A pretend "sleep party"

If there is no chance for a "real sleep party" that day, well, it's time to just make a different kind of sleep party. I can take 5 minutes to do something, look and wow do we have a party going on! I turn my head and look while Juliette is trying to place Tripp on "the top bunk" inside my piece of furniture! This would seem like a terrific and exciting option to the typical 5 year old right? We quickly opted instead to place Rody on the "top bunk" and Juliette and Tripp shared the "bottom bunk/bottom shelf"

Tripp was more than willing to try to convince me that he could take a "hush-a-bye" right on that bottom shelf on his Sissy's pillow

An afternoon in Beaufort

We drove down Saturday and spent the night in Beaufort to visit Don's parents. We had a late celebration of Don's birthday and played around on a beautiful very warm summer day. The kids love to play in the sandbox and run around the house. Tripp, if he could, would never come in a house. He would play outside all day. One of his highlights was riding his Daddy's tricycle. He really is catching on to pedaling - backwards and forwards... it may be taped, rusty and on its last leg... but it seems to be a treasure to this little guy!

We celebrated a belated birthday to Dono...

and ended the trip with a boat ride through town and back around Parris Island... Tripp was unsure about being in an unfamiliar boat but it did not take long before he was back and forth - front to back 

And then there is Juliette, the old Pro... the water is one of her favorite spots to be...

And when Tripp was at all apprehensive, all he needed was the reassurance of a big Sister!

Upon picking Gypsy and Gracie up at Ul'Nanny's house, the trip was made a little sweeter with a pretend ride on his tractor!

And now the beginning of my favorite week of the year! Bring on my birthday and the 4th of July!

"Mommy's birthday cake"

My sweet daughter is so excited about "Mommy's birthday" next week that she begged to make a chocolate birthday cake for me. She even included the sprinkles on top like a true "Fancy Nancy" cake. I mean could I love that sweet thing more, no way!

Visit with George Steger

We had a wonderful visit with a very old family friend of Don's family! George Steger came for a visit  from Kansas. he is otherwise known as "Uncle George." We had plenty of laughs as he told many funny stories about Don growing up. He and his Wife Mary Joe came to our wedding and we had not seen him since. 

It was such a nice visit and we hope it is not another seven years until we see him again!

Juliette was quite busy showing Mr. George how to make a cross from a palm...

These two surely love each other!

Juliette just loves making Tripp laugh and giggle!! He wants to do EVERYTHING that his Sister does!

This is any average minute in the house or outside!

Juliette has been at Vacation Bible School at our church this week and has been having so much fun… She came home with this yesterday and I enjoyed her explaining the meaning of her special necklace

Bee City

We took a rode trip today up to Cottageville for a day trip to Bee City! It was SO much fun… it is good country livin at it's finest up there and boy did we have a blast!

It was actually super cool! You could feed the monkeys and the lemurs! They were so gentle and reached for the food right out of your hands!

Juliette and her Doh, both animal lovers were in their element!

Since Patches the rabbit recently died of old age, they were both tempted to buy a new one today… however a new rabbit is being promised in three weeks...

As Juliette and her Doh are both animal lovers, well Tessa, she prefers to keep her distance… she was unsure of her comfort level… even though blurry the picture is perfect!

I think the favorite part for Juliette was going into the aviary center… Juliette knows that when I was little we had a "parakeena" (as she calls them) named Dukey. These parakeets come right up to you with food in your hand and will eat right out of your hands and sit on your arms… it was amazing! She was in awe! She is now dreaming that somehow Doh is going to find a place in his heart for a new "parakeena" named Dukey. As always Juliette says that she would get to go over and play with him everyday!

What a wonderful Southern Summer day!!

Juliette's first annual Daniel Island Fishing tournament

Juliette flew out of the bed this morning eager to get to her first children's fishing tournament on Daniel Island! She went with her Daddy and Doh was already there as a volunteer! They apparently had more laughs… Juliette caught three brim! She was quite excited with her catch.

All ready to go but (her silly brother with his winter hat that he insisted on putting on because Juliette had hers on) needed to get a quick shot with her brother!

A girl and her catch 

Her Daddy even brought her a comfy chair to lounge in and hold the rod… no wonder she loves to fish!

So she caught three brim, met some new friends, ate a bag lunch provided by the tournament and got a small dessert but was somehow disappointed that she did not win a raffle… you may ask what the raffle was?? Sunscreen!! Now there's a five year old for you!

It's what goes on on a Saturday morning!

No big planned entertainment necessary...

When it's summertime in the low lowcountry!

More french fries and sprite at the pool? Yes please...

Working the nets and trying to find some shrimp off the dock

Watching the blue crabs crawling around...

Celebrating a birthday in style!

A happy happy birthday to the Dono!

He's taking his birthday shot in style downtown!

Juliette's annual dance recital

Juliette performed at her year end dance recital. The performance was SO well done! The girls range from Juliette's age all the way through high school. The talent at this studio continues to amaze me. It was such an enjoyable evening!

Juliette's little class. She is partially hidden in the back row.

Juliette's performance. It is small to see but Juliette is the third from the left... so sweet!

A week in the eyes of summer

We are a week into summer and have been up to all kinds of fun things…

We've been trying to get a little someone excited about the potty! He sits down and jumps right up and screeches "Treat!" I have been explaining to him that he needs to potty in the potty to get a treat!

We did have one potty success and Tripp and Juliette were both so excited! Juliette was the first to hand him his special treat!

Even on quiet afternoons around the house on a summer day, there is never boredom… why not chase each other around the house with boxes wrapped around you!

While Tripp naps, Juliette likes to sit outside on the back porch with me and read some books to me!

And when he is outside without his popgun, a boy will find anything to make a homemade gun… we look quite backwoods in this picture… he has taken 5 or 6 sticks and is yelling… "Shoot da gun…"

Juliette is now into creating paper doll clothes for Danette. I think she watches my Mom design for her and is taking an interest in getting creative herself. 

And the flowers all need some daily help with a volunteer who is overly excited to help get the job done...

Juliette has had horse camp this week. It is one of her favorite camps of the summer. She looks like quite a character each day with a big dishwashing glove wrapped over her cast. She loves to come home telling stories of Strawberry, Chip and Hershey trotting with her and working on her two point… once she gets home, she pulls out her rocking horse and plays with her like a real horse the rest of the afternoon. She asked me yesterday, "Mommy do you think I could get a horse when I am eight?" Wow! Now she is putting some thought into it… nothing immediate but in a  few years.

They love their early morning shenanigans at Tessa and Doh's house. Here Juliette has found new shoes for both her and Tripp...

And we wound down the week with getting our cast split! Now it can come on and off for some cleaning, showers and the pool. Two more weeks and we will be permanently done with it.

My evening with Dorthea Benton Frank

I had my special dinner with Dottie Frank and six of my closest friends and family tonight! What an evening to remember! We all met for dinner at the Obstinate Daughter on Sullivans Island. The dinner was amazing but the company was even better. What a great lady! She had wine, cocktails, dinner and a night full of hilarious stories waiting for us!

Don was in charge that evening and we came home at 10:00 to a party still going on… There were meatball subs to eat that night. Tripp wanted bread with his meatballs, Juliette did not like bread with hers and she needed her Daddy to make some pasta, Grace did not like meatballs, did not like pizza, and agreed to chicken fingers only with some french fries… the chef seemed to be able to make everyone happy… 

Grace was full of concentration signing her dear friend's cast. It's funny kids at this age have all kinds of questions. She was very concerned to see Juliette because she was concerned that along with a break meant that her arm fell off… there was a huge sigh of relief once she saw her friend was okay.