Wet N Wild Willow

 We've been trying to introduce Willow to the water more by bringing her to Peggy and Joe's house to swim in the creek.  Willow hasn't figured out that her name includes "retriever" when she's on land.  We'll throw a tennis ball in the yard and she runs like the wind to it.....then stops, sniffs a leaf, and heads back to us.  With no ball!  But at the creek, she will go retrieve every pine cone that Emily throws off the dock.  And one of the main things that Timmy would like to do with her is duck hunt.  So it's very important that Willow understand that when that duck falls out of the sky, it is her job to go get it and bring it back.

So proud of her pine cone!

Timmy's "tough love" approach

Random barking at rogue waves

This one was her final leap onto the ramp and it flattened out her body, making her look like a river otter!

Flip My Family Room

My family room was put together about a year ago (when we moved) with very little thought.  I basically took everything from our addition and put it in the new room.  My decorating style was kind of beachy/modern/traditional/anything I thought was cute.  I had a bunch of kids to take care of and a whole house of furniture to move, so the family room never got a second look.  We threw in the couches, rolled out a rug, and plugged in a tv.....done!  

When I go on summer vacation, I tend to get a little obsessed with a re-do project.  This summer, I happened to come across a pic of a living room redone for a blog.  It was a beach theme and I loved it!  See pic below:

 As I laid out the pictures that I already had on hand, I started to see just how ginormous this was going to get.  So I had to scale back by about 3 paintings.  I already had my favorite large piece--the print with the fishing boats.  I also had two prints that my mom brought back for me from Bon Aire Island in South America, one she got for me in the Cayman Islands, and two that I ordered from Etsy.  I needed letters to make the "SEA" and two small round mirrors.  I ended up finding both at Hobby Lobby....on sale!  Letters were less than $5 each and mirrors were $4.49 each!
Now that we had the decorations in order, Timmy and I lucked out by "inheriting" my sister's sectional sofa.  It didn't end up fitting where we had old set of couches (see pic below) so we did a huge switch-a-roo and put the sectional on the other wall and moved the tv.

Family room "before"

Family room "after"!

Notice the new picture arrangement and sectional!

Now the TV is on a swivel mount that you can tilt to any angle, making that obnoxious glare we used to get gone!

Jason: Ten Months Old

 Jay Bird is quite the big boy now!  He has the mindset that he is already a toddler--he's been refusing daytime bottles (just wants his sippy cup) and is skipping his afternoon naps (but his morning naps are now 2-3 hours long).  He pulls up on everything he can crawl to and can hold onto things with one hand while balancing.  Jason is getting very adventurous about exploring the house now, and if I leave him in the family room to get something, I sometimes return to an empty room!  And I'll find Jason pulling over a trashcan in the bathroom or hiding under the dining room.  

 Jason has been enjoying his summer home with Mommy, but he's going back to Margaret's house on Monday.  Luckily, he's been visiting her all summer, so I know the transition will go smoothly.  Developmentally, Jason is right on track.  He likes most of the Stage 2 foods and could eat his weight in wheels, puffs, and arrowroot cookies.  I've started to mash up food from my plate and put it on his tray.  So far he likes mac and cheese, bananas, and chicken.

 The Numbers:  Jason is in 18 month size clothing, 4.5 size shoes, size 4 diapers.  He weighs about 22 pounds.
Jason likes: everything!  This is one agreeable baby!  He really loves fruit and cereal, his juice cup, snuggling when he's tired, freedom to roam the house
Jason dislikes:  Being stuck in a car for more than 2 hours; getting stuck in his walker in the narrow hallways; a long bath time; the dog running him over

We're Kinda "Pros" at This...

 Pros at spending the morning at the biggest and baddest fishing store around!  Celebrating Timmy's birthday is like a wedding in India around here....the celebrations go on for days.  So there was the dinner out with friends last weekend, the birthday cake and presents on Wednesday, the cookout with family on Saturday, and of course, a trip to the Bass Pro Shop so that Timmy could spend the gift cards burning a hole in his pocket.
Timmy hit the decoy section hard while Emily, Jason, and I ran around the adorable kids sections, ate homemade fudge, and lounged in camo recliners.  We even got a cheap lunch with $1 hotdogs as we walked out the door.

I like this one Dad!

Timmy checks the price tag.....and just about falls out of his seat.

This horn isn't annoying to everyone around me, is it?

We're raising a damn tree hugger!

This bear was cute from a distance....not so much up close.

Emily wanted to pose with the bear, but not next to the bear.

The taxidermied wildlife got a little overwhelming.

Emily loved the turkey bench!

Parent's worst nightmare.....open water area with live fish

Emily "met" the Duck Dynasty crew!

Hiding in the tree house

Emily:  "I don't think Mom sees me...."

Bye Bye Bayville

 On our last day in VA Beach, Cammy wanted to take Garrett to Sandbridge to ride the waves.  Caroline didn't feel like going to the beach (Is this my child?!  No beach?!) and I didn't want to take Jason and Emily to the oceanfront without additional help (aka "Timmy").  So we sent them on their merry way and I had to figure out a way to entertain 3 of my 4 children for the majority of the day.  We ended up going to Bayville Park, a nearby favorite of mine that I absolutely loved as a child.  They have been updating it throughout the years, and I swear that every time I visit, something else has been removed.  This is not the park that Carrie and I remember!  The totem pole and fountain are gone, the giant concrete climbing blocks are gone, and on this visit, we watched a crew taking out the old swing sets and climbing structures! I hope they are replacing everything with new equipment, but part of me wishes my kids could climb the same giant red metal climber that I did as a child.

Emmy brought her trike and all the walking trails proved to be perfect little roadways for her.

They haven't taken the old bridge yet, Carrie!

Just don't take my old bouncy rides, please!  That seal is older than me!

This old wood and metal car was great for climbing when I was little.  It seemed so big then!  I hope they leave it...

A dagger to the heart!  The old red climber already uprooted!

Seal says, "Save me!  I don't want to leave the park!"

Sharks and Turtles and Sting Rays, Oh My!

 Our second day in Virginia Beach was spent at the VA Marine Museum.  Cammy treats us to a membership every year, which was a godsend on Tuesday because the "Members Only" line was 5 people deep while the regular admission line was through the door, down the walkway, and around the seal tank.  I'm guessing those people waited at least 2 hours just to walk in the front doors!  We tried to stay ahead of the tourists and summer camp groups, and the kids were real troopers about the crowds and mass of double strollers that we had to dodge.

Why this dolphin no go anywhere?!

Sharks and turtles....it doesn't get any better than this!

Up close and personal

This turtle followed Emmy's hand along the tank

swim away, little buddy!

Touch tank

All that water at the aquarium made the kids excited for the beach!  Cammy even broke out the new beach bag that we got her for Christmas!