It's officially pool season!

It's officially pool season... for my kids that is.... I require a minimum of 10 more degrees before I venture out of ankle deep water. I believe the 1st pool day was 60 degrees and rainy so we held off until it was at least 80. Well, yesterday was 84 according to my car so we loaded up the wagon and headed to the pool. It was cooollllddd but they had a great time splashing around with their buddies. They both played more on the side of the pool than in the pool but both did swim for a bit. I kept to my rule and monitored from the side with a little "mom juice."

Lock up your sons.

Squirt gun fun!

Typical Avery... floating around

I think this picture looks like she's about to do water aerobics. I'm dying over that sweet polka dot Target hat!

Makenna also enjoyed her 1st dip of the season.

Jumping right in!

I think this officially means my summer has started!

Oak Island - May Beach Trip

Last week the kids and I packed up and headed to the beach with my parents. They rented a house in Oak Island, NC a few weeks throughout the year and last week happened to be one of them. We were sure we'd have high 70's/low 80's and beautiful beach weather.... but... we got low/mid 60's and clouds. Boo. But, one thing is for sure, regardless of the weather, my kids will wear bathing suits and play in the sand, blue lips and all. Thankfully, we did get some sunny moments here and there and I got my fix of sandy toes and umbrella drinks. Daniel was supposed to meet us Thursday and stay through Sunday but since it was so windy and calling for rain, we just headed home to warmer weather and our own beds.

Waterwheel fun.... Best $1.50 I've spent in a long time.

We played on swings and scouted out places in the movie Safe Haven (filmed in Southport next to Oak Island). Sadly, I did not see Josh Duhamel.

We took the ferry to Fort Fisher and went to the NC aquarium. It is beautiful and we really enjoyed our time there.  Funny note about this picture.... my dad is smiling.... at an alligator trying to attack the lady cleaning its habitat and the other lady with a broom trying to keep it away from her. Probably not the safest way to clean glass... just sayin'.

No vacation would be complete without ice cream! Side note.... did that sedan park on the bumper of the SUV?! I just noticed that!

Playing at the park in Southport.

This crazy girl wanted to swim SO badly but the water was breathtakingly cold!

Chasing waves is a super fun game!

I love this iPhone picture of Avery!

A framer for sure!

Just us, some seagulls and a fisherman (from the town daniel grew up in! What are the odds?!)

 

A fisherman near us would call us over every time he caught something so the kids could touch it.

A hammerhead shark! It was pretty cool. I actually touched it and it felt like sand paper.

 

The pictures uploaded in a weird order but we're gonna roll with it. Despite the not so beachy weather, the kids had a wonderful time and I came back relaxed. Oak Island is a bit sleeper than I'm used to (I'm a Hilton Head snob) but I couldn't say nicer things about the residents of Oak Island and Southport. They are geniunely sweet people. It's a safe and clean beach that we look forward to going back to in late June. Fingers crossed for mid- 80's with a slight breeze! :)

Happy 2nd Birthday, Avery!

Avery Madison, tomorrow you are 2 years old! Tonight, as usual, you "went to bed with Parker" and then 5 minutes later appeared in my room, ready to be rocked and put to sleep in your own bed. I sang through all 3 stanzas of your "go to" bed time song "All Creatures of Our God and King" (more on that later!) then sang "Come thou Fount," followed by "Doxology" but I just wasn't done snuggling you tonight! Randomly, "Great is Thy Faithfulness" came to mind and you closed your beautiful green/blue eyes and fell asleep. What a perfect song to fall asleep to on the night before we celebrate your 2nd birthday! You and your brother are my miracle babies, the loves of my life and the answers to my most desperate prayers! "Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me!" Amen!

The last month has been my favorite month ever with you! You are in the sweetest stage! Within the last 2 days, you've started calling us "mommy and daddy" instead of "mama and dada." We LOVE it! You know how to work your eyes to get what you want. Your facial expressions are classic. At the beach last week, when you wanted a bite of poppi's Klondike, you slowly walked over to his chair and put your chin and cheeks in your hands in the most angelic pose you could muster. It worked! We still giggle about that! Where did you learn it?! I am soaking in every moment with you lately! Please never stop being this sweet!

