The Boys Milestones

Lane started Kindergarten last week, and is very much a little boy with only a small trace of preschooler left. Little things like not having a morning snack in kindergarten, dropping his daily nap (he still does maybe three times a week), and his expanded vocabulary show his maturing. He stays on task much longer and is a big helper with Luke. He completed six months of speech therapy last spring, and the improvement was awesome! My friend Kalee is a wonderful speech therapist, and Lane looked forward to seeing her weekly. The highlight of Lane's summer was fishing. He gets this passion honestly--both of his grandfathers and his father love it as well. He would spend all day on the wharf with his fishing pole if he could.

He caught his first red snapper off the Fishers of Men with Pal, Pie, Holden, James, and Bryant Traylor

intense concentration

Holden is four, and is right there in the "middle" of everything. He likes to know who is doing what when. I can mention any plans for the next week or month, and he reminds me of them constantly. (I can't imagine where he gets this from, ha!) He also loved fishing, playing at the beach, and being in the action of whatever activity was happening. I am so thankful for Holden's love to snuggle and chill with me. He also loves to help me in the kitchen, and proudly makes the best rice krispy treats (of course that is the first thing I taught him!).

that face!! FOUR years old

love his enthusiasm

He wanted a Batman cake with Superman plates, always very specific!

Slip and Slide fun!

(side note--those balloons lasted about five minutes, so if you ever get them, have realistic expectations about their longevity around kids

thanks Kate! He is a candy corn lover like his momma

more fishing fun

Luke is a perfect caboose--full of spunk, fearless, and the ability to go with the flow (as long as he is not being left out!). He turns two in a little over a week. He has gotten very verbal, with his favorite phrases being "Oh Man!" at the appropriate destructive moments, "Come on Boys!" to his older brothers when he wants them to follow him, and "I eat!" as he has quite the appetite. He loves all things Daddy--riding around in the safari car, helping him outside, and watching cartoons in his lap. 

He is the first child that didn't cry when I dropped him off for the first day of 2k, didn't miss a beat. 

I want to freeze this stage as toddlerhood is one that is so easy to wish away--the being in diapers, stubborn fits, and nap schedules. But this go round, I am enjoying it all as I know it passes so quickly.

He does what I call the "chicken wing". He gets a little hop in his step and throws out his arms resemble a chicken. He does it on command :)

sand and water--perfect combination! 

this is blurry but depicts his "pouty lip" so well

First day of school--I told him to go get ready and this was what he came back with

swimming with his buddy Aimee

end of summer at Fishers

Luke playing with Emi and Ellie

be still my heart

three amigos

All right, I am sure only grandmothers are still tuned in, but I have missed so much so had to get it all in!!

MOAST

Mother Of All Ski Trips that is....

We went with a group of five other couples to Park City, Utah to ski a month ago. It was awesome, great group, and a great time was has by all!

The Sams, Osborns, Atchisons, Griffins, Tuckers, and Woods

The first night we traveled via sleigh to dinner at a "Yurt" on the top of the mountain.

It was an experience to say the least. 

cold and cozy

                                   

view of Park City below

a few "spirits" to warm us up

my one fall of the trip was well documented

Brett had his GoPro to capture all of our amazing skiing (wink wink)

great to spend time with this guy

view of Deer Valley from St. Regis where the ladies had a spa afternoon, it was fabulous. 

Deer Valley is still my favorite place to ski...wonderful groomed runs, awesome lunch spots, and no snow boarders.

So much fun! We had such a great group, and really enjoyed fellowship with friends. Skiing is such a good vacation to do with couples. We decided it would be a tradition :) 

Five Years

Happy Anniversary to my favorite! Looking back on these past five years, we have been blessed....

so young and cheesy :)

This was on our honeymoon in Anguilla

see? cheesy!!

But, five years later you are still taking me on great trips, they just might look a little different!

so very thankful for you as a husband and as a father to two, almost three boys...what a Godly role model you are for them. and Oh How you love us! 

I know there is a little a lot of stress thrown in there, but I wouldn't change a thing. 

I was doing the count...in five years we have moved three times, have two plus one in the oven little buddies, have traveled to Caribbean, Mexico, Costa Rica, California, New York, Africa, and others, bought and transitioned a dental practice, and you know the other day to day activities...

Can't wait to see what God has in store for us in the next five years!!

I know one thing, there is no one I would rather do it with.

CABO Meeting/Vaca

Last week, James and I headed with the our friends, Brett and Kate to Cabo San Lucas. 

Our purpose was two fold, dental meetings and RELAXATION

arrival, very happy for some R&R

We stayed at a resort called Las Ventanas al Paraiso, definitely one of the nicest places we have ever been

Every meal was a feast...shrimp tacos the first day lunch

Margarita anyone?!

before dinner, so much fun getting to travel with the Woods, we have very similar vaca styles :)

My husband was in cerveza heaven

we enjoyed this private cabana one afternoon

Cheers! Don't worry Kate and I were tame

One of my favorite parts of any vacation is breakfast in your room or in this case, on your patio. Something about wearing your bathrobe as you enjoy fresh pastries and coffee is heavenly. 

banana french toast

The resort was stunning at night....think candles, twinkling lights, etc. everywhere

One highlight was the authentic Mexican Fiesta night on the beach...

it was gorgeous....an example of how detailed this resort is is that they landscape the sand. every morning all the sand is freshly raked and sculpted to say something or for decorative purpose. you can't really tell in this picture but they had "steps" in the sand that led to our table. also fire pits in the sand...

Desserts, I might have tried everyone :)

pots with all different Mexican dishes...my favorites were the shrimp and chorizo and rice

the night was completed with flamingo dancers and a mariachi band

James, me, and 14 weeks Baby O #3

Good Morning Cabo

One of the best parts of the trip was the weather...80 and sunny every day

Another cool thing was it was whale season, and we saw whales right off the beach multiple times a day. They would blow this horn and that meant look up, a whale is jumping!

14 weeks and 13 weeks,  respectively 

Brett took James on a fishing trip to try to catch a big game fish (one of his bucket list items)

They BOTH caught stripped Marlin and were very happy campers. Above is James's fish

they said these seals would swim up to the back of your boat and beg for food

The only negative to the vacation was three of us (excluding James) had a stomach bug for a day...not sure if it was something we ate or something we took with us as ALL of Selma, including my two had it this past week. (by the way BIG THANKS to Pie and Pal for not only babysitting, but babysitting kiddos with the stomach bug)

If you ever need any information or have any questions on the resort or Cabo in general, please ask!