catch the moment: week forty-seven

I didn’t plan on having a “brothers” theme (or any theme) this week, but as I’m looking through my photos, I see it.   These little boys really are best friends. They want to be together, even when we are at home. They get sick of each other, but it never lasts more than 5 minutes. They fight over a toy at least once a day. Eventually, their arguments will last longer and their words will hurt deeper.  Despite the inevitable conflicts, I hope they’ll always look forward to spending time together, always be best friends, and always remain involved in each other’s lives.

Linking up with Mindi, Sarah, and Stephanie for week 47 of Catch the Moment 365.  Mindi will continue to host the link-up and Facebook support group page in 2015 if anyone else is interested in the challenge.  You don’t have to have a blog; you can share on instagram or facebook if you’d rather.  Come on…

323/365 – Wednesday, November 19th. Late night photo grab on my part – they have had this Melissa & Doug Make-a-Meal Sticker Pad for 2 years and only played with it once. Until this night…then then next three consecutive nights.  They were cooking up all sorts of interesting meals.  It’s a cute (and cheap ~$5) Christmas idea if you’re trying to think of one for your fake food loving, sticker obsessed little one.11-19-14

324/365 – Thursday, November 20th:  This picture is terribly grainy as it was still dark outside and therefore inside as well…but as the boys were eating breakfast, I told them to finish up while I picked out their clothes. I walked out of the room and Theo called out for me. “Hey mom! Make sure you pick out something really cute.”  I laughed and did my best…for Theo, looking fancy means wearing a button up with jeans and tennis shoes instead of a t-shirt. Hey, that’s how we roll.  P.S. Dexter calls “button up” shirts “buttoning shirts.”  And he calls footie pajamas “zipping pajamas.” I call him “cute.” 11-20-14

325/365 – Friday, November 21st: Another super grainy shot – sue me. Just eating some fruit snacks on the counter; nothing out of the ordinary around here.11-21-14

326/365 – Saturday, November 22nd: My cousin Kara came for the day Saturday with her little cousin, J. We had fun going to see Big Hero 6 and then crafting and playing at home.  The boys love both of these gals and having sleepovers at our house. Story time in the library before bed…everyone was able to find something they wanted to read.11-22-14

327/365 – Sunday, November 23rd: Dexter was feeling yucky and puny all day. Complaining that his stomach hurt and just not interested in playing. He’s also had a junky, croupy sounding cough and random fevers that come for an hour and then go away for 24.  We’re fever free for over 24 hours now so hopefully he’s on the mend. I thought it was super sweet that Theo snuggled right up next to him since Dexter didn’t want to leave the couch.11-23-14

328/365 – Monday, November 24th: Typical scene on my way home from work on a very windy, wintery afternoon. 11-24-14

329/365 – Tuesday, November 25th: Bath night! 11-25-14

329 (bath night) is my favorite photo this week, but I really love the closeness between brothers that I see in four of the other photos! Which is your favorite this week, hmm?

xo,

~C~

Okaloosa Island 2014: Part 3

Catch up here if you missed the first few days:

Wednesday, October 15th: Another glorious day with no agenda other than spending time on the beach and hanging out together.  It was still very windy and only in the 70s. The ocean water was warm and the pool was heated. With less of a breeze at the pool, we decided to spend some time there first.10-15-14IMG_4668

One of their favorite things to do was to dig “sand beds” on the beach. 10-15-14IMG_4671 10-15-14IMG_4675 10-15-14IMG_4679

Hey Dexter – Don’t dump sand in your mouth!sandymouth

More napping on the beach – some of my favorite moments!10-15-14ss_143601

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We spent most of the day around the pool, beach, and condo.  After we all washed the sand out of our pants and hair, we decided to let the boys try putt putt for the first time.  They both did pretty well, all things considered! Theo really enjoyed it and Dexter only fizzled out towards the end of our 18 hole game.  Dexter was the only one to get a hole in 1 – go figure! P.S. I won.

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Afterwards, we decided to give The Donut Hole another shot since it was too busy when we attempted to go the day before. Success!

10-15-14ss_191812 10-15-14ss_200534 10-15-14ss_200552 10-15-14ss_202155YUM – what a way to end the day!

