Happy birthday Nana!!

Twas the night before Nana's birthday & Connor had fishing on the brain!

We made last minute plan to meet Nana & Papa for a beautiful sunset fishing trip at Punta Rassa.  I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am to live where we live.  My kids get to experience the beach and fishing all the time.  And me~ I'm beginning to understand why Dad always mentioned the awesome sunsets.  Growing up, I never really appreciated it.  Now that I'm 'old,' I finally get it.

So our little night out was great.  We had chairs, chips, a close eye on Noah along the seawall, a 6 year old that was learning to cast his pole all by himself, and my tiny fisherman scored 2 "GIANT speckled trout" all by himself.  

Noah was all about chips, sitting on giant rocks, scoping out the birds, and launching shells into the water.

The boys opted to move from under the bridge and to the boat ramp docks.  Within a few minutes, they had 2 trout under their belts!  I love the see the joy on Connor's face when he gets a fish.  

The night was nothing less than perfect.

The next night we gathered at Auntie Nicole & Uncle Craig's house to celebrate Nana's birthday!  There were lots of little boys to keep us busy, but man, are they cute!

Noah likes to refer to the twins as the "bee-bies," even though they're the size of him now!

Two chubs in a tub!

Happy happy birthday Nana (mom)!! xoxoxoxo

A long week leads to a very happy heart

After we returned from our 4th of July family trip, we tried to soak up as much fun together, knowing that in a few days Connor would be gone for a week.  

We had a fun family bounce house and snow cone event at our clubhouse.  Every hot trip to the pool should end with a snow cone.  The boys loved it!

The next morning we ventured to the park early, then were the first happy customers for ice cream at Orange Leaf at 11am.  Who says you can't have ice cream before lunch?!  They have a giant sized Connect 4 game, so we spent a good 1/2 hour playing there while Noah got a joy out of spinning their rotating table tops.

Then Wednesday morning came all too soon.  Connor packed up and headed out for 7 nights.

Seven long nights.

While he was away, my littlest Monster was all into using the potty.  We only had success on 'naked days' where he frolicked around the house in the buff.  He averaged 4-6 successful potty trips per day.  It was great progress, yet a pain to have to stay around the house & make frequent trips to the frog potty to avoid a dreaded puddle somewhere in the house.  It was a lot like house training a puppy.

The hardest, yet funniest, part is after Noah would go potty, he'd look up and smile.  I'd cheer, then have to grab hold of his potty before he picked it up himself to carry it into the bathroom to dump it into the real toilet.  Too many times, Noah would go potty on his own, then proudly drag his potty to the bathroom exclaiming, "Yay," all while spilling his potty all down the hallway.

Mommy did lots of cleaning this week.

After receiving a phone call on Day 2 with my crying C wanting to come home, I got a special visit with him Friday night for a few hours.  I was so happy to have him home (even if it was for a short while) to break up the long week apart.

Then for the next 5 days, Noah would ask for "Don-nah" and look for him around the house.  I tried my best to stay busy to help pass the time.  I had a few photo sessions, which was such a blessing.  I also took on the mission of updating C's room from Star Wars to a fishing room. 

Then this morning, Noah and I were up bright & early to pick up Connor.  When we were reunited, my sweet C cried happy tears & said "I'm SO excited to go home.  I missed you so much."  Goodness, I love this boy.

We have spent most of the day just basking in our normalcy once again.  Noah calls for "Don-nah" and just wants to be near him.  Connor just tells us how much he missed us & that he hopes to never go away again.  The boys are so happy to be together once again.

And I--I can sleep at night again.

12th Annual Grandma Beach Memorial Weekend

This 4th of July, we opted for a 'staycation' and we stayed at Tarpon Point, where we were married.  Things were a little more chaotic this trip with two boys to chase around though!  Night one was catching up with family, pizza in Holly & Doug's room, and scoping out the snook light on the dock.

I dressed the boys in coordinating outfits, but couldn't get a photo of the two of them together no matter what I tried.  My best attempt was to catch them from behind watching the fountain.

Meanwhile, inside, Big Brooks was all smiles for the camera while he tried out his new game of sticking out his tongue at Aunt Holly.

 

Connor couldn't wait for day 2.  He just wanted to fish.  Going fast on the boat was also a must.

(Connor and I call eachother 'eye twins.'  I can't get enough of this picture.  This is the face I will remember always.  When he's grown, I imagine I will still see him as my freckled, green eyed, sweet boy.)

These boys & their Nana.

(Sorry to capture your wind blown hair, Mom!)

Naps on the boat are a breeze.

It's rare Connor gets to be near Noah while Noah is sleeping, but when he gets the chance, he is so sweet & caring.  He just wants to lay with him and holding his hand.  It's really the sweetest thing to watch.

My tiniest little Lovey.

When we got to the beach, I took the opportunity to get some shots of my handsome nephews.

Getting a photo of these boys together is also my greatest challenge!

Are they not the cutest little babes in their hoodies?!

Modeling like a pro.

Connor was itchin' to fish.  Once he got the go ahead, he was thrilled.  

It was seconds before he had his first fish on.

I love his love for fishing.

We headed on back to the hotel after fishing, the kids caught a cat nap on the way in, & then hopped in the pool.

The newlyweds

Alyssa & Jordan

Goobs.

Water cameras are a brilliant invention.

My sister may have enjoyed the water camera a little too much.

This little guy enjoyed his nudity while we were in our hotel room.  He's been interested in using the potty, so we packed his frog potty & took on potty training while when we weren't out & about.

It was more work than it was worth, so by the end of day 2, we put his diaper back on.

The boys were now dressed in their patriotic attire & the countdown was on until firework time.

Connor and his Papa.

(I have so many variations of this photo from over the years & its so strange to see how much C has grown).

I had my camera on me as we walked the docks, so it was photo op time!

 The Sherms

Nana, Papa & 2/4 of their grandbabies

Can we ever get a photo of us 4 smiling?! 

I'll try again in another year or so!

The Brewers

On Day 3, we ventured out on the boat for a tiny fishing adventure with Nana & Papa.

Connor reeled in 12 fish that morning.  He was SO thrilled.

Snapper, sheepshead, and a blowfish were among his catches

When it was time to go check out of our hotel room, C helped Papa drive on the way in.

When did my little boy get to be so big?

Summer time pool fun

My boys have mastered the dreaded 'cheese face' like no other, so when I want new photos of them, I have to be creative.  I have a closet full of photography props from my sessions, but my kids wouldn't sit still for me if I tried waving candy above their faces!  My best bet to get my kids to smile together in a photo or get the non-nostril-flared, non-squinty-eyed, painful smiley face is to confine them in a location that makes them happy.  Successful location #1-- the pool.

Well played, me, well played. :)

Noah loves the freedom of kicking around with his swimmies on in 2 feet of water.

Connor loves when I say "poopy pigeon."  Classy, I know.  It's either that, or he makes me shake my hiney.  I opt for option 1 in public places.

Just keep swimming.  Just keep swimming.

 When it was time for me to hop in and play with them, we made a game out of using the waterproof camera.  For a good 20 minutes or so, this water bug was fully entertained by going underwater & having me take his picture each time.  We got some good laughs!

And it's 12:40am just like that...off to bed, I go (with my chlorineeee hair, as I opted to upload photos and blog instead of showering). There's always tomorrow!