Riding the Boat

Unfortunately due to the oil spill, we haven't made any trips to the islands this summer, but we are still enjoying the boat and heading up the river instead. The kids absolutely love it and I do too. When I think of my childhood, going out in the boat is the memory that comes to the forefront of my mind. I am happy my children are growing up doing the same.

Cousin Love

Baby Girl with her Mama

The Brothers with good hair

This particular day, we saw 3 dolphins heading up the river! I think we followed them slowly for about an hour and we never got tired of seeing them. The kids LOVED it!!

Nathan is making Ava do "Super Girl" while we are going fast in the boat. She loved it!

Uncle Jason with his nieces and nephew and Brother

These kiddos love each other so much!!

Happy Birthday Mama!

We had a little family party for Mom at our house after a nice dinner out.

The Birthday Girl with Ava!

My precious family

I won't tell you how old she is, but doesn't Mama look great?

Me and Mama wearing her new jewelry we gave her!

I love you Mama! Thanks for being a wonderful Mother to me and Grandmother to my babies!

The Binky Fairy

Well we finally decided it was time for Ava to lose the pacifier. We were settled in our new house with no more transitions coming up, so I finally worked up the nerve to actually do it. Ava basically only still used her binky at naptime and bedtime.

The first night was awful... I think it took her forever to go to sleep and she ended up in the bed with us and there were lots of tears... but we made it through without giving in. Then I had a friend suggest that the "Binky Fairy" may need to drop in for a visit. So we really talked up the Binky Fairy and how she would come and bring Ava a present if she could sleep all night without her binky.... lo and behold, it worked!! I underestimated my baby girl- I thought she would put up much more of a fight- but no, that was it! She slept through the next 2 nights without a hitch!

Beautiful princess waking up and asking if the Binky Fairy came

Look! The Binky Fairy did come! (Aren't Ava jammies just precious? They are from Nonnie and are a sweet pink satin with little rosettes on the top)

She even left a note! And even though you can't see it in the pictures, the Binky Fairy left behind her fairy dust all over the floor!! (Noah immediately noted that it was just glitter).

So all is well without the pacifier. Life goes on. However, nap time has been hit or miss without it. That's when I wish she had it back. :)

Breakfast with Daddy

Nathan enjoys taking Noah out for a special breakfast - just the two of them- on occasion. Usually they go to the Waffle House, but today they were headed to "The Donut House". That is not its real name, it's just a local bakery, but that is what the kids call it. These are special times between father and son and I just wanted to make sure we remember them.

The Brothers

I stopped by to see Nathan after I finished taking pictures on the beach of the kids... Nathan wanted some pictures of him and Jason playing tennis. So here they are...

Silly brothers

Action shot

Beach Portraits

I can't go to the beach for a week and not take pictures of the kids dressed up in white. I've got three years to look back on now, and it's crazy how much they have grown. I think I took well over 100 pictures and I've only posted 11, so bear with me. :)

One of my favorites

Also one of my faves...

I love these next two of Ava

Let's Go Swimming!

We took our annual family trip to Seagrove Beach again this year despite the oil spill. However, the ocean just did not look right even though the "officials" said the water was clean. With BP workers all up and down the coast, we felt it was safest for our kids to stay out of the ocean, so we spent most of our time at the pool. We still had a relaxing and enjoyable week, although it was quite strange not to spend any time at the beach.

I Scream, You Scream

We all scream for ice cream!

Happy 4th of July!

Nathan and Noah in the ampitheater in Seaside listening to music before the fireworks.

These little girls are VERY patriotic!

Noah, although happy, is apparently not as patriotic as the girls.