Home.

Running nearly on empty like most of us young mothers are. I have a million things shoved into one tiny spot in my brain...but I am so happy to be back home with my cute babies. I think that's one healthy thing that comes with going on vacation. When I get back, I'm just recharged and ready to take on my role again! I'm a little frazzled today so naturally I missed an important event that goes on in my ward at church. It's important to me at least, and I can't even believe I forgot about it. I'm really doing awesome with the "first impressions" thing. 

I came across this quote and loved it dearly. There are so many little, tender moments in our lives that make it that much sweeter. 

Hoping to get my trip posts up...but in the meantime, here is one of my favorite memories from that trip.  (I can just picture Ross & Demelza running through the grass hand-in-hand. Sort of in love with Poldark lately)

"Like happiness, holiness is always tied to little gestures. 

These little gestures are those we learn at home, in the family; they get lost amid all the other things we do, yet they do make each day different. 

They are the quiet things done by mothers and grandmothers, by fathers and grandfathers, by children, by siblings. 

They are little signs of tenderness, affection and compassion. 

Like the warm supper we look forward to at night, the early lunch awaiting someone who gets up early to go to work. 

Homely gestures. 

Like a blessing before we go to bed, or a hug after we return from a hard day’s work. "

-Pope Francis-

August Happenings Part 3

-The best part of this month was having Alex come home to us! He did so well this summer, and we were all ready for him to be home. The night after he got home, the kids begged him to take them each on a ride on his electric long board! They are all in love with that thing. 

-With Alex back I took Laney on a much needed girls day! We went shopping at home goods, ate lunch and then (not planned) got our toes done! She is so cute when we shop. "oh mom that is so cute." or "no, not that. this one!" I LOVE HER! 

-Peter is turning into such a ham. And he has to do whatever the kids do. So now he loves to color with them! 

-Furniture shopping with Laney bug. I've learned over time that I love it, and hate it. A big part of me wants to say "here, take my money and just make it cute, functional, and not trendy!" It's reallyyyyy hard for me. But I'm slowly loving the things we've purchased. 

-One day Laney fell asleep in my bed, and Peter went and laid with her! It was cute. But I quickly got him off...because she's a bear when she is woken! 

-We had a family date (Crew calls it that) one night, and it was so so so fun. We took the kids to Gecko Grill, and bowling! They did so well at both places. It just made me so excited to have them grow up. Doing things with them being older is fun! 

(my phone died after I took that photo of Laney bowling...but I'm glad Alex and I's phones died right when we started bowling. So good to just be all there with them.)

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

 This trip to the beach was so fun for our little family. We booked a hotel right on the beach, and got as sandy as we could in the little time we had. Oh how I wish we had longer there! I felt so thankful  that Alex spent his Sunday off with us, doing something that require a lot of his energy. We woke up early Sunday morning and drove down to South Carolina to a ward that started at 11am. Me being me--wasn't really too excited to do that because I knew that I would end up right in the hall instead of in church. Sleeping in, and then slowly driving to the beach sounded like a better plan, but my sweet husband made sure we got to sacrament meeting on time. Seriously I scored a good one. (don't worry, I was still very much in the hall the whole time, and so anxious to get to the beach. Ooops)

We met up with the rest of our Crew down on the beach and the kids had the time of their lives! Except for Laney Kate. It made me sad to see her so scared of the water. She was very content playing under our umbrella in the hot, dry sand 100% of the time. Next year is your year sweets!

Peter however was in heaven. Eating the sand, laying in it, running to the waves, laughing, and just plain happy. Moments like these make all the vacation prep worth it! 

After a few hours in the sun, we ventured over to the waterpark that our hotel had. Honestly when I pictured Myrtle Beach, I had pictured something more...quaint...and nice? Instead...think spring break in Rocky Point Mexico. We just overall weren't that impressed. Since being there, I have heard that North Carolina beaches are much nicer than South. Taking notes for next time! 

 Lydia was so content just sleeping through all the fun. She's seriously the best baby I've ever seen!

 We had sand everywhere for days after we got home. This little boy was covered in it. 

 It was so much fun seeing Crew in his element. It brought me back to my days living in Florida when our parents would take us to the beach every weekend with friends. I was 4 at the time, but I remember how fun it was to collect seashells, and play in the ocean with my dad! Such good memories. Crew currently still has his entire seashell collection on his dresser. Love that boy. 

 Nothing like a beach trip without this air couch! Came in handy, and I just have to laugh that it's plastered with "vivint" all over. 

 Excuse my overly-excited-mom face, but I love seeing these 3 nakies in the tub together. So much sand in that tub, and I highly doubt that taking the bath was very effective...but they loved it. 

 This will go in my "Black & White collage wall" photo album until I can decide where to plaster these gems all over my wall. These boys have such a good dad. 

 Trying to get her to come closer to the water. Loved catching this sweet moment between them. Seriously my heart swells for the both of them! 

 The beach wore this boy out hard. He slept on me the entire hour or so at dinner. Which made it very hard to eat, but SO worth it. I love when this hyperactive boy chills out for a second. 

 Exploring a cute part of the shops. I can't wait to go back to the beaches over here. There are so many great spots (so I've heard) and so many quaint towns. We need to come back with just us Al! 

I'm Back!

We finally have wifi in our little apartment out here in North Carolina! It has been a very long month without it. I also recently found out that Alex did in fact bring his computer out here...so that means I'm back to blogging when I feel up for it! I feel like I have so much catching up to do on here, so I'm trying not to get too overwhelmed about it. I'm more excited for that task! It's fun looking back on past photos and memories. 

We have had a really good time out here. The older two kids adjusted well, but Peter took awhile getting used to our new place. We keep our routine pretty simple out here, which I am soaking up. I realize that life is only getting busier, so I'm loving how relaxed it is right now. I am still adjusting to the very late nights, and early mornings, but it's getting better! Alex is killing it this summer in sales! It makes me so happy to see him do something he loves. I have much, much more to write, but Peter is waking up! 

Evenings in the Garden

Oh I love our nights here. We are enjoying spending as much time as we can outside before the weather becomes unbearable. Crew dives deep into his imagination as he digs in the dirt, pulls weeds, and plays with his gnome house. Laney can't get enough of the trampoline. She happily jumps with her babies in tow until we make her come inside. Peter waddles around following the older two trying to desperately do everything they do. The sun set is amazing as always each night...that evening light is just the best! 

I love this photo because I asked them a million times to just hold still so I could take a picture of all 3 together. They didn't listen, and I just had this little army coming right towards me HA!

Oh I love them.