Friday, July 31, 2015

Happy Birthday Gavin Monster!!

I seriously can't believe that this sweet boy in 3...THREE, years old! He is such a fun little kid and so sweet...well, most of the time! We have certainly entered the terrible threes! Whoever said 2 was the worst, had never had a 3 year old. Just this morning, before 9am, we had a fit because he wanted to put his shorts on but he kept getting both legs in the same hole. When I would help he would take them off completely and throw them across the room. I finally had to walk away.Then, not 5 minutes later, he threw himself in the floor because the spoon I had used to stir his oatmeal, wasn't the spoon he wanted to use. Those are just a few examples of what my day is like recently. It's a good thing he's cute and wakes up saying "I missed you mommy, when I was sleeping." He is such a sweet boy and loves his sisters so very much. I pray that never changes!

We didn't have a party for him this year. Mainly because our schedule didn't really allow it, plus we know like 2 people...hopefully that will change over the next year. We did, however, celebrate while we were at the beach with Todd and Kelly...one of the 2 families we know!

For a month anytime you ask Gavin what he wanted for his birthday he would say "A mickey cake." So dang it if I wasn't getting my boy a mickey cake! The beauty of a small town is that someone always knows someone that does what you need. In this case...make a mickey cake! 

Bennett and Gavin are only 3 weeks apart in age.

The cake was so cute and tasted pretty yummy too!

Emory had to write Gavin a sign...pretty cute!

A soccer ball and a fireman's hat that makes the siren sound...it's lovely...gee thanks Todd and Kelly! :/
 Chase was out of town the day of Gavin's birthday. so we celebrated the night before. Gavin decided he wanted s'mores instead of cake, which was fine with me because that meant I didn't have to make one and have most of it go to waste.


It was sweltering outside but when your son says he wants a fire for his birthday, you make him a fire!

He was so excited...and messy!


Ready to open his presents!

Hulk hands!! Surprisingly we have not had any instances of punching our sisters...knock on wood!!

Riley had to try them out too!

Lego time...mostly he watched, but he loved it and had to play with his airplane when we were done!
How is it that 3 years has gone by so quickly?! I look at pictures from last summer and watch videos on my phone and see how much he has grown! He talks all the time and his vocabulary is growing by the day. His sweet chubby cheeks are thinning out and his hair just keeps getting curlier! I love this sweet boy so very much! I know that he will grow up quickly and become a smelly teenager but I am learning to cherish these days where he says "kiss my face momma" and when I kiss him all over his face he says "do it again!" over and over! Happy sweet boy! Your mommy and daddy love you so big!

And our Summer begins!

The weekend immediately following the end of school, we drove down to Atlantic Beach with friends of ours. Her parents own a house just off the beach and we were able to use it to get away for a long weekend! The kids had a great time jumping waves and digging in the sand. Riley still wasn't walking at this trip which made the sand more challenging but she still had a great time!

These 2 love each other so much!!

Bennett had to join in on the morning snuggles!

Riley would crawl up in this seat, pat the one beside her, and say "Be-it, Be-it" (Bennett, Bennett)

This child wants to be as big as her siblings. Sometimes that includes wearing their stuff, even if that means it makes it harder to eat your snack!

I think the baby pool on the back deck was their favorite thing!

Goofy girl!

This boy...I have no idea what he is pouting about and there's a good chance he doesn't know either!

All smiles now...and curls...oh those curls!!

All my babies!!

Digging in the sand with sissy!

When did she get this big?!?!

She slowed down long enough to snag a picture with he momma!
We went into Morehead city Saturday evening to eat dinner and walk on the boardwalk. It was the last weekend of the Big Rock fishing tournament, so we were hoping to see some big fish being weighed...that didn't happen.

Chase and Bennett in front of the Big Rock store

Riley looks lost in thought...

After pizza, we went to get ice cream and enjoy the nice weather. 

The only picture of all 4 of us. (taken by Emory, she did pretty well)

Two peas in a pod these two!!!

Todd loves him some Riley snuggles!!
The Sunday that we left we went to the Pine Knolls Aquarium just down the road. Now it's no Georgia Aquarium but we had a great time and the kids really enjoyed the sea turtle lab at the end.

The big tanks always capture their attention!

Sea turtle lab!! You picked out a turtle, laid him on the table and the computer would scan him and tell you the diagnosis. The next tables were treatment and rehabilitation, before releasing them back into the ocean. Very cool!

Dr. Gavin treating his sea turtle. I believe his was hit by a boat. Poor turtle.

Emory waiting on her diagnosis.

Bennett treating his for getting too cold.

Happy camper hanging out in the stroller. This didn't last long and she was ready to get out and check everything out herself!

Releasing it back into the ocean

Posing with their turtles!

More releasing...

Riley was over it at this point.

Only picture we got of all 4 up close...and this is as good as it gets!
Todd and Kelly have become great friends. While Todd and Chase work together and see each other on a regular basis, we aren't able to get together as often as we would like. We hope fore many more trips like this in the future!

Wedding DAY!!!!

What a day! For 8 months we have been partying and planning, planning and partying; and it all came to fruition on May 23rd! Katie was a BEAUTIFUL bride. It was so surreal watching my baby sister marry the man of her dreams. I had the best view standing right beside her and getting to watch each facial expression. What a day!!

My beautiful oldest child!

Emory and the beautiful bride!

Eva and Emory

Getting some energy out!

The 3 beautiful flower girls!!

Practicing their dancing skills for the reception!

Sweet handsome boy and Sweet Eva! They were so excited!

I told Tripp he should feel special that he got a smile out of Riley!

Me and my Momma! She looked beautiful in lavender!

Graeme and Mandy. Graeme is the only one that didn't make it down the aisle.

We got a lot of "you look a lot like your sister" that day/night!

Mrs. Susan was a miracle worker with these kiddos! She kept them entertained until it was time for them to walk down the aisle!
Two little cuties...ready to walk down the aisle

The ceremony was beautiful and very personal and followed by quite the reception! The Club, in Birmingham was the venue and it was beautiful! Overlooking the city with all their friends and family was a great way to start their marriage!



No cake smashing here...all class!

Jody's cake was golf themed...of course! Very cool and very yummy!

Riley dancing with Mrs. Susan

This is one of my favorite pictures of us. Overlooking the city were we fell in love, about to celebrate 10 years of marriage!
What a day!! We were all exhausted that night and had no problems falling asleep. I spent the next day opening presents at Katie and Jody's house, with Elizabeth...we dined on BBQ and leftover wedding cake! Wish I had some of it right now while i was writing this post! Happy wedding day Katie and Jody! Here's to MANY happy years together!!