Life by the Beach



This is our new spot after dinner some nights.

The beach is about 10 minutes away, and if Andrew has napped that day.. we most likely head down for a swim. The ocean has been so so warm, bath water.

 

This one is for sure a water baby.

Born here, she heard the waves while in utero as we would walk this beach nightly right up until I delivered her. She loves jumping over the waves, boogie boarding and just sitting at the foot of the tide. I have trouble getting her to leave some days. 

This one..

The first encounter with a wave tossing him under water was dramatic.

We had to leave the beach that day after he went under.

But every time since then, he gets it.

He goes under and maybe coughs.. salt water in the eyes, and he wipes them clean by himself.

We're getting there.

Big sis and I are always praising him when he gets  thrown under or nearly drowns.. saying "good boy!" haha. He'll get there. 

My nightly runs aren't as sweaty and soggy as I imagined.

The heat really hasn't affected me. Its so quiet and breezy just off the intercoastal where we live. I stumbled across this amazing scene on my run last week and had to stop. It was so beautiful.

We've been exploring our little town, and Samantha and I found a cute little pottery place that I think we might have to go back to soon. I have my mug obsessed eye on this one in the picture below.

I got myself a library card, and the kids and I have been going and checking out movies and books. I got one for myself and was feeling very Carrie Bradshaw the other night while I was laying in bed with my library book - The Skinnytaste Cookbook. - I tell ya.. I am hooked. I love just about every recipe in this cookbook, and I've already made a few and have tomorrow's dinner planned out from it as well. What a great way to try before you buy a cookbook. This library thing is quite practical and cute if I do say so ... 

I don't take the kids to the beach every day.... so last week we did a few fun things.. and I needed go into town to World Market - and we stopped by B&N after. The kids were hooked on the nooks. Santa may have to put two of these on his list this year ...

One more amazing thing about living on the Atlantic, is the opportunity to have this type of colossal shrimp for dinner on any given day. 

I made shrimp and grits with these guys.

 

It was from the Skinnytaste Cookbook (of course) and it was my first time making grits. I tried to convince Sam that grits tastes like mac and cheese... she wasn't buying it...

 



We're finally coming into our little routine after being here a month.

Next week our big girl goes off to school and the routine will change a bit.

No more snoozing in summer days. But its a good thing.

Im afraid she gets a little frayed some days. School will be awesome for her... um, and me too...

One on one time with my lil hunk is the best, and Im looking forward to it. a lot.

 



These Days....

Ive been MIA lately..

Because I've been nursing 2 sick kiddos..

Not just a cold I think ... but a virus.

 

We had some REALLY hard days last week...

And then at the end of the week the kids and now I are all sick.

 

Its so hard to find grace in some things when you're sleep deprived, and have not a lot of patience left on certain areas.  I cried, I was grumpy, I snapped at Mathew, I snapped at Samantha... it was just an all around UGLY week.

 

So sorry if this is a Debbie Downer post..

But this blog is somewhere I go to release my thoughts, and beleive it or not, I really do feel better after writing my feelings down... some sort of release.. and it is good.

 

I turned to my bible last night as (I slept next to a stuffed up Andrew for the 2nd night in a row) and I have a study bible.. and if you turn to an emotion you are feeling, it gives you a verse you can read and take in, and help understand and reflect on it.

 

All my fears, concerns, frustrations, and tears I should offer up to God.. but this verse from James made me feel better too.. and I must keep remembering...

 

James 1:2-4

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing

 

Im getting all religious now, huh?

But seriously.. better days are ahead, and this truly is a trial and test in our lives... and this too shall pass..

 

The kids are feeling better today.. and so am I.

Tomorrow is another school day for Samantha, and we're gonna just take it as it comes, and offer up whatever happens  to God.. and let him worry about it.

 

Im praying though for a good day.

Instead of festering all day today and worrying about what will happen tomorrow, Im going to pray on it, and ask God for strength for Samantha that she can get through a good day tomorrow.

We're having Daddy drop her off to see if this makes a good difference.

 

Our lives are FILLED with so many blessings...Im gonna try not to get caught up in the bad/hard things too much..

 

the end.. =)