Family beach trip!

At the end of June, we headed to Hilton Head for our annual beach trip with our families. This was Reynolds' first trip to the beach, and he was a fan! He especially liked eating the sand {ewww!}. Teagan had so much fun practicing her swimming. We love a good family vacation to the beach...just wish it could have lasted longer!

Jumping and throwing sand...so excited to be at the beach!!! 

Missing our little guy who was already asleep in the condo with Mammy & Pappy

The first morning we were there was Father's Day, so we all had breakfast together that morning before heading down to the beach. 

Early morning play time with Pappy

Early on in the trip Reynolds caught a cold and coupled with teething, gave him a fever around 102.5 And it made him so snuggly, but so pitiful. After the second day we even took him to the urgent care to make sure he didn't have an ear infection. He napped on us so much throughout the day for 2 full days before he started to get back to himself. {and I'm slightly obsessed with sleeping, snuggly babes so I snapped just a few pics ;)}

Wake up, eat, immediately nap on mom again. 

and repeat.

Since we were staying with Patrick's parents, they sent us off several nights while the kids were sleeping to get a little date in. So sweet. 

...and speaking of sweet. How sweet is this girl in her new little romper?!? Gooodness.

Early in the week Teagan made a friend at the pool-a 10 year old boy named Jack. He was so sweet to her. They would take turns showing each other tricks in the water. My heart was melting at how sweet this boy was to a little 3 year old when he could have thought playing with someone her age was uncool. In this picture, Teagan spotted him in the ocean and just kept waving at him. He finally came out of the water and asked her if she wanted to play. 

This guy ate so much sand this week. {Umm maybe the reason for the fever and cold that he caught?!? ha}

dipping his apple in sand

Cousin picture...and then a wave came. 

{And just in case you're freaking out, there were 5 adults standing right next to them.}

Dinner at the Crazy Crab. 

This boy napped just about everywhere this week...

Teagan made it her tradition to spend a long day at the beach before heading in for a late nap, and she somehow convinced her dad that the nap needed to be on the couch every day. 

We rented bikes for the week. And it has been quite some time since I rode a bike. I think it might be possible that one can forget how to ride a bike...add the pressure of knowing you have a kid on the back, and my first few rides were a little shaky. ha

I LOVE this picture!!! I feel like you can just tell how much these two love each other. Teagan will mooch off of anyone's food that will allow it, and she knows her Pappy is always a sucker. ;)

Ballet moves on the beach...

Jack playing with Teagan. On one of the last days, he went on a boat ride with his family. They found a lot of shells, and he made her a special little box of ones he thought she would like. It melts my heart to see someone else be so thoughtful and so sweet to one of my kids. Since we've been home she has thought she has spotted him several times. Sweet girl doesn't understand that Ohio is a long ways away. 

Mudslides on the beach! 

{brought to us by our cabana boy...Pappy}

Husband to the rescue when you are holding a sleeping baby, but you really want more mudslide. 

Bike ride on the beach date night 

Finally back to our happy boy! 

And some videos of the fun we had...

Last day on the beach with the whole crew. I wish we didn't have to wait a whole year before we go back! 

Sweet little helper taking the luggage down. 

When the car ride gets too quiet, you know something is up. 

One kid in just a diaper {because of an earlier mishap and then inability to find a clean pair of shorts} and the other still in her princess nightgown at 1 in the afternoon...but after 4.5 hours in the car with moderate whining/crying we decided we needed to stop at the Banana outlet for some retail therapy. #redneckognize 

Already looking forward to our trip back next year! 

Baby {& toddler} Dedication!

At the end of May, we had Teagan and Reynolds dedicated at church. This is typically done when the babes are in fact, still babes...but I don't think there are any official rules really--so for us it was a baby & toddler dedication. It is simply a public commitment that we promise to love them, lead them, and raise them as they grow in the Lord. We are thankful for the gift that it is to be called their parents, the challenge to daily show Christ to them, and for God's grace and love along the way.

{Reynolds got to wear the same outfit that Patrick wore when he was Christened.}

Our pastor, and friend, Bryan read Psalm 127:3-5

Children are a heritage from the Lord, 

offspring a reward from him. 

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

are children born in one's youth. 

Blessed is the man 

whose quiver is full of them. 

For Teagan, Bryan read Psalm 27:4 when David is being attacked by his enemies and the only thing he wants is to be in the temple to gaze on the beauty of the Lord. His prayer over Teagan {with her name meaning beautiful one} was that she would grow up being more captivated with the Lord's beauty instead of her own.

For Reynolds, his name means king's advisor or wise counsel. And Bryan talked about how it reminded him of how the prophets were advisors to the king. And sometimes the prophets would give advice the king didn't want to hear but the prophet would stick to his conviction that the message was from the Lord. {1 Kings 12; Jeremiah 38} His prayer for Reynolds was that he would know the word of God and hold firm to it even if people around him reject it. 

And those are our prayers for our children as well. We are so thankful that we were entrusted with these sweet lives. And we are thankful for God's love and grace as we walk the road of parenthood.


We love that our families came in town to celebrate this sweet day with us.

Princess Ballet Camp!

When Patrick and I got the email from Teagan's preschool that they were offering a princess ballet camp, we knew we wanted to sign her up! Ohhhh my goodness-she loved it! And so did I--every morning getting her dressed in her precious ballet outfit and braiding her hair by request {because in her mind princess hair = braided hair}.

She did great every day with us leaving her! My only complaint was that she wouldn't tell me anything that she learned each day. I couldn't get anything out other than, "we colored, we ate snack, and someone cried when there mom left." Okay, well did you do any dancing?? "Yeah, ballet." {And that conversation repeated itself every single day after camp.} It was like a little secret society. Ha, but once the recital came and we got to see everything they had been practicing, she will show us all of her ballet moves. And she hasn't stopped since. She remembers so many {if not all} of the french terms for the moves she learned. Makes this {used to be a dancer} mama heart melt.

Showing off her leap before her first class

After 2 classes, I think the leap was getting higher! 

This sweet girl did awesome with us leaving her each day! 

Recital Day! 

Oh my goodness, Teagan woke up around 5:15 this morning. And she never fell back asleep before Patrick woke up for work--and then there was no sending that girl back to her bed once her daddy was up. Sooo, when the recital was starting when nap time normally does, it made for a very tired princess ballerina.

Her grand jete was so grand that it ended with a tumble. ;)

We could not stop giggling watching this sweetness dance. She also was super tired {and the youngest one there} so her name got called a lot to get back on her square. ;)

A little distraced with the chassés. 

Here are two videos of her showing off her moves after the recital.

I mean, is he not just the best dad?!? 

We can't wait to have her signed up for ballet in the fall. She loved this week so much and we have loved getting to see all of her ballerina moves.