Splish Splash They were Makin' Me Laugh

The house we stayed in at Rosemary Beach had it's own private pool. It was perfect for us and just right after a hot day at the beach or for Mommy to lounge by as Baby Luke took his naps inside. I actually got to read a whole book while we were there - Heaven! (I read 'The Shack' in case you were curious.)

Best Friends for Life! (I've made them promise to stay that way. And I will guilt them forever, in the way that only a loving mother can, if they don't.)

Charlie's newset angel (and most beautiful, if I may say so myself.)

My sweet angelic boy (most likely contemplating how to get away with squirting his sister in the head with a water gun.)

The only problem with our preciously perfect private pool... the crocodiles!!

There was one with red hair...

...and a blonde one too!

We tried to get our money back for having to tame such wild creatures on our otherwise peaceful gettaway, but not only were we refused a refund, we were told we'd have to keep the little creatures, take them back home with us and raise them to adulthood!

Never saw that in the brochure.

A Tale of Two Sands

(These pictures are from our Rosemary Beach trip in September. More on that later, I promise.)


There are two types of sand. One for playing, and one for eating.


What? You didn't know about the eating kind? Well, it is very tasty. I know this because Luke told me.

So here I will share with you a few pictures from Luke's first, and last, day at the beach this year. It was fun while it lasted, but it didn't last long. He just would. not. stop. eating the sand! After much insistance on my part that it was "yucky! No, no Lukie" I quit trying to fight him and told Chris to "just go ahead and let him put some in his mouth and he'll figure out real quick that it's a bad idea." Hmm, yeah Mom, brilliant idea. My little 'reverse psychology' backfired. After one taste he wanted more, and more... I kept waiting for him to catch on that sand in your mouth was a bad thing. Finally Chris put an end to it saying that even if Luke thought sand in your mouth was a good thing, he thought sand in your tummy probably wasn't. I mean we're talking potential permanent intestinal blockage here!

We were able to distract him with the "Let's Dig a Hole to China" Project for a little while but then he started trying to drink the ocean water that begin filling it up. A few more minutes of that and Daddy caved in and took our wet, sandy, sticky, hot and sleepy baby back to the house for a bath while Maya, Jonah and I kept up with the digging project. I enjoyed the sudden blissful peacefulness and when I looked at Jonah I thought, "He's only 2 and a half years older than Luke and it's amazig how much more he can do." Again, I always seem to go back to the realization that they are growing up so incredibly fast. I want to take each moment and freeze it. Soak it up and hold it close to my heart.... Well, most moments.

Mr. Worker Man, ready for the big dig.

Yes, let the digging party begin!

Luke says, "Ok, yeah, that shovel was cool, but... is that some fresh sand over there?"

"Oh yeah, now were talking. This is the good stuff!"



"Let's see. Exfoliated Face? Check. Sea salt hand scrub? Check check."



"Better make sure I get in all of the grooves here. It might be a while before my next manicure."

"Oh yes and the salt water mousse. I just love the volume it gives my hair. So invigorating!"

The rest of the family, back from testing out the water. Looks like Chris thought it was fabulous! ;-)

(Sorry hon. I just couldn't resist.)

"Hmm, this looks like it could be a useful tool in my quest for finer, more sofisticated tasting sand. Gourmet sand, if you will."

"Yup, I think we've found it. Once we dig all the way to China, I will begin importing my own brand. 'Luke's Gourmet Asian Spice Sand'. Maybe we can sell through catalogs..."

So while our little gourmet entrepreneur was home getting sand scrubbed out of his ears, my other two worker bees continued their job of sand pool perfecting. Don't we all love a project?

Wedded Bliss

On August 30th our dear friends Samantha and Jamie were married. Maya was the flower girl and Jonah the ring bearer, although he preferred to be called the prince. I believe that means Maya's prince, since all they can talk about now is marrying each other. I keep having to remind them that we're not from Kentucky. (Just kidding. That's a little jab at some dear friends, just to see if they are reading this.) Maya was a gorgeous little flower girl/princess who took her responsibility very seriously. And Jonah was the cutest ring bearer/prince ever (no bias here.) He tried very hard to smile for all the pictures (you all know that is not something he enjoys) and did everything we asked of him even though our poor little man was in the midst of a stomach bug, unbeknownst to any of the wedding party. There were a few choice moments where we thought he might toss his cookies in the middle of the ceremony, but my tough little guy pulled through, even to the reception where he finally got to dance with Mommy (and Maya with Daddy.)

There is a cute sidenote on that: earlier we had shown them our wedding video and when it got to the part at the reception where Chris and I had our first dance Jonah started crying and said "I wanted to dance with Mommy at the Ball!" They're taking this prince and princess stuff seriously, I'm telling you.

Mommy with the Prince and Princess.

Omi joins in the fun. Would you believe she made that beautiful wreath for Maya's hair? Those are real hydrangea from her garden. Thanks Mom!

