Typical Brother and Sister

My older two just kill me sometimes. They love each other to death, but always seem to pick on the other one at any given time of the day. This past week on vacation was no exception.

We attempted to take some family pictures on the beach late one afternoon. The younger ones swam and played most of the day without a long nap so they were not in the picture taking mood that I had hoped for. We all do it, we set expectations of things that we hope for and have it all planned out only to realized that life rarely plays out like it does in our heads. Needless to say I didn't get all the pictures I wanted this year.

But what did come out of the attempt was some great candid pictures of the older two doing what they do best - picking on each other. In fact, they get in trouble all week for all aggravating that they were doing to one another.



I was actually rather comical to watch them and the expressions on their faces. My red-head would stick his tongue out and my oldest would curl up her nose at him



As I watched them and took pictures, I couldn't help but think how time was flying by and they were growing up. It just seems like yesterday that I was showing them the ocean for the first time or teaching them to swim. I couldn't help by smile and think about how blessed I was.


I hope that one day when they are older that all four of my kids will be close and realize the value of family and each other.

Happy Monday

Happy Monday friends! If you are having a typical Monday, then here is a little something that should bring a smile to your face.

There's No Place Like Home

We are finally home.  It was a great week but we are so glad to be home.  The older two are headed back to their dad's for one last part of their summer time with him and then it's back home on Friday to start getting things ready for school and the start of football practice. Yes my redhead is playing football this year but I will save that for another post.

I will be updating about our trip over the next day or two.  I have images and videos to upload to Flickr and posts to write.  After taking a week off from things, I hope to get back to updating my blog daily and really getting things rolling on the site.

The Beach

Our week so far at the beach as been great.  I have taken a break from Twitter and my blog to spend time with the family.  It's been rather nice to get away from the computer. So many times I let it and my iPhone run my life. I feel like I can't be without and what do you know, the world did not come to an end because I wasn't on it constantly. With no set schedule, we just get up and do whatever everyday.

It's hard to believe that tomorrow will be the last full day we have before heading home on Saturday.  I will post later about the beach trip along with some pictures.  But for now, I need to go get some sleep since we will probably be busy as a bee tomorrow soaking up all that we can before packing up and heading home.

So until then, have a great rest of the week friends and I will post again this weekend!  As my oldest would say "Peace out!"

5 Months Ago

It's so hard to believe that it's been 5 months ago today that we lost my daddy. It seems like an eternity since I heard his laugh, got one of those 50 emails that I got everyday from him, held his hand and heard him say "Love you" to me. I go places that I would see him and I realize at times that I am looking for him around every corner. In the back of my mind, I knew that one day he would be gone but I still wasn't ready for it.

This week it has really hit me hard that he is gone. I don't know quite why. It could be that we leave tomorrow for our annual family vacation and he won't be there. This time so important to him. He so enjoyed having all of us down there - playing putt-putt, eating out - just being together as a family. Or it could be that the babies are turning 1 next month and they won't even get to know him. He loved and cherished his grandchildren - all six of them. He would bust with pride when he talked about them and showed them off every chance he had. I feel like my kids have gotten the short end of this deal. I am not really sure what it is, but this week has been hard.

As life continues on, the hole in our family will remain. There will be another vacation, birthday party, holiday or any day that he won't be missed. But the things that we learned from him - the good and bad, the values he instilled in us and our memories of him will live on forever. That is what we have to cling to. They say with time that it gets easier. You don't stop missing them, it's just that you don't cry every time something comes up.

So as we pack tonight for our vacation tomorrow, I will remember the good times we had and how much he would want us all to go and have a blast. And because it was so important to him, it will be important to me.

Daddy, I love you!

First Steps

She is starting to take steps. Before I know, she will be walking everywhere.

Harvest Time

Our good friends have a big garden this year. This past Sunday they invited us over to swim and cookout. While the kids swam, we helped them take the silks out of the fresh corn and help prepare them to put up. And let me tell you it was a lot of corn.

When we were done about 4-5 hours later, I was sick of looking at corn. It may be a little while till I am in the mood for corn, but somebody decided she would try it.

She got a piece and started chewing on it. When we first tried to take it away from her, she got so mad. I wish I had gotten a picture of her when she pitched a fit, but I was too busy laughing. So we just let her eat away on the corn. It was the cutest thing.

Her brother on the other hand slept right through it.