slide + baby pool = hours of summer fun!

Fun times. Brian suggested I set this up a couple weeks ago, and just recently I got around to it. The boys have been out playing in it everyday since. Brian and I even got on our suits and joined in once. Personally I didn't think it was too great. I need another 3 feet or more of water to land in, ouch, but a 30 pound kid - no problem. I ended up sitting in the pool and letting them splash me.

Summer Fun! from capture box on Vimeo.

Oak 4 Months

When Oak wakes he likes to just play in his crib. He will kick, roll around, chew on his hands and feet and make all sorts of sweet little sounds. Here is a video of one of those after nap play times.

Oak After Waking from capture box on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday Song for Grandma Debby

Happy 60th birthday Mom! I hope Dad treats you like a queen today. We love you!!!!

Happy Birthday Grandma Debby from capture box on Vimeo.

Hilton Head, SC

Here are some pictures from our time together.

At the pool!

Brooke introducing Oak to the ocean.

Otto and Sarah with Gramps.

Eli and Nate were great buddies all week. Nate is a very sweet boy, I was really glad he and Eli had this time to get to know each other. Eli really misses him.

Sand dollars were a common find here. This one had little crabs on it.

Tree frog!

Weeeeee!

The first crab catch!

Mom and I tried to stay in the shade for Oak. It was a hot day. We ended up spending the crabbing time shopping and drinking cold drinks at a shaded outside bar. It was just too hot and sunny to spend the whole time on the pier with the baby.

Cooking the crabs

I had to capture each person's different styles of crab eating. Brian here spent about an hour cleaning and taking out the meat. Then he ate it all.

Mom, with her reading glasses on, got real messy. She flung all sorts of crab shell shrapnel around. I was sitting next to her so I know. She was persistent like Brian though, and kept at it for about an hour.

Eli just had fun playing with claws and breaking them apart.

Making wet sand castles.

Car Rides, Sleepy Children and Asheville, NC

We took a road trip to Hilton Head, SC, and stopped over in Asheville for the night. We were pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed visiting this city. We have plans to go back again. Here are a few pictures from the car ride and Asheville.

Sleepy boy.... he had made an airplane out of his candy wrapper and was holding on to it. I saw it fall out of his hand when he fell asleep. Such a cute age.

This isn't the best picture, but I snapped this one of the square downtown. There was live music playing in the square and folks walking around the downtown area. The vibe of this city was pretty earthy and organic and trees are everywhere. We enjoyed it.

I had to share this. We went out to eat at a yummy restaurant called "salsas" (which came recommended by a friend) and sweet little Oak slept the whole time on this bench with only the carrier to pad his sleep. He is a good baby! I felt blessed. The food was tasty. Habanero margaritas are one of their specialities - very different, but worth trying.

These days...

Grandma Kay visits!! It was such a treat to have Grandma here this past week - thank you for coming Kay!

Eli brought a butterfly into the house and a flower to keep it on (but of course it didn't stay).

Father's Day! This is Oak's handprint on the card Eli, Otto and Oak made for Brian.

Otto has been enjoying Oak's baby toys almost more than Oak.

Water fun at Iroquois Park.

That iced coffee I brought with me came in handy here...

Otto feeding Meadow. He is just too much sweetness sometimes...

At the Huesteds - always an adventure here! Aleasha holding Oak and Emily holding her pet rooster.

Eli trying to feed the chicken a worm he dug up, with Hannah and her friend looking on. Do you think he ate it??

Oak 3 Months

I love this boy. He is such a sweet baby. Here are a few pictures I took recently. I love all his baby expressions. It is funny how they can go from laughing to crying to smiling again in just seconds.

This was when I pinched him. (Just kidding!!!)

new pictures of the kids

Here are some new pictures of the little ones. Grandma Debby is in a few too!

This one was taken today - just for you Grandma Kay as you requested - we love you!!!

Grandma Debby is here!

The boys are loving their pool. Brian has been joining them once he gets home from work. Fun times.

Otto playing games on my cell phone while swinging in Oak's baby swing. :)

boat season has begun!

We got our boat out for the first time this season. There were a few things we had to work through and do for the first time (I had to back the trailer into the water between other trucks with trailers..... it took a few tries but I got it!). The plan was for Brian to take a few fellows out the first time to work out the kinks, but I was way to excited to wait so we all went. All was well and we did have fun out together. We are storing it by the lake so it will be much easier now to go out.

The kids here got to drink "sparklie" - a big treat we reserve for special occasions.

Oak enjoying a nap in the cuddy.