Jekyll Island Adventures

Instead of going to the beach this morning, we headed to a beach critter educational exhibit at the pavilion. The kids learned about sea turtles, sand dollars, Georgia whelk shells, horseshoe crabs, and more. I was proud of Austin for being brave and holding/touching the animals. I was proud of Matthew for being very interested in the exhibit and asking many questions.

After the exhibit we headed over to Georgia's Sea Turtle Center. There the kids learned all about the life of a sea turtle including nesting, hatchlings, and dangers sea turtles face. The GSTC is also a rescue hospital for injured sea turtles. The kids were able to see many turtles being rehabilitated at the center. They wanted to know why each turtle was there and if it is okay. (Their hair is wet because we got caught in a downpour!)

The kids enjoyed running around and playing in Jekyll's community park tonight after eating a nice dinner at a seafood restaurant called Blackbeards. There is just something wonderful about eating a nice meal while overlooking the ocean.

This is how three boys pose for a photo

We only have two days left at the beach :( Time goes too fast on vacation. Tomorrow we plan to beach it in the morning, take the kids to the water park in the afternoon, and cook dinner at home. Friday we will beach it one last time, start packing, go to a pizza place for dinner, and play a game of putt-putt golf. Jason's cousin and his family are in from California visiting Jason's aunt who lives in Augusta. Saturday morning we are heading to Augusta to spend some time with his family. We get to see his aunt a few times a year, but we haven't seen the cousin from California in several years. We look forward to visiting with his Aunt Wanda on our way home.

Beach Babes

Maggie's morning treasure.

She and Caleb woke up early, so Jason and I took them on a bike ride/ shelling adventure.
Beaching it today

Jason and the boys tried to beat the waves

As a biology teacher, Granny tells the kids all about the treasures they find along their walks. She is very knowledgeable and not afraid to pick things up!

Our Sunday evening stroll along the beach.

Cute......

and CRAZY!

This morning (Monday) before everyone woke up, Jason, Caleb, Maggie, and I went for a bike ride down to Driftwood Beach. It is the best place for finding shells. Here is a picture of my best find! There wasn't a creature living inside, so it's coming home with me!

Jekyll Island

We have had an excellent trip so far! We got a late start on Wednesday evening after buying a VAN!!!! It was a perfect way to start a trip to the beach! The kids love riding in it. It made the long trip to the beach much easier than I was expecting! The kids were perfect, and I felt like we were here in no time.

This is a picture of the Historic Jekyll Island Club Hotel. We came down a couple of days early to spend time staying in the hotel. We were given a perfect room with a large closed in porch perfect for enjoying some alone time after the kids went to bed! We spent most of our time splashing in the pool, walking the grounds, and eating great food. The kids were very well behaved and happy to be at the beach. There are huge trees all over the island. In the historic district the trees have Spanish moss hanging down. They create a wonderful shaded canopy as you walk around. The kids enjoyed playing on the large branches that hang all the way down to the ground.


Saturday afternoon we headed over to the beach house to spend the rest of the week with Jason's family.

The kids (Jason and I too) love riding our bikes around Jekyll's miles of paths. As we rode a path in front of the ocean today it made me a little sentimental (imagine that) thinking about the memories the kids are making here this week with their cousins, grandparents, aunts, and Jason and I playing in the ocean, walking the beach, and riding bikes.

Happy Father's Day to the Best Daddy!

1. What’s your favorite thing about dad?
Austin- That he gets my food ready. When we go to restaurants he orders for me. And he takes me to school.
Matthew- Because he lets me watch TV and read a book.
2. Why do you love dad?
A- Because he lets us clean up with him
M- He lets me play with toys when it’s late
3. What’s your favorite thing to do with dad?
A- Go on special nights with dad, which I haven’t done in a long time because you don’t let me go with him.
M- To play upstairs with him
Maggie- Go swimming
4. Why does daddy love mommy?
A- He loves you because when you take a shower you shave your arm pits.
M- Because you sleep with him
5. What does daddy cook the best?
A- Pancakes because he flips them and they go back in the pan. Toaster strudels
M- Pancakes
Maggie- Hot dogs
6. God could have given you any daddy in the world. Why did he give you yours?
A- Because he’s the best daddy in the world.
M- Because he made him special
7. What does dad love most about you?
M- Cause I be nice
Maggie- No, Mommy love me. Mommy love me. Daddy love me.
8. If you could make a wish for dad, what would it be?
M- That he would be Spiderman dada.

