Summer of Fun

The boys and I headed to Destin, FL with my Aunt Cindy last week. We met Jess, Lana, Charlie and Jackson there. It was a wonderful escape from PA for a few days! I wish we would have been there for 2 weeks.. but I'll take what I can get. These are just a few of the millions of pictures that we took for the 5 days we were there.

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This is the view of the ocean as soon as you come over the crest of the walkway from our place. Breathtaking isn't it?!

The view from the back of our place.
This would be the pond that my son tried to run to but a huge hedge stopped him... ugh.
(The hedge would be the cause of the huge cut under his eye in most of these pictures)



another angle...

Nothing like having your toes in the sand.

(Thanks Lana for modeling your toes off for me!!)

Lana, myself and the boys headed to the beach early one morning. They were soooo excited to be the only ones on the beach... other than the poor seagulls they chased all morning.

The boys 'playing' in the sand...

to me it looks like they are plotting something... hmmmm....

Carter was not a fan of the sand on his face. I tried explaining to him that it gets there from his hands.... but he was hearing none of that!!!

My little man...

This was Carter's photo session on the beach

He was being a little stubborn and not looking at the camera... but I think I got some pretty nice shots!

Charlie Beckett!!

Carter just loves him!

Jackson Walker!

What a ham... there was never a dull moment with this little man around!

Ok.. so Lana and I thought it would be an awesome idea to get a picture of the boys before we headed back to the condo.

Much to our dismay.... there was a guy who was setting up the chairs and umbrellas. No biggie, right?! Normally no... but not when he is running a power tool. He had a drill with a very long head on it and was drilling holes in the sand to put the umbrellas in....

Lana and I couldn't compete.

As much as we yelled and clapped... their attention stayed on the man with the power tool...

ok... so we are getting there....

Eventually the man with the power tool came and stood behind us so that the boys were looking at us.... Phew... that was an ordeal!

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Elliot's photo session

He adored his Aunt Lana...

He discovered he could stand along the side of the bed with a little help...

this was exciting stuff!

ok... so all the pictures are of Elliot nude. I have an explaination for that. I was running the tub for his bathtime and Lana was getting him ready. He began hammin' it up... so we grabbed the camera. It was quite a funny few minutes.

This is my little gorilla...

more kisses from Aunt Lana...

Everyone hit up Aunt Cindy for some change to throw in the fountain..

After Carter threw all of his in the fountain... he decided to take it all back!

Kidding... he was just picking it up to throw it right back in.

The boys...

The merry-go-round. The boys had sooo much fun on it!

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Summer fun back in PA

We have fallen in love with swimming...

might I add that he is just a handsome little devil with those goggles on! HAHA

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One Sunday it poured. It poured so hard that we got over an inch of rain within several minutes and ended up with this fun...

well... not this fun... (but this is Elliot spectating)

but this fun....

Emma and Christian were home visiting from New Orleans... and had a blast!

Annie Kay getting in on the action!

Water fight!

Cater gettin' in on the action, too!

What a bunch!

Carter, Annie, Christian, Emma and Jalynn (Molly's friend from Baltimore)

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Daddy took us to the Zoo on his day off. We had a blast. Carter really enjoyed watching the Gorillas. We decided that this gorilla was the Elliot of the bunch. He was just laying on the hill, grabbing his feet and rolling around. Too cute!

the ephalants!

this ostrich was going nuts! She was just running around and getting pretty close to us bystanders!

Carter and Elliot loved the Aquarium. Their favorites were the seals and the penguins. We sat and watched them for quite some time!

Ell was definitely enjoying himself!!

Daddy and son... too cute!

That's it for now. I'll get some more on soon! Sorry for the long gap in getting pics up. It has been one crazy summer...

that's how country boys roll!!

Now... I know I don't have the most fashion sense.... but this is ridiculous!

What a sight for sore eyes. It almost embarrasses me to let him play out in the yard looking like this...

backwards navy hat... check!

camo boots... check!

red gutchies.... check!

rad tattoo on the forearm... check!

men workin... comin thru!

I am trying to get him used to the feeling of 'big boy underwear'... and figured it wouldn't hurt anything to let him do it in the yard. Less of a mess for mommy if he forgets!!

STUDMUFFIN!

So I thought it would be cute to get a picture of the 3 of us...

as you see... it didn't work out too well!

first try...

second try...

third try...

fourth try...

I finally gave up and decided to join them in their silliness!

and then their is this crazy animal!!

My little happy man!

Some day my little chunka munka will hate me for this...

but I don't care! He is too cute to miss this photo opp!!

Carter loves kissing his little brother!

my oish little man!

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and once again... a Carter story worth mentioning:

*I was cleaning up the kitchen the other day before dinner and Carter came running into the kitchen yelling and screaming. I couldn't understand him... so I asked him to slow down. He started yelling at me "turtles! turtles!" I had no clue what he was talking about... I was trying to figure out which toy he was wanting or what book he was talking about... and then it happened! He began tugging at his diaper. "mommy, turtles in my diaper!" OOOHHHHHH I see!!

He had pooped in his diaper... haha!

The first big kill...

Before I get into the story of the 'big kill'....

Ya think they look alike??

Carter:

Elliot:

some days I think yes... some days I think no.

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THE BIG KILL

Jason and Carter have started an almost nighly ritual of a 4 wheeler ride. They usually just putz around the farm and hit a few puddles and Carter is happy (Daddy, not so much). Jason feels the "need for speed"... and I just roll my eyes.

A few nights ago, Jason and Carter went over to our neighbors land to set a few groundhog traps.(Bill and Jason have been trapping for years and have gotten thousands over the years... its for crop damage you know. *eye roll* at least that's what they say. I think its an excuse to be away from the wife and children... but i'm sure he would tell me i'm crazy).

ok.. so they head over the hill with some traps. I was fine with that. Elliot and I stayed home to do laundry, cook dinner, and ya know.. the mommy stuff. We were enjoying the quiet time and then I hear the 4 wheeler and Carter yelling, "Mommy! Look! duggog!" I go out on the front porch and there it is... my son's first kill! ugh... I of course shot a look to jason (who's smile was beaming from ear to ear).
so here it is folks... the first kill!

He was sooooo proud! And take note of the rock in his hand... yeah. He used that to throw at the groundhog once it was dead.

Now the story Jason tells me goes a little like this.

They were riding thru the fields and they spotted the mommy and her 3 babies running. Carter yelled, "Get it daddy!" So of course, Jason speeds up. They hit one of the smaller ones and Jason goes to slow down and Carter is bailing off the bike before it even comes to a complete stop. He runs up to is and starts throwing rocks, sticks and anything he could get his hands on... Jason was proud... and I cringed.

Little man has learned how to splash me during bathtime. HILARIOUS! I am usually soaked from top to bottom before bathtime is over.



Nana and her boys. Carter looks like he's up to no good!!

My boys... melt.my.heart.

and then there's this...

"Hey mom!? You mean't don't touch him like this, right?!"

don't worry son... your days of freedom are coming closer to an end... Elliot will be rocking your boat in no time!!

Happy boys!

Love this one of Carter... he looks so grown up!

Elliot would seriously hang out in this swing all day if I let him!

this is my 2 year old's idea of saying cheese and smiling...

Elliot had his 4 month check up on the 25th of May...

18 lbs. 4 oz.

26 1/2 in. long

Needless to say.... he is growing and eating all the time! I have started him on rice cereal and he is doing well with it. This kid is showing no signs of slowing.

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And i leave you now with one of the most precious pictures of my boys.

(I love saying that.... MY boys.)

God is so good... I am truly blessed!