2013 Summer Bucket List

Let's move on to something a little lighter, shall we? 

Specifically?

Our 2013 Summer Bucket List!

Last year, even though I was still a full-time working momma with two little ones, we managed to squeeze in a lot of fun times on the weekends and after work during the week nights as part of our 2012 Summer Bucket List. 

Now, I am in a different boat and am lucky enough to stay home with my kiddos full time; so, we are taking full advantage of our summer together while Banks is out of "school" and trying to have fun, fun, fun!! Bonus points for when Daddy is in town and able to partake, too!

Anywho, I know I am always looking for fun summer ideas; so, I thought I'd share our list in case you are looking for some, too! Some of these I brainstormed, some of these I borrowed from Pinterest, all of them will certainly prove to be memory-makin' good times. 

Now, onto the list (as well as to a few of the items we've already crossed off!): 

And in case that's hard to read from the photo, here is the list written out for your reading pleasure:

Our 2013 Summer Bucket List

1. Run through the sprinklers

2. Have a Donut Picnic

3. Enjoy outside story time

4. Have our second annual Momma Date to the movies
5. Go to Carowinds
6. Start a family water gun war
7. And also host a (surprise!) water balloon ambush
8. Make banana splits
9. Do face painting on all family members
10. Visit the children's museum.
11. Have happy Hour at the Dairy Barn
12. Stay up late for flashlight wars
13. Build sandcastles
14. Make s’mores
15. Surprise the kids with evening sparklers
16. Mail letters to grandparents
17. Attend library story time
18. Go bowling
19. Go strawberry picking
20. Collect and paint rocks
21. Hike at the Greenway
22. Make flower crowns for the kids
23. Make bird feeders
24. Build a backyard obstacle course
25. Have the kids choose the dinner menu
26. Play putt putt
27. Make popsicles
28. Go to a baseball game
29. Make cement footprints
30. Let the kiddos be the photogs for a day
31. Participate in our second annual puddle jumping
32. Make peach pie

So, that being said, what can we cross off so far? 

**Run through the sprinklers

Sprinkler fun courtesy of Aunt Jess and Cousin Cameron, during the weekend we just spent in Winston-Salem. My dainty little Raleigh was NOT a fan (and thus, not in the photo).

**Have a donut picnic

Daddy was away five days in a row last week. It called for a donut picnic. Kids loved it. Momma loved it. Success.

**Visit the children's museum 

Another check off the list from our weekend in Winston-Salem. We attended the COOLEST children's museum/science center called SciWorks. It was so.much.fun. for kids/cousins of all ages!

**Build Sandcastles

This was a no-brainer given our recent Edisto beach trip. Hey, they can't all be original, right?

**Make s'mores

A new Father's Day tradition in our home: fireside s'mores. The kids were so excited! And so were we!

**Attend library story time

Our playdate group attended story time at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library last week, which concluded with bubbles from a bubble machine. Raleigh was so, so excited and so, so happy. And so was her Momma. 

**Go strawberry picking

Even though it was a little chilly when we went strawberry pickin' in May, it was still a fun new tradition to start in my babies' new home town

**Go to a baseball game

Although we are actually going to a local, minor league game later this month (Go Knights!), last night we went to  my hub's church league softball game. Y'all. Our kids cheered him on with every ounce of strength they have in their little bodies. In the POURING rain. It was, in a word, amazing. 

**Participate in our second annual puddle-jumping

This was one of my favorite items from our 2012 Summer Bucket List; so, it was a no-brainer to include it again this year. Banks gets SO excited when I spontaneously tell him to throw on his suit (in the middle of a rainstorm!) and head outside. I will NEVER forget the sounds of his laugher as we splash away!

I think we're off to a good start to our 2013 Summer Bucket List so far! Bring on the checkmarks, memories, and fun!!! Update on our progress coming later this summer...

The Men In My Life

Dear Dale, 

Thank you for stepping into being the father-figure in my life that was missing for 11 years. Thank you for taking on four more children, in addition to your own two, and loving us unconditionally. Thank you for loving my Momma and showing her devotion, respect, and companionship, things she has always deserved but not always gotten. Thank you for walking me down the aisle. Thank you for loving my children, giving Raleigh hugs and snuggles, and sword-fighting, golfing, and racing cars with Banks. Thank you for being the grill master. In short, thank you for being such an important, influential, meaningful man in my life. Thank you for being you (and, sometimes, Ditka, to those who ask you for your autograph). I love you. Happy Father's Day!

