Outside

Spring is here.  And by Spring I mean pollen.  And since we love bathing in the yellow stuff, we've been outside a lot.  Here are our favorite outside things to do:

1.  Congregate at the end of the driveway and discuss the bigger issues in life:

-how to adjust a bike helmet strap

-how big the branch was that you just broke off of the ex-pretty tree in the yard

-how Owen got 2 gummy bears at the school birthday party and you got 3.

These are important things, people!  They need to be discussed.  And there's no better place than the end of the driveway.

2.  Use the outdoor planters for something other than a plant cemetary.

This is a very uniquely titled game.  You ready? 

Toss.

Toss is played by throwing the bean bags into the planter.  There's a point system because we're competitive like that.  And they are real points, with real numerical values.  None of that smiley face, everybody wins business!  

:)

3.  Retrieve rogue beanbags from the prickly bushes.

Jack, who is deathly afraid of all bees, wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets is NOT afraid to crawl into these spiky bushes to fetch his toys.  It appears he is more fearful of the potential sting than the inevitable bush spike poke. I don't know what this means.  Other than I don't have to crawl in the bushes to fetch the toys.

4.  Hopscotch!

Jack knew how to draw a board and play.  I don't know where he learned this.  Maybe it's innate kid knowledge.  Like how they KNOW how to multiply a tablespoon of maple syrup into 2 tablespoons on the front of their pajamas.  Who teaches these things? 

5.  Shark Teeth Prowling

Jack is a shark tooth treasure seeker of the highest order.  Sadly on this particular day the shark tooth supply was low, but Jack, being the happy go lucky kiddo he is, had a great time anyway.  Love that boy.

6. Beach Hopscotch

Second only to driveway Hopscotch.  

Love this picture of Finn jumping.  He's a jumper.  I could do an entire post on jumping Finn pictures. He's just hoppy.  And fast.  And Tigger-ish.  And he has great jumping hair.

7.  Boat watching

It appears that boys love all things transportation.  But boats take the cake. Finn wanted his picture taken with this boat, so we seized the moment.

8.  Playing in the woods

There are woods across the street from our house, but the boys can't play freely in them yet because of a creek that is there as well.  So, whenever they get some woods time, they freak out. They love it. 

This photo was taken at JP's party.  They roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, threw rocks, swung sticks, and pow wowed in the woods with the best of them.  Such a fun party.  Right up a boys alley.

(Side Note: Last week I pulled 3 ticks from my children after an hour of woods time.  Beware, Blufftonites.  The ticks are on the prowl!)

9.  Doing anything with Dad.

When John gets home, the boys are done with me.  I can tell by the look in their eyes.  

I say, "Let's go play outside!" and they moan and say they are tired.  John walks in the door and says, "Let's do chores FOREVER and eat nothing but broccoli!" and they shriek and squeal and hug his neck.  What is that? 

Maybe I am boring. Maybe they are boring.

Maybe he's just a great dad.  

Yup. That's it.

10.  Hugging at a pretty sunset.

What? Your kids don't do that? :)  

Don't worry.  Just a cute picture.  Has only happened once.  I probably told them to hug.  Don't go ask your kids why they don't hug at sunsets.

11.  Showing off all of the gross stuff we find.

Thankfully this one was of the wind-up species.

12.  Turning a beautiful picnic into Goofy Face Contest #219.

Look at Finn's face.  It's like he's taking in the skill and thinking, 'okay...pinky goes here, tongue here...and yep, what we have here is an awesome goofy face.'

13. Turning a beautiful picnic into Choke Hold Contest #57

At least everyone looks happy!

14.  Rolling in the grass with your favorite brother.

Perhaps the best of all things you can do outside!

Welcome back, Spring!

Bawla

Jack finished his 2nd basketball season a few weeks ago, and by far, this was the best season of any sport we have played.  After a few games, the boys seemed to understand the object of the sport.  Granted...there was a lot of grabbing the ball and running full on Heisman style sans dribbling going on, but they at least knew when they scored a basket for the other team:)

Jack had fun playing with some of his soccer buddies and his favorite neighbors:

He was even bummed when he sat the required quarter out.  

(This is an improvement from Soccer Season #1 when he excitedly announced that he "got to sit out and take another rest!")

Jack pretty much answers only to "Iron Curtain" these days.....

...or Steve Nash.

We were so proud of our boy!  He had so much fun and improved mostly on his defensive skills by the end of the season.  Way to go, Jack!

While Jack played, Finley was such a good little bleacher climber.  He would cheer for his brother in between disappearing underneath the seating.

Don't let the jersey fool you...Finley cried so hard because he wasn't old enough to play that the coach caved and gave him an extra jersey.  Poor kiddo. It's so hard to be the youngest sometime!

And now....

Onto T Ball!!!

COMING SOON 

Thirty Thoughts

Today is my 30th Birthday.  I'm not announcing that because I want a Happy Birthday message from you.  I honestly just feel so blessed today that it had to be shared.

Thirty Thoughts on my 30th Birthday:

1.  A lot has changed in 27 years:

2.  I am now 26 years removed from my first (yes...that implies that there were several) mullet haircuts.  I refer those years as the "Joe Dirt" era.

3.  I've known this hunky man one third of my life.  Bow chica wow wow.

4.  My family means the world to me.  That's nothing new to being 30.  It's just something I should point out every day.  They are beautiful on the inside, outside, and backside:

(Butts from L-R:  Daddy, Mama, Matt, Melissa and Ava (in her mom's arms), Finn, Erin, Jack, John)

5.  God chose the best family for me to marry into.  (And the tallest family, I might add!) 

6.  This never should have happened:

7.  This REALLY never should have happened.  I don't know what's worse:  the purple brick background, the permed bangs, the thunder dome haircut...

ai yai yai

8.  I am so thankful to live where we live.  You cannot ignore the Lord's creativity when you live near the coast!  Look at that beautiful sky!

