The Best of the Rest

June turned out to be a little crazier than normal for us.  We had moments to celebrate, moments to cherish, moments to ponder, and moments to mourn.  It is really hard for me to look back at this month and try to remember what we did when life wasn't shaking us by the shoulders.  God shared a lot with us this month, and it was definitely a little hectic at times.  Thankfully, I can look back at phone and camera pictures that I managed to snap to try to capture a little slice of our lives when we were just being us.

Like playing dress up.....all the time.....

And falling asleep while reading in the car after a busy day visiting Grandpa and Grandma....

Squeezing in a quick 24 hour trip to the beach, just the littles and Mommy to visit a college friend she hadn't seen since graduating.  It was a gorgeous 24 hours.

And watching the "tac-tah" move sand from under the beach house before hitting the beach for the day.

Celebrating Father's Day with silliness, homemade cards, swimming, and a cook out.

Despite my best efforts to find a summer routine, our routine has been non-existent.  Instead we are taking it day by day and week by week.  I had big plans for a weekly schedule of fun to encourage outings, explorations, and adventures.  All the pieces are in place, but a life filled with trips out of town, 2 weeks of VBS, spending time with loved ones and visitors....all of the ups and downs, we have barely had the time to fit in much. When we have managed the time, we have been baking, reading, experimenting, and crafting. Eli can't get enough of this stuff. We even made a Bucket List....and we have barely scratched its surface.

This was the day we made GOOP....check out the difference in the reaction from the boys:

Eli LOVED it..............Jude didn't want ANYTHING to do with it.  Haha!

To wrap this post up, we took the boys to the zoo after a tough (and not a lot of fun-filled) week in Dunedin.   It was a much needed outlet....for all of us.  Jude is in an animal loving stage, so he was in heaven.  Eli got to feed all kinds of animals, and we made it a day all about the boys.  They set the pace and did what they wanted to do.  A day that we all needed.

 I'm on a choo choo, Daddy!  A choo choo!

 

from feeding the birds to the hurricane simulator....such a fun day!

both boys fed a giraffe...always such a neat experience.

July is already halfway over, and it picked up where June left off.  Super crazy and still busy.  Fun at home, a family beach trip, Grandma home from the hospital, another week of VBS (with Mommy as a volunteer this time!)....and we are only 2 weeks in.  Before we know it, it will be time for Pap Pap and Lil's wedding!  There are no signs that things are slowing down anytime soon.