The Beach

How do you boil down an entire vacation into one post. It's long, but I think this will cover all the basics. After all, what more is there to a beach vacation than some sun, sand and the ocean?

Luke and Max's first look at the ocean.



The first time to experience sand.





First dip.



Max decided he preferred writing in the sand to swimming in the ocean.



Crab hunting.



One of the crabs.



Brave Luke.



Merk and Max dug a hole.



It was huge. Merk even put in stairs and seating so Max could have friends over.



This is pretty much what we did every day.



Max got more adventurous as the week went on.



See, I really was there.



More beach fun.



A great time was had by all. Now we're ready to go back.

What?

Poor Max. He can't hear. Over the past 6 months, he's lost 30% of his hearing in both ears. It's not really funny, but it has led to some interesting moments around here.

Last Saturday, Merk was getting the bacon out of the freezer. The kind we buy comes in a huge package that I fold to get into the freezer. As Merk was getting it out, he commented on how I folded it calling it a "book of bacon." Poor Max, he misunderstood and said, with all seriousness, "I don't want bugger bacon."

Tonight, as we were cleaning up, our dog Scout was being a pest and trying to lick the dishes in the dishwasher. I know it's gross, but at least they were dirty dishes. Anyway, Merk was tired of it and told Scout to move her nose. A minute later, we look up to see Max with a tissue literally wiping Scout's nose. He thought Merk asked Scout to wipe her nose and he was helping her out.

On Friday, Max is having tube and adenoid surgery to help with his hearing. They think he will get most of it back, which is a relief for all of us. But I will miss some of his little misunderstandings.


Blue teeth courtesy of a 4th of July bomb-pop.

Where Have You Been?

Here.......




Just got back from the beach yesterday. At least we're home physically. My mind hasn't shown up yet.

We had a great time so there will be more to come. Prepare to be overwhelmed with the photos of the sun, sand and our children as they experience the beach for the first time.

Chores

Yesterday I had a ton of things to do. Luke was standing next to me as I was making my list and I asked him if he was going to help with my chores.

He looked right at me, through the eyeholes of his batman mask, and said, "No, I'm going to save the world."

Well, I guess that says it all.

Do Not Fear

This is what Batman does on his day off.

Yes, it was 95 degrees outside, but Batman must always be ready.

Happy Anniversary Sweetie!

I can't believe it's been eight years. I've been thinking about you a lot today and feeling very nostalgic. So, in honor of you and our life together, here are the top 10 reasons I would marry you all over again.


You are just as handsome as you were when we started dating.

You make me laugh, even when I don't want to.

You will sit through a stupid tv show just to sit next to me for an hour.

You are an amazing dad and always have time to play with the kids.

You never make the kids feel like they have to work to get your attention.

You don't complain when I serve you peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner, again.

You're idea of the perfect date is a trip to the mall (so is mine so this works great!).

You spend time listening to me, even though I know you're tired and have a million other things on your mind.

You bathe and get the kids ready for bed every night so I can have a break.

You let me stay up reading and never complain that the light keeps you awake.

You have a tender heart and put other people's needs before your own.

You have a heart for God and have been an incredible spiritual leader of our home.


Okay, so that's actually 12, but who's counting. I could go on but I'll stop there. I'm so glad you're my husband and my sweetheart. I'm glad to share my life with you and couldn't ask for a better partner.

Happy Anniversary Sweetie!
xoxoxo

Thursday was Luke’s last day of pre-school. I knew it was coming, but I didn’t expect it to hit me so hard. We really enjoyed the past four years of Mothers Day Out/Preschool and it seems like a whole chapter of our life has ended.

The funny thing is, we were never supposed to go to the Heights in the first place. When I quit work, I enrolled Luke in a different Mothers Day Out program. But halfway through the summer, they called to tell me that they closed his class and I would have to find somewhere else. I panicked. School was starting in 5 weeks and I had to find a program. After calling all over town, the Heights was the only place with a spot for him. Obviously, we took it.

What a great decision. Max goes there now and a year and a half ago, we became members of the Heights. Sometimes I am amazed that we found a church home that we love, all because they had a spot open in their CDC back in the summer of 2004. I shouldn’t be amazed, God works like that.

Here are a few pictures taken by a sentimental mother on her son’s last day. They remind me of such a sweet time in his life.