Mr. Crabby

Ryan made quite the find on our last day at the beach.  A huge crab.  And while Ryan found the crab, it was Mr. Brad who heroically captured this crawling critter.  Mr. Crab was enjoyed by all the children and carried around in a blue sand bucket for hours.  Though he attempted to escape on numerous occasions, brave Madeline ran behind him and captured him, thwarting each attempted runaway.  All this attention was not too good for Mr. Crab's lifespan, if you catch my drift. . .

Everyone investigating "the find".

This is a picture that Ryan took.  Do you know what it is?  Indiana Jones for Wii.  Someone was a little excited about this purchase.  Each time we stepped into the beach house, Ry was asking Mr. Brad if he wanted to play Wii.

More Beach

Maddie loves baby Ellie.  She took picture after picture of sweet Ellie, and was always asking me or Daddy to take a picture of her with Ellie.  Her tender spirit is so precious.

Ry and Chase loved hitting the waves together.  As you can see, they were both fans of watching Jay on the boogie board.  I'm sad I did not get any pictures of the pair of them slapping each other's behinds.  Such boys!!!  I love it.

One of my favorite parts of our beach days was driving the 0.3 miles from our beach shell to our house. Matt would open the trunk of the minivan and the kids would pile in with all their sandy stuff. Without closing the trunk, he would blare "Hype Man (trudog)" by Toby Mac, a rap song.  Maddie and Ry had such a fun time singing along and jamming.  I know there were people thinking we were crazy, but it is one of our greatest memories from the beach.

Onslow Beach

Since Matt is heading to Brazil for two weeks this summer, our annual trip to the Outer Banks was replaced with a long weekend at Onslow Beach, near Jacksonville, NC.  We had a great time as a family, and with our friends the Emory's and the Brister's.  

Here's Madeline working on sand castles.  It's so funny to think there was a time when she was afraid to go near the water.

Here's Ry, appearing to be peacefully enjoying the water.  Don't be fooled.  The boy was a dare devil this year, going out as far as we would let him.  The days of relaxing on the beach are gone for Mommy and Daddy, as we kept eagle eyes on Ry.

The Ry guy taking a break from all the activity.

Afternoon siesta at the beach house.  Ry and Jay enjoying some Indiana Jones on the wii. While the boys enjoyed a video game, the girls (Maddie and me) took a walk to the store to buy a souvenir and share an icee.  Whenever Maddie and I go out together, she sings this cute song--"We're having girl time, we're having girl time.  Just me and Mommy, just me and Mommy". It's so precious.
Growing up in a house full of females, Mommy had no idea that the mesh inside of swim trunks, when combined with sand, can result in terrible skin chafing.  The poor boy was in some serious pain on day 3 at the beach.  Thankfully, baby Ellie had some diaper cream to spare, and in no time Ry was back out on the beach.

Madeline loves digging holes and finding all sorts of treasures.  Aside from shells, the great treasures on this trip were the shark teeth.  We found 105 (Madeline counted them all).

Enjoying some waves.  This picture is quite descriptive of Madeline's and Ryan's personalities. Madeline sticks close to Daddy, where it's safe.  Ryan goes off on his own, taking on each wave. He punched and kicked at the waves as them came crashing toward him.

At one point, when we were in the water, Ry ignored my calls to come back.  After facing some consequences for his decision to ignore me, Ry and I had a conversation.  I tried to explain to him that waves can knock him down and/or pull him under the water, and for that reason, we have to be cautious in the ocean.  To this he replied, "No Mommy.  If waves come, I just push them away, like this". He then showed me how he pushed the waves away with his arms.  Little did he know that his words and his demonstration, gave Mommy all the more reason to shadow him in the water.

Daddy and Madeline search for sand crabs and shark teeth, as the water rolled back into the ocean.

Our sweet girl, on the lookout for beach treasures.  Our last day on the beach, with the Brister's gone, Madeline made new friends.  She saw two girls near us, who were playing in the sand.  She boldly walked up to them and asked them if they wanted to play.  They eagerly accepted her invitation and they played together for a couple hours.

