Voting

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Not another post on Myrtle Beach...

...yet, another post on Myrtle. Meet our newest member, the South Carolinian hermit crab,  
Crabby Myrtle. 
 Isn't she purty? Some guy found her (I use "her" loosely since I really don't know) on the beach and gave her to my boys who were smitten. In fact, all the kids in the family wanted a piece of Myrtle.

I have a history with smuggling crabs home from vacation. Some of you might recall me stashing a Jamaican crab in my suitcase 3 years ago. His name was Joe and he was awesome. 
He lived about a year with our family before committing suicide. He refused to pick a shell out of the abundant options I gave him when he grew out of his little white Jamaican home. I guess American shells weren't good enough? Anyway, to put it nicely. He dried up. Sad. Parker is excited to have a replacement.
 Crabby Myrtle gets to sit as decor on out souvenir travel shelf. Maybe I'll get her a new prettier vase from our next vacation if she decides to hang around.
Did I just blog about a hermit crab? Must. Get. A. Life.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

West Virginia Beach

David and I are in the slow process of creating a "play" area in our backyard. We are very limited on space, but until I have a southern cottage on at least 5 acres with a stream running through it (dream land), I am going to make the best of the yard I have. With two boys, outdoor time is a MUST!

After researching what we think would be the most practical play things for the boys, we decided to go with a sand box, a little wooden cabin, and a possible swing. I've even considered an in-ground mini-trampoline. Still debating this idea.

I found a few ideas for a sand box on Pinterest.

I love the way this first one by Pottery Barn looks, but it's not really practical since I don't need the canopy. The play area is already 100% shaded by a ginormous oak tree. Other options had cute umbrellas, but in reality, my boys would just pull one out and break it. Pointless as well.

 This second one looks more simple (necessary since I would be making it) but I opted to not make seats on the edge because they looked like something my kids would just hit their shins on. Plus, what kid just sits on the edge of a sand box? Definitely not my see-how-dirty-we-can-get boys.
After figuring out that I only really needed two pre-treated 2x10x8's cut in half and a few wood screws, I was off to Lowes to build it myself. I also got some recycled plastic weed-block to keep the underneath mud/dirt from to easily mixing with the new pretty white sand. Besides stripping a few screws, the project went down without a major hitch. I mean, really, I just screwed 4 boards together. Yet, I'm proud of it.  You should have seen me trying to carry the big 'ol thing to the back yard.

It took me an hour and a half to build the 4x4 box, lay down the weed-block material, and get the sand dumped in. Yes, I loaded in the car and carried to their final resting place ten 50lb bags of play sand. I could hardly get out of bed the next day because I was so sore. It was all worth it. My boys LOVE their sand box! 

I still have plans to make a cute bunting for around the outside edge. I've got a few laminated fabrics in mind that I think would do well outside in the weather for summertime. I should wait to show you the finished product, but I can't help but post how much fun they are already having in their new toy! Hopefully by the end of the month I'll be able to unveil our new outdoor play area. Yay for summer!

 I seeded all around the box with grass seed so hopefully by next week we'll have grass and not mud. That would be so nice.
 They were covered from head to toe in sand. We had to implement a new rule. Sand cannot be poured onto siblings' heads. It was a really fun game until sand got into their eyes. Not good.
 Favorite activity in the sand? Burying cars.
 Don't you love the strand of drool that decorates his chin? It's always there.
 Parker decided to lay down in the sand to make sand angels. This, I suppose, is how it got in his ears.
 Sand makes them happy. Or whatever this face is.




Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Date Night

An ideal date night includes me trying on a bunch of clothes to find the right outfit, spending time on my hair and make up, and eating high quality food and some place cute. I usually love all the above because on most given days I am a hot mess of a mom with dirt under my nails and wind dried hair with mascara on my lashes if you're lucky. Well, this particular date night, we didn't do the norm. I didn't get dressed up and we didn't scope out a new fancy bistro. Why?

Because I was at the beach and it just brings out the casual in me, and more importantly, it was David's day. Not his birthday, but Father's day. He rocks as a father. Oh sure, he lets his temper get the best of him sometimes and he doesn't do so hot with the kids in the middle of the night, but he is awesome. He is enthusiastic about raising our boys, he pours so much of his energy into them, and he cares enough about them that he continually works on himself so that he can be a better father to his little men. I am so proud of him as a partner and the father of my children.

David spent the whole day enjoying the sand and waves with Parker and Graham and then wanted a quiet evening with me. Nana and Poppy watched the boys so we could have some time just the two of us. We went for a stroll down the boardwalk, ate outside at a Pier restaurant, and topped of the night at a yummy ice cream parlor.

David is ridiculous with the camera. He likes to take pictures of me ordering food apparently. And why do I look like I'm hitchhiking?

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Myrtle Beach with Friends

Friendship isn't just one big thing. It's a million little things...

...captured in a million pictures on this trip. My bad.

I am so thankful for the amazing friends in my life.

It was really special to share some wonderful memories together with you all at the beach. 

I really like/love you guys ;)