Hitting the books again!

Today, I hugged and kissed my precious boys goodbye and scooted them out the door to begin a new and wonderful year at school. 

 This day is always bitter sweet for me. I am so excited for them and the fun and new opportunities that await them, but I am also so sad to see them leave home each and every day.

 I know that the Lord has amazing things in store for them this year and can't wait to see those plans unfold. He has already blessed them both with AWESOME teachers and sweet friends to spend their days with. I see the Lord's hand at work, and am so humbled at His faithfulness to our family.

Monkey bread was unanimously voted as our back to school breakfast of choice.

 After eating and reading our devotional for the day, we headed out the door and joined the parade of other families already walking down our street on their way to school. It's sea of kids sporting new bright shoes and carrying new backpacks;) Shane went into work a little later than usual so he was able to walk the boys to school with us on the first day too.

Once we got to school, the boys were super excited to show Shane their classrooms and introduce him to their teachers.

Both boys seemed to settle nicely into their new rooms, and the only tears shed as we hugged goodbye were...MINE;) 

 When the boys arrived home this afternoon, they were all smiles. It seems they both had a SUPER-DUPER first day.

The verses we read this morning and are claiming for this new school year are:

Colosians 1:9-10

"We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

"Showers" of blessing...

  "May he be like rain that falls on the grass, like showers that water the earth!" 

Psalm 72:6

"Then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase..."

Leviticus 26;4

 Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” 

Hosea 6:3

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater..."

Isaiah 55:10

Last week of S-U-M-M-E-R!

 We are beyond sad, but it's the harsh reality. Summer is almost over!! It's so hard to believe! Monday morning, alarms will ring, backpacks will be packed, and schedules will be followed.
But until then, we are doing our best to savor every last drop of what's left of our wonderful summer!

This week, we've tried to fill every minute with FUN, FUN, and more FUN;)
It's our one last hurrah!

Monday, we spent the morning hanging out with friends at...

Sky High!
I had purchased several groupons for the kids months ago, and since then they had been burning a whole in my pocket.  Monday's weather was wet and soggy so it just seemed like the perfect time to have fun inside!

The kids had a BLAST and are already begging to go back!

  After a morning full of jumping fun, we headed over to the mall to enjoy lunch 

and some more play time!

Tuesday, we headed to the $1 movies. 

This was Addy-Kate's very FIRST trip to the theater and she did so well!! As long as she had her bottomless box of popcorn in hand, she was content to sit for hours;)

 After the movies, we stopped by Wendy's to redeem our coupons for FREE frosty's!

On Wednesday, we headed to our library to meet the Bobcats mascot, Rufus!

Rufus was there doing a program to promote reading and literacy among children! He put on an AWESOME show, and at the end of the program each of the kids got to visit the Bobcats bus. The bus was set up just like a library inside and the kids got to pick out their very own book to take home!
 How cool is that!?!?

After the library, the kids asked if they could visit the "little red caboose" which is parked right next door. With no where else to be, and nothing else going on...I said, "sure."

This time next week, we'll be running here, there, and EVERYWHERE!! But for now, I'm happy to stop, savor, and ENJOY these fleeting moments left of summer!

"Summer afternoon - Summer afternoon... the two most beautiful words in the English language."-- Henry James

Sophie the lifeguard

This summer, Sophie became quite infatuated with the lifeguards at the pool. While the other kids were off swimming, Sophie could be found following the guards around the pool, helping them check the chemicals, sweep the deck, empty the trash cans, or giving "thumbs up"to other swimmers letting them know it was safe to come down the slide. 

 

She LOVED having a task to complete at the pool and took her "jobs" very seriously. And if you asked her right now, she would gladly tell you that her new ambition in life is to become a "princess lifeguard"! Let there be no mistake...she will STILL be a princess, but a life guard one at that;)

Needless to say, we got to know all the life guards at the pool very well this summer. 

However, one guard in particular took to Sophie like no other.  Her name was Charlotte and

Sophie absolutely adored her!! Charlotte was so sweet to Sophie and the two became fast buddy's;)

 Charlotte got Sophie this "lifeguard in training" shirt which was a HUGE hit with our girl.

