Makin' a mess...

and someone else cleans it up.
Now, that's my kind of afternoon!!!!

I took the kids up to Noah's Art (in Blakeney) and boy did they have a great time! Mondays and Tuesdays they host an open playdate. (Cost is $5 per child for the hour)

They set up five to six centers with all sorts of fun art activities.

The kids move freely from center to center doing each different art project.

They have a great play area where Sophie, Hudson, and I hung out. Sophie was very interested in what the boys were doing though.

All smiles...as usual!!!!

For a hot summer day, it was a great way to beat the heat!!!

Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? (Wordless Wednesday)

Yummy Summertime Dessert

Yesterday, the boys and I had fun making a watermelon ice cream bombe! My mom used to make it for us when we were growing up! It definitely makes a festive and fun summertime dessert.
Oh and its so......yummy too!!

All you need is:

• 1 quart lime sherbet
• 1 pint vanilla ice cream
• 1 quart raspberry sherbet
• 1/4 cup miniature chocolate chips

You can check out step by step instructions here!!!

Everyone LOVED it!

Our little triathlete...

This weekend, Corban and his best buddy Knox, participated in their first ever kid triathlon. They had to swim 50 meters, bike 1.2 miles, and then finish with .5 mile run!
They did so... AWESOME and we were so proud of them!!
It was a beautiful morning and the weather was just perfect for the race.

Here they are...ready to go!
Check out those manly physiques. lol

Riley and Ada Grace (Knox's little sister) cheered them on from the sidelines!

Here comes Corban! Almost done!!!

Knox sprints to the finish line!!!

A big congratulations hug from Daddy for a job well-done!!

What a race!!!
They were very proud of themselves!
Way to go boys!!!!

We celebrated a job well done at our favorite pizza hang out, Mario's!

My sister Al joined us in the celebration!

and here is Riley, our next little triathlete in the making...

Girls morning out!

Yesterday, Sophie and I had a girls morning out! We dropped the boys off at Grammy's house and then headed up town to visit daddy.

The bank where Shane works was hosting it's annual adoption expo. Several agencies along with CAS (the agency we used) were on hand to pass out information and answer questions concerning adoption.

We spent some time at CAS's booth, talking with potential parents and answering, as best we could, their questions concerning the adoption process. I remember being in their same shoes just a few years ago. It was actually at this same adoption fair, two years earlier, where Shane and I began our adoption quest. I remember being full of questions and feeling overwhelmed by the process. I pray that as these couples we met yesterday embark on their own adoption adventure they would be filled with peace. I pray they would walk this journey with confidence, trusting that the Lord has the PERFECT child picked out for them!

Looking back now though I can't think of anything that grew us more as a couple
or brought our family more joy!!!

Speaking of adoption...

I got the most exciting call from one of my sweetest friends yesterday. Jessica and her family received some much anticipated news!!!!! Go here to read about it and share in their excitement!!!!! God is so good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dedication Sunday

This past Sunday, we had both Sophie and Hudson dedicated. It was so amazing to me that we were standing before our church family holding our two babies!!!! The Lord has truly blessed us and I stand amazed at what He has done for our family!

Shane had the opportunity to introduce the babies and to publicly praise the Lord for our two little blessings!

Our wonderful Pastor then prayed over the babies.

He prayed that they would both come to know the Lord at a young age and that they would spend their entire lives living for Him!! The time of dedication is not only for the babies, but for us as parents too. We stood before our church family and promised to raise our children in a loving, Godly, home where Christ is always the center. We also reaffirmed our commitment to each other as a couple.

It was such a special time!

Playin' Beauty Shop!

I just love having a girl!!! Have I mentioned that before!?!?=) Sophie is so much fun to dress up! I just love it!

Her hair is getting so long. I have given it a little trim twice already
and she is only ten months old!!!!

Today, I decided to see if it was long enough to braid!

Check it out!! Her first ever braid!!!

My little doll face!!!!!

10 reasons I love Surfside Beach..

We just got back from our family beach trip and boy did we have a GREAT time! It went by so fast!!! Doesn't it always!?!? My sister B always says that we have to stop picking the shortest week of the year!!! lol =)

We had beautiful weather and took full advantage of it. Most of our days were spent on the beach, swimming in the ocean, or playing in the sand. The boys LOVED jumping the waves and building castles in the sand. The babies did GREAT too! Sophie LOVED the beach. She especially loved splashing in the ocean. She did try to eat the sand a few times, but quickly realized that that was not such a good idea. Hudson spent most of his time under the canopy snoozing. We did take him for a quick dip in the pool, but he wasn't too sure. He was happiest just sitting on the beach with his bottle.

So here are the top 10 reasons we LOVE the beach (in no particular order...)

1---Hanging out in Garden City!

We have several traditions that we look forward to year after year. Going to the Yum Yum Shop one evening to get ice cream is just one of those traditions.

Look at that ice cream dripping down her little chin!
Sophie sure did enjoy every bite!!!!

After our ice cream, we head over to the arcade to play some fun games.

Riley playing some ski ball!

My Dad, B, Jake and Al

2---Cat naps under the umbrella on the beach!

The beach air wore them out!!!!


3---Hanging out with family on the beach...

Check out these two little beach bums!!!
Sophie and her cousin Jake enjoyed playing together on the beach!

Shane with his two little beach babies =)!!

My mom, my three sisters, and me!

My brother-in-law Matt made his own Steelers version of the game "corn-hole"!
Everyone had a great time playing it on the beach

Corban hanging out with his Uncle Matt!

4---Playing in the ocean...

Riley getting a fun ride with Daddy!

The boys had the best time swimming in the ocean! They jumped the waves and rode their boogie boards.

5---Eating Krispy Kreme doughnuts for breakfast!

Riley enjoyed every bite!!!

6--- Swimming in the pool!

Hudson's first time in the pool!
He wasn't too sure!

Me and my Sophie girl!

We spent a lot of time hanging out at the pool too! It was nice to swim and not have to worry about Sophie trying to eat the sand!

7--- Waking up every morning to this view

8--- Giving Sophie her first ever pedicure=)

Look at those sweet little pink toes!!!

9---Evening walks on the pier...

Riley and KK

10--- and best of all...
lots of smiles, hugs, and snuggles...

All smiles for the camera

Sophie and KK enjoying the beach!

Riley and mommy enjoy some good morning snuggles!



and here is our entire family!

It was a GREAT week and we can't wait to go back next year!!!!!