Myrtle beach - July 2017 - Day #3

Day #3 started with a.... can you guess? A DOG WALK! The evidence were these pretty beach shots.

The NON-evidence was the fact that I arrived home sweaty, but with LAST NIGHT's make-up still in tact, thanks to my company's long lasting make-up.  I am NOT proud of the fact that I went to bed wearing make-up.  I fell asleep blogging, so it was accidental.  BUT... how awesome that I can wake up looking ALMOST freshly showered and painted.

Day #3 was a Sunday, so we just threw on the clothes from the night before and rushed off to our church away from home. We've been several times and we really enjoy it.  My kids stay so engaged. Jax even laughed so hard at one point the rest of the congregation laughed at his laugh.  Haha.  It's really easy to vacate from worship when you are traveling. Satan has a way of sneaking in and tempting you to be lazy and make excuses for not staying focused on #1.  The sermon was great and just what our family needed.

After church, we ate lunch back at our condo and then headed out to the Tanger Outlets.  ONE of our children wasn't interested in shopping, so we allowed HER to stay home, at the condo, while the rest of us shopped our little hearts out.  Darren went ONE way, the boys went another, and I ANOTHER.  We tried to knock out the stores that we each desired to target without dragging the others down.  I love this stage of our lives because I can trust Ty to shop with Jax and Lilah to stay home if need be.  When we all met back up, my boys had spent their OWN money and treated both Darren and I to a few things.  They bough the a tank top and a pop socket for my cell phone.  Isn't that so sweet?

Before we left for the Tanger Outlets, I left Sadie and Simon these adorable Sea Horse cookies.  I brought them from home.  Our local Pet Supplies store offers the cutest cookies.  They are called Tail Waggers.

We had a semi- low key night. We took a walk on the beach and let the kids "night swim".  They had such a blast.  

It was hard capturing crisp photos because of the dark atmosphere and constant moving.

Cartwheels on the beach.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this shot of the Apache Pier.  

My handsome hubby hanging on to the dogs while I snap a few photos of the kids.

And... back to the condo we go to wash off the sand and the ocean water...

BORED!

"I'm BORED!" Isn't that a phrase that we so often hear out of our children's mouths, in the Summer especially? I am trying hard to suggest ideas or mandate non-negotioables in our home this Summer.  I cannot stand the sight of children just laying around or staring into a screen at all times.  It's LAZY and it produces a child with NO goals or drive.  I want to raise my children differently.  YES, I believe in relaxing, but not loafing. There's a huge difference.  I am training my children to be FUTURE adults.  LIFE is not all fun and games as a grown-up, so I am slowly training my children what real life feels/looks like. Below, is a printable I just created.  I desire for my children to be creative, play outside, read, exercise, and play with our family dogs.  There is 12+ hours in a day and this "BORED" printable will tie up 2.5 hours of the day. They will still have scripture memorization, chores, and personal hygiene requirements. After all of the above is complete, there is still plenty of time for fun and rest. Feel free to snag this idea OR you can create your OWN acronym for the word BORED! 

My hope is that this creates LESS boredom and MORE ability to spend their time wisely.  

Easter Baskets ~ 2017

Every Easter, we try hard to give our children their Easter baskets the NIGHT before Resurrection Sunday.  Church mornings are hectic enough and we don't need our children losing focus on getting ready or MORE importantly, losing sight of why we really celebrate Easter. So, on Saturday, we presented the baskets the Ty, Lilah, and Jax.  They were asked to hold hands/close eyes as I lead them to their baskets.  On the count of three, we let them open their eyes.  I love my children's reactions to things. I love seeing what excites them and what winds up being a "eh..." item.  Usually, we don't have too many "eh" items because I put tons of careful thought into what to put into their baskets.  

I love times like these because these three get along so well when they know they have to! LOL!

Ty's basket.

 Lilah's Basket.

Lilah's reactions are always priceless.  She belted out ALL 3 of these things at one point, within the hour she opened her basket: 1. "You are the best mom EVER!", 2. "I feel like I died and went to Heaven!", 3.  "This is like Christmas!!!" That's gratitude my friends, in a nutshell.  Hehe.

 Jax's Basket.  

Darren's Basket. I always get a basket for Darren, BUT it's usually a little more DRESSED up than this year's basket.  I ran short on time!  

 Lilah and Jax also received a beach gnome and mermaid "garden".  

I really think I just wanted this for myself.  I LOVE this entire set up and spent a good half hour in the aisle at Michael's Crafts, haha, carefully picking out items!

What was inside each basket? I try hard to document what was inside for several reasons.  1. I enjoy going back and seeing what I gave them year after year.  After all, I forgot what I did yesterday, much less 3 years ago.  2. I figure my viewers can use it as a reference/ideas for their own children's baskets.  What you see is NOT everything, but I couldn't fit everything in the collage, without distorting the images. But you get the idea....

Ty's items.

 Jax's items.

 Lilah's items.

 Darren's Items.

Even Sadie and Simon (our doggies) received some Easter treats.  They each got (3) of these tailwagger cookies: eggs, chicks, and bunnies.  

You are NEVER too old for an Easter basket!!! PS.  I cannot wait to share what Darren bought me!! 

Merry Christmas, From Our House To Yours!

Christmas cards are definitely a tradition of ours that we LOVE doing.  We try desperate to create an idea that will provide the receive with a great laugh and maybe a tear of joy. Last year, we DID NOT do Christmas cards.  I was so sad about it.  Time just slipped away and our ideas could NOT properly be delivered, so we opted out.  It was the FIRST year we didn't do a Christmas card since 2002. This year, I created an idea, an original idea. No Pinterest necessary.  LOL! It wasn't going to include a family photo, but at the last second, I decided to snap a pic of my kids (above) directly after church! Tack on the word "Blessings" and wala! I love how sweet it turned out.  

The main idea involved lottery "scratchers", as so many people have been calling them as they have texted to thank us!

I purchased 90 lottery scratch off tickets.  Of course, they had to be Christmasy!

 Then, I designed a printable, on my computer, which read: 

The happiest people in life are givers, not getters! What will you do? Scratch it or give it? We will never know!?! Good luck!!! #Proverbs21:26

I ran around town, like the crazy lady that I am, in search of some adorable envelopes that the lottery scratchers would fit in.  I found several that I liked, so I bought them all.  

I robbed Ty's piggy bank of 90 pennies.  I shined them up in vinegar and salt water.  Just like new!

I hot glued the penny to the exterior of the envelope.  You know, incase they needed something to "scratch" the lottery ticket with.  That cute little "Merry Christmas" sticker was added for Christmas cheer.  

I inserted BOTH the lottery ticket AND the tag about "giving".  

Here are a few more examples!

I'd love to know what people did with their ticket or if they won! LOL! I think everyone is afraid to tell me that they probably DID keep it.  Hehe.  We have been blessed immensely and our home is definitely a home that LOVES to give, after all, it feels so much better to give than to receive.  

In the mail they went, 8 days before Christmas.  That is far too late for my taste, but hey.... at least Christmas cards went out this year.

The Lord has been so very good to us.  I am beyond thankful for his daily grace, mercy, and forgiveness, aka salvation, but aside from that, I am especially grateful for the greatest earthy gift HE has given to me... those who live in this home on Millwheel Lane.  They drive me bonkers, frustrate me, and challenge me, but the joy and fullness that I feel with them could NEVER replace the emotions or feelings from a gift under the tree. Merry Christmas, from our house to yours!