Myrtle Beach 2009 - Photos

Reid was fearless at the beach. How is it that the kid who won't jump into the pool because his head might get wet has no issue diving face-first into huge crashing waves?

Lots of fun at Broadway at the Beach.

Reid's first mini-golf excursion and some of the MANY photos we have from riding the kiddie cars...

We ate dinner at Margaritaville one night. Reid totally loved the theme-i-ness of it all. He insisted on having his picture taken (top right) with this parrot/palm tree condiment caddy from our table. And, he got a balloon parrot - named Polly - from a guy on stilts. Super fun!

Summer Fun

Reid celebrated his friend Bryce's 4th birthday in August. We had a great time playing water games in Bryce's backyard, and eating big blue cupcakes!

Mmm. Sailboat cupcakes...

James is helping Bryce blow out the candles.

All the kids loved throwing water balloons at the chalk target on the fence (a great idea from Sarmite!). Too bad it takes 2 hours hours to fill all those balloons and about 7 minutes for them to be done. :)

Reid ready to take his throw!

******

We had a particularly hot few weeks in July and August. I had been talking to Reid one day about going to the pool so we finally got our gear together and headed out. Of course, we got there and it was CLOSED! (You don't want to know why...)

So, Plan B went into effect. I had bought a Slip 'n' Slide a while back and planned on saving it for next summer but you gotta do what you gotta do. So we set it up! He's not really coordinated enough to run, fall gracefully (without hurting himself or the slide), and then slide all the way down the mat. But he tried and loved it anyway. I expect to see a noticeable bump on the water bill soon!

Hiking with Daddy

I helped host a baby shower for a friend/neighbor a few weekends ago. It was on a Sunday, so I was going to be out of pocket most of the day.

Ross decided to use that time to take Reid on a hike. I questioned his sanity but packed them a backpack pull of supplies and sent them on their merry way.

Before the hike, by the lake.

Starting off on the trail...

Striking a pose next to a log. Yes, this is a natural "hiking" pose.

Stopping for a snack. (I think.) From what I hear, Reid decided a snack was needed every time a picnic table was spotted. He looks so tired here even though I think it was about 20 minutes in. :)

Self photo of Ross on the trail. His backpack is not the only thing he was carrying, as you can see.


How much do I love this picture?

What Happened to June?!?

I realize my last post was only on June 22nd, which wasn't all THAT long ago, but I feel like this summer is just flying by. What happened to June? Why do I feel so busy when I don't really have all that much going on?

Here's a rundown of what has happened since the last post (that I can remember!):
* Reid completed beginner swim lessons at the Y.
* I had lasik surgery on my eyes (6/25). YAY!
* I turned 32 (7/3).
* 4th of July.
* Two little boy birthday pool parties.

I'm sure there are other things... Here are some photos of all of the above, and then some, in no particular order.

Reid at Dawson's "Car Wash" birthday party. Yes, folks, those are blue spaghetti noodles (aka car wash brushes).

We gave Dawson a car wash curtain from Ikea for his birthday so he can have his very own car wash at his house. Reid freaked out and decided he wanted one, too, so we made a homemade one. It's still up 2 weeks later...

Me before the lasik surgery. Granted, I am not looking my best but I wanted to post the last photo of me in glasses for posterity. :)

The guys in their "chef" hats, which Reid decided to make out of dish cloths. They are making me a birthday cake (according to Reid).

My chef, with his "hat" and Spiderman outfit on. Who can say no to that face?

At the fountains downtown.

Yes, I told him not to climb the train...

My "birthday cake," a lemonade cheesecake-type pie. It was quick, easy, and yummy. :)

Fireworks on July 3rd. Ross and Reid watching the sky together.

I didn't take any official photos of Reid during swim lessons - they were chaotic enough without that - but I did want to document the day he played with markers about 30 seconds before we walked out the door.

Yes, that was my child in the creek downtown. That's what the city of Greenville gets for not turning on the fountains when they are supposed to be on! Reid, Camryn, Ceci, and Gideon didn't seem to mind....