These questions were answered individually with no prompting, editing, etc. (as you could probably tell)!

Happy Father's Day to the best dad and partner. We love you tremendously.

What time is it???? SUMMERTIME!

This week we are saying goodbye to our friends The Colemans. With both Nathan and Emily having jobs in eastern KY, they have made the practical decision to move to Paintsville, KY. The boys were in preschool with Alex, and Danny Crum went to high school with Nathan, so we had the opportunity to get to know them the last few years. Alex also played on the boys t-ball team, so we've spent a lot of time with them lately. Last night, we had a very fun dinner with them at Bar Louis with the Crums, and then us girls did a little shopping in Joseph Beth's. We were able to do this without kids because Kim came over to watch the kids. It was great! A wonderful night! A much needed night! THANK YOU KIMMIE! Needless to say, the kids were SO excited that Kimmie was coming over. They love seeing her.

Kimmie with Matthew

In case you don't know, Kim is Matthew's biological grandmother. Obviously much too young to be a grandmother, she is a Kimmie! Perfect because we didn't have one of those! My favorite part is how she treats the kids, all equal. Mine love her the same.

Tonight we had the boys T-ball picnic. It was so fun! Hudson's (2nd base) parents volunteered to host our picnic. They rented a blow up water slide! My boys were in it till the end! They had a blast! MJ just played a little in the pool.
Austin and Matthew are at the top about sliding down

Tim and Shannon Seltsam (JT's parents)

I have really enjoyed getting to know the other parents. Shannon is team mom, and very fun at the games. Tonight she passed team mom off to me (that is if her daughter doesn't play). It is a HUGE job! So, maybe her daughter should play! I really like coach Steve and will gladly take on that job. Tonight I realized that Maggie will start playing the year Austin moves up, so I could be a Mets mom for six years!

Coach Steve giving an end of the year talk

It is unbelievable how the boys have improved this season. The best part is, they love it! Matthew went from hitting the ball and not running to being the lead hitter. Austin has become a dependable hitter. He can also throw the ball hard. Growing up on the ball field, I was very happy to be back at the park this spring/summer. It's not over yet, they play tomorrow at 5. If they win, they play again at 7:30! One more loss and we're out. I'm taking the video camera tomorrow, so hopefully I'll get a good video to post. Go Mets!

June!!!

My fabulous sister-in-law Amy is taking the boys to Vacation Bible School at her church, Immanuel Baptist, this week! It's from 9-12!!!! They are happy, I am happy! Today was crazy hat day, so I threw together hats this morning. Austin's hat has a pool theme and Matthew wanted to be the Cat in the Hat. Of course they wanted their faces painted to match their hats. I doubt they will stay on very long, and then they'll look silly with their faces painted!

Austin's hat has a pair of trunks, goggles, water gun, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a swim arm band in the back. It's crazy!

Maggie wanted one too!


Austin and daddy trying to stay shaded at Sunday's HOT, HOT game.

Sweet big brother helping sister

Highlights

Thursday before swimming lessons the kids and I visited Jason at work for lunch. After eating we took the boys for a surprise visit to their future school, Huntertown. They were very excited! Of course the playground and gym were their favorite spots! We talked with the current principal, unfortunately she is retiring this year. I love her, and really wish she were still going to be there. We are praying for the perfect fit! The boys peeped in the kindergarten rooms too. Worst part... I cried. Seriously, what is going to happen in August?

Playing Daddy

Friday I worked all day getting us packed and ready for the campground! After dad got off work, we headed to Fort Boonesborough with mom and dad's new pop up! We had a nice dinner, several walks, and a fire for marshmallows. The best part was waking up dry even though it was storming outside. The worst part... it was storming! The boys enjoyed riding their bikes and scooters.

Go Mets! Saturday the boys won their first tournament game! Austin and Matthew both had good hits, ran the bases well, and scored runs! We play again tomorrow at 11:30.

