Day #2 Continued...

Oh you know, it's only been three months since we completed our trip to Orlando and a month since I last posted on it. Haha.  Oh well, as they say, "Better Late Than Never!" I will continue to blame it on my kids' intense schedules. Yes, it's Summer, but nothing is SLOWING down. It has actually been a blessing that school is out because this extra curricular schedule could not be maintained throughout the year. We are in the height of AAU Basketball season and dance stuff is keeping us busy and traveling. We just realized that both Ty's nationals and Lilah's Nationals are at the same time, different beaches. Sigh... It will be a mystery on how we handle that dilemma.

A New Look!

Yay! A new look!  I bet you were so surprised to tune in for a daily post and find our old blog gone. Did you think that you accidentally typed in the wrong blog address or clicked on the wrong link? I hope this new look is enjoyed.  I had a hard time saying goodbye to those precious photos captured almost 6 years ago, but it was time. A new look was LONG OVERDUE.  

Christmas At Grandad and Grandnee's Home! ~2018

My in-laws have been very gracious to us, over the last two or three years, to host Christmas Eve dinner.  If I had to fit in another homemade meal, table setting, or prepare for company on top of all that we have going on, I think I would crack. Hahah.   spend the month of December trying to stay on top of it all and then the week after Christmas I spend an entire week cleaning/organizing, catching up on my sleep, and undecorating.  Christmastime like a part time job.  

This year, my kids truly needed their wallets to be reloaded.  They LOVE gifts, but they also have so many wants throughout the year and we just can't buy everything they want.  That doesn't teach them the value of a dollar, nor do they appreciate things nearly as much as when they buy it for themselves.

You can tell by my kids' reactions that what was filled inside of their new wallets was beyond impressive.  

Their hearts were full and so were their wallets.  LOL!  Thank you Grandad and Grandnee for the $250.00 that they each received.  

The first photo, in this post, was self-timed obviously.  I try to capture every moment, with whoever we are with, as we never know when are last days on this earth will be.  The photo quality is horrible, but the people in the photo are awesome.  I am so thankful to Reid and Renee for raising an excellent son, who provides and loves our family above and beyond.

The Color Run

Back in August, before school started, Fort Lewis Elementary School had a fundraiser.  This was the FIRST time that this fundraiser was offered.  

We are always looking for a positive, fun, and unique way to be a family, so we jumped on this opportunity.  Plus, we ploy ourselves on being or try to be, a "fit family", so this was a good way to exercise.  Our entry fees included the t-shirt, a headband, tattoos, and a packet of neon color dye.

On the count of three... everyone released their color packets into the air.

This wasn't like the professional color run, so it was a little disappointing, but we still had a great time.  I think the REAL color run is REAL paint.

Lilah and I finished FIRST, but NOT because we beat the boys.  We had the option to do 1.5 miles OR 3.2 miles.  We chose to do the 1.5 miles.  It was REALLLLLY hot (as you can see from Lilah's face) and I felt it was for our safety.

You can see how hot and sweaty and colorful we were after finishing the race.

I was the MOST proud of Jax.  He really did amazing.  No complaining and kept up with his daddy and big brother.

I love these types of family unity events.  These are the days we will never forget. AND... we helped our children's school in the process.

This was GREAT practice for the real deal.  So... I hope to find out when the color run will be in our area.

Myrtle Beach - July 2017 - Day #1 and #2

It's our Annual tradition... a week, +plus a few days, in Myrtle Beach for the Fourth of July.  We brought Sadie and Simon too.  I am not sure being away from the dogs for 8 days would be easy. Having them with us also saved us a ton of money in boarding.  Love having them with us, but sleeping in typically isn't an option because they need to be walked before the rest of the clan wakes up. Having them with us forces me out of bed around 6:30 a.m. and gets my legs moving, on the beach. I am an early riser, so 6:30 a.m. is sleeping in for me anyway.  I feel like I walked 10 miles a day on this trip, haha.  Let's face it.  The beach views never get old though, so I'll take it.

