jill's retirement party

While we were visiting in Virginia Beach, my mom and cousin Stephanie threw Aunt Jill a retirement party.  Jill was a fourth grade teacher, so you can imagine how excited she is to be out of the classroom and home free!  Stephanie put together an incredible party, with a turquoise nautical theme.  

Here are the notes where we wrote ideas for Jill for her "bucket list."  She read them out loud during the party, and some were just downright hilarious!

Stephanie decorated every inch of Cammy' house for the party, and it really made the party festive.  Turquoise balls, pennants, table cloths, and tableware.

My cousins, all together in the same room with me, in what feels like forever!

Everyone came, including Stephanie's husband Kevin, who managed to get away from work to join us.

Stephanie, Kristin, and Kevin got Jill a new beach cruiser with basket.  The seafoam color is beautiful, and Jill was really surprised by her gift.

Jill's work crew

We even managed to get a couple of family photos together!

Jessica and I put together a beach bag for Jill, filled with goodies.  Cammy told me about this "Retired Teacher" shirt (underneath it says "Every Child Left Behind"!), and I had to get it.  We also added beach towels, wine, a magazine, a tumbler, and a zippered pouch I made.

We had a great time celebrating Jill's retirement!

to the beach we go

After our fun vacation to Virginia Beach last summer, Britton and I were ready to go this year!  I've been craving some sandy feet and easy living, and it was not difficult in the least to leave my work computer at home and just relax.  Because the flights were expensive, we decided to drive, and since Barrett isn't up for almost eight hours in the car just yet, he sat this one out.  But don't feel too sorry for him - he got spoiled by Memaw while we were away!

First things first, Cammy got us to the beach.  We went to Chick's Beach, and with the bay's soothing little waves and sparse tourist crowding, we could sit in our beach chairs and watch the kids play without worry.  Jessica was in town for a class, and she graciously left Caroline with us to hang out.  Britton was in heaven, because she got Cammy and Caroline all to herself for days!

The art of the drip castle

The girls dug a "pool" and Jill and I found this stick of seaweed on a walk, which provided the perfect flag.

A first this year - we went back to the beach after dinner.  It was perfect - cool, quiet, and a great ending to the day.  

Unfortunately, we had neglected bring swimsuits, towels, and chairs!  No matter, though.  Caroline and Britton got into the water anyways!

The next day, my cousin Stephanie's children joined us at the beach!  This crew was fun, and they entertained each other for hours.

Since the sunset the night before was covered in clouds, we went back to the beach that evening to catch the sunset, cloudless.  This time we remembered swimsuits!

The sunset was incredible.  People all over the beach just stopped, grabbed phones and cameras, and started snapping away.  On our first day at the beach, Britton said, "The beach is meant to be sandy.  And so I am."  I had Caroline write that gem down, because it perfectly captured how much Britton loved the beach.  

the great American road trip

I don't remember taking a lot of road trips with my family while growing up, and that may be because Jessica and I had a thing about continuously fighting if we were in the car together for more than two hours.  We took road trips to the Outer Banks, to Washington, DC, and I do remember an overnight drive to Florida.  Honestly, the idea of getting into my car with my family for a multi-day trip makes me tired!  But not Memaw and PawPaw, who invited Britton to join them on a trek to Oklahoma City.  Barrett is a few years too young for that long of a trip!  Britton was so excited to go, making sure to ask me if it might be sunny in Oklahoma - poor girl (poor us) has dealt with enough rain this summer!  I printed out a map for her to color in as they passed through the states on their way.

Britton loved swimming in the hotel pool every day.  And they got to go out and visit Oklahoma City fun spots, even though the Red Hawks baseball game they were planning on attending was rained out.  The hubs and I never thought to take a river cruise while we lived there, but Britton had a blast!

First picture ever that Britton looks like me

And they got to visit Granny!  Granny is the hubs' grandmother, and it was such a treat for Britton to get to see her great grandmother.  We send Granny school pictures and such, but a visit is the real deal.

Their trip home wasn't as easy as the trip there - construction and rain storms made the journey drag on.  But luckily they all arrived home, safely and in good spirits!  And Britton, Memaw, and PawPaw had a fun summer road trip under their belts.  Where to next - Wallyworld?!

barrett: 26 months old

"I did it!"  It's what we hear 100 times a day out of Barrett's mouth, and it is precious.  Barrett wants to try things. and if he succeeds (petting Sadie, closing the zipper on the trampoline surround, throwing away his trash) then we hear it!  It's adorable seeing him so proud of himself.  

