Catching!

Best Buddies
Mr Beach Bum
Can you see the whale?
Chris and his baby shark.
Skate, ewwwww.
Fish Girl!
Clay's first Sea Trout, why he kisses them I'm not sure!
This past weekend we went fishing, but it was more catching than I have ever seen! Within two minutes and two casts, Clay got 2 fish! It continued all afternoon, and what fun it turned out to be! Clayton and Chris were both kept busy by all the different fish sharks that were biting. Elliot and Gabby are not afraid of fish, both will pick one up no problem. I reach for one, it wiggles and I change my mind! We all got lots of sun, had yummy homemade sandwiches complete with your name on the bag (b/c we all like a little different toppings), sand from head to toe and a great day! Oh and there were pilot whales not too far from shore that at first had me questioning if my eyes were playing tricks on me! Beach life is really something I could start to get used to!

Life

Today I am choosing to celebrate LIFE and ALL that it has to offer. My cousin Matt would be 31 years old today. Matt knew how to have fun and didn't care what others thought, plus he didn't let things bother him- those are things I want to be better at. I don't think anyone could forget his laugh! Miss you Matt!

Yesterday we celebrated 65 years of life, my dad had his birthday! I made him runny eggs and toast for breakfast and he got yummy grilled burgers for dinner with a fruit pizza for dessert. I am loving having a house full of family, it makes me wish we lived closer to everyone even more! Chris and Clay get up and go to work early in the morning, my parents, the kids and I are having fun hanging out and then the evenings we all have dinner and talk and play.

The heat has been brutal, and the humidity on top of that makes it even worse! Today was a great day to be at the beach, it didn't feel like the 101 degrees that the car said it was! I got to go out and play in the waves, what a feeling that is. Oh and did I mention there were dolphins in the water too? Elliot is a total beach bum and wouldn't be anywhere but at the waters edge. Gabby on the other hand planted herself on the blanket and wouldn't go near the water. Chris met us there and then went for his run in the sand. Clayton however got stuck at work and didn't get out in time to meet us there, rats! When we got home there was delicious pulled pork in the crock pot waiting for us.

Grandma and Grandpa stayed at the house watching the sleeping kids while the boys and I went down and walked around "beach street USA" also known as the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Lots of little shops, street musicians (paid by the city) jugglers and magicians too. We stayed out ill almost 10pm... I am so not used to being out after dinner! Life is great and I am thankful for all that I have!

Summer is here!

Today has started out pretty cranky and tough but I am determined to power past it! Last night started it, and it has continued over to today. Elliot fell in the bath tub and hurt his mouth, not sure what was bleeding in his mouth but he wasn't too bothered by it- me on the other hand am still worrying about it! To bed late means he woke up early, and with tons of toots! While grocery shopping E dropped a jar on my foot, causing it to bleed. Gabby threw a baseball in the house and it hit me in the neck.... Thank goodness it is now nap time and quiet time! Here are a few pictures of what we have been up to lately, I am not even going to put them in order! So far summer has been busy, HOT and fun. Uncle Chris is here for more Navy school, at Clay's base, so he has stayed with us that past couple nights which has been fun... Gabby may have developed a crush on him!

These two sure do love one another, and are best friends. Elliot even sits with Gabby when she is in time out! This was today, eating melon and making a sticky mess together!
My newest craft project. Turned out okay... silhouettes of the kids are not perfect but trying to get a good picture to use was HARD. I painted the frames and used some scrap book paper I had on hand.
These boys love fish! Elliot kept tipping over the 5 gallon bucket to get at the fish "we" caught. I noticed the pole tugging for this blue fish, and started to reel it in then decided I would let Clay do it. We ate it for dinner in fish tacos the next night.

Chocolate cupcakes with a rolo candy in the center and caramel frosting/glaze. Made for our friend Marella's birthday.
Outside of Wood Chicks BBQ last night. If you watch BBQ Pit Masters on the TLC network you will know about this place, the owner Lee Ann is part of the show. Pretty good brisket.
After we ate this girl needed to take a break! Notice her shoes??? Her Aunt Kayali and Uncle Mas are big fancy shoe people. Well these are G's newest pair and she loves to wear them with EVERYTHING!

