Our Summer

I have wanted to blog all summer but haven't seem to be able to find the time, so here it goes. Hopefully I can catch up by the time school starts this week. It will be scrambled as I use my Cannon, my small camera and my phone to catch moments when I could and surely I will not take them time to make the pictures all chronological. I also have had on my 'to do' list all summer to journal. That has not happened either so while its still fresh I will try to recollect some memories here so I don't forget these precious days.

We have had a great summer. We have loved having Pierce home with us and having freedom in our days. No rushing out the door at 7 am, being able to get dressed when we wanted, staying up late, doing fun activities, playing at the pool and just being together. Don't worry, in between the fun there was so long days, longer afternoons, and just a few fights but overall it was great and definitely a little sad it is coming to a close. Some of us are ready for a little routine, some one on one time with each of them, seeing friends and feeling more connected the world outside of our house.

I can hardly believe Pierce is going in 1st grade, this time last year I was probably sitting here typing and crying. And I can't even wrap my head around the fact that Holt will start next year. Camden moved up from the nursery today to the 2 year old room at church. That hit me hard. For the first time in 6 1/2 years we won't have a baby in the nursery section. It really does fly by.

The first month of our summer was busy. They boys did VBS at Sharon Baptist where they do awanas and then we all did VBS at our church the next week. We then headed to the beach. When we got back Pierce did his first summer camp, Lego Camp at Smithfield. He loved it! Pierce did a sports camp at church in the mornings at that same time that same week. After that we had 4 weeks of nothing. We had lots of fun outings, tried some new places and also headed to our regulars like Nature Museum, Discovery Place, Monkey Joes, Chuck-e-Cheese, Plaza Fiesta, Latta Sprayground, Micheals for crafts,and the boys favorite the Lego Store and Bass Pro Shop. Camden did come home with a pink princess tackle box that day, I couldn't tell her no :) We definitely visited Chick-fil-a once a week, had lots of ice cream, Popsicles, and TCBY.

During our first beach trip, Camden decided that she was too big for the pack-n-play, translation she climbed out instantly and screamed at the door. So to a big girl bed she went. And she is still Camden, I think I thought just maybe she would sleep a little later. No such luck, this trip she was up between 5 and 5:30 everyday. No joke, we switched off each morning and were on the Ocean Isle playground around 6 am everyday. Thank goodness for the playground. Beside her are her babies, lambie, and kitty as she calls them. These have been her favorites for a couple months now. Kitty is the absolute favorite but all are required to go to bed. She has also learned the art of stalling. It usually starts with one to ten 'cover me up mommy/daddy', then she has to go potty, then she might need some water.


This face says it all. I can't really put it into words. But I think she is saying, yes I am cute and yes I will be heard and I will try everything to get my way, and yes I can get really loud and throw a really big fit. But I can be really sweet too and love getting hugs and being held..standing up. She also now grabs our faces and turns them when she's trying to talk to us, I love this.

The bond is back. Not that it ever really stop but I think Holt did finally adjust to Pierce being at school more last year and even by the end of the year was interested in having his own play dates. Well at this point in the summer now Pierce is all that matters and I think we will have some adjusting to do when Pierce goes back to school next week. Anything Pierce says, does, or wants Holt wants. Example.. "Holt, what kind of ice cream would you like?" "Bubble gum". Pierce says, "I want mint chocolate chip." Holt says, "I want mint chocolate chip too." This is one of 10 examples a day. Even if Holt doesn't like Pierce's choice he will change his choice to align with Pierces. We are trying to work on letting Holt know he can be different to find a little balance but we wouldn't trade there relationship for anything so we'll take the following for now..while its still over ice cream and legos.

She shrimping was great in July. Jason and my dad probably got 1000 shrimp over the week. Jason is showing Camden the shrimp head.

Camden loves the hammock at the beach. Loves to lay in it, push other people in it, and mastered falling out of it.

I took Holt on his first kayak ride. This past week when we were there Holt and Pierce would get on the kayak in the canal, hoping to be pulled by the rope. They also became obsessed with Kayak Island as they call it. In July they found a huge blue inter tube and this past trip they found turtle bones, feathers, a plastic shark toy, and a ball. They started making daily trips with the kayak to see what they could discover. Jason took them one day on the paddle board.

We decorated the kids bikes and they rode in their first 4th of July parade at the beach.

Jason's fathers day present was to rent a paddle board for the week. Unfortunately they didn't have any when we got down but his friend across the street let him try it in the canal for a day. he loves it! He got to cash in on a week rental during our last trip.

Watching the parade and catching the candy being thrown. I think they got as much candy as Halloween.