Typical response to the camera.

Mom, Dr. Bill and Sandy (lovely Mother of the Bride).

Getting ready to walk down the aisle. I think it was about 30 seconds after I snapped this shot that Jonah announced "I have to throw up!" I grabbed him and began to dash to the bathroom, but looked back and saw only two more bridesmaids before their turn to walk. I looked down and asked him again how he felt. Miraculously, he said he was ok. So, down the aisle they went.

I hung back in the lobby with Baby Lukie and when the ceremony was over I was so proud that they made it back up the aisle too. Only, a few minutes later Chris, with a sweat soaked brow and big eyes, informed me that he had just endured another "I'm gonna puke" moment, apparently just as the bride and groom were announced husband and wife. Chris shoved our sweet, sick prince's head into a bag right as the happy couple were begining to walk back up the aisle. Jonah held his cookies though (what a trooper) and Daddy sent our lovely flower princess and ring prince back up the aisle, along with the rest of the wedding party and no one was the wiser. Phew!

A post ceremony celebratory hug.

My beautiful Flower Princess.

My sweet Ring Prince.

This is a short clip of Daddy and Maya dancing at "the ball." And Jonah being infatuated with his true love - the guitar. (Remember to scroll down and pause the blog playlist if you want to hear the video clip.)

And where are the lovely bride and groom, you ask? I can't believe this is the only picture I have of them that night. If I get a better one I'll update this.

Mouse House

One evening recently while Chris was out of town and Luke was at Mom's, I took my two eldest to Chuck E. Cheese's, per their fervent requests. (And yes, I brought along a large pack of hand sanitizing wipes and prayed for germ protection.) They had a blast and we racked up 200+ tickets! Woo hoo. Enough for two pastic sharks, which they played with in the tub that night as I scrubbed them down.

Maya was really good at this game.
Chatting it up with Bob the Builder.
Air hockey! A family favorite... as long as Maya wins.

Round and round. We love the carousel!
Mister Conductor.
My two sweeties with "The Mouse", as Jonah calls him.

Next time you're there make sure to splurge and get the sketch artist booth picture thingy done. The 'drawing' usually turns out really well. I even have one framed and people have asked where we had it done. I'm serious!

Bird Soup

We love to play outside. My kids could spend all day, every day outside. Especially if dirt is involved. One of their favorite things to do is to make "Bird Soup". It think it started at my parent's house when they discovered the bird bath full of water. They started throwing random pieces of grass and twigs in, in an effort to "feed the birds". If they could dig up a worm or find any other type of insect to throw in, that was an extra bonus. So now, anytime they can find any accumulation of water outside they begin the detailed task of making more bird soup with whatever 'topppings' they find available. Maya must have certain bird soup recipes in mind because she is always giving Jonah very specific instructions on what to add and exactly how much. This doesn't bother Jonah at all. In fact, I think he likes following her instructions. God made them so perfectly for one another. And I'm so glad that they are so close in age too. I wonder what they'll say when they grow up and realize that they really aren't going to marry each other, as they have planned now.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Chris turned 33 this week. Here are pictures from the party at Gigi's house.

I can't tell you how exciting it was for me to get a picture with everyone (Jonah) actually looking at the camera.
Baby Luke with Cousin Isaac.


In case you are wondering what we got for Daddy, I will remind you of his Father's Day, Birthday, Christmas, Valentine's present... The AMG. Other than that, there are some new clothes and PS3 Guitar Hero.

The Princess and the Tea

Maya and Gigi hosted a Princess Tea party last weekend. Not for a birthday or any other special occasion, but just for fun! Isn't that great? So many days seem to be filled with 'need to's' and 'have to's' (or what we think we need or have to do... but that's another post) that I think it's wonderful to get to do something fun, just because you want to. Maya loves princesses and tea parties so Gigi invited some friends and their daughters/granddaughters over last Sunday for a Princess Tea Party. It was frilly and fabulous. Maya was in heaven!

Please notice the precious princess castle cake that our dear and talented friend, Marissa, made (and graciously invited Maya to help with.) Thank you, Marissa!

Princesses Cora, Maya and Lauren

Omi, Gigi, Princess Maya, Princess Cora and me! See? I do get in pictures occasionally (but only when I have cropping authority.)

Beautiful princess sisters, Leah and Maddie.

Three beloved generations of Villagers and the awesome Wilson girls.

My Amish friend, Jan (inside joke), and her sweet daughter Marissa, the cake artist.

Snow White (Princess Cora) getting ready to fit her tiara.

Lovely Princess Leah and her magic mirror.

So what else do princesses do besides sip tea, you ask? Well, dance, of course!


And in case you were wondering where Jonah was during all of this girliness... He was Opa's fishing buddy! When he got home he proudly spread his arms out wide and said, "I caught a fish thiiiis big!" Too cute, my buddy boy, toooo cute.