Up To The Gills

Up To The Gills

Thursday, August 1, 2013

I Don't Have a Theme

and Summer Pictures seems to be getting old.  Just more of what we've been up to!

This one likes making his own sandwiches these days.  Mostly peanut butter and jelly...just like his namesake.  So exciting!!


Trips around the block...


Babysitting baby Campbell...


Playing dress up with Roxy...


Backyard fun...


Big Boy got new tennis shoes...those fat feet wouldn't fit in Keds...hard for this Mama...


ESPN aired the top college football games of 2012 and it inspired this...


Daddy...we need new jerseys

Friday, July 26, 2013

A Summer Update

The days are busy here and it is hard to find time to sit at the computer.  When the house is quiet at night, I seem to be only able to muster strength to crawl in bed with a book.  I think that's okay...that's what summer is about!  Anyways, here's what we've been up to...

Lots of cousin time.  The beautiful thing about summer in Mobile is everyone seems to travel south at some point to hit the beach.  We are lucky to get to see so much family.  We took a day trip to Dauphin Island last week to spend the day with the McCalls.  I didn't take a single picture which is unfortunate because there were lots of opportunities.  Meredith and Austin sweetly kayaked my boys around the area in front of their house.  My boys were in heaven.

A few days later we headed to Perdido Key to see the Laseter/Melton/Hawkins crowd.  Every summer I comment on how much I love these folks.  We have fun together.  I loved meeting sweet Sydney who did not seem bothered at all by the addition of four little boys to her world.  I love this summer tradition!


That same night we celebrated cousin Campbell's first birthday!!  How did that happen??  This sweet girl is truly an angel.  I never hear her cry.  She too just takes my boys in.  Susan threw a fabulous party...are you surprised??...and we had a blast!


We've tried to take some day trips...to Fort Conde...


William and John waving to Daddy at his office!
and the Exploreum...making parachutes...





these two have outgrown the Wharf of Wonder...so they read while littles play!

and today to Five Rivers...




Mom...we are tired of pictures and the sun is too bright!!
Lots of fun seeing the sights of Mobile with my peeps!

We had our first sleepover.  Long story, but our friends Lynn and Mark needed our help so we kept all three of their children for the night.  It was remarkable easy.



And then there are the simple days...playing in the rain...



and watching houses be torn down next door to our church...


And last but certainly not least...we have this guy wearing big boy pants!!  So proud of him.  A messy few days but we have been accident free for a couple of days.

in the early days, he preferred the little potty with some privacy!


After almost eight years of changing diapers, I am not the least bit sentimental about this milestone!


I love summer!

Thursday, July 25, 2013

A New Lens

I quickly learned that my camera lens was just not going to cut it for flag football.  I simply couldn't get close enough without getting on the field.  So an addition was needed.

A great improvement...for Daniel's game...





And Philip...who is a little harder to catch on film because he has 10 players on the field as opposed to Daniel's 6...






Boy did they have a blast this season!


And a few shots of their fans...




Sunday, July 7, 2013

A Little Picture Fun

As soon as I captured this picture...


I thought of this one taken four years before.


And thought it would be fun to compare.


And then compare these two!


Do you see some resemblance?

A Much Needed Vacation

****Picture-heavy Post, sorry!****

Immediately following Daniel's birthday celebration, the six of us headed to the beach.


The trip was very relaxing.  Lots of time on the beach playing....








on the boat...cruising...



or island hopping...








or tubing...a first for all...and a new love for Philip...


or lunching at Pirate's Cove...


swimming in the pool...




 and just relaxing...so good to have Daddy around for such a long period of time...




On the Fourth, we had a patriotic breakfast...


and headed down to the pool for the flag raising ceremony and some swimming.  That night we had dinner at the pool with the other owners/guests.



Can't leave without a beach shot of all the boys!



We cut the visit short on Friday due to heavy rain predicted for the rest of the weekend.  Chris headed home...grocery shopped for me...and proceeded to cook every meal over the weekend while I recovered from a fever virus!  He even went to Books-A-Million and purchased a cookbook he wanted.  Could this be the start of something??  Regardless, you are a rock star, Daddy.