The life of her dogs

It is how I get her to read! She is so happy to read to her animals!

 

This should be a picture in the Highlights magazine that we used to read as kids. There was always a full-page picture and you had to look at the picture and guess all the pieces that were wrong with it!

First, poor Gracie at 12 years old and only has patches of hair left! She is the lucky contestant that was able to keep her bed. Do you notice what her daddy would call this freaky dog that is lying on Gypsy's bed? This is her new pretend dog that of course her Tessa bought her! It has a real heartbeat! The dog cannot be anywhere that I try to sleep, as the moving heart will keep you up all night. This new pretend puppy takes precedence over her real Gypsy! Gypsy is so hilarious though she prefers the floor over her bed. In this case that works perfectly for Juliette! She simply takes her pink blankie and lolly blankie and wraps Gypsy up like her little baby.

We make it through three chapters of "Bed and Biscuit!" All are happy - the Mommy, the reader, the real doggies Gypsy and Gracie and the freaky pretend heart beating puppy! 

Warm Summer friendships

 

 

 

 

It's what summer is all about!!! 

Summer is just the best! Best friends forever!!

A relaxing pool evening with these guys...

Well at least what I consider relaxing! 

It is about as calm as it gets on this gorgeous summer evening!! 

 

Some "study" time!

In an effort to keep Juliette at least a tad bit sharp over the summer, we sat down for a few minutes of workbook work! 

 

Thomas was thrilled to see just how much he could distract Juliette! Juliette was happy for the distraction! "My Scholar" as I call her is always happy to be busy with anything but school work! 

 

Tripp is fascinating! By the end of the school year, Tripp was considered to be ambidextrous by his teachers. In the 2's he was considered to be a lefty and in the 3's he would change daily regarding his hands that he would use to paint or write. He was working in his preschool notebook at the same time as Juliette today and I was fascinated watching him go between using his left hand and then his right hand. His writing with his left hand right now is much stronger than his riding with his right hand.

Pretty amazing that I could catch him in one sitting using his left-hand first and then changing to his right hand with a new page. The pediatrician asked me to see whether he kicked with his right foot or left foot. Interestingly enough he kicks with his right foot. It will be fascinating to see which hand he ends up using. There is no doubt at this point he is much stronger with his left hand.

 

And then I catch these moments of total peace and serenity! I cherish them and love to just sit back and watch them enjoy each other. Juliette is the eternal boss and Tripp does not seem to mind a bit. His personality compliments his big sister perfectly!

 

Tripp enjoys his little brother as well! I can convince him to read to him. He does not trust Tyler though since he is such a biter. You can see from the picture, Tyler begins to laugh and Tripp immediately jumps away from him! He'll be darned if his little brother is going to take a bite out of him!

 

Meet the new surf girl...

Doh and Juliette had quite the special day! Doh was ready to head to the beach with her and celebrate the summer in style! 

 

It looked like it was going to be the perfect surf Kayaking day. 

Juliette still remembered the summer before she started kindergarten and went kayaking. 

She laughs so hard when she watches those videos and watches as she wacks Doh in the face with the oar. 

And three summers later here they are! I am not sure who was having more fun - Juliette or my Dad? The laughs are just awesome! You decide...

So after a perfect morning in the water... What would follow? Juliette and Doh head into the surf shop. Juliette gets to pick something out. She looks through the store and wants a sharks tooth necklace. They look all over but don't see any. Finally they ask the clerk and she brings them to the corner of the store...

Juliette was thrilled!!

 

She leaves the island with a tummy full of the largest waffle cone filled with ice cream and her new necklace! 

 

The mermaids were in full effect and so too was the necklace! 

One year younger!

And this guy turned another year younger today! The kids always choose one of the dinners for his birthday. Of course, the tradition has become Mexican.

They think it is so funny to have the mariachi band sing to Daddy 

 

We have had more laughs over the past year with a picture that I took at Mexican a year before at his birthday celebration. We told Tripp he ate so much queso dip that he turned into "freaky puffed out cheese boy!" We have used that phrase numerous times over the past year. Below the kids and Don tried to replicate it. I think they look pretty darn good at puffing out!

 

 

A summer day at the beach

Oh the fun we had! Mind you Getting this crew packed and ready to go is no easy task. We did it though last minute and we did it quickly! There were sand castles to make, pineapples to eat and salty water to swim in!

 

 

Don got me this wagon about four years ago made specifically for the beach! It is amazing! The babies fit in it and just about everything else. Two seats pull out of it and there is a built in umbrella. 

We were stacked up but none the less ready to go!

So as in all good beach trips, after the first swim comes the first and castle... This little pistol could not wait to his hands on it! He thought it was hilarious.... However his big brother and sister had some other thoughts....

 

Tripp and Juliette forbid them to come back around the castles.... Well where there is food there is happiness... Watermelon on a hot summer day and the sand castles were going back up

 

The guy is resilient and went back to the bucket.

 

Thomas stayed far away and headed to the tidal pool. His sister found herself searching for shark's teeth behind him.

 

 

What a memorable day!! 

We could not leave the beach and this was the scene!

 

 

Love and thankful for such wonderful days like this!

"Class Mommy?"

These guys had their first swim lesson today with Mr. Tim. 

Not sure they knew quite what to expect.

 

After some reassurance they were all in. 

Class agenda for the day?

Blowing bubbles

Kicking their legs 

Mini jumps in the air with a head dunk

Thank you Mr. Tim for a great first lesson!

Simply beautiful

 

Dinner and swimming this evening and I could not help but stop and enjoy perfect Lowcountry beauty!

 

I picked some of the most beautiful hydrangeas from the yard! There were five solid different shades of color.

My future birder

 

"Mommy is dis da eagle?"

No son that's a woodpecker... 

Quite the day!

I would call today a continuation of the "Endless Summer!" Juliette had quite the magical day at the ocean today. She and Doh had their own date sea kayaking. Juliette absolutely loved it to say the least!

I am not sure who had the better time, Juliette or Doh!

Juliette assured me that she and Doh would be going back next week. 

The first two videos are her first time at age 4 on the kayak with Doh out at Sullivans.

And this was today!

Just sayin'... I wanna have a summer like Juliette! 

And after the big beach morning it was followed by the biggest waffle cone they had at the shop. 

Juliette, "Doh spoiled me to the moon today!"

 

And last but not least all real wave surfers must have a shark's tooth necklace from the surf shop! 

 

Life's a beach!

Or something like that.... 

Summer reading mermaid style

 

What is an "Endless Summer?"

We started the morning off with some relaxing outside. Now that summer is here, we literally live on the back porch. Who wants to be inside anyway when you can play in the pool all day?

The babies were so excited and they have watched the big kids swim every day, they decided they were ready to take the plunge. When you have jammies on, who needs a bathing suit to swim anyway??

We were shocked at how much they loved the water! Tyler literally would have fallen asleep floating if he could. Thomas of course squawked in the beginning but after a few minutes loved it! They scooted around the pool with their brother and sister all morning.

 

 

 

The kids and I have officially named this summer, "The Endless Summer!" We have pinky promised to enjoy and celebrate every day of the best part of the year! 

In the pool three times in one day lands an early evening like this!

Tripp always loves to ask, "Is today a school night or a week night?" A school night means night night in his bed but a week night can sometime mean a sleep/camp party downstairs. We have added a new choice...

 

This choice is called "A summer night!"

A summer night is an evening where Mommy and Daddy have to work but it's summertime for the kiddies. A summer night can land a sleep party in Juliette's room.

 

Seems fair since these TWINkies have a "summer night" celebration now every night!