Myrtle Beach 2009

On August 15, 2009, we loaded up the car (could not have fit anything else!) and headed to Myrtle Beach with Mimi, Poppy, Aunt Cindy & Uncle Davis. I had been looking forward to this vacation for a while because I knew the boys were finally big enough to do a lot on their own! In their 2 short years of life, they have been to the beach 5 times! During previous trips, they had to be carried, shaded, held in the pool, and were terrified of the sound of the ocean! I knew this year was going to be different! The resort we stayed at has a newly built kiddie pool that is 14-16 inches deep. In this area, there are 8 slides, 3 tunnels, and waterfall, and countless water-sprayers. I new that the boys would be able to roam around on their own and have so much fun! Well- they didn't jump right in like I had expected, but it didn't take much of us sliding with them before they were ready to do it themselves! I had so much fun taking pictures and videos of them! We had the best time eating out, enjoying the sun, staying up late playing games, and enjoying being a family. Its rare- since Cindy & Davis moved to Seattle- that we are actually all together! We had a great time and we booked our trip for 2010 before leaving! I hope that my boys will look back at all these pictures one day and know how much their mommy adores them, cherishes spending time with them, and loves being a kid again with them!

My precious boys

Jonas on the beach

Nolan on the beach

Nolan was so proud to wear his "spidermans" all day with no accidents!

A view of the Kiddie Park- as soon as we went to the pool both boys would say "I wanna go side"

The octopus in the kiddie park had 2 slides and 1 tunnel!

The pirate ship in the kiddie park had 6 slides and 2 tunnels!

Mom & her girls

Jonas would sit at the top and yell "ready, set, go!"

Nolan sliding

Jonas sliding on his own!

Jonas is excited and going back for more!

Mommy & her boys!

Mimi & Poppy poolside with the boys

After eating at Yamoto's- Broadway at the Beach

Sharing a bed- so precious!

Nolan LOVED wrapping up in a towel when it was time to go in!

Looked like drowned rats but we were having fun sliding!

Nolan wanted to wear his goggles everywhere!!

How do you keep the boys quiet while waiting for a table? A camera case and a buzzer :)

Jonas realized he had pockets like daddy!

After dinner..

Cindy reading to the boys

Aunt Cindy & Uncle Dave

Jonas giving Aunt Cindy kisses

Watermelons & Watermelons

Jonas & Nolan may not look anything like me (its ok, I've come to terms that they only got my hair and they have their daddy stamped all over the rest of them :)) but when it comes to watermelon- they are their mommy's little boys! If you know me well, you know I could eat watermelon morning, noon, and night. I swear I can smell and freshly cut watermelon a mile away! When I was pregnant- you guessed it- I was constantly wanting more and more watermelon! I'll eat a whole melon by myself in one sitting and I do NOT use salt on it! This year, Chris & his daddy along with Leann, Beth, and Brenda planted a huge garden. (Yes, I didn't mention myself, because, well- lets just be honest- I didn't get out there and sweat and slave like the others did.) When I say huge, you cannot begin to imagine the size. Lets just say that we now have truck loads of watermelons, have canned over 100 jars each of green beans and tomatoes, and are still picking things out on a nightly basis for dinner! The boys love going to Nana & Papaws (Chris' parents) house for a ton of reasons. They are spoiled senseless, they love to swim, but most of all- they LOVE the gator. Every night that we visit, Chris & his dad load the boys up in the gator and ride down to the garden at the bottom of the hill. There they load up veggies for dinner and watermelons for later! The boys pick their own watermelon which makes them feel so special! After unloading, the boys don't move out of their chair until they get a piece of watermelon! They eat and eat before its time just to hose them down! I have adored watching them as they giggle the entire time! I have also loved watching daddy & papaw as it is so obvious that this is what brings them the most joy out of life! I feel so blessed! Enjoy the pictures- you can click on them and make them larger if you need to!

Nolan picking up some fresh cabbage for slaw while Jonas waits on the watermelons!

Nolan helping daddy bring in the melon he picked in the garden

Chris cuts while everyone grabs!

Jonas eating "my melon" as he calls it :)

Nolan eating his piece...

They eat watermelon like its a contest!

Nolan loves being sprayed down afterwards!

Nolan's Brownies

I love the few moments I get at home with just one of my children! I think it's so important to have individualized time with each one and try to have a "Mommy & Jonas" day and a "Mommy & Nolan" day each week. Sometimes its only half a day, but thats fine with me! Monday, I spent the morning with Jonas taking him with me to run errands and to have some xrays done of him. We had a good time and I took him to lunch before coming home and putting him down for his 3 hour nap! We were met at home by Chris & Nolan. It was time for some mommy & Nolan time! We played trains for a while before I decided that we needed to bake Aunt Leann some brownies since she just had a baby :) I put Nolan on the counter and he did all the work! He actually did great and didn't make a mess! I cannot tell you how much I love both of my boys and fall more and more in love with them each day! Here are the pictures-


Mommy supervising as Nolan pours in the eggs, water, and oil!

Wiping up a small spill...Nolan said "Uh oh mommy" and pointed to the water!

Look at that concentration!!

Nolan adding the mix

Jonas woke up just as we had finished- but he got to eat and thats the best part!

Where has the summer gone?!?

The summer is soon to be gone! We can't believe how fast is has gone by! We are spending as much time outside enjoying the weather as we can! The boys are so independent and have gotten so EASY! They love playing together! Their most favorite activity is mowing the yard with their daddy! I think daddy likes it just as much as they do! They also love going out on the boat and jumping in the lake and playing at the playground every chance they get! I guess they truly are their parents boys! Here are some updated pictures!

Nolan is proud of himself after blowing the horn on mimi & poppys boat!

Jonas waiting for his turn to get off the boat & feed the fish!

The sailboats at the marina- the boys love to point at them and say "BOAT!!!"

The boys waiting while daddy brings the mower in the back yard...how cute it that!

Their favorite thing to do- mow the yard with daddy! I think its time we give in and get them their own! They hear it start in the garage and immediately grab their hats (they know mommy doesn't let them mow without their hats!) and run out the door! Its precious!

Chris has taught the boys how to open the garage (or so they think!) They run to the door, squat and pull up on it while we hit the button. They think they are so strong :)

Nolan at the park

Jonas at the playground