Swim Lessons

Matthew and Austin have been taking swim lessons this week at a private home in Versailles. Maggie and I sit under a huge shade tree in the front yard while the boys swim for 25 minutes. Then, they call for us and we get to go see the show. Yesterday we saw Matthew swim under water through a hoop. He had his hands closed tightly just as she told him. Today he dove under water to get a dart and then swam to the other side. He is doing very well! He has no fear of the water. I am glad he is quickly learning how to swim.

Matthew diving to get the dart at the bottom

Matthew and Ethan (another boy in the class) swimming from one side to the other
Matthew practicing his free style stroke

Austin is still struggling with the pool. He doesn't want to put his face under/ in the water. Mon and Tues he blew bubbles in the water with his mouth. Today he did it with his nose. Babysteps. He is definitely getting more comfortable with the water and his instructor.

The boys get to go down the slide after they show us what they learned.

While the Crums packed and moved :( I kept Olivia and Ellie for a little bit tonight. Ellie fixed Maggie's hair. Maggie was very proud of it!

We started potty training MJ yesterday. We've had two very successful days. She only has had two small accidents where she started to go, stopped, and then finished in the potty. She also went #2 in the potty! Apparently she'll do anything for candy!

Starting the Summer with Friends

Summer has already started out great! I enjoyed dinner out and WCHS graduation on Friday with my co-workers Jessica and Joyce. Saturday morning Sara and I went garage sale shopping. Not only did we have great luck, but we also had lots of talk time. Jason and I took the kids to the pool Saturday afternoon. Then, we enjoyed a nice long patio meal with Danny and Sara (without kids) at Malone's Saturday night. Sunday after church we celebrated my cousin's graduation and my uncle's 50th birthday at mom and dad's. Sunday at 4:00 we had one last cookout with the Coleman's before they move to Paintsville. Then, we hung out with our life group Sunday night. Whew! It was a fun filled weekend.

Today officially started my summer break off from work! The kids and I went to the library this morning. The boys got a library card and signed the back of it so nicely! Then, they scanned the books to check them out. Each checked out 5 books from the Kindergarten list. We joined the summer reading program. Matthew's favorite book that we've already read.... How the Grinch Stole Christmas! We finally deleted it from our DVD in late March because the boys still wanted to watch it daily! We have our first swim lesson today at 3:30 and the last season t-ball game at 5:30. Tomorrow..... we lounge poolside!

Memorial Day Weekend... Extended!

On Saturday the boys won their 6th t-ball game! It was another great (and close) game! One of the coaches has a great website he updates after each game. This is what he said about Matthew this week, "...Back to the top of the order & Matthew “The Cat” showed why he’s the lead off man, finding a way to get on base while driving in, what would later prove to be, the game winning RBI..." We attended church on Saturday night, and then closed out Saturday with a nice LG gathering at our house.

On Sunday we headed to Great Wolf Lodge to celebrate Austin's 5th birthday. Mom, dad, Amy, Caleb, and Anna went with us. We had a very fun time! We booked an extra special room for Austin's b-day. The kids had their own little cabin room with bunk beds. They were very excited! My favorite part of the trip was leaving the room at 9 to go back to the waterpark with dad and Jason to hit the bigger water rides for an hour before closing. Thanks mom!

The kid cabin had three twin beds. Matthew wanted the single bed because the TV was closer to it. On the other side there were bunk beds. Austin took the top, and Maggie slept on the bottom bunk.

Fun at Our Neighborhood Pool!

Jason and I decided to join the neighborhood pool this summer, and we are two for two! We joined yesterday (Tuesday) and we've already been twice! Both yesterday and today we went to the pool after school! We love it already! As you can tell in the picture, it has a nice baby pool area and a large pool behind it. Today I met two women as the kids played with their children in the pool. They were super nice! One woman has four children and is in the process of adopting a fifth from China (one other is adopted from China too). Another lady has two kids; one is adopted from Ethiopia. Obviously we had an instant bond! I look forward to spending the summer at the pool! The boys start swim lessons on Monday, so hopefully they'll feel more confident soon.