Something's Missing

A little over a month ago, Emma and Ethan were wrestling around on the living room floor when she started flipping out. She was holding her mouth, panicking like I have never seen and kept mumbling something. I managed to hear her mutter that Ethan had knocked her tooth out! It was already loose but not quite ready to come out. After MUCH drama she eventually calmed down and thought it was pretty cool she had lost her 3rd tooth. Fast forward to yesterday morning. Ryan was on the couch and I went over to hug him. For some reason, the kids cannot stand it when we hug and they always come to squeeze in between us. Yesterday was no different and a dog pile ensued! Ethan first, followed by Isaac and then Emma on top. After a few minutes of goofing around, Emma gets off and states in a very calm voice that Isaac just kicked her tooth out. This time there was no drama and no crying, just excitement that her tooth was out. She has lost 4 teeth now: she swallowed the first one, she pulled the second one, third was knocked out by Ethan and the fourth knocked out by Isaac. She thinks it is pretty cool that each brother knocked a tooth out!

Happy 3rd Birthday Isaac James!!

Isaac turned 3 on Monday, June 13. Isaac's name means "laughter" and it definitely fits him perfectly. That boy can get anyone laughing. His wide variety of funny faces and the things he says have us cracking up daily. His latest phrase he says wrong, we can't bring ourselves to correct him because it is so cute, is "you get on my nerbs"!! He also likes to eat the candy NERBS!! He has a huge supply of energy, loves to climb, read books, snuggle(my favorite), play with tractors, be outdoors in the dirt and ride his tricycle. We are so thankful for him and cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for our little man!
We love you, Isaac!!

Headed home!!

Hanging out with big sis and big brother.

This boy enjoys his ice cream!!

Happy Birthday Ella Faith!!

I am having a hard time believing it, but today we are celebrating our baby girl's First Birthday!! Ella has brought and I know will continue to bring so much joy and happiness to our lives. Ryan and I love to just sit and watch her, whether playing or sleeping. Ella is such a sweet, happy baby and rarely will you see her without a smile. She loves to play peek-a-boo, run after her brothers and sister, climb, sit and look at books, loves to swim(but doesn't like baths), loves to eat pretty much anything and she LOVES her blankie! We are so thankful and blessed that God chose us to be her family. We love you Ella Faith!!

Summer Vacation 2011(so many good pics that there will be more posts to come)

Ethan trying out the boogie board!

These two girls loved playing in the sand.

Isaac preferred the sand over the water, especially if there were big waves!

Toothless grin(Ethan knocked out the top tooth a couple weeks ago)

She spent most of her time riding the waves!

Isaac copying Nathan

Sleeping on Aunt Kathy while Mommy and Daddy played in the water.

Hanging with Uncle Andy

Trying out the waves with daddy.

Emma burying Grace

Ella's version of boogie boarding!

Cousin fun!!

My handsome man!

We recently returned from a family vacation to the East coast. My cousin Sarah(junior bridesmaid in our wedding almost 12 years ago) got married on May 21 in Greenvilee, SC so we headed that way a couple days before. We met up with my parents, grandmother and my brother and his family when we got there. They had a lovely wedding and a beautiful, fun reception which included dancing, a huge swing set and playhouse for the kids, and yummy food. Instead of bubbles or birdseed, they chose to leave as we were all holding sparklers and then as a surprise, fireworks were set off as they drove away. Sunday afternoon we headed to Garden City Beach, SC and spent about a week there with my brother's family. We all had so much fun playing at the beach and it was even more fun watching the kids enjoy themselves.

Where's the Honey?

Removing the boards so he can locate the hive.

The first swarm made there way in here.

The second swarm of supposed "few" robber bees.

Vacuuming the bees


Thursday morning as Ryan was going outside to do some work he discovered a huge ball of bees right by our front door. There had to have been at least 300 of them and there were many more flying around. We called a beekeeper who said he would come in the evening to remove them. Well, since they had all day to do it they managed to get inside the soffit and by the time he arrived there weren't many left on the outside. He got all his equipment set up and removed the boards so that he could locate the hive. Instead of removing them right then he decided to come around 6 the next morning so it would be cooler and he wanted to catch them before they began their work for the day. Before he left he mentioned that we might have a few robber bees come around to try and get the rest of the honey.  When I got up the morning of the removal and I was shocked to discover hundreds more bees. I don't know what his idea of a few is, but mine is 3 or 4, not hundreds! A few minutes later the kids started screaming about a bee in the boys' room. Ryan went in to kill it and discovered two more in there as well. Throughout the course of the day we killed 11 bees that somehow found a way in to their room! Around lunchtime Ryan discovered they had attached themselves to our bricks not far from the first location. Another call to the beekeeper and he came late in the evening and removed the second swarm. He mentioned yet again that there might be some robber bees, but this time he made sure to say there could be up to 100 of them. So far this morning I only see my idea of a "few" which is 3 or 4. While we enjoyed watching them from the windows, I am thankful to say it looks like they might be moving on. On a positive not, we might have found a good place to get some local honey.  I will let you know how the jar of honey is that he left us on our porch!