Dear Terry,

Thank you for being nothing short of, well, Terry. Thank you (and Leah) for being an example of true and ever-lasting love. Thank you for fighting for our country, spending time away from your loved ones to protect us and our freedom. Thank you for always, always being there for Clay when he needs advice--he loves you so much and is so proud you are his Dad...we both are. Thank you for always having a story to tell. Thank you for making us laugh. Thank you for your passion for fishing-I love when we get to reap the delicious benefits! Thank you for your tireless energy and effort in everything you do. Thank you for being the best father "in law" in the whole world. I love you. Happy Father's Day!

Dear Clay,

Thank you for loving me and our babies more than anything in this whole world. Thank you for working so hard to provide for us. Thank you for coaching Banks' first teeball team and for taking him golfing every chance you get--these will prove to be some of his first and greatest memories, of that I am sure. Thank you for rocking our baby girl to sleep, singing her songs, and giving her kisses, over and over. You are certainly her first love. Thank you for letting me make mistakes. Thank you for putting up with lackluster meals. Thank you for being the kind of Daddy I could have only dreamed of for my babies--one who is involved in every aspect of their lives and loves them with every ounce of his being. Thank you for making my dreams come true. I love you. Happy Father's Day!

I am one lucky girl.

June 16th

June 16th is the hardest day of the year for me. 

It is the anniversary of my dad's unexpected passing, which will make 23 years ago this Sunday. I was 9 years old when he died. 

As it happens sometimes, this year, June 16th falls on Father's Day. 

But. 

Do you know what else happened on June 16th? On June 16, 2002, to be exact? 

I started dating my hub. 

And do you know what was supposed to happen on June 16, 2003 (but actually happened the night before because he was too excited to wait)? 

My hub proposed.

So. 

While June 16th is certainly the hardest day of the year for me, it is also a day that I am so very grateful for. 

Because rather than focus on unexpected losses, I focus on unexpected gains. 

I may have lost my dad on June 16th, but I also met the best dad I have ever known on June 16th, who just so happens to be the father of my children. 

So. 

This June 16th, I will celebrate the fact that my hub came into my life for a reason, at the exact time, on the exact day, that he did, for a reason. 

Because I absolutely believe that things happen for a reason. 

I think June 16th is proof of that. 

Edisto 2013: Top 10

Well. 

We're back. 

We are back. 

From our favorite trip to Edisto yet. In a word, it was awesome. Despite a quick visit from Tropical Storm Andrea, my hub and I easily agree that this has been our favorite Edisto trip so far. For so many reasons. But. Here are my Top 10 (in no particular order):

10. Cousins. Seriously, cousins (and sisters, of course!) make such wonderful friends. I am so, so happy that Banks has an older (boy) cousin to look up to and two cousins who are within three months of age to play with. And that Raleigh has a sweet girl cousin who is just nine months older (and a boy cousin who is just eight months younger!) than her to play with. Our kiddos get so excited when they get together, and it was my absolute pleasure to take this little crew on a hand-holding walk around the neighborhood to kick off the trip! And then watch them play together, so well, throughout the week. So, so sweet. 

A.Dor.A.Ble. outfits by Goat & Lulu

9. Conquering fears. Although this was Raleigh's third trip to the beach in just 16 months, she was pretty fearful terrified upon arriving to Edisto this year. 

Exhibit A. Not such a fan just yet. 

However. After less than 24 hours, she could not have been a bigger fan of the sand beneath her toes nor the waves crashing at her feet. In fact, she preferred to venture into the water alone, shaking off her Daddy and me when we attempted to hold her hand as waves approached. 

Raise your hands if you love the beach

8. He still loves his Momma. Oh y'all. Yes, this was a fun, fun, fun year with the kiddos. But also? A tough one for this Momma's heart. Because I was able to see, first-hand, that I may not always be my son's first choice for playmate. Not when there are other kids around. Honestly? At some points, I felt guilty, because my toddler was so in need of her momma, and my preschooler was so un-in-need of his momma, that my time was clearly more heavily dedicated to time with my littlest than my biggest. But then? Our last day at the beach. I asked my buddy if he would play with me at some point during the day. "Yes, Momma. I will. But not now. Later." He promised. And you know what? Shortly before lunchtime, he approached me, all on his own, and said, "Momma, I'm ready. Let's go play!" And play we did. Horseshoes. Sword fights. Water guns. Catch. I'll never forget his giggles and the way my heart felt knowing that, at least for a little while, he just wanted to play with his Momma. 

Three cheers for beach play time!

7. Our Nana and Pop. I am very extremely beyond blessed to have parents, on both sides of the family, who love my babies more than life itself. One of the reasons I love summertime so much is all the time we are able to spend with family. Especially with grandparents. And this year's Edisto trip was no exception. Our Nana and Pop are simply the best, and my kiddos just adore them. It's easy to see why. 

6. QT with my hub. My hub is a hard-workin' man. Have I mentioned that before? And I am a hard-working Momma, too. So. It is really, really nice when we get to put our work to the side and spend so much time together, both as a family and as a couple. And as the ultimate Edisto 2013 Cornhole Champs. :) 

My one and only.

