Wests Around- Starting off Summer

We left Jay's last day of preschool and headed straight for the beach! Helllloooooo Summer!

 11 days later we cam home!

We've had a great start to summer with beach days, boating, playing at the beach house, friends and family.

We went to Mobile to join Team Loving Lacy for the Great Strides walk...

We've enjoyed the 1st (and 2nd) watermelons of the summer and both were delightful. Jay got the first slice and was thrilled to eat it on the deck at the beach. He's a wise one.

 Joseph and I realized that we met 14 years ago on May 17th at the Flora-Bama. Now, here we are at the beach again so much different, so much better. It was so fun telling the kids and Jay dubbed it our "met day". I think this is a new holiday. Happy Met Day!

 We spent almost all day, every day in swim suits.

  Even after dark.

 These two on the beach are perfection. They play with each other, they play independently, they make new friends. THey are excited about everything and have a ball. We just have the best time on beach days.

 Lizzy has discovered loungnig and has fully embraced it.

 This guy and the sea. Its a bond that will never be broken.

We boogied at the Flora-Bama. 

Fell asleep at the wheel.

Enjoyed time just hanging out.

 I have to laugh and share this to remember how normal it is for building supplies to be delivered when Joseph is around. Some men may go to Lowe's and pick up something to complete a project now and then. Some men may go hit some golf balls on a day off. Joseph? He has building supplies delivered by the truckload wherever we are. Its so normal to me now I don't even ask what they are for, but I do know where to tell the delivery drivers to drop them off. I love that Joseph always has a project, and I laugh because they are literally never ending. Happy Holiday weekend--here's the third wood delivery in two days!!

 We came home and spent one day just playing at New House then hit the McWane center ALL DAY Thursday. The kids were awesome and loved it all. They are perfect ages to enjoy all the McWane Center has to offer. It was just the best.

 Our hour of Itty Bitty Magic City was awesome! They spent about 30 minutes at the greatest water table in the world then played Firefighters and Vet for the rest of the time. Don't miss this if you go--get there early in the day so you can be sure to get a time slot!

 The summer exhibit is all about classic toys--we literally played all day! So fun!

That wraps up the first two weeks of summer! Its been nothing short of awesome so far! We're excited for what the next week brings!

Last Days of Preschool 2015

We had the best, best year of preschool this year!

Lizzy was with Ms. Beth on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Jay spent 5 days a week with Mrs. Lindsey.

I also got Mrs. Phillips, Jay's 3 Year teacher, in this picture--both teachers poured so much into Jay over the last two years--his success at school will be all because of these two!

And for posterity purposes--here's how much Jay has grown this year--

and Lizzy, too!

They both learned so much and grew so much--I really can't believe Jay will be in Kindergarten in the fall but he's so, so ready! We went to orientation at his new school in April and everything is beyond wonderful. He's ready for the new adventure and a new backpack!

Preschool has been just the greatest experience for us--no one tells you that the few tears you shed when you leave them for the first time are NOTHING compared to the sobbing you'll do when you pick them up from the last day of preschool! There's a fantastic adventure ahead for our little Kindergartners--and these few, quick years have shaped his heart and mind in a way I never dreamed. We're counting the days of this precious summer and not hurrying through one moment of it. I only wish I would have done the same since day one.

I'm so thankful for the day I first discovered our sweet preschool while we were still house shopping. Its amazing when you can step back and see God's provision and answers to prayers you hadn't even yet prayed. This has been the best experience we could have asked for.

Now, on to enjoy summer!! 77 days until Kindergarten!

Summer Fun-part 2

It's been so fun spending the summer with Jay and Lizzy and watching them learn and grow.

All I can think to say about it is that it's been perfect. 

Fun, busy, nonstop, silly, sunny, sandy-perfect.

A quick snapshot of some of the memories I'll keep from this perfect summer--

Jay and I took a special trip to surprise him with a bike during his birthday week.

Lizzy and I discovered sponge rollers, aka "curlies".

We saw Planes 2 during Jay's birthday week.

Made a trip to Barnes and Noble during birthday week.

Spent lots of time digging in the dirt this summer.

We met Elsa.

Made blueberry vinegarette with some of the blueberries we picked from our house

"Helped" with lots of jobs including new sod for the front yard and the construction of our first garden. 

Jay took communion for the first time July 27. 

Perfected our beach-going. 

Visited Lambert's for the first time. 

Took a long pit stop at the Peach Park for the first time. I can remember doing that a lot as a child!

Started learning Cracker Barrel checkers-after raiding the country store. 

Went to the RODEO!

....where Jay rode a horse for the first time.

Visited "The Little Zoo That Could" in Gulf Shores for the first time. It was rainy and awesome. It's so small but they have so many animals and you are close to them all. 6 adult tigers and 2 baby cubs and so much more. 

 Note the size of this rabbit. 17 pounds. 

 And how about Chuckie the Alligator?

Enjoyed the Gulf Coast Farmers and Fisherman's Market.

We ended the summer with two kids who were so much bigger and more grown up that we started with. They've really become friends and stick together like glue. I don't think we could have packed in any more fun or made these months any more special if we'd tried. 

 Summer 2014- That's a wrap. 

The End.