Summer is Here!

While we've been enjoying the beach and outdoors for months now, Memorial Day weekend marks the official start of the summer! And we had quite the shindig, a neighborhood block party, to celebrate! Our next door neighbor, Mike Hughes, got A&G to cater the whole thing and paid for a pirate ship bounce house for the kiddos. We had about 90 people there! Fun was definitely had by all!

Love our part-time neighbor friends from Raleigh

And here are some pics of us closing out spring...

Scooted up a sweat

Swinging at Hang Ten

Danny's 5th Birthday

Thanks again for the shirt, Aunt Kelly!

Welp, Danny boy has gone and turned 5 years old on us and he acts like a teenager. Read: mature and inquisitive, but also rocking a major attitude. Like the other day he told me he wanted to watch golf on TV and then asked if the carrot stick I just handed him was gluten free!?!

Really though, Danny is a remarkable little boy who fiercely loves his family, Land Rovers, Mexican food, lizards (and other critters) and shark tooth hunting. He makes us so proud (most days) and we're so excited for what his future holds. Daniel Scott O'Connor, we love you so!

For his big day, we met family for a beach day (including Aunt Ali and Dieter in town from Chapel Hill), followed by presents at our house, dinner at El Cazador and then bumper cars at the Boardwalk. 

New shark tooth book and jar for this collection

No Matchbox car from Gpa

Feliz Cumpleaños at El Cazador

And just too cool Kingston at the Boardwalk

Mother's Day

As a mom I pour my heart, soul, blood, sweat and tears into my "job" and I've learned from the best.  So honored to be a mommy to my three boys and thankful for all the wonderful moms in my life. Here's how we celebrated Mothers Day...

First up was Mother's Tea at Danny's preschool. Out of all 15 or so kids, Danny was chosen as 1 of 4 to lead the class in L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole complete with dancing and hand motions. It was priceless!

Pre-show

My main squeeze

The Saturday before Mother's Day, Jimmy stayed home while the kids napped, so me and my mom could do lunch together. We would have had a great pic of us, but the half drunk guy would took our "picture" actually took at 15 second video. Bummer. 

Then on actual Mother's Day, Jimmy got me Britt's donuts, we did the beach in the morning, lunch at the Tiki Bar complete with prosecco for mama and then nap for mama (thanks prosecco). Lastly, we went out for dinner at Havannas. Any day not spent in the kitchen is a good day!

Contemplating life...

So smiley! 

My guys - love them so much!

All Good Things Come to an End

Last week marked the end of the year at St James Day School and the last day of preschool for Danny ever! It was pretty bittersweet, but less sad knowing Crew and Kingston will still be going there. And, of course, we're super excited for Danny's next chapter...kindergarten at Carolina Beach Elementary!

End of year party at Mrs. Bridgers

The three amigos

Crew spotting us at Danny's graduation

Danny embarrassed from the attention

Post graduation picnic on the lawn

Running with his buddies

Love our St. James family

Me and my boys

Speaking of kindergarten, here's Danny at his testing appointment at Carolina Beach Elementary. Already making friends and getting praised for his hard work!

Hustle Bustle

Unlike the weekends when we pretend to be on vacation, the school and work week is busy, busy, busy! 

Mornings are chaos and then I work while the boys are in school. I pick them up and then we rush home for Kingston's lunch and naps.

Sleeping on mommy while waiting on Crew

Here he comes!

Afternoons we try to get outside for a bit before starting dinner.

Running in a sprinker - classic!

Thirsty at the park

Brothers 

Looking for bugs or something

Pure bribery

Evenings we usually settle down a little bit for some snuggling and shows before we all conk out for the night!

Danny cleaning Crew for us - teamwork!

Messy, messy meal

Post shower

Post bath

Intro to pulling up