I spy with my little eye...

Surprise Factor: Achieved!

Rylan turns 30 on June 21st. Tonight was his surprise party. He didn't have a clue. Yay!
Mission accomplished.

Rylan blew out all 30 candles with one huff.
Thanks to Kristi for taking photos!

Jessica's "Daily Affirmation"

If only we all looked in the mirror each morning this way...

Sunday afternoon nap.

Today Rylee slept like this for about an hour.

How does this even happen?
In Rylee's words: "I just forgot to put my feet on the couch, that's all."

It's Pickin time!

Rylee showing off the fruits of her labor!

Landon was sad to go and needless to say, I think he broke rule #6.

You can't go strawberry picking without making freezer jam. Yum!

Happy Mother's Day

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children.
I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.
I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Beach Week 2010

We had another great week at the beach this year. The weather was a little chilly and rainy the first few days but even then we had 3 beautiful rainbows.

Later in the week it warmed up and we were able to enjoy the beach more.

The highlight was when Rylee and Rylan went on a six hour sailing adventure on a catamaran. They saw wild horses and dolphins.

Since we went during the school year she was the only kid on the boat (almost everyone else was retired). So Captain Steve let Rylee steer for about 45 minutes. He even pulled up the cooler so she could see over the top of the wheel. What a great captain and first mate!

Rylee also loved riding on the net as the water flew by underneath her.

They went to Cape Lookout Lighthouse which is on an uninhabited island.

Rylee took this picture of Rylan...not bad!

Together they found some big sea shells!

We also went to the Fort Macon and the aquarium. Landon was quite a bit older than last year....

...and really loved it!

We had him wear this little backpack because there were tons of kids everywhere and he was constantly on the move.

He could have watched the fish swim for hours.

It took Rylee a while to get up the nerve but she loved petting the rays.

I know that was a lot of pictures. I write this blog as a record for our family to have in the future as much as I do to keep people up to date. I am just trying to highlight what I hope to remember. I know I will look back years from now with so many fond memories from this trip. And not just for the sites we saw but for the little memories too...like teaching Rylee how to play battleship and how she arranged her ships like a smiley face. Or when Rylan asked her how she wanted her eggs cooked one morning for breakfast. When she didn't understand what he meant he said "I mean do you want them runny or just firm. She replied "No thanks. I'll just have them perfect please." And one early morning when it was chilly and we went down to the beach in our pajamas. Watching Rylee chase Landon in his sleeper up and down the quiet beach is a sweet memory I will cherish forever. It makes me sad to think next year they will both be a year older, but grateful to know I am blessed with so many wonderful memories!