Barrett is on the go, as long as it involves going outside!  This boy loves being outdoors, and can't get enough of the trampoline, swing set, park playdates, walks, and bunny scouting in the yard.  His other recent love is the donut, specifically glazed and blueberry munchkins.  Barrett isn't big on sweets, but he loves his donuts! What does he not like?  Keeping his shoes on.  The minute Barrett gets into the car, the shoes are off!  

"Can someone tell Mommy to stop trying to cut my hair?"

We've got Boomer staying with us this week (Memaw and PawPaw's 14 year old rat terrier), and Barrett is just as sweet and gentle with Boomer as he can be.  He's also very attentive to Sadie, and wants to give her hugs and pats and kisses and snuggles endlessly.  I know I've said it before - Barrett is easy-going and carefree, and it fills my heart to just sit back and watch him smile.  He's sensitive, especially when other people aren't happy (for instance, if Britton is upset or crying, he's asking "Why Britton sad?"), and wants in on anything going on around him.

Barrett has started rejecting all naps, which is agony to any parent!  He's not whiny or obnoxious in the afternoons, so he's definitely getting enough sleep at night (anywhere between 12-13 hours), but the nap seems to be no more.  

Likes:  green beans, apple juice, doing somersaults, checking the garden for tomatoes, chasing Britton on runs around the house, turning lights on then off then on then off

Dislikes: taking a nap, keeping his shoes on, when doors are open (he closes all the bedroom doors every chance he gets)

wilding out on 4th of july weekend

I was off work on July 3rd, so we decided to have a family fun day at the Living Treasures Wild Animal Park.  It's about 30 minutes from our house, and a small zoo that allows you to feed the animals and get really close to them.  Britton and Barrett were jazzed up on the ride there, but somewhat deflated while we waited in a long line to get in.  No worries - once inside, we found adorable goats!

We bought carrots and food pellets, and at first both kids were apprehensive about feeding the animals. Admittedly, the animals were a little demanding, since they knew every person walking by was carrying some goodies!  But they both quickly warmed up to the idea.  And Barrett, who is fearless about most things in life, gladly fed some deer, goats, and a water buffalo within the first 10 minutes of us being there.

Yeah, we weren't feeding these alligators.  Funny story - as you know, summertime television programming is horrible.  So when the hubs and I saw the "Zoo" miniseries by James Patterson coming up, we DVRed it.  Bad timing, we watched it the night before.  If you aren't familiar, it's a story about all the animals finally getting fed up with humans and taking over.  So, when we saw the alligators, all I could see was them slowly turning around and coming after us!

Britton made friends with this monkey (not sure what kind of monkey, or if it's even a monkey, but it looks like a monkey so I'm sticking with that).

When Britton and I went to the Aviary last year, she was scared of feeding the birds and wouldn't do it.  This time, she faced her fears and fed them anyways!

The hubs got in on the action and fed a water buffalo too.  It looks like they are having a staring contest!

Oh, I loved these kangaroos.  The kangaroos and giraffes were my favorite animals there.  The kangaroos would hold the carrots in their hands and eat them, all the while eyeing the crowd to see if more carrots were coming.

We happened to notice that this kangaroo had a foot hanging out of her belly - there was a baby in her pouch!

Of course, we also celebrated the 4th of July with some debauchery and fireworks.  The hubs and I hit up the local stand (I have a feeling we may need to cross state lines next year to get the good stuff), and he was amped about some smoke balls.

This firework was called "Purple Rain," I think, and was the best one we got.  Britton did some sparklers, and then we called it a night and went inside to watch fireworks on television.  And eat leftover hamburgers and hotdogs from our cookout.  Happy 4th of July!

71 months old

Somehow, Britton went and grew up and now we're one month away from her turning six years old!  Britton is really coming into her own, deciding what she wants to wear (and doesn't, which includes about 99% of what I pick out for her), the books we read, and activities we do on the weekends.  Britton has found her voice, her opinions, and she's not afraid to share, which will sometimes frustrating, is always welcome around here.  So, I shut my mouth about the cost of clothing when she wears the same four dresses all the time, because it's really up to her how she wants to dress.  Well, obviously within reason!  

Swim lessons are over now, and Britton started gymnastics last week.  She loves it, so much in fact that we're having her birthday party there.   

Britton's newest interest is dinosaurs.  I can totally relate - my childhood room was decorated with skateboarding dinosaurs on the comforter and curtains!  Here are her construction paper dinosaurs.  Well, my bad crafting skills are shown too, in the brontosaurus in the water that looks like the Loch Ness Monster!

Likes:  bouncing on the trampoline with Barrett, making cookies, playing my violin, Barbie movies

Dislikes:  having to keep her room clean