The Beach

We got back last week from our annual trip to the beach.  This year we went a little north and stayed on Kiawah Island, which is right off of Charleston, S.C.  As expected, the boys LOVED everything about the beach and playing outside for a week.  With the exception of a few windy days when we first arrived, the weather was perfect, low 80's, and the beach was gorgeous.  Alec is such a fish and spent hours in the ocean.  He loved boggie boarding and also discovered wave diving.  Charlie continued his insane bathtub behavior and was completely nuts in the water - he would run fearlessly in, fall over, swallow a bunch of water, get in in his eyes, finally get his balance, and then do it all over again.  It was hilarious and it certainly seems like he will be just as into swimming and the water as his older brother is.  This year my cousin Rodney and his wife Kara were able to join us, which was great and the boys both adored them, so it was extra fun for the two of them.  In addition to tons of time on the beach, we made a one night trip down to Savannah to visit Papa Randy and Retta (Alec got to go golf on the big course, and yes, I do now have to pack golf clubs for my 4 year old,) we did a bunch of bike riding around the island, we ate terrific food, and had a great time with family.  Here are a bunch of pics:) 

 

 This was on one of the windy afternoons

Headed to the course

 Surveying Papa Randy and Retta's yard

 Doing everything his older brother does

 With Kara

Checking out the view from the living room.  We stayed in my Aunt Barbie's sister-in-law's house, and it was gorgeous.  It backed right up to the marsh and we saw tons of wild life out these windows all week.

 Wrestling big Roddy

 A serious sandcastle

 The building crew - Rhett, Tyler, Alec and Rodney

 Two very tanned, very blond, very happy boys

 Digging

And a gourmet breakfast picnic by Bub

15 Months

 

Hard to believe our little butter ball is gonna be 15 months old at the end of the week.  He had his doc appt today and he looks great, he was actually so well behaved that the doc said he was "awesome," on his way out of the room.  As expected, he has gained 6 pounds since March and has grown 2 inches.  His official stats are 26lbs 3 oz, and 31 inches.  The doc wasn't at all concerned about his rapid weight gain though, and said that he has to eat a lot to grow as much as he has.  At Alec's soccer game on Sat one of my friends commented that Charlie looks like a little "linebacker," which is a perfect description of our little 15 month old maniac, who thus far is showing all the signs of being as wild, crazy, and fearless as his older brother Alec. 

Almost Summer

We had such a good time in the Wisconsin Dells over Spring break that we decided to head back for Memorial Day weekend.  This time our Illinois BFFs the Hoeltings joined us, and we had a blast.  It's so nice that our kids are all the same age, including the soon to be additions, Christie and I's due dates are about 6 weeks apart, which is the same age difference as their is between Piper and Charlie.  Alec was in seventh heaven with Hayden, and combine that with a resort that has 8 water parks, and you have 4 year old paradise.  Charlie also had a great time, he was more timid in the water than we expected (which compared to most other 14 month olds probably wasn't timid at all,) but he still motored all around and loved it.  We all decided that we are going to make it an annual vacation!  Then on Wed of this week Alec had his end of the year preschool performance.  He was very excited about it and had been singing us the songs for weeks.  It didn't disappoint and was hilarious and adorable all at the same time.  The theme was the "zoo" and Alec was dressed as an elephant.  His last official day of school is next Monday.  Hard to believe that he is already done with his first year of preschool!  Cheers to the start of a great summer!       

the kiddos

  

Not only were Alec and Charlie's matching swimsuits adorable, they were also very easy to spot, which was really nice in some of the crazy crowded water parks.

 

 

Completely entertaining each other in the car.  They are both amazing travelers - a 3.5 hr drive each way and no complaints from either of them.

Our elephant

 

We couldn't be happier with Alec's school experience.  He loved it, we loved it, he learned a ton and made a bunch of great friends.  He is certainly a socialite and school was nothing but a positive experience for him this year.  We are excited that he gets to spend one more year at Kensington.

  

With one of his buddies, Brady

  

and Chase, these two are complete nuts together