 

Charlotte is a student at Clemson University and after a quick visit down there this summer, she brought all the kids back bright orange Clemson T-shirts. I mean, how incredibly sweet is THAT;) The kids LOVED them and are now begging to go visit Charlotte at school and attend a football game. I'm seeing a fall family weekend trip in our very near future, for sure;)

 Charlotte left this weekend and is headed back to begin her junior year at school.  Boy oh boy, do we miss her so much already! The pool just won't be the same with out her. Before she left though, we were able to spend an entire day with her at one of our all time favorite places--Carowinds!!!

  It was such a treat for us, and the kids loved having Charlotte all to their selves;)

What an incredible blessing it was for our family to have met this sweet girl over the summer!

And when Charlotte returns to the pool next summer, I know one little girl in particular who will be super excited!! With bathing suit on and whistle in hand, Sophie will be ready to rule the pool once again;)

Beach Family Pictures

Every year, while staying at the beach, we set aside one night during the week for family pictures.

 Getting 17 people to be still, smile, and look in the (semi) same direction--at the same time--is no small task!

My sister B and I usually resort to bribery,  pleading, and even begging in order to get the job done! HA!

But with a trip to the pier promised once everyone was done, the picture taking commenced and went surprisingly well.

Corban, 10 years old

Riley, 7 years old 

 

Hudson, 4 years old

 

 My girls!

Sophie, 4 years old 

and 

Addy-Kate 3 years old

Me and my sweet girls

Daddy and AK

Just the two of us;)

Our family

My AWESOME parents

The kids (minus my brother Steve) with my parents

 

My sweet sisters!

 KK and AK!

Al, Jake, KK, and AK

Family picture night can seem like a chore sometimes, but I'm so thankful that we take the time to do it. Each and every sweet face captured in these photos is so incredibly special to me.

I love this quote...

“A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away.” - Eudora Welty

And I'm so happy to have captured these fleeting moments with the ones I love most!

Sand, Sun, Smiles!!!

We got back last Saturday evening from our annual trip to Surfside Beach, SC. I think, if my math is correct, this was my 25th summer spent at Surfside. I've gone every summer since I was a little girl and the same sweet memories I made growing up, are now the memories my own kids are making. 

Oh, it was SUCH a wonderful week (maybe the BEST one yet)

 filled with contagious laughter, unforgettable moments, and sweet SWEET memories.

 We've created so many wonderful traditions over the years that the anticipation of our trip is almost as much fun as the actual trip itself;)

 And although every year is the same in many ways, the memories made and the time shared each year is unique and special!

So here is my TOP TEN list of memory making moments at Surfside Beach, 2013

Memory Making Moment #1

Each year, as we head out of town, we stop at Quincy's and enjoy a BIG ole' breakfast buffet.

It's the ONE time a year where my kids are allowed to fill up on nothin' but doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, chocolate chip pancakes, french toast, and ICE CREAM (yes ice cream) for breakfast;)

 Memory Making Moment #2

Cousin time!

What a blessing it is to have cousins around who are wonderful playmates and also best friends!!!

Memory Making Moment #3 

Ocean Time!

Of course, the beach is where we spend most of our time while on vacation.

 Around 9am every morning we stake out a spot, set up our tent, and hang out until about 6pm!

All the kids absolutely LOVE the ocean!!! Whether their jumping waves, boogie boarding, or just swimming in the water, they can't seem to get enough. 

 Needless to say we soak up EVERY minute of beach time that we can!

Memory Making Moment #4

 Sand Time!

When the kids aren't in the water, they are playing in the sand.

Digging big holes, building tall castles, or looking for pretty sea shells...the kids LOVE it all!

 Memory Making Moment #5

Spashin' around in the pool!

The kids enjoy the fact that they can go back and forth between the pool and the ocean as much as they like. We usually spend just as much time poolside as we do on the beach.

Memory Making Moment #6

Daddy Time...uninterrupted---and lots of it! 

So special!

Memory Making Moment #7

The Yum Yum Shop!

We visit this ice cream shop every.single.year while at the beach!

 It's a definite family tradition and one we all look forward too.

Memory Making Moment #8

Cruisin' the strip in our cool set of wheels;)

We love discovering new places that we may not have noticed before had we not had been able to just cruise around town on our golf cart;)

Memory Making Moment #9

Building sand creatures is just another one of our family's many traditions. 

My dad built BOTH of these this year and did such a great job!!!

The kids LOVE them!!

Memory Making Moment #10

Family time!!

So many sweet memories made with the people I love the most in this entire world!

Precious moments enjoyed that will indeed last a life-time!