Father's Day 2013

POPS...You are the Man!

 

While in Holden Beach for our Marchant Family Vacation, we had the pleasure of celebrating a very important day of the year...Father's Day!  With the direction of my sister-in-law, Betsy, the wives collaborated and put together a phenomenal "Father's Day Field Day".  I am not sure I have laughed this hard in years!  We had several relays that involved the kids and the dads...it was awesome!  This should be an annual event!



The Grand POPS!!!

Dads with their babies!



May the best Man win!!!

Marchant Family Vacation 2013

COUSINS!!!

 

Really not sure how to sum up this vacation in words!  It was so FUN, FUNNY and again, so much FUN!  My ENTIRE family spent a week at Holden Beach, NC --2 grandparents, 8 parents and 8 grandchildren!  We have done this trip several times but for some reason, this year sticks out as one of the best.  The kids all had such a great time together-all 8 of them, all under 6 years of age.  The youngest is Wesley but only by one day.  His cousin, Graeme, is one day older!  The oldest is Logan who turned 7 this August. His brother, Hayden, Princess Clare, and cousin Preston are all born in 2008, then Luke and Ian came along in 2010 --that makes 8 grandchildren!  It also makes for "new friends" since none of us live in the same town.  There was never a dull moment, always someone to play with and we all got along fabulously! 

 

You may recall in an earlier post that we weren't sure that Wesley really would enjoy the beach.  Think goodness for cousins and following the pack.  It wasn't but a few minutes and he was right in the thick of things.  He hasn't looked back and is now a true beach baby!

Graeme and Wesley--one day apart in age!



Cousin Stand Off



From Princess Clare to Shark!

 

Ian is on a mission!!

 

In order:

Hayden, Graeme, Logan, Preston, Ian, Luke, Clare and Wesley!!!

 

Hayden is sporting his lei for the party!

Clare has been crowned with several rings!

 

EVERYDAY IS PLAYDAY AT THE BEACH!!!

My naps were so great at the beach and I woke up crazy and ready to go again!

 Boys in the Tub!

 

 

Who said I didn't like the beach?

     The pool was always full of chaos!

 

OUR POPS!!! The BIGGEST kid of all!!!

 

 

All snuggled in!

 

   Pops in Heaven with his G'children!!!

  Attack on Pops!!!

 

 

 

 

TRUE TO MY NAME---BEACH BABY!

 

 

 

 

J.J. Pays a Visit!

Two Things I Love...JJ and the Beach!

 

Chris' mom came to visit for a weekend in June.  The weather was nice but not exactly hot, still a great afternoon to play at the beach.  The only problem was that Wesley was not a fan of the sand!!!  Chris and I were a bit worried to think he wouldn't be a Beach Baby!  You can see below we couldn't even hardly get him to walk on the sand, even with shoes on!  Not sure if the uneven footing bothered him or what but he didn't care for it!  It didn't change the wonderful visit that we had with JJ. 

Let the Summer Begin!

 

 

Let Me Show You My Gills!!

 

 

We have squelched any concerns of Wesley not being a water baby.  We opened the pool pretty early this season and Wesley has enjoyed every minute of it.  Here are a few photos of the first swim of the season.  Chris was usually the lucky one to take him in because if the water isn't lukewarm, I am happy being photographer.  Wesley on the other hand could swim in pool of ice water if we let him.  Any opportunity to splash around and he takes it!  By the end of the summer he was using a swimmie that goes on his arms and around his chest.  He got brave and would jump off of the steps alone and swim about on his own.  This was a great year for the pool!!!

Strawberry Festival 2013

 

 

Pungo is Still Country!

 

We lived in Virginia Beach when I was a kid, from my pre-school years to Kindergarten.  We lived on a great street with mostly military families--we were the exception as my Dad was in medical sales.  I remember driving out to our neighbor's father's house to get crabs----all the way in Pungo.  In fact, I think it may have been past Pungo.  All I remember is that it was FAR.  I also remember going to a favorite family restaurant in Pungo which ironically, is still there today (has changed hands but still called "Blue Pete's").  Anyway, we now live very close to Pungo.  Virginia Beach is a very large city and has spread across acres that were farmland turning them into developments and shopping centers. 

 

I am sure that the Pungo Strawberry Festival was around when I was a kid but I don't recall making the trip (only for Crabs!).  We have lived in our house (5 miles from Pungo) for almost 4 years and finally made it to the PUNGO STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL!  Boy have we been missing out!  All of the farms surrounding the one stoplight in Pungo grow strawberries among other things but you really can't go two miles down the road without passing two farms on either side...great for pickin' and even better for a great festival.  It is a true festival in the traditional sense, vendors, food carts, carnival games, a petting zoo, etc...heaven for children and families!

 

Me and My KiKi!!!

The big highlight of the festival is the parade...not your average big parade but the best homemade floats from the 4-H, local boy scouts, masons, corvette club, strawberry queen, princess, etc...you name it, if it's local, they were in it!  So we made a trip with our daycare family, Mrs. Sheila, Jeff, Kenzie and Dillon and met up with our other daycare friends, the McClendons...

 

Needless to say, it was a really great way to spend a Saturday.  Luckily, it was very pleasant, almost cold weather and a festival "out in the country" that we won't miss next year!

 

Gearing up for the parade!

Wesley to the right with his buddy, Ryland and sister Jillian on the parade route



Adults---before the show!



 

 



Mother's Day 2013

 

 

Happy Boy, Happy Mommy!

 

 

Mother's Day was not so warm, but understandable for May.  We decided to venture to Sandbridge to get some outside time.  Wesley had been very timid when it came to the sand.  He didn't want to be put down and was very apprehensive to walk in it.  We snapped a few photos of him enjoying himself and giving Mommy another wonderful Mother's Day.  We finished off the day with dinner at "Baja", one of our favorite and only restaurants on Sandbridge---a great local spot!



You would never know I didn't like sand!!!

Best Mother's Day Gift!!!

The Cleaning Authority

 

 

A Habit We Can Live With!

 

Wesley loves toys, no doubt about it.  And he definitely has his favorites.  However, when it comes to vacuum cleaners, swiffers, fan brushes, laundry baskets and brooms...there is no competition.  These items are very popular around our house and I wish I could say it was because he saw us using them frequently!  He loves to climb on them, ride them, push buttons, pull and push.  If he had a choice between a vacuum and a toy car, hands down the vacuum would win! 

Proof...

 

 



Don't Tell Me I Missed a Spot!