9.  In the next decade of my life, this little guy will go from 3 to finishing middle school:

10.  And this one will go from kindergarten to driving a car.  And I'm not talking about the Power Wheels kind. 

:(

11.  Thoughts 9 and 10 were brought to me by my friend Erin.  Which reminds me that I am forever thankful for the 30 years of solid friendships that God has given me.  Everywhere I have lived, worked or played, I have enjoyed because of the people that have spent time with me.  Thank you for investing your time in my life!!!

12.  John asked me this morning if I automatically woke up with osteoporosis.  

13.  The solid arm punch I gave him answered that question.

14.  Now that I'm 30, will I think making this face is too immature?

15. or this one?

16.  Now that I'm 30, will I forget what Jack looked like when he used to hold milk in his cheek and dress like Mushmouth?

17.  Is the flexibility it requires to pike like this be possible now that I'm 30?

18.  It took me 28 years to learn that I enjoyed painting.  So thankful that it didn't take 29 years.  Painting has been a huge blessing!

19.  In my 30 years of life, I have experienced 30 Christmas Days.  That's a month worth of Christmases.  For some reason, it seems like it would be more than that.

20.  Will the 2011-2021 decade respect the thirties like the 80's did?

21.  Four years ago we vacationed in Sedona, AZ.  The resort we stayed at had a gym.  The gym had an employee who asked how old I was when signing into the gym.  I asked her how old I had to be.  She said 16.  I loved Sedona.  And the gym.  And that lady.

22.  Birthday donuts are as good as birthday cake.

23.  I wonder how many more nieces and nephews the next 10 years will bring us.  I'm pretty stoked about the 2 (almost 3!) that we have now!

Ava

Austin

24.  My auto insurance could have possibly decreased had it not been for the whopping 35 in a 30 ticket I received 12 days ago.

25.  This image will make me happy in my 20s.  It will continue to bring a smile to my face in my 30s all the way to my death bed. 

26.  Today at lunch Jack asked how babies get into a mommy's belly.  Yikes.  Let the games begin.

27.  Also at lunch, an elderly lady overheard the boys talking about my b-day, and she turned around and sang Happy Birthday to me.  It was sweet.

28.  John just called and asked how I was feeling.  I said old.  Then I proceeded to tell him that indeed, osteoporosis had automatically set it, that all of my bones had broken, my teeth had started falling out and I've wet my pants all day.  He said he has never been more attracted to me.  The should totally add a new wedding vow:  for old and for older.

29.  I am still younger than John.  I am still younger than my brother.

30.  Thank you for reading this incredibly long, self-indulgent post.  Blogging is like affordable therapy for me, and it's a way to remember things.  Cause now that I'm 30, I'll probably forget. 

I'm eternally thankful to my Lord and Savior for the countless blessings He has given me!  Thank you, Lord, for 30 years!

Iron Manly

 Make no mistake about it...

 these pictures

 will most definitely

resurface

in about 20

or 30

years...

Just in time...

for a certain someone's

rehearsal dinner.

Funky Town, Part III

One last bit on Funky Town...

(again...if that doesn't make sense to you, read the past two posts)

Gigi's Boutique is the local place to go for unique womens' clothing and accessories.  Sadly, I didn't have a photo of the building, but here's a picture of some super cute handbags that they sale.  And if you are a local, they have a huge sale going on right now.  Check it out!

Gigi's is such a great place.  They are SUPER kid friendly and have yet to yell at me when the boys are tugging on all of the mannequins' clothing.  In fact, they usually leave with candy.  The boys.  Not the mannequins.  That would be super freaky.

Behind Gigi's Boutique is a little courtyard of sorts of cute lowcountry buildings...

(This is where part of Farmer's Market is on Thursdays.)

Here's the Dispensary...

Even Edward Jones has a cute building...

And the fun red building is Fruition.  They care unique artsy type things: photography pieces, woodworking and even some painted furniture for kids.

John took this picture of some rustic wood items.  I think there's an outdoors store here, which would explain the kayak.

Okay, yep.  There's the outdoors store:  Shallow Water Outfitters.  

You can tell I need to get outdoors more.  

John loves outdoors stores, which is probably why he can be credited for this photo.

And what is a post about Bluffton without a picture of a beautiful oak tree?

The stringy stuff from the tree is Spanish moss.  It has red bugs.  At least that's what 'they' say.  I think it's one of the first few lowcountry lessons you learn as a child when you grow up here.  It comes after the lesson titled: "How to run from an alligator."

I've never seen a red bug, but I have been known to yell across the yard to my children that the red bugs will get them if they don't put that stuff down. 

Last but certainly not least:  the FOOD!

Below is the Bluffton Oyster Company.  It is not a restaurant, but you can buy local seafood here to cook yourself.  (This picture is mostly crummy because I was too busy watching the guy on the right try to get his boat out of the water.)

The family that owns the BOC has opened a restaurant nearby, which is SO GOOD!  It's called Bluffton Family Seafood House.  Try the She Crab Soup.  You won't regret it.

Other fun Funky Town Favorites Not Pictured:

The Cottage.

Breakfast, Lunch, and tea in the afternoon.  Try the home made cherry almond granola.  Or the chicken lettuce wraps.  Or the caprese panini.  Or any baked good they are serving that day.  You get the picture.

Bluffton BBQ.

Open Wed-Sat. Lunch and Dinner. They seriously need to open every day. 

Great ribs.  Great BBQ.  Drink the sauce.  It's that good.

The boys love this place because of the pig statue at the door that holds a basket of peppermints.  Yeah, they're pretty easy:)

And that completes the tour de Funky Town.

Come visit.  Heck..move here!