Like Mother like daughter

How old is this dress?

30 years old! My Mom made this dress for me. Now it looks beautiful on my little girl. I just love to see her in it. 

Here is a picture of me at my Grandparents' house for Easter Sunday in the dress. 

And then we have the photo bomber... His shirt says, "I'm a great catch"

You're a great catch alright Minky Fooky!

Comedy Zone

Growing up there was a bar called "The Comedy Zone." I realize today I don't need to go to a Comedy Zone... I live one each day under my roof. There is constant activity, loud feet running, screeches, laughs, fussing, wining and then it all repeats itself. There is seldom quiet but when there is...

its usually a baby sleeping or

someone quietly trying to "love on" her dogs or as the dogs would call it more "torture" the dogs. 

or finding Tripp playing "Rock da baby".... Yes, you're exactly right.... the Mamaroo does not rock back and forth...

Hence when a Mama hears silence, she knows silence is a sign of no-no's going on around the house. The comedy keep it real and entertaining! As the kids all know, "Mommy can see everything!"

Wordless Wednesday

Tyler

Duck, Duck, goose…. 

Thomas

Swim meet with best friends

The memories flowed for me and brought me right back to Ashborough once again! Juliette and I had the very special treat of spending the evening at the meet together with Tiffany and Grace. Tiffany and I spent years and years together swimming in the neighborhood. Our very first official meet together and our girls are now swimming each other. It was so special and the girls are always so happy to see each other!

And she received her first ribbon! She was so excited and so proud of her accomplishment.

And then there was the spectator wondering what in the world is so special watching this... he was more concerned over who was going to splash him as the swimmers swam by...

In good Tripp style he was much more concerned about what he was going to eat rather than watching his Sister...

  

Reunions feel SO good! In the good ol' footlose and fancy free days we were Ashborough Alligators - now we live as a Daniel Island Flying Fish and a Dunes West Dolphin.

Daddy's birthday

Yes it was a celebration picked out by the kids where to celebrate...

where better than Mexican!

Our waiter asked Don if he wanted a shot after his margarita and actually yes I let him know he did need one as it was his birthday! They came out in style singing and brought a beautiful shot on the house to add to the celebration.

This is "f-weaky puffed out cheese boy"... Tripp ate way too much cheese dip and plumped out just like that... 

There is one thing... we do plenty of laughing!

Happiest of birthdays Dono! We anticipate another great year!

Summer in the sunny South

Summer can mean very different things on a very different days in our house…

some summer days can consist of…

wedding fun full of good sun, dancing and cocktails!

being silly and blowing kisses!

helping Ul'Nanny put air in his tires….you can't believe how excited they were to do this!

Playing fetch with these silly dogs in the creek

baking...

or just enjoying a late afternoon at the ocean! Saltwater living is the best!

An afternoon at the beach followed by Mexican and then a walk for gelato…

Yes please!

Just one little request…. time please stand still!

Juliette and Tripp as the big Brother and Sister

As the twins continue to grow, it is fun to watch Juliette really begin to enjoy them. She comes into the room in the morning and asks if she can hold one of them or play with them. She is wonderful at entertaining them and they just love to listen to her and look at her. 

Juliette loves when someone comes to visit or we are out and about and she can tell everyone all about her two baby brothers. She is such a talker as we all know. There is not a shy bone in her little body!

and what about Tripp you ask? Well he gets interested for a few minutes and can be a very nice boy…

but sometimes he thinks of them as playmates and like to squeeze their cheeks (too hard that is) and "play with his toes" as Tripp says but then you hear a baby screech and know immediately there was a small pinch instead of a play.

These will be tough boys ready to hang with their older Sister and Brother. 

And just like that we're one half year old!

There are two little guys feeling so proud today! They are six months old! They celebrated in style with delicious bottles, lovely oatmeal and wonderful baby food!

Everyone tells me with twins that six months is a real milestone. It begins to get easier. I can see that happening. They are rolling now and enjoy looking around and at each other. They definitely are aware of each other as well at this point.