Reid and Gideon, a friend from school.

Gotta love it when you know your birthday gift was enjoyed. Our (former) next door neighbor, Reeves, turned 4 and we got him a bubble gun. I looked out that evening and saw this - later, his older brother preparing to try to slide down without breaking his neck. Don't worry, their dad is a doctor. (Actually, he's Reid's doctor...)

Reid also got a bubble gun - a big hit!

And it makes LOTS of bubbles!

Strawberry Picking

We ventured out with the Robinsons and the Hennums for a morning of strawberry picking last week. We were out in the country and it was nice and hot. The boys were excited to get started! I had the bright idea to pick two baskets full of berries - and I think each basket is equal to one gallon. Two gallons is a LOT of strawberries!

Once we got home I had to come up with some ways to use or preserve those berries before they went bad. I ended up making a batch of freezer jam (which is a-w-e-s-o-m-e), freezing a gallon of them whole, and mashing up the rest then freezing that for later, too. I'm thinking I'll make some more jam and maybe some strawberry shortcake later when berries are not in season. I also got some good strawberry recipes from my Facebook friends. Hooray for strawberries!

Ready to go! Reid, Joshua, Bryce, and James.

Check out the strawberry juice dripping from his chin...

Bryce in his cool shades.

Looking for the perfect berry.

Reid (okay, and I) got to eat the ones that came off without the hull. They were so warm from sitting in the sunshine - so good!

Joshua and Jeannie.

Joshua showing off the goods.

Reid lost interest in the actual picking of the berries pretty quickly, but he stayed close to get those he was allowed to eat.

Juicy, red hands. :)

Mom's Birthday Luau

My mom turned 50 this year, and my family threw a luau-themed party. The weather did not cooperate but we did not let a little (or a LOT) of rain slow us down. Lindy was in charge of pretty much everything and did a great job!

Reid and cousin Maggie. He always has such a great time with her, but it sometimes takes him a while to warm up to her since we don't see them very often. I don't think he'll forget her now, though, since he has dubbed her his "sister."

Love the lantern lights!

Reid discovered (virgin) daiquiris. I think it was the first time he was truly on a visible sugar rush. At last count, he had four of those daiquiris and he loved them!

Sweet Layla, my friend Kelly's little girl. Quite possibly the best baby I have ever met. I seriously forgot she was there for several minutes at a time, she was so quiet and happy. I told Kelly that I hoped she knew most babies were not like that and to enjoy it - Reid never let anyone forget he was there, and still doesn't!

I imported some of my friends to the party. Sunshine, Layla, Kelly and me - so glad you girls made the drive!

Spongebob Takes Flight!

Reid has been obsessed with kites lately. I'm not sure what spawned the interest but he had even started "making" kites all over the house with random things - napkins, scrap paper, tape, string, crayons. He even cried one day last week because he took his "kite" (at that point, it was a sheet of paper taped to a string) out in the back yard. He took off running and did not know why it didn't fly. He was heartbroken. I explained that it wasn't a windy day and that kites need wind to fly. That appeased him for the moment...



Nearly every day he looks out the back door to see if it is windy. Generally, it isn't. I told him to look at the trees to see if they are moving... that's how you know if it's windy. Fast forward: today he looked outside and was so excited to see the trees moving! Quote: "Mommy! The trees are dancing! It's a windy day! Where's my kite?" The last question was making reference to the paper on a string that disappeared into the trash can a few days ago. (Thanks goodness I had bought a Spongebob kite at the Dollar Tree a while back.)



After dinner we headed outside and had a great time. I was so impressed that 1) the Dollar Tree kite actually worked, and 2) that Reid could fly it! Of course, Ross had to get it started but Reid was able to run with it and keep it up for a long time. Thank goodness the wind cooperated - it was great!

It was hard to get the boys and the kite in the picture. :)

Daddy getting it started...


Ready and waiting.

Running, running, running! He's got his eyes on it all the way. (Notice the purposely mis-matched crocs... Reid was so proud of himself for thinking to do that!)