Far Away Places

We're vacationing on the Texas coast. Sitting and enjoying the rain, the wind and the bad weather. Funny how being cooped up with people you really like in a place where you have nothing to do can be just what the doctor ordered.

Catching up on a few of the photos I have taken recently I ran across these of my girls. We were pretending to fly...

imagining that my feet had a little magic...

just enough to take us wherever our little hearts desired...

giggles mixed with a few rays of sunshine coming in through the window...

and suddenly you're somewhere you never expected to be...

as far away as your mind can take you.

Gone Fishin'

See ya' when we get back!

Water Bug

We spent Father's Day poolside in Corpus Christi...

It was special for several reasons. Nate was happy to spending the day with his dad...

And my girls were happy to be spending it with him (just ignore Carter's "pool hair")...

Nate pointed out early in the day that this was the first Father's Day he was able to hear Carter say "Happy Father's Day!" in person. The last time we all spent this day together was when she was one and wasn't talking yet. He has been gone the last three years at this time so we were all very happy to have him here to celebrate!

Carter was busy showing off her newly acquired water skills....

She enjoyed jumping to Grammy...

And swimming to the side...

She has become quite the little water bug and is very proud of herself...

We're pretty proud of her too. One of the things I love about being a parent are the things I get to share with Nate. I realize that our daughter learning to love the water and swim in such a short time is no monumental thing for the majority of the earth's population. But for the two of us, as her mom and dad, it is huge. So when we watch her and then look at each other there is this unspoken thing that passes between us...pride...joy...love...

Emme's day is coming, but for now she enjoys taking it all in from her favorite spot...

I was enjoying taking in a few rays. After spending the past few years with predominantly gray skies, the sunshine never gets old...

Neither does snapping this little beauties photo (unlike Carters she never seems to mind me clicking away)...

And while I was bound and determined to get a great picture of Nate with his girls, I think this one is actually a more accurate representation of our life right now. Things can be a little crazy, and rarely does it feel "still". But in the midst of all the craziness that comes with two little people Nate stands for stability, happiness, and love. He is the center of our family and while it may sound cheesy a rock for all of us. I love this man and the Father he is...

P.S. The other highlight of our Father's Day was getting to see our good friends Kenny and Molly who had just arrived in Corpus! Welcome to Texas y'all...we're SO glad you're here!!

Three Little Letters

D-A-D

. . .

Three little letters that mean so much.

As I get older I realize more and more

How rare it is

That one of the men I admire and love most in the world...

Is also the one I call dad.

Happy Father's Day Dad, I love you.

For Nate

Their journey led them to love...

which led to marriage...

which led to parenthood...

which led her to wonder if one lifetime was long enough to share...

with this man she loved to love.

Lesson Learned

I've been a little tired the past couple of weeks. I guess you could say we are "practicing" for when Carter starts school. Actually getting up to an alarm every morning (one that beeps instead of cries) and getting out the door in a timely fashion. Why? Well, Carter is learning to swim.

Living in Washington the past couple of years has had its summer advantages. Think berry picking, park playing (without sweating profusely), and no (as in not a single mosquito) bugs. But one thing they are short on up in those parts are swimming pools. Seeing as the temperature rarely rises above 85 the culture just doesn't call for them. So I knew that returning to Texas might pose a few challenges in the water department.

I had seen this video in an email someone sent while we were living up there and was fascinated...




At the time I checked into it there wasn't an instructor in our area and I put it out of my mind. Then a couple of weeks ago one of my friends (thanks Shannon) mentioned it again on facebook and got my wheels turning again. I was happy to find there was someone teaching here. I did a little research and we decided to take the plunge.

All this to say that last week was a little brutal. I knew that no matter who, when or where Carter learned to swim it was going to be a bit of an issue. She actually loves the water and being around it, but is not to keen on going under it. Let's just say we spent the better part of our first four lessons listening to her pleading her little heart out (tears and all) for anything that might get her out of the pool and into our arms. It was rough. As much as I wanted to rescue her and "make her day" no part of me was tempted to give in. It felt so very important that we push past the "hard part" and over the hill. I knew that if we gave up it would be even harder the next time we tried. I also felt completely confident and secure in her teachers skills and approach. She was gentle, kind, and firm.