They have been tricky sleepers. Where as Juliette and Tripp were so easy and through the nigh at 6 weeks, not these guys. I thought we were on to something great and last week for several nights they went from 9:15 until 6:00 in the morning! I was thrilled with excitement. Then in good twin fashion they both regress and are up during the night. This week neither have slept through the night. Good thing there is coffee for this Mama. I am hopeful we will master this challenge soon.

I would label each picture but Thomas and Tyler both have such different looks that you will know. I told Juliette and Tripp that really Thomas and Juliette should have been twins and Tripp and Tyler should have been twins. Both sets of those children looked identical at those ages. 

This is the first picture I could capture of both of them smiling and laughing! 

They both give being 6 months old a big thumbs up!

Ballet recital

What a special day! I love to watch Juliette dance. Her heart comes out and you can see the glow in her eyes and her smile, she just loves it! Her recital was today and it was gorgeous. Her class was flawless and my heart was so full watching her!

Juliette is all the way on the left hand side after all the girls have come out - she is the smallest in her area

Juliette with Tessa and Doh. They were SO proud of her. Tessa brought her a single hand wrapped pink rose with a beautiful pink bow and Doh even brought his binoculars and could see her smile. He insisted on a scratch on the head after the show.

We came back to the house and celebrated Don's birthday a few days early.

What a fantastic day!

Juliette's first swim meet

Today was SO much fun and such an exciting day for Juliette and ME. She had her first little swim meet and had SO much fun! 

I love her personality. She is a free spirit and enjoys the ride in life. She told me the other day, "Mommy, what's more important in life, sleeping or having fun?" She asks me this as I am telling her that it is time to go to bed.

She did great and I was impressed by her strength. This is all very new to her but she finished her lap strong and came out of the water all smiles. That is the name of the game as I assure you she is not olympic bound and I have no desire to make her feel like she needs to be. The important thing is to enjoy and have fun!

Here she is freshly out of the water from her freestyle swim

Here is a quick video of the swim. She is the one closest to my recording. Enjoy it is a hoot!

This is looking to be a WONDERFUL summer!

Being a Ballerina is exhausting work

Please meet "Freaky Whiny Climbing Boy"

We had a minor incident two weeks ago when Tripp cracked the window opener, opened the window and in one second began to sit halfway out the window. Now, yes there was roof under the window but I knew I had to put the fear of God in this boy at that time! He had just eaten a lunchable and there was a boy on the back that he did not like the looks of him. After some fast thinking I grabbed the lunchable box and introduced him to "Whiny Freaky Climbing Boy" as he named him. I let him know that because the nice boy began to climb, he turned into this scary boy! 

Tripp was very nervous and assured he by pointing his finger, "You should not climb whiny freaky boy because dats why you have dose horns…"

So this has become a joke around the house! You can coerce him into anything by mentioning this poor boy. Tessa keeps an empty lunchable on her counter and reminds him when there is naughtiness flying around the house.

There is one boy Tripp does not want to become and 

it is poor "Whiny Freaky Climbing Boy"…

He tells me each day, "Mommy you can't climb or you will be like Whiny Freaky Climbing Boy…"

Me you ask, I kinda like Whiny Freaky Climbing Boy, I'll keep his as a friend just as long as we need very quick reminders of what never to do!

This is the brave boy look holding the box as long as Whiny Freaky Climbing Boy is not facing him...

Here is the oh wait I don't like this scary boy look! 

Mommy, please take him!

AND we have rounded out another school year!

Yes, it flew! First grade how quickly you flew by! Juliette had a wonderful year and just loved her teacher Ms. Clair! She learned so much and grew into a little girl. 

 her first day of 1st grade - August 2014

Her last day of 1st grade! She insisted on her furry friend to join her! Sweet Gypsy - bless her heart!

And she wrapped the year up with her first real report card.

and she is home two hours and the summer imagination is running wild already! I find her modified version of Princess and the Pea!

Happy Summertime!