More Beach Pictures

 Here we are outside Capt. Anderson's where we eat every year, with everyone!  It's so much fun and so yummy.  Thank you, Larry for treating us every year, we love this tradition.  I asked the kids to let me take their picture on the bench outside before we went in, hoping to get a good one of all of them.  As you can see, it didn't turn out that way.  But, I promised them no more pictures after this, so...what I got was what I got.

Last year, Justin came up with the idea of going to the Dollar Store and letting each of them pick out five souvenirs for the trip instead of just one thing that cost $15 each.  They love doing this...

Kyle, in true little boy fashion went for cars, and balls.  Who would've guessed??! ;)

 Night swimming has also become tradition, this time with everyone!!!

 Crazy man jumping in over and over again!

 Best. Picture. Of. The. Trip.

Anna thought it was fun to jump in backwards.

 I know you are probably thinking that I am being overprotective but the waves were huge and very strong so we made the kids keep their life jackets on, even in the surf.

My beautiful girl.

 Adventurous one.

 Below there is a PHOTOBOMB!!!  Lord, help me if I am in anyone's pictures like this!

  Little guy ready to go out in the waves, he loved it.

Airbrushed T-shirts = Tradition

This picture sums up Kyle pretty well.  Always ready to do something fun and crazy!

This was on our last night there.  It was such a fun trip and we can't wait to go back.  School has started for Brice so I feel like this trip was forever ago and as you can tell from the blog we came back to Kyle's party and life!  Hope you enjoyed the pictures.  I am sure I will be posting pictures of Kyle on his first day of  "school" after Labor Day.

Annual Beach Trip

This year was no different, Panama City Beach, FL, stayed at Edgewater Resort (for their pool), went with Justin's family, and had a blast!!!  Okay, there was one difference...everyone LOVED every part of the beach; sand, ocean, pool.  While our boys are busy and active and boys who play hard and sleep hard, Anna Claire Reynolds is a machine that never stops.  The girl is impressive.  We had to make her stop everyday and eat, rest, take a break from constant motion.  We had so much fun with all three of the kids and I think next year will be even better because there will be no more diapers (right, Kyle??).

Anyway, you guys have seen the same type of pictures year after year but I would be remiss if I didn't post these to show how the kids have grown.  Also, while we were there, Princess Kate had her baby...I am probably becoming a little obsessed with her just like Diana.  And, I may have passed on this "love for royalty" gene to Anna.  We were in Sam's the other day and she saw a couple of magazines with the picture of Will and Kate on the front holding baby George and she said, "Look who it is Mommy, it's the prince and princess with their new baby!". Yes!!  Okay, pictures.

 This boy would wear himself out and then rest on the chairs without too much persuasion.  He also took super long naps after being in all that fresh air!

 Pa racing Brice and then Anna.  She wasn't going to be just a spectator this year.

 Bubbles on the beach one overcast day.  It was fun and something a little different after three or four days of sand, ocean and pool.  Although we couldn't get in the ocean the first few days because it was double red flag.

I will post some more pictures later this week!

Kyle's Two Year Check-Up

On Tuesday, I took Kyle to the doctor for his check-up.  Everything looks great and healthy.  He does have eczema which flared up at the beach, I guess, so we are treating that.  He weighed 30lbs. 7 oz (78%) and is 37 inches tall (96%).  Big boy.  Sometimes I will look over at him running full steam ahead and remind myself of how lucky we are to have healthy kids who get to run, play and occasionally go to the doctor and just get a hemoglobin check along with the Flu-Mist...Anna was with me so she got it as well.

Brice was half a pound lighter at two and a 1/2 inch taller...

And, then of course little Anna at the same age.  She was 25 lbs. 6 oz (35%) and 36.25 inches (96%).

To My THIRD Grader

Brice,
You just left for school on your first day of third grade.  You are starting at Buford this year and I am so excited for you as well as nervous.  I know you are super nervous too and told you last night that all you have to do is take a deep breath and say a little prayer to calm your nerves when you feel like it's too much.  I hope you remember to do this throughout the day.  Switching schools was a big decision for all of us and one that had me praying everyday for you.  I do hope we made the right decision and that God lets us know quickly if it was the thing to do.  At Open House, I felt as though you are going to be a great fit at Buford so I do hope it comes "easy" to you.  While I am nervous for you, I am also a little sad that you are already in THIRD grade!!!  What in the world?!  I remember third grade so very well and enjoyed it so much.  I hope the same holds true for you, one because you MY kid and two, because you are awesome. :)

I feel like we had a wonderful summer and know now that school has started, the year will fly by.  I really don't want that to happen but there is nothing I can do about it.  You spent the summer kicking butt on swim team, doing beautifully on your All-Star team, playing with your siblings, enjoying Cub Scout camp and relishing every moment at the beach.  You also got to take a trip with Grandma and Grandad to Ruby Falls and were a huge help to me with Anna and Kyle.  I sure hope you think you had a great summer.

I love you so much, kid and can't wait to hear what you think after your first day.  I will be praying for you and all your new friends and teachers today (while I do laundry and keep Kyle alive and Anna entertained).

So proud of you,
Mom

The Mickey Party!!

This was a very fun party for me to plan and for those of you with young kiddos, you can well imagine the ideas out there for this theme.  Five katrillion.  I knew we would be at the beach the week before and then I was going to have to squeeze in the party before school started so...we actually had his party ON his birthday in the evening.  A special thanks to all the family who drove from far away to be here with us mid-week!  This also meant that I had to plan ahead more than I usually do.  After several trips to Hobby Lobby and Brice telling me repeatedly that I was "doing too much for this party", I thought it turned out super cute without being over the top.  So, here goes...

Invitation (made by yours truly and everyone was a little different because of that):

Food (stole the ideas from a friend from nursing school who did this same party):

 Those sandwiches are supposed to be shaped like dog bones..and then that's "Goofy's Goldfish"

We also had Clarabelle's Cheese and Crackers.

Desserts:

 Baby boy was a little hesitant when we were singing to him and didn't quite get that he needed to blow out the candle before eating the cupcake!

 Decorations and Guests!

 Baby Natalie getting a massage from Uncle Justin.  Such a sweetie!

And let's not forget, Presents!!
This first one is from the morning when we brought Kyle downstairs.  You will see a picture at the end of the post of what it is...and we also gave him a plastic baseball bat.

 So excited about his Cars 2 cars from cousin Jack!!!

He loves this thing and loves to watch the balls go through it over and over!  We had a fun time celebrating our big two year old!