After four long days we had a breakthrough. Last Friday was our first tear free lesson. By Monday we had smiles. And the last couple of days she is bursting with pride every time she comes up out of the water. I have been enjoying giving her a hard time...saying things like, "Who are you and what did you do with my daughter?? You know the one who cried all last week??" To which she replies, "Mom it's ME, your daughter Carter!!" I love her so much.

For me the lesson learned rides a fine line. The one that runs between protecting our children and allowing them to experience and learn. It is not always easy to allow them to work their way through something that is hard, uncomfortable and challenging. But to see the pride that comes from a little hard work and perseverance...well...it's priceless. To know that my child is learning valuable skills that will hopefully be the foundation for a lifetime spent with a healthy respect and enjoyment of the water is rewarding to say the least.

I'll look forward to sharing the end result with you (they are a little picky about filming, pictures, etc.) but so far I am truly impressed and would highly recommend it!! Feel free to check things out yourself by clicking here.

Jazzybugs

While we were in Washington Carter fell in love with dance (so tiny)...



And just because it's too adorable not to share, here is a little blast from the past that I just ran across...





So anyway, back to the dance. When we moved it was at the top of my list to find somewhere for her to continue to enjoy this creative outlet. Thanks to some great recommendations we ran across The Little Gym. Their dance class was a little broader, incorporating ballet, tap and gymnastics. I was a little skeptical thinking that it might be chaotic but it has been perfect! Carter loves the variety and has really enjoyed her class "Jazzybugs".


Last week was "show week" and they strutted their stuff for some very proud parents. First up was ballet...







Followed by a little shuffle, hop, step in their tap shoes...





We then headed into the gym. At this point I think Nate wasn't too sure about all this girl power...



but he watched and cheered like the good dad he is...




Carter's favorite activity is hanging around on the bars...





After a little time on the low bar it was time to head up...






I love the determination on her face in the this one...



And of course I had ample opportunity to capture some forward roll action...





Onto the next event...



Balance beam! Carter patiently waited her turn...




And then she was off...





She also loves this move...




It was so much fun getting to watch as she performed with pride and received her medal...



Which she enjoyed checking out a little more closely...




What a bunch of little cuties...



She was more than happy that her daddy made an effort to come...




And since he was there I got to be in a picture too...



We are so proud of this little Jazzybug...

One man's trash is another man's treasure.

I am an avid Garage Saler. While I have my dad to thank for training me to be an athlete all of my garage saling skills must be credited to my mom. She started us early. As children we would load up in our full size van (the kind that had mini blinds that would bang on the windows when you took a turn just a little too fast...it also had a tv which was pretty cool back in the day). We would swing by and pick up our besties the Nix's...


(Kim, Jayson, Laynce, Me, Clint, Lyndsay and our beautiful Mama's)



And with every seat occupied we were off in search of the "good deals".We usually had a box of a dozen doughnuts to keep us busy...




(and by busy I mean not asking our mom's every five seconds, "Are we done yet?")...



If you wanted to participate in the fun your mom might give you 50 cents, a dollar if she was feeling generous, to find yourself a little something. It was a bit of a treasure hunt. Scouring the tables for the one thing that you couldn't live without.

Later in life it was garage sales that furnished the house I shared with my college roomies. And after a couple of months of being married I inducted Nate into the Garage Sale Nation. Thanks to our wedding it was out with the old and in with the new as we made ready for our very own garage sale...


(Nate and I back in the day)


He has never let me forget that around 4:30 A.M. I shook him awake and whispered, "Babe, it's time to get ready for the Garage Sale!" I am a lover of sleep but garage saling is the one thing that I will happily get up before dark to do.

So this past Saturday after I finished feeding my sweet little Emme at 5:30 in the morning I threw on my clothes. I couldn't help but think back to those first few months of marriage as I whispered to Nate, "I'm heading out to Garage Sale." And as I picked up my sister and our sweet friend Cayce the thrill of the hunt was in the air...




The possibility of finding something someone is practically willing to give away that you're crazy about is sort of thrilling. That is the secret though. Make sure you are crazy about it...don't buy things that you'll later be getting rid of in your own garage sale. I must say I learned that lesson the hard way.


And while this past weekend I didn't find anything but a few books for Carter I've decided I'm a hunter at heart. After all where else can you watch grown adults sprint (as in race each other) for a garage full of another man's trash. The Saturday morning garage sale crowd is it's own culture.

So thanks mom for inducting me and for passing on your love of a good deal. I'm looking forward to doing the same...I've got 50 cents with Carter's name all over it.