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!

Ruffly jean skirt

When Grandma Martha came to visit last week, she brought some new clothes for the kids: some polo shirts and adjustable shorts for Joshua (I am SO stoaked about these shorts because Joshie's so skinny that it is hard to get shorts/pants to stay up on his waist--these new shorts are the best!), and some cute onesie tops, a pair of ruffly shorts, and this adorable jean skirt for Leah.

I love her little chubby legs and bare feet!

Sweet smiley girl! :)

Easter weekend

We had a wonderful Easter weekend! My parents came to stay with us for the weekend and we grilled out and enjoyed produce from our weekly co-op box and went on lots of walks and enjoyed the (mostly) beautiful weather. Our neighborhood does an Easter egg hunt and cookout each year, and although the weather was a little chilly and damp on Saturday morning, the kids still had a great time! David got a few pictures of Joshua finding eggs--he had so much fun!

Joshua and Leah loved their little Easter baskets on Sunday morning! Leah got a Sesame Street bedtime book, a few small waterproof Elmo books for the bath time, and a small watering can to play with in the tub and wading pool. Joshua got sidewalk chalk, a few bug books, and colorful letters and numbers to play with in the tub. Grandpa also brought him a kite that we're looking forward to flying at the beach! Grandma and Grandpa also got each of the kids a recordable story book that Grandma recorded herself reading for them: "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" for Joshua and "Bright and Beautiful: a Child's Blessing" for Leah. Joshua has already listened to both of them about a million times!

On Sunday afternoon, we went to Durham to celebrate Easter and Brian's birthday with all the Isgetts (Brian is one of David's older brothers). We had a cookout and enjoyed the beautiful weather outside. Joshua loved getting to run around and play and visit with everyone, and Leah loved being held by so many people :) What a wonderful weekend with family, food, gorgeous weather, and the knowledge that our Savior conquered death and atoned for our sins--we are so blessed!

Joshua liked to say the color of each egg as he

picked it up and put it in the basket I held

for him; then he'd run out to find another one.

They had 3 different areas, each for a different

age group. There were only a few little ones

in Joshua's age group, so he got a TON of eggs!

We gave a lot of his candy away because we

certainly didn't need to take it all home!

Mommy smiling and Joshua giving his typical

blank stare to the camera :)

There's a little smile for Uncle Brian!

Leah lounging with Aunt Lisa

No smiles from you either, huh?

It is a good thing you're so cute anyways :)

Leah with her favorite fingers