We arrived on Friday, around 4:00 p.m.  Took the dogs for a walk, unpacked, and then headed out to eat an easy dinner, at Chipotle, and grocery shopped at Publix, for the week.  

On Day 2, we enjoyed the beach and then went out to dinner at Rioz. I don't have too many pictures from either day, but the few I took, I love.

First Day At Myrtle Beach ~ Spring Break 2017

And off we went, to Myrtle Beach for Spring Break! Yahoo! I was completely fine with the dogs joining us, but I wasn't thrilled with them being in my car. I have gone since September, the month I got my brand new car, without having my dogs step foot in it EXCEPT for one time because they had a vet appointment.  Taking then to Myrtle Beach is NEVER an issue, but I did NOT want them in my new car.  Let's just say I have a little OCD issue.  LOL! I wrapped the car in clear paint tarps and all kinds blankets. [Insert crying emoji].

The first night, we ate at a Mexican restaurant  Then, we went to the new Publix grocery store that Bolling Steel built.  We got all of our groceries there. That's pretty much ALL we had time for.

The first FULL day at the beach, I started my day by watching the sunrise with Ty-Ty.  It was gorgeous.  We saw a TON of washed ashore jelly fish too! 

It's HARD to believe, but I truly took these photos with my iPhone! 

I love the seagull in this one, just soaring through the air.

The water was nippy, but the sun wasn't FULLY out, so we expected that.  

Simon and Sadie both were WIPED out after a full hour walk on the beach.

I am always thankful to have my little helper (Ty) with me.  He had actually whispered in my ear, the night before, "Mom, can we do what we usually do? Sneak out and walk the dogs in the morning?" I am NOT going to pass up that opportunity ever!

After the long walk and breakfast, it was time for some SUN and poolside FUN!

I love this stage of life that we are in.  We can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the poolside WITH or WITHOUT our kids.  I even fell asleep at one point with NOT a care in the world. The only time they really need us is when they are hungry!! This was the first year they cared about getting a sun tan, so they actually relaxed some too.  

Later that day, we went back to the beach and took the dogs with us again.  We hung out with the dogs while the kids rode the waves.

I captured this AMAZING shot of a seagull.  He was saving a nectarine pit.  I joked and said, "One man's junk is another man's treasure!"

Simon was SO hot, since he's black, that he kept trying to dig himself into the sand to cool off.  Smart dog.

We just let them go, but sorta kept up with them as the current pulled them.  I love that my kids are so brave and aren't afraid to explore, even IF they watched JAWS on the way down.  Eeeek!

 

 Raise the roof!  Ahahaha.  I have NO idea what he's doing here.  He's so silly.

\

Our fishing pier is under renovation.  This was the crane that was working on it.  You are still able to use the entire pier except for the very end of it, which we did.  

As much as I work out, I just have NEVER been satisfied with my legs.  I have been that way since I have been in the third grade.  So... I wore workout clothes to the pool and the beach the FIRST day.  It certainly provided my tan to be very goofy looking.  I looked like I had red trouser socks on. I definitely wore my bathing suit the next day to even things out, but my legs don't look any better TODAY (currently, as I type this).

Later that night, Darren treated us to a fabulous 5 star dinner, at Ruth Chris' Steakhouse.  

I always try to color coordinate our family because I know there will be wonderful photo opportunities.

#Twins

Being goofy!

I love when they get along!

Our waiter was actually an ELVIS impersonator outside of waiting tables.The kids convinced him to serenade us, but poor Lilah was also kissed.  Ewe! and Awkard! My Liley handled it so well: gracefully and respectfully.  

After dinner, we went to Broadway At The Beach!  Darren took Liley on a mini date.  They road the new ferris wheel together. She was so thrilled.

I thought I did a great job capturing this shot.  Isn't it beautiful? The skies declare HIS glory.

I always post our beach trip in stages because we do so much during our time in Myrtle Beach.  So stay tuned, for more about this trip (soon).