlotte doing an early taste test!

One more trip to Savannah

The whole fam went this time to see Erica and Daniel (and Toby the dog) in Savannah. We had a great, relaxing weekend at the beach, Oatland Island (a wildlife reserve), downtown and just resting at home. We love our friends dearly and are so thankful that we get to continue to live life together after college!

The alligator that Samuel decided we should bring home as a pet!

Admiring the alligator from afar, the best place for us to be!!!

Time out for a snack!

Of course he wouldn't even stop to smile for the camera until he was way too close! The best I got!

Enjoying Tybee Island and an afternoon at the beach!

He entertained himself with this cup and the lifeguard stand for at least 30 minutes!

Uncle Stephen & Aunt Tiffy visit

Stephen and Tiffany (Tiffy as Samuel calls her) came for Labor Day. We had a great time relaxing, going to the beach, shopping for the girls and golf for the boys! Stephen and Tiffany even got to go downtown for brunch on the river! We love them so much and were so glad to have them here!!!

Tiffany is an AMAZING photographer and took some great pics of Samuel playing in the yard!

We went for a walk on Front Street after some delicious frozen yogurt!