Summertime is calling our name

Quick Summer Recap:

ice cream at the pier

 arts and crafts

sparklers and a pool party on the 4th

Sunset Beach 

feeding baby dolls

swimming so much that our dreams are full of swimming

running head-first into the ocean

time spent with our precious grands and great-grands

grilled corn and smokey burgers

staying up late

learning to walk in flip-flops

edisto beach {camping}

i've had dreams about taking my children camping near the beach...

collecting shells during the day, wearing ourselves out in the surf and sun and returning to our cozy campsite at night to build a fire and cook dinner outdoors. an entire weekend where we never had to go inside. not once, unless you count the bathhouse. 

a weekend with bugs to fill my boy's bug house, and s'mores, and good friends, and a pancake breakfast. the best part was sleeping cuddled up together in the tent, all four of us, listening to the frogs at night and waking to the cicadas in the morning (yes - this is their year).

my two little bed bugs, exhausted and happy on their very first camping trip.

Memorial Day Weekend

Three day weekends are the greatest thing, ever. Especially when the weather is perfect and we are in the company of good friends. We partied at our pool (the children are swimming like fish this summer), went to a proper lowcountry boil, rode our bikes and mostly just spent time. Together. It was heavenly. I am thankful - for my little family, for our great country, and for those heroes who gave everything so that we can enjoy the little things we love, like popsicles on the front porch. 

Happy beginning of summer!

Strawberry Season

Picking strawberries has become one of my favorite traditions, mostly because my children love it. Yes, of course they eat as many berries as they put in their buckets. 

This year my boy took it very seriously. He had them weigh his bucket when we were finished, and it was over a pound! 

The girl is a pretty good picker herself, which is impressive when you consider that last year she sat in a stroller the whole time.

We ate local strawberries for a week afterward, and of course we had to make homemade strawberry ice cream. Strawberry picking means that lowcountry spring is in full swing, which puts summer just around the corner. We can't wait!

Birthdays

It happened in March, and I have yet to post about it. My babies turned four and two. It is bittersweet, as it's beginning to really feel like we don't have any babies in the house anymore. Which means that we sleep well, and we can do so many more things. But also that they are getting...bigger. My boy had his first sleepover. AWAY from us! All night! We were so glad to get him home the next day.

My girl has yet to discover that she is not the same age as her big brother, so she tries to do the exact same things. Tonight she jumped out of her crib and I caught her trying to climb in bed with him. She even had her stuffed animals in her arms. She might have slept there all night with him, curled up like little puppies when I found them in the morning. 

March is such a special month in our house because of their birthdays. I love to think about the ways they've changed in a year. I hope that each year I become a better mother to them. We eat cake, cake, and more cake. We invite friends and family to share in the celebration, and we make it last a few extra days. We take rice krispy treats with icing to school. And mostly we thank God for another year with these two precious children, and look forward to what the next year of their lives will bring.

Santa Came to Charleston

There is so much build-up to Christmas, and then it happens in just one magical day. We made a paper chain. We had an advent calendar and an elf that visited us every day. We made popcorn for our neighbors, lit luminaries on our street, and rolled sausage and cheese balls to devour on Christmas morning. The children brought home approximately 100 pieces (each) of Christmas-themed preschool art, most of it covered with glitter.And then the big day arrived.

Here they are on Christmas morning, waiting to see if Santa came.

One is very tired, and the other doesn't quite know what she's waiting for, but she always manages to have a good time. And he did come!

 Among other things, he brought a remote control car for Foard and a Cinderella castle for Stella. Now she asks all the time to watch "C-Bella" and it has become my her new favorite movie.

To continue the celebration, we went to the cabin after Christmas and got in plenty more Mimi time and some good cousin time too, with Elk and Eve.

 Can you tell that Stella loves her? And who wouldn't.

Stella got to wear her Christmas dress only twice, so I'm awfully glad I got some pictures. Isn't she lovely?

And so that my sweet boy does not get left out, I'll post this photo of an amazing hike we did together on New Years Eve at the cabin.

He has really grown up lately, and I'm so proud of him. 

It took a couple of weeks after Christmas to readjust, but now that we are it is NICE to be back in the sweet, comfortable, predictable routine. Here's to 2013 and all it will bring!

How We Halloweened

Although the lead-in to Halloween was WAY too long this year (my fault for putting the decorations up on October 1st), the big day finally arrived and my little fireman and fairy were not disappointed. Because all of the houses in our neighborhood are raised, our neighbors take Halloween to the streets which makes it WAY fun. It really was a special night full of bonfires, spiced (and spiked) cider, and so much candy that our teeth hurt. 

We began in the usual tradition: with a big pot of chili and my mom's Mexican cornbread recipe which is the best thing you'll ever put in your mouth. This meal is the ONLY way that Halloween can begin. It's a tradition carried over from my childhood when my mom did her best to fill our bellies in hopes that we wouldn't eat too much candy (it didn't work, then or now). 

My little ones seemed like old-pros at trick-or-treating and really were the last ones standing in our neighborhood. Like last year, they'd have kept going if people weren't turning off porch lights. And now, as usual, I'm very happy to be finished with Halloween and moving into the season of gratitude. Right now I'm grateful that my mantel no longer looks like this: 

And of course, as usual and most of all, I am grateful for these little guys and the fact that I get to experience everything for the first time through their little eyes.

And now can we please put up the Christmas tree?

Mexican Cornbread:

1/2 can cream-style corn

1 1/2 cups self-rising cornmeal

2/3 cup canola or vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 cup buttermilk

2 or 3 jalapeno peppers, chopped fine

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese

Mix all ingredients lightly in a bowl, reserving half the cheese to pour over the top. Pour into greased baking dish and add reserved cheese. Cook at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour.