Summer Days

As a teacher, I am blessed to have a schedule to be off during the summer with my kids, so I know I know I shouldn't complain...BUT, I am sad that my days are numbered before returning to work!   

We have spent many hours in our pajamas, watching TV and snuggling.  When Sam was a toddler, he loved to cuddle in our bed for a while after he woke up.  I miss those days with him, but now Ben is my main cuddler!  He wakes up earlier than Sam, so it works out for us to get some one-on-one time together!

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We spent several nights at home with friends playing outside in the water, dirt, chalk, and riding toys.  The great thing about playing outside is it keeps the house clean!   With the heat wave that has hit our area, night time is the only time we can play outside without melting!  Sam loved chasing after his favorite two girls, Kylie and Breece!

For the past several years, our family has lived on schedules and routines....but this week we didn't care about the time!  The kids would sleep until around 9am, we would play on the beach until two of the them had a meltdown, and then we would take them in for a nap.  It was amazing how they all seemed to reach their limit at the same time!  We would go from playing to tears and then knew it was time to go to the house! 

Sam and Caden played in the DRY sand searching for dinosaur fossils and shells.  They were definitely a great pair for each other!

Matt tried to help them build a sandcastle (like the one on Dino Dan) but the two little monsters would destroy it before it was completed!

Ben on the other hand enjoyed the snacks!

And GiGi always had more when the paleontologists were finished digging!

Kylie and Evan spent hours boogy boarding together.  What sweet memories for them!

Ben enjoyed digging as well, but he seemed to dig in the wet sand more....which would completely cover him!  He didn't care though...he ate several hundred grains throughout the week!

I was surprised Sam laid still long enough for this to happen....

But he thought it was a hoot and laughed the whole time!

Everything is better with a friend!

It was A LOT easier to keep up with these two while they were buried under the sand!

Caden enjoyed the wet sand, but Sam didn't like it!

He kept a close eye out because he was told there was a dinosaur fossil nearby!

Determined to find more fossils....

Caden found a brachiosaurus fossil....Sam was thrilled and ready to find more!!

The week we spent with the Merrick family at Gulf Shores was priceless.  Fried pickles seemed to be the appetizer of the week and we learned that eating outside was much more enjoyable than eating inside!  The kids were well behaved...but I always felt bad for the one cleaning up afterwards.  We tried to clean up a little....but we were messy!  I guess they probably figured that when the table was outnumbered by toddlers!  

Now that we are home, Sam wants to dig in the yard to find fossils.... 

1st Trip to the Beach

When Matt and I had Sam, we said we would wait until he could walk before we would attempt the beach...he started walking and then came along Ben.  So...we decided we should wait until Ben could walk.  I am not for sure why we wanted them to be mobile....they were HARD to keep up with!!  

Catching the looks on their faces when they saw the ocean for the first time was priceless! 

Sam walked right into the water and stared at it...

He was mezmerized at how it moved back and forth!

We told Sam to keep his mouth closed, but as you can see--he didn't listen!   He did NOT like the taste!

Hummm...

What in the world is that.....

I think I will go for it...

And...he loved it! 
Unfortunatley, this wave is probably what gave him an ear infection!  Oh-well, it was fun!!  We couldn't keep him out of the water!

This picture is priceless, but the last picture we took of Sam in the ocean.  After he stood up he had sand in his shorts and DID NOT like how it felt!  After drinking salt water and having wet sand in his shorts, he was DONE with ocean water!  Ben on the other hand would have been fine if we threw him out and let the waves carry him back and forth!

Fearless and Fearful

I am ashamed at myself that I have not posted, but I can assure you, I have taken a ton of pictures!   As a teacher, I have always enjoyed summer breaks....but this summer has seemed extra sweet!  One of our favorite things to do is spend time at the pool, but I prefer to go when Matt can go also....two on two is better defense!

We have learned this summer how the boys personalities differ.  Ben is fearless of the water and has to have someone constantly with him, or he would sink to the bottom of the pool with a smile on his face. 

On the other hand, this is one of the few pictures I have of Sam swimming by himself.  He is my cautious one and prefers to stay close to the steps!

Oh how they look so alike, but so different!!

And who needs to stand and play with a water table when you can sit in the middle of it and play!