5. Making the most of it. Sometimes life is unpredictable. You know what else is? The weather. Enter: Tropical Storm Andrea, who decided to grace us with her presence in the middle of our 2013 beach vacation. Meh--didn't faze us one bit. Because when life gives you a tropical storm....you simply set up shop in the beach house garage. And by set up, I mean start a family cornhole tourney. And keep the drinks flowin'. One of my favorite afternoons of the trip. Take that, Tropical Storm Andrea. 

 

4. A Daddy's love. My hub adores his kids. And my kids adore their Daddy. That, alone, is enough to bring me enough happiness for a lifetime. Throw in the beach and well, this Momma's heart just soars. 

3. Momma's Day Out. When we used to live in Atlanta, my sister-in-law, who just so happens to be one of my favorite friends, and I used to get together, once a month, for "Momma's Night Out" (MNO). As new mommas, we looked so forward to these nights when we could let loose, drink good wine, have great conversations, and be off-duty as mommas. Now that I've moved out-of-state, our visits are too few and far between for this momma's liking. So. It was so special when we ventured out to Charleston for the day, doing some app-eating, margarita-drinking, and market-shopping. Loved every second. 

2. Seeing memories through a child's eyes. My very favorite part of the beach is knowing that these are the memories my children will carry with them throughout their lifetimes. My memories are becoming their memories. And they are damn good ones. 

1. Family. Even though I am a stay-at-home Momma now, I still treasure the extra-special time I get to spend with my little family of four, for a whole week, together, with the beach and family as a beautiful backdrop. Our beach trip was so special and memorable this year, in large part because of the people I was lucky enough to spend it with. 

Sistas-in-law

More Nana and Pop love

My little loves

Sweet Raleigh Jane

My precious little buddy, Banks

Our lil' family

And now? The countdown is on 'til Edisto 2014! 

Memories of Edisto Past

We are headed to the beach next week for our annual Luton family beach vacation. 

We are very lucky in that my hub's uncle owns a house right on the beach in Edisto, where we travel each summer with my hub's parents, his sibs, their spouses, and their babies. This week is so special to me in large part because I know my children will have memories of the same beach house, at the same beach, playing with cousins, and spending time surrounded by love and laughter. And I'll have all of those same memories, too.

So. Of course, as any week goes before anyone takes a vacation, things are a little crazy around these parts this week as we prepare for our trip. Nonetheless, I thought one more post, looking back over the last few beach trips to Edisto, would be a fun send off!

So. Here we go! Back to Edisto:

Edisto 2010: Banks was just a young fella, at the ripe ol' age of 8 months old, the first time we took him to Edisto. Just looking through all of the old photos makes me feel so happy and sad at the same time: It is just so hard to believe he was once this little! But that was such a special trip, one I'll treasure forever.

Blue-eyed boy, excited for the beach!

Nana/Cousin playtime indoors

Checking out the ocean views with cousin Brantley, who turned 1 about two weeks after this trip

Who doesn't love a good beach nap?!

My boy and me 

This face. This pose. I die. 

Edisto 2011: Banks was just two months shy of turning 2 when we went to Edisto the following summer. It was so, so fun to watch him run up and down the beach, chasing seagulls and playing with his cousins. And the blonde curls. Oh, how I loved those blonde curls!!

Beach bum.

Snuggles for Cousin Maddie.

Baseball with Cousin Chandler during a break from the beach.

My handsome boys.

There is very little I enjoy more than being surrounded by little ones. 

The three amigos: Cousins Maddie and Brantley with Banks.

Edisto 2012: Raleigh's first trip to Edisto! Our sweet baby girl joined us for her first trip to the beach last year, when she was just 5 months old. In typical Raleigh fashion, she was a laid back beach babe, clearly enjoying her vacation and fun in the sun. And Banks loved the beach more than ever before, building sand castles, jumping waves, hitting golf balls down the beach, and soaking up family time. 

Naps with Daddy: An almost daily occurrence last year. 

Three amigos, back at it again.

My sweet baby girl, relaxing on the beach.

The big kids, patiently waiting for the porch pool to fill.

Pop is always a trooper, letting the littles bury him in the sand.

My precious, then almost-3-year-old, whose hair is now curl-less and the EXACT same shade as his Daddy's.

Our Nana, with her three little chickadees.

My bald beauty (and me)

Our family of four, Edisto 2012. 

You've got big shoes to fill, 2013, but we're ready for you!!

In true vacation fashion, I fully intend to take the next week or so off from blogging but will be back soon with vacation-overload photos, stories, and more. 

Cheers to summer, cheers to vacation, cheers to Edisto!