Destin 2012 - Crab Hunting

One thing that Cole found totally fun and exciting last year in Florida was hunting for sand crabs.  I think there is something exciting about it because you have to stay up late, go at night with a flash light and be on your toes - those crab are fast!  We actually went out to dinner one night and while we were there the grown ups decided it was the perfect night to go "crabbing."  We honestly did not think that the little boys would be able to do it.  Last year Cole had fun but my dad and Rhonald did all of the work.  We were pleasantly surprised when Cole and Ben each spotted and caught 4-5 crab each on their own!!!  They were so proud....so very, very proud.  Lily absolutely loved the experience as well.  She ooo'd and ahhh'd over the crab and really loved running around at night with a flash light.  She would pretend to spot a new sand crab every 5 seconds and then laugh and move on.  It was such a fun night - and such a confidence builder for these 2 boys.  They loved it so much that they convinced their daddies to take them back out on our last night while Emily and I packed.  Again, they each caught several crab!  Such a fun memory to hold on to!!!!

Destin 2012 - Deep Sea Fishing

 

We just returned from a fabulous week in Destin, FL.  We traveled with our dear friends, the Burrow family.  There are so many stories to tell and so many pictures to share...750 to be exact...so I decided to sort through and post by "event."  Smallest to largest...or something like that.  So, here goes....

 

The Tuesday morning of our trip Emily was kind enough to stay home with all 4 of our kiddos so that I could get a chance to go fishing with Jim and Rhonald.  She had been before and said I had to experience it.  The guys go every year and I had heard so much about it that I had to check it out for myself.  Since the guys had been and had fished for many different things the guide insisted we try something new...Grouper fishing.  Ah, Grouper, we have learned that we love to eat it but we hate to fish for it.  We hooked several (Rhonald especially) but we only brought 1 into the boat.  Those suckers are fierce and smart and strong.  Jim caught several Red Snapper, which are out of season and had to be thrown back.  I caught a Red Snapper as well as a King Mackerel (the largest fish of the day in case you were wondering).  It was a very fun time and I am so glad that I got to experience it and share this memory with Rhonald.  I hope to do it again....my goal is to catch a Sailfish....maybe next year!



A Fall Preview

The weather has be amazing for the past few days and we took full advantage today and had a play date!  All outside...for like 4 hours!  The kiddos ran and ran, ate, played in the sand box, ate again, pretended and I think they ate again.  And they laughed....so hard and so often.  They were in heaven together, just playing and being friends and sharing life.  It was so wonderful....and it was wonderful for the mom's to sit back and catch up on what has been going on.  Yeah for wonderful days with friends....here's to many, many more this fall!

A Little Obsession

Lily Kate is obsessed with Ring Around The Rosie.  Oh my word....she is so bossy about it too.  She wants everyone in the room to play with her and if you even think about sitting down she pushes you back toward the group.  She cracks us up with how long she will play if you let her....and it's funny to see everyone try to sneak out of the circle.  Even Cole will say, "Oh Lily, I have to run to the potty!" even when I know he doesn't.  But all in all we are wrapped around her finger and we play...for her...every day, all day long.

Many Faces Of Sweetness

Hey, when you've got it, flaunt it!

Mr. and Mrs. Trouble

Ethan and Lily Kate....what can I say?  Every time I see them together they get sweeter and cuter and into more and more things.  Today, if they weren't trying to climb on top of our grill they were trying to figure out how to work Cole's power wheel.  You can tell from the pictures above the exact moment the figured it out because the giggles began and kept coming!  Oh they were so proud!  They kept leaning their heads in together and laughing harder....as if they had really gotten away with something.  I didn't think that anything would get them out of that power wheel until they spotted an airplane overhead and off they ran.  I seriously could have watched these little trouble makers for hours!

Boys' Weekend

Rhonald had been planning all summer to take Cole and his dad camping....a boys' weekend away.  What he hadn't planned on was the extremely hot temps that would make a camping trip miserable.  Since he had taken the weekend off of work he opted for the next best thing...a boys' only trip to Paw Paw and Grandma's cabin.  It is a boy's paradise and Cole loves it there.  While it was still very hot they got to take breaks indoors and, most importantly, sleep inside.  They fished like crazy, looked for crawdads, waded in the river, ate a some local "hot spots" (aka catfish buffets) and simply enjoyed some guy time.  Cole's favorite thing, besides fishing, was looking for arrowheads with Paw Paw.  They found one and added it to the collection that Rhonald and his grandma started when he was a little boy.  Lily Kate and I had a great weekend at home - shopping and cleaning and playing.  Cole is still talking about all that they did and saw and how he cannot wait to go back for more fun at the cabin.  What a wonderful way for a 4 1/2 year old boy (and his daddy and Paw Paw) to spend a weekend.