It's Hot, Hot, Hot

This just in, it's hotter than you know what here in coastal NC. That's why I say thank the lord for the Hugh McRae park and splash pad.

Playing up a sweat

Danny under a bucket of water

Bubble boys

One more quick spin at the park

And then just the boys being cute because why not?

Welcome Etta Jacqueline!

I am sooo far behind on the blog! But starting where I left off, a couple days shy of her due date, I wake up to texts from Alex that she's in labor (from super early AM) and "headed to the hospital" (about 6am). It was a Friday and also Danny's last day of school. I thought I'd be cool to just let her be born and then go see her, but I was instantly in panic mode and just HAD to get to Chapel Hill. Luckily, Marisol offered to sit with the boys during their naps and until Jimmy could get home, so I could book it! Good for Ali, but bad for me, I got a text when I was just a couple miles away from the hospital that she was just born! So I squirmed around in my chair in the waiting room for about 30-45 mins before Dieter gave me the go ahead to come back. Cue instantly in love with this little beauty!

I'm such a proud sister and aunt - my mom was in the delivery room and said that Alex did great and she's since been just a great, natural mom! Only complaint is that she doesn't send me more pictures - I'm talking multiple times a day is what I need.

Here are other scenes from Etta's first 12 hours or so on this earth.

Nana aka "Holly Etta" with her namesake

Happy Gpa

Can I keep her?

Proud Uncle

Late dinner that night at Bar Taco

The next AM, one last snuggle before back to CB for my boys

And finally ready to go home from the hospital and looking like a little china doll.

Good work Ali and Dieter! Can't wait to get my hands on her again soon!

Danny's Done with Kindergarten!

And just like that Danny has graduated from kindergarten! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little choked up when Mrs. Jackson started the little slideshow of pics. It's truly crazy to see your baby, your first born, go from day 1 to moving onto 1st grade. He's made so many great friends and learned so much! Jimmy and I, along with the other boys, attended his award ceremony and he got both the music and nature awards. Duh and duh. Crew insisted on sitting on the carpet next to his bro and was front row dancing like it's his job during the daily "wiggle song". Kingston tried to rip all the books off the shelf and started eating some poor lady's ice cream sundae right from underneath her before I could stop him.

Posing before the ceremony

In the school waiting room

Crew on the carpet. Danny not impressed

Crew and Danny

With his certificate

Next day sweaty scooter and bike ride

Fresh fruit "push-up" pops to the rescue

Photo cred: Danny

That face!

Finally cool and chilling

Danny, mommy and daddy are so proud of you and can't wait to see what you do from here. Kid, you'll move mountains!

ALL CAPS

The Washington Capitals are the 2018 Stanley Cup Champs, a dream come true for Jimmy and family! And the boys - Crew especially - have had a good time watching the games that got them there this season!

First up, I actually brought the boys to a bar on a Monday night for free tacos and pre-gaming! Needless to say, we didn't last long.

Posing with Full-Image Tumblers for my client, Dynamic Drinkware Fundraising, the morning after the big win!

Rocking the red on his last day of kindergarten with some new glasses too!

The Start of Summer

Crew and Kingston got out of school first for the summer, so it's just been the three of us during the day! Here's a random selection of recent pics.

Kure Beach park

Cheerios. Lots of Cheerios

Snuggles

Cool bed head

Best Buds

We've been getting out in the AM to do various things, burn some energy, etc. The boys have been loving the time with me and I love it too...but I'm also more than ready when their nap time comes around!

Hugh McRae Park

Watch Me Play Gymnastics 

We found our beach friend, Colt!

Help me, mom!

Foam pit happiness

Nana's Pool

Trader Joes and Mike Chappell Park

Loving his new hat

Picnic time

In case you haven't noticed, I don't have nearly as many pictures of Crew as I have of the other boys. Why? Because the dude never sits still. Can't even say the word "cheese" before he's onto the next thing. Must condition him, so I capture his adorable mug!