Memorial Day Weekend 2014

We headed back to Surf City for the long Memorial Day weekend again this year.  We even stayed in the same house as last year.  Michael was able to join us on Friday and stayed with us until Monday afternoon.  We spent the weekend lounging on the beach, flying kites, collecting seashells, building sand castles, "surfing" Savannah style, and enjoying cool morning runs with only one of my trainers.

me and my sweet boy

tanning

Savannah getting buried

Walker trying to pull her out

working on her tan

"surfing"

happy beach baby

W's first experience with the waves----he did not like it!

playing in the sand

cutie!

group shot

sooooo much cuteness!!

bikini babe

this was the only water he liked

me and the hubs

my boys

enjoying the cool ocean breeze after dinner

kite flying

me and my girl in matching Lilly

building drip castles

silliness

Such a fun weekend!!  We barely left the house and we spent most of our time in swimsuits or pajamas.  If only every day could be a beach day :)

Oscar the IRONMAN

What a whirlwind of four days in Texas!!  The kids and I arrived on Thursday and Grams and Granddad picked us up at the airport to take us out to the farm for the night.  Savannah had soooo many things to do and not a lot of time to do them all but that didn't stop her from trying.  We visited relatives, she fed the fish in the pond, painted flower pots, planted flowers, jumped on the trampoline, rode the motorcycle, performed puppet shows, introduced Granddaddy to Frozen, had a sleepover, and even slept about 8 hours.  Considering we were only on the farm for less than 24 hours, that's quite a lot of things to get done.
Friday afternoon, Grams and Granddad drove us to the Woodlands where we met up with Oscar, Dania, and Harlan Jr for dinner.  Our hotel was centrally located for great food, shopping, and of course the race.

planting flowers

ready for a motorcycle ride

off they go

jumping with Grams

S needed to cool off after dinner

sibling selfie

the day before the race

Saturday morning, Oscar and Dania woke up before dawn to head to the swim start.  The kids and I woke a few hours later and after a quick Starbucks breakfast we went to T1 in hopes of seeing Oscar off on the bike.  Fortunately for him but unfortunately for us he swam faster than expected so we missed seeing him by 2 minutes.  So off the pool we went to hang out until time to see him start the marathon.  Obie and Tracy flew in around noon to surprise Oscar and motivate him during the run.

almost race time

waiting at T1 but no sign of Daddy

O dancing through the first mile 

Moxie cheering section

the surprise spectators

pool time with Harlan

S and Aunt Dania

After dinner and a bath, it was time to head to the finish line and see Oscar complete this overwhelming feat.  Words cannot express the emotions we all felt while watching him come through the finishers chute and cross the finish line.  

waiting at the finish 

coming down the finishers chute

he did it!!!!!

congratulatory hugs

O with Tracy and Obie

What an amazing day!!  A wonderfully exhausting day for all of us.  We all headed our separate ways Sunday morning but the memories we made during that brief, special trip will stay with us always.  We couldn't be prouder of you, Oscar, the Ironman!!

WEA 17 Months

Wow, this past month has flown by!!!  I can't believe our little man is just one month shy of being a year and a half.  I am constantly amazed at how quickly time passes once you have children.  

Walker is still the sweetest, cuddliest, most lovable little boy.  I can't seem to get enough of all his kisses and hugs so lucky for me he is always giving them out.  Every day he is becoming a little more independent and a little more mischievous.  He is constantly getting into trouble by destroying the house, picking on his sister, attacking the dogs, and just generally making a mess.  I guess that makes him 100% boy.  And we wouldn't have it any other way  :)

my sweet boy

"there's that sticker again!"

"I must get it off!"

"What do you mean I was supposed to leave it on?!"

oh well, he's so cute it's hard to fight with him

WEA's 17 Month Milestones/Achievements/Random tidbits:

~biting and hair pulling are still a major problem.  I'm really at a loss of what to do next.  I'm hoping this is just a phase that he's nearing the end of.  

~he is becoming quite the picky eater.  Mealtimes are especially difficult because all he wants to eat are snack items: yogurt, applesauce, cheddar bunnies, dried fruit strips, Cliff bars.  Pizza and corn dogs are about the only meal items that he'll actually sit down to eat.  Ugh! Hopefully this, too, is another phase.  

~he is extremely possessive of his mama.  Poor Savannah can't even hold my hand without him throwing a fit.  And I do mean a fit.  It's amazing that my sweet girl has any hair left.  

~when he gets upset, he lets out a really loud, high-pitched squeal.  This sound has become a regular thing around these parts.  

~he's a lot like his sister in the speaking department.  I can still only make out the words "mama", "dada", "hot", and "step".  Even though he can't verbally tell you what he wants, he manages to show you what he wants by grabbing your hand and directing you to the desired object.  

~he LOVES to be in the kitchen with me while I'm cooking.  He will put the step stool up to the stove and grab a pot and spatula and "cook" right beside me.  He's the cutest little sous chef I've ever worked with.  

~he's figured out how to take his diaper off which has led to a few naked afternoons in the backyard while playing in the sprinklers.  

~he LOVES to play in the sandbox, in the pool, with the water hose, with any ball, with trains, and with anything Savannah is currently playing with.  

~he's very good at following simple directions.  When asked "where is your milk/lovie/shoes", he will immediately go retrieve them.  At music class he is always the first to clean up when his teacher begins to sing the clean up song; unfortunately, the clean up song only works during music class.  

~he still has a major obsession with balloons.  There's always a couple floating around the house.  

naked play time

ice cream face

sous chef in action

my littlest trainer

first day at the pool this year

I can't believe he's almost 18 months old!!  The summer months always fly by which means I'll be planning his second birthday before I know it.  Please slow down, little man!!  This mama isn't ready to be done with the baby stage yet!!