You talk up a storm and if you don't know the word, you take my hand and take me to what you want. You have a high pitched, girly voice. I need to do better about video taping you! You answer most questions asked of you. You frequently use the words "mommy, daddy, stuck, oh no, it broke, a snack (anything to do with food, really), bye bye, and I pooped." We're so smitten with you!

You are 20lbs and 31 inches tall. You wear a size 3 diaper when you wear one but you're still doing pretty well going on the potty. Clothing you is becoming difficult. You have a size 6-9 month waist, 18 month torso and 12-18 month length pants. Needless to say, you're the queen of dresses or seperates. Dressing you is still my most fun hooby!

You FINALLY sleep through the night. We've found a nice routine that works for us. You take a bath (your favorite time of the day!), watch 1 Curious George episode in my bed and then we read a story with Parker in the guest room. You like the Thomas book that sings "The wheels on the bus" and any Curious George book. We kiss Parker goodnight and then go to your room. We rock in your chair and you fail around until I sing "All Creatures of Our God and King." I have tried every song I know and this is the ONLY song that calms you down. I have NO idea why! I was so hoping you would love "You are My Sunshine" like I did as a child but when I sing it, you point at me and yell "NO!" Apparently, you like hymns before bed and that's just fine by me (although I'll admit sometimes I have to google the lyrics to the lesser known stanzas!). You usually sleep 7:30 or 8 until 6:15ish. Sometimes you'll crawl into my bed in the morning and snuggle me, fading in and out for a bit.... those are my favorite mornings!

You are the most amazing climber I've every seen for your age! I'm not exagerating. You're scary good. You're also an adventurous eater who grazes all day long and is eating me out of house and home. You're a typical sweet/spicy red head who lives by a "no bow, no go" policy. You light up a room and are a blessing to all who know you!

 

Avery Madison, you are my littlest love. I kiss your sweet face all day long! Although I feel like you were only a baby for 9 months, you will always be my precious baby girl! I am so proud of the sweet toddler you've become and can't wait for you to wake me up in the morning with your famous bear hugs! I love you, Avie!

Midweek Confessions!

I'm a day late on the midweek confession link party at E, Myself and I but better late than never! ;)

Let's dive on in!

Today, while on the elliptical, I turned the TV onto PBS and watched Super Why for a good 10 minutes before I remembered I was at the gym and could watch "real" TV!  If it's 9am, my brain just naturally thinks "Super Why." Spoiler alert.... the Super Readers saved the day.

Speaking of the gym... I've been going to the YMCA consistently now 3-5 times a week since February... I have gained 3 pounds.  I do; however, feel much stronger and more toned in my legs, butt, shoulders and arms. 28; however, has not been kind to my torso. Do you know the muffin man? Because I sure do.

As I've mentioned before, Daniel and I are building a retaining wall (The Great Wall of Wise Part 2) and a massive garden.... like feed the neighborhood veggies all summer big. We have 28 strawberry plants... so come on down to the Wise Family Farm. But that isn't the confession... since I've been spending every day (and night) in the yard, I've neglected laundry big time. Not only do I have a "Mt. Saint I hate folding laundry," it has spawned a whole mountain range of clean, unfolded and now wrinkly laundry. I'm praying for a rainy day so I'm forced to fold it all. Who am I kidding... I need a rainy week!

My kids have been super into tracing my body with chalk on the driveway. They're awful at it. I always look obese with broken legs and webbed fingers. I've been trying to teach them to trace up against my body to no avail. I think I'm getting a complex looking at all these "chalk mommies" all over my driveway! I may or may not hose them off every night if I know it's not supposed to rain.

Last weekend was Daniel and my anniversary. We went to a nice dinner and had a pedicure together. Daniel's first! Is there much more embarrassing than when the nail lady points to your face and says "Want me to wax that?!" It was super romantic, as you can imagine.

Your turn! Add your confessions below in the comments or on facebook. I always love hearing them!