Ryan was so cute to watch shovel.  He would dig a large portion of sand with his shovel, and then heave that portion behind his back, causing sand to fly everywhere.

The Bobes and Madely

The girl loves her dog, even though he attempts to steal stuffed animals from her room each time she leaves her door opened.  

We have to watch both Madeline and Ryan with Bobo, for Bobo's safety.  Ry, of course, loves to wrestle Bobo, and can be too rough.  Madeline, on the other hand, loves Bobo too hard.  In giving him hugs, she squeezes his neck so hard that it cuts off his air supply.  Thankfully, Bobo is very laid back and just loves his family.

Pullen Park with GG

After a week at home, I joined GG and the children for a day at Pullen Park.  It was so fun to watch them run around and play with each other, and with GG.  Though we love spending time with Maddie's and Ry's friends, we also love watching the two of them together, alone. They can be the best of friends, running with each other, laughing hysterically, and playing make-believe games.  

We started the day with a ride on the boats.  

GG then accompanied Maddie and Ry on the train ride.  It was on the train ride that they spotted the paddle boats and somehow talked GG into taking them on a paddle boat ride.

Ryry and GG pose for a picture during our picnic lunch.  Though Ryry is not a "true" cuddle bug, he cuddled up to GG ALL week.  Why. . .because he shares GG's love for Cheese-Its.  Whenever GG had a box of Cheese-Its close by, Ryry was glued to her.  So long as GG doled out  Cheese-Its, Ry was right there cuddling with her.

Go, GG, go!  GG got a great workout, as she was the only one paddling this boat.  Ryan did all the steering and Madeline occasionally helped GG by pedaling with her arms.  For those of you who don't know GG, she is one of the most energetic *%&# years olds, you will find.  It always shocks Matt and me. 

Time to climb some trees.

Batman's In The House

Check out our guy's newest cut.  Daddy did a great job for his first time cutting a design in Ry's hair.  

Mother's Day

The month of May is one of my favorite months.  To me, it feels like the beginning of the summer.  The weather is warm and fresh, but not yet humid.  And we celebrate Mother's Day, Memorial Day, and my birthday.  This May, however, has been a bit different.  It began with a round of epidural steroid injections in my back, leg pain that landed me straight on my back and which kept me on pain meds for a week, and finally, surgery.  However, there is MUCH to be grateful for.

Mother's Day began with breakfast in bed.  Some little monkeys, with the help of their Daddy, made me an omelet with yogurt and coffee.  I even got a special flower cut right from our garden.  

Though I was not feeling good, I really wanted to do something special on Mother's Day.  We decided a trip to Bond Park would be fun, and it was.  We played near the water and had fun watching Bobo chase after the water he was splashing (our silly Bobo did not realize that he was making the water splash).  After spending a few minutes at the playground, we headed to 5 Guys for dinner. . .one of my favorite restaurants.  Here's the fam at 5 Guys.  More than the food, Maddie and Ryan love the peanuts there.  They spend most of their time cracking the shells, eating the peanuts, and then placing the shells on their fingers.  

As an aside, Bobo, has been a wonderful additional to our family.  We love playing with him together and laughing together at all he funny things he does.  We especially love when he gets the crazies and runs through the house like a mad dog.  Thanks for all the entertainment, Bobo.

Ryry and I share a peanut.  Okay, I know it looks a little gross, but he's my baby!!!

Me and my girl.  Madeline is such a sweetie and so thoughtful.  Many times throughout the day she asks me how my back is feeling just out of the blue.  I hate that she knows that I'm in pain, but I am touched by her sensitivity.  I love you baby girl.

Here's the Ry guy stuffed with peanuts and grilled cheese.  His new passion is wii.  His favorite games are Spiderman and Batman Lego's (a gift from GG).  I am amazed at how good he is at three years old.  I love to sit and watch him play.  Often Madeline and Ry play together. After about 30 minutes, Madeline loses interest, but not Ry, he stays completely focused.

Dear Madeline and Ryan, thank you for the blessing of being able to celebrate Mother's Day. You are truly gifts from the Lord.  I love you so much, and see so many incredible character traits developing in both of you.  I will never stop loving you.  Mommy