Thursday, October 16th: The morning that was made for a stroll on the beach. We were done with breakfast but it was still a little cool for jumping in the water. Instead, we decided to go for a walk. We ended up walking all the way to the pier and this time was very different. Lots of active fishing going on – we got to see someone catch a puffer fish (whoops!) and sadly, we also saw a pelican get caught on someone’s line or hook. It was really sad but he finally got loose.  We got to watch dolphins playing in the water. It was endless entertainment on that pier! 10-16-14ss_093314 10-16-14ss_093419 10-16-14ss_094555 10-16-14ss_095724

Bedhead!10-16-14ss_101439

After spending longer than we’d expected enjoying the pier, we decided to eat right there at the restaurant connected to it, Anglers. Great decision, great day. So relaxed. Wonderful service and even better food. No hurrying and no worrying.  Beach livin’ at it’s best.

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More beach time afterwards, and then we tried (and failed) to make it to Harborwalk Village in time for a sunset dolphin cruise.

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Too windy for Theo – he bundled right up.10-16-14IMG_4793 10-16-14ss_160456

Right away, the boys spotted the area where you could pay to mine for fossils and shark teeth. Since Dexter’s favorite thing is ANYTHING to do with water, we didn’t hesitate. They had so much fun sifting the sand and finding their little treasures.10-16-14IMG_4796 10-16-14IMG_4807   10-16-14ss_161158 10-16-14ss_162540

After checking out our surprises, we wandered around the fishing pier. It was interesting and very lively. We ate at another delicious waterfront restaurant along the way -Dewey’s Harbor House – and ended our evening afterwards.

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Only 1 full day left – and we could feel it. At the end of the day Thursday, Ryan and I both started feeling like vacation was over, even though we still had one of our favorite days ahead of us (I know, every day was our favorite).  One more post to come to wrap up all the fun we had on our trip.  Maybe two. Two tops. Swear.

xo,

~C~

 

 

 

Catch the Moment: week forty-six

I slid my memory card into the computer as I began working on this post, not quite sure what to expect. I knew I had taken a picture every day, but many of them were rushed and felt uninspired. I’m surprisingly pleased – not necessarily with the quality of the photos, but that they really do capture the little moments of our lives for the past 7 days.  That’s what the project is all about.  As it nears the end, I am getting really excited to compile all 365 photos from 2014 into a little memory book for our family. A millisecond of each day of this year to bring us back to that moment in time, even years from now.

Linking up with Sarah, Mindi, and Stephanie for week 46 of Catch the Moment 365.

316/365 – Wednesday, November 12th: The boys’ cousin, Spencer, sent them a Lego advent calendar.  I tried explaining to them that we couldn’t open any of the little tabs until the first of December but they didn’t want to hear that. We made a deal.  They each got to choose one character and agreed that there would be noooo issues on the days that they found those little windows empty come December….time will tell if they hold up their end of the bargain. 11-12-14

317/365 – Thursday, November 13th: Date night for moms in the Maple Room. This time I got to visit Dexter’s class while Ryan spent time in the Oak Room with Theo.  Dexter truly loves every water job and was proud to show me how to clean the windows with a spray bottle and squeegee.  Several times.  Or several dozen times. Whatever.11-13-14

318/365 – Friday, November 14th: We traveled down to East Tennessee to celebrate an early Thanksgiving with my family.  These three littlest grandchildren sure enjoyed their frozen yogurt (and playing in the kids’ corner!) at our friends’ new Froyoz store. 11-14-14

319/365 – Saturday, November 15th: Thanksgiving, but not really.  My sister and her family are going on vacation the week of Thanksgiving so we headed down a couple weeks early to visit and celebrate.  I celebrated all weekend long by eating no less than 4 slices of this heavenly peanut butter pie with perfectly beautiful, light, fluffy meringue – made with love by my very own mama.  These are the best pies in the world…she could sell them and makes millions. And probably hates it when I request them – that meringue sure is fussy.  Seconds after the picture was taken, we mangled it into an unrecognizable disastrous mess, but it sure was delicious. 11-15-14

320/365 – Sunday, November 16th: I guess we’d never taken the boys to a Red Lobster before. I’m thinking we would have remembered how fascinated they were by the live lobsters in the tank.  After lunch, we ended our short trip to Tennessee and headed back home. 11-16-14

321/365 – Monday, November 17th: I get to work extra early on the days Theo and Dexter don’t go to school to make up for getting in later on the days they do.  This day I was even earlier than usual and it is always eerie, being the only one in the building, hallways still dark. And yes, that’s snow! Our first accumulating (barely, but still an inch or so) snow of the season…about a month earlier than I’d prefer.11-17-14

322/365 – Tuesday, November 18th: Theo wanted me to photograph his latest creation.  He just thinks these things up…what’s neat & interesting (to us) is that his creations are always symmetrical.  11-18-14My favorite photo this week has to be sweet little Penelope’s face on Day 318. What’s yours?

xo,

~C~