They are real Converse, and I couldn't resist buying them. Plus they are gender neutral so Elliot can have them soon (yes their feet are both growing that fast!). Gabby has informed me she doesn't want to grow out of them tho.

We went to Norfolk's Harborfest this past Saturday. It was HOT. My favorite part and the only part I have pictures of is the stilt walkers!

The costumes and make up were incredible. Plus the people walked totally effortlessly on huge stilts!
We have been to a few different fountains so far this summer. Both kids love it!

Marvelous Monday

Monday started out with the kids and I meeting up with 2 ladies and their kids to run around Mt Trashmore. It was nice to run somewhere besides the neighborhood, plus afterwards we all played at the sand pit and playground. Once we were home, I used left over pulled pork to make a sort of Philly Cheese steak, ummm umm good! Elliot finally napped, and it was a little short but still good. Clay and Gabby got new decals for my van since they had expired and I can't get onto base without them (really I don't go all that frequently tho). I was determined we were going to go do something fun as a family OUTSIDE since it was cool enough! Yesterday the thermometer topped out between 97-100 degrees! HOT, we BBQ'd and swam with friends at their apartment pool. This afternoon we headed down to the Atlantic Avenue Boardwalk. There is always so much to see. They have a brand new park that is for everyBODY to use, meaning it is handicap accessible- it was great! We walked and played and touched the water and sand (not enough for either kids but that was not the purpose of this trip!) Today was wonderful! Tomorrow is also exciting, Clayton starts working Quality Assurance, meaning he grades all the people doing the job he was doing. It also means that instead of shifts, we are on a M-F 7:30a-3:30p shift (well for the most part I hear, they stay late some days and get off early too). We chatted with this guy for sometime, he caught 3 flounder fish while we were there. G is mighty interested in it all!
All were too small and had to be thrown back.I love the flocks of Pelicans that fly overhead!
These military boats were something out of a movie, Special Forces at work!

HUGE dog! We have two in our neighborhood that we see on walks, but Clay insisted we get a picture.
Smile, it's so rare I have a picture of ME!
G really was into the "surfing" it may have to do with her crush on surfers.
Elliot has gotten interested in helicopters and airplanes lately, might be due to us seeing them all the time! I love jet noise is a popular bumper sticker here.
This was dinner a few nights ago, Clayton made Tequila shrimp and used some of our fresh summer squash from the CSA.
OUCH! This is the sliver I pulled out of G's foot. Both kids have gotten a few from running on our back deck. I try to do shoes, but we go in and out so many times that often we are barefoot.

Hope everyone else's Monday was the perfect start to the new week!

Uncle 'Mas!

13.1

Did I mention I have signed up to run the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon!!!!! September 5, 2010 in Virginia Beach I will be running, and running, and running and finishing the race on the boardwalk. It is quite intimidating to think about it, but it is an awesome goal for me right now. I am running a few times a week.... not that many miles yet but I am working my way up. I have a week by week schedule of what I should be doing to train my way up to running a half marathon. I love how I feel after running! I can really only go in the morning, because after that it is tooooo hot. I take the kids the kids with me most days, and that is a big work out! Having only one with me feels like a breeze. Gabby gets out of the stroller and runs with me for a little bit. That is a great feeling, we hold hands and she says "we are helping each other's bodies" and then she tells me she wants to run 30 miles! Maybe one day! For now, 13.1 miles is my goal!

fence hopping!

The kids and I just went to check the mail. Gabby must have turned the lock as she closed the door behind us. LOCKED OUT and did I mention it is 91 degrees outside?!!!! Luckily we had just been out in the back yard checking on our tubs of vegetable seeds (they are sprouting, we just planted them this weekend!) so I was hoping the back door was unlocked still. Lucky thing number two is our old computer chair was at the curb waiting for Garbage... I hauled it to the fence, made Gabby hold Elliot tight so he wouldn't try escaping to the road and I FLUNG myself up and over the fence! Unlocked the gate, got the kids in the yard and the back door was unlocked! Did I mention I was just finishing up cooking. On tonight's menu: spinach, zucchini and green beans (all from the CSA), red onion, a few pieces of bacon and quinoa all thrown together. Hope its good!