Family picture

So, you know how whenever you go to a theme park or some place like that, they grab you as soon as you walk in and take your picture? And then they have them all available as you're leaving so that sweet family-loving people like my dear mother will buy a copy? Well, here you go:

Thankfully, my brother and I were able to limit her to buying just one copy by reminding her that we could scan her copy for everyone else. She could have dropped some serious cash had we not stopped her :)

Red, white, and cute :)

Just took a few pictures of Leah in her patriotic dress yesterday afternoon:

She's a cute and sassy one, y'all!

My favorite faces

Just a few shots of my favorite little faces:

In addition to wearing Daddy's shoes,

Joshua also likes wearing Daddy's hat!

Leah's "Who, little ol' me?" face

I love how her hair is curling up

around her ears :)

This is the sassy face we see so often!

Seems concerned about something extremely

important...

Kisses from her big brother!

Myrtle Beach Vacation: Broadway at the Beach

On Tuesday afternoon, we thought it would be fun for Joshua to enjoy some of the kiddie rides at Broadway at the Beach. He was a little nervous at first for some of them, but he ended up having a blast!

Riding in the red boat (he picked the color)

My handsome smiley boy

He was just grinning from ear to ear!

Leah enjoying her fingers while watching

Joshua from the stroller :)

Joshua and Mommy riding Willy the Whale

(he loved this one because it went up and down

as it went around)

He was terrified on the carousel before it got started

But as soon as it started up, he was all smiles!

He loved seeing the family watching him and

waving to him each time we came around

Leah-bug showing off a little leg

(the skirt part of her outfit didn't agree with

the stroller strap!)

Riding on a motorcycle (this picture reminds

me of the one of him from the State Fair on the

4-wheeler ride)

He had a blast on all the rides! Thanks, Grandpa :)

Myrtle Beach Vacation: Aquarium

On Monday afternoon, we went to the aquarium. My brother and I grew up going to aquariums since we lived near the coast, so it was fun to take Joshua and Leah to one. There were so many animals and colors and neat things to see and talk about!

Mommy and Joshie checking out an exhibit

Mommy and Joshie (not smiling, of course)

Joshua touching a horseshoe crab in the touch

tank...so brave!

I don't think it occurred to him that he could

be scared--he just reached right in!

And he picked the biggest one to pet!

Joshua on exhibit in the tank :)

Daddy and Joshua (trying to escape)

Joshua (what is up with this face?) with a

sting ray sneaking up on him

"Is this look any better, guys?"

One of the big tanks with a diver inside

Joshua checking out the diver (the reflection

on the glass makes her look like her head is

on my body...oh well)

Same reflection problem, but Joshua's looking

at the camera :)

Leah happily rode in the stroller the majority

of the time, and then decided Grandpa's shoulders

provided a better vantage point!

She had a blast up there!

And Joshua decided she should wear his hat as

we were leaving :) Thanks to David for being

the photographer--we actually have some

pictures of me with the kids!

Myrtle Beach Vacation: Putt-Putt Golf

After not going on any vacations for the last few years, we're making up for it with 2 trips this summer! Vacationing with 2 small children isn't really a break--it is just doing the same thing in a different location, but we've been looking forward to it regardless :)

Our first trip was this past Saturday through today down in Myrtle Beach with my parents and my brother at my parents' time share. Erik rode down with us, and Joshua was very excited to have "Uncle Erik" in the car...and told him so many, many times :) Thankfully, my brother was a good sport and was extremely patient and helpful with the kids.

We spent mornings at the pool and kiddie water park there at the time share (Joshua LOVED all the water time!), and after afternoon naps, we did a different activity each afternoon. Saturday, we walked around at Broadway at the Beach and ate dinner out. Sunday, we played putt-putt golf. David, who loves golf, was really excited to share a little of his favorite sport with Joshua for the first time.

David showing Joshua how it is done

Joshua was very proud to pick out the color

of his golf ball and made sure everyone knew

what colors they had chosen

Joshua did more dragging of the golf club and

dropping the ball in the hole with his hand

Joshua shouting "Great job!" after getting the

ball in the hole...he was partly excited and partly

frustrated (it was really hot and he was getting

worn out!) David and my brother played really

well, and I think as Joshua gets older, he'll

enjoy playing golf with his daddy so much!

Trying to fill Daddy's shoes

Joshua loves to wear David's shoes and "walk" (it is really more like shuffling!) around the house saying, "I'm wearing Daddy's shoes, I'm wearing Daddy's shoes..." I love seeing how much he looks up to David--when Daddy gets home from work in the evenings, you'd think a famous rock star was coming in the door based on Joshua's reaction!

Also on display: Joshua's short summer haircut.

I really prefer his hair longer, but it is just too

hot for him during the summer, especially since

he's such an active and sweaty kid. And with 2

beach trips this summer, we figured we'd go ahead

and get all the extra hair off with the clippers for

the season!

Big cheesy grin!

My handsome boy :)

Love this sweet boy SO much!

A stroller built for two

The kids and I love to go on a walk through the neighborhood every afternoon before I start making dinner--it lets us enjoy the weather, get some exercise, and talk about all the interesting things we see. I'd been pushing Joshua in a stroller and wearing Leah in the baby carrier, but as it has gotten hotter, Leah and I were getting pretty uncomfortable being so close and sweaty! My friend Jenny has let us borrow her double stroller and it has been SUCH a big help! Since we go for walks about the same time each day, we tend to see the same people and cars coming home from work, and Joshua loves the predictability of recognizing what's coming and saying hello to everyone. He also loves seeing people walking their dogs and mowing their lawns--oh, the joys of a 2 1/2 year old boy!

I love that you can see Leah's little hair sprig

sticking up in the picture--every now and then,

she has this little sprig that sticks up and I think

it is adorable!

Joshua loves going for walks in the "big stroller"

with Leah. He'll sing her songs and "brush her hair"

if she starts to get fussy. What a sweet big

brother :)

(Grand)Mother's Day Gifts

I thought it would be nice for Joshua to make something special for both his grandmas for Mother's Day, and when I saw these little ladybug garden stones with paint and brushes at Target, I bought 2 kits! We laid down some comics from the Sunday paper, and with a little help so he didn't paint the furniture or his face, Joshua made these two little beauties (he had so much fun and loved talking about all the colors he was using):

These, along with a photo collage of Joshua and Leah, were the gifts for the grandmas this year--I think they were a hit!

Cookout with the Gilreaths

We had our good friends Devin and Sarah and their precious girls Delainey and Sallie over for dinner on Saturday. They came over to play in the backyard and the kids loved swinging and going down the slide. Sarah and I were roommates before she got married and David and Devin are both accountants, so it is always fun to get together and spend time together. We had a great time, enjoyed good food, and loved seeing the kids play together--we'll have to get together again soon! Sarah emailed me a few of the pictures she took--she is super-talented and always gets great shots!

David & Leah and Sallie & Devin

Joshua with a quick smile

before he runs off again!

Mommy and Leah (with a little scrape

on her forehead)--I don't have many

pictures of me with the kids since I'm

usually behind the camera, so I'm so glad

she got this shot!