Hilton Head with the Taylors

We had such a great time in Hilton Head with the Taylors. We have been trying to make this trip happen for years but between Crawford, Luke, and Ava being born we are just now getting around to it. It was Meghan's bid 3-0 birthday while we were there so it was so nice to all get to celebrate together.

 

 

Luke's obsession with horses rivals Craw's obsession with trains so we were excited to go visit the petting zoo in Hilton Head and see some horses. The boys had the chance to ride a horse and while Luke was brave enough to sit on the horse Craw wasn't having any of it. 

 

Brad and John took the boys to the beach while Meg and I stayed back with Ava and sat out at the pool. It was so great to catch up and be on no sort of schedule (a change for me who likes to go go go)

 

The boys joined us back at the pool and kept us all entertained.

 

We loved taking the kids out to the beach at sunset where they could run and play without the worry of a sunburn. They would run in circles and had a ball jumping in the tide pools.

 

Playing with Ava gave me major baby fever she is just the  most adorable and easy little baby ever! 

 

Loved watching the boys play together!

 

 

Aunt Meghan was the best at getting the kids fed...They would sit down together and eat so sweet.

 

A little post dinner Sea Pines playground action

 

We are sooo glad the Taylors included us in their beach trip. We look forward to many more years of watching the kids grow and play together there!

 

Georgia Vs. Clemson Game 2013

Brad and I have been waiting for this rival game since the day we met. The first game of this two year series was in Clemson. We got a big group together and decided to tailgate side by side. Jenny and Alexis flew in from Boston and we knew it was going to be a great day. We all followed each other to lot 13 and set up shop around noon. Since gameday was there the campus was already packed with fans tailgating. We had quite the spread of food--chick-fil-a tray, buffalo chicken dip, muffins, corn dip, antipasto plate, pasta salad, brownies, subs...there was food everywhere. We started just hanging around in chairs and talking while the guys played cornhole. As the afternoon went on we started up some flip cup and beer pong. Obviously the flip cup traveling team (us girls) dominated every round.

 

I was soo excited that the girls flew in for the game! It was so exciting to take them to Clemson and have them come all this way!

 

 

Brad and I before the biggest game ever for us!

All the girls who helped throw the amazing tailgate!



 

My besties!

 

The crowds pouring into the stadium

 

The other exciting news-- my partner at work invited us into her box with her!! Not only was this the biggest game but we were watching it in a box! We were so spoiled and enjoyed ourselves so much!!

Sitting around the tailgate!



 

My good friend Lauren at the tailgate

 

 

These are some of Brad's very best friends and I know he was so excited to hang out with them all!



 

To top the day off the Hewatt's stopped by to hang out. It is always a party if Ms. Elaine and Randy are there. We had a great time catching up with them as well!

House Progress September 2013

Well after the rainiest summer in recent history we had quite the slow start on building our house. I literally don't think a single person worked on our house in the month of July. It was always like "oh the ground is too wet," or "it just rained this morning can't get our equipment muddy" But they were finally able to pour the concrete to start the footers. Well the footer guy didn't see that we bumped out a wall in the laundry room so we had mistake number one. Then when the foundation guy came to set the foundation he built on top of mistake numero uno because we were out of town and thought the footer guy had fixed his mistake. Luckily this is something that can be fixed during the framing process but it shows how fast things can go awry.

 

Below is a picture of the foundation set. This took almost a week to do between the rain and the labor.

 

 

After this foundation was set, we had to order windows fast because the framers came next and windows would be put in as soon as framing was done. Brad ordered all the windows (because I thought I didn't care what windows looked like. However, after seeing different windows I knew I had a clear preference). We ended up changing the window order just in time to get all casement windows for the whole house. We also decided  for 3 set of French doors for the den that opens into the covered porch.

 

Just as soon as those orders were placed Diego and his crew were out to frame our house. Brad's company stocks all the wood for framing so it was exciting for him to go to work and hear that they were loading a work truck full of supplies for our house. Within one day of work the below was accomplished. I was shocked! It seemed so fast to have all this done. They were able to lay all the subfloor and get a good portion of the first floor framed in one day.

 

That weekend I left to visit Corinne and the kids so Brad and his parents went out to the lot. It was almost completely framed on the first floor. Again, I was shocked. They could walk in all the rooms on the first floor. (All those boards you see are braces for the framing and most are covering up where windows go.) To date, the only framing mistake has been making our master bathroom too small so they have to go fix that but otherwise I have been very impressed. These guys must work so hard and fast.

 

Craw thinks the house is so cool. However, he likes to run all over the place and makes us a nervous wreck.

 

 

During week two of framing we got an upstairs. This is all happening so fast now!

 

As of August 28th, 2013 this is what the house looked like. We now have all of our rooms framed. They have to finish the two bonus rooms and the roof.

 

 

I can't imagine how many decisions are about to be made. I am so thankful for all the framers who have been working so hard to get our house up for us. I am also so grateful to Brad for having to make all the calls, and perform measurements and stay on top of all of these workers!

Craw's first day of 2 year old preschool

Craw started his second year at preschool and he was so cooperative this morning taking pictures with his school sign. He is started at a new school because the hours are a little more flexible. He goes regularly 3 days a week from 9-2. However, if we ever needed extra care they have availability for early at late stay from 7:30-9 and 2-4:30. This will also be right around the corner from our new house and will be very convenient as well. We got to fill out all sorts of paperwork and make his lunch and we were out the door to get him there by 9. This program the children do not nap while they are there. We are hoping Craw will continue to nap when we pick him up at 2 which is his normal nap time anyways.

 

Craw is still learning new things every day. When I picked him up from school he first said "mommy I pee-peed in my pants." The school asked that we put them in pull ups until they can get adjusted to the different bathroom breaks. I guess Craw is going to have to get adjusted because he had been doing so great at home using the potty and wearing his underwear. He also said "Mommy I had fun today." I was happy to hear that after his first day. He is sound asleep and can't wait to go see his cousins when he wakes up. His two teachers seem so sweet and I hope he learns a lot this year! He still is loving trains and bridges. He doesn't like his movies in the car anymore. Instead he asks for the window down and to go over bridges and to see trains. He must ask to see Thomas 10 times a day. He just loves to be on the go. He never sits down and could care less about eating. This kid wants to play nonstop. I can't wait to watch him grow even more as he embarks on his second year of preschool!

 

Kiawah Island 2013

We left for Kiawah Island on Sunday night after I worked the weekend to meet up with Brad's parents, his brother, wife and their two kids. We woke up and Craw was just sooo excited to be at the beach. He had been talking about the beach all weekend and knew he would see the ocean, sand, seashells, and go swimming. Each morning I went for a 2 mile run and then we would all cook big breakfasts before getting all sunscreened up and heading to the beach. We would get to the beach between 10-11 and all the kids would play until 1-1:30. Then everyone would come in and we would give the kids a shower and all make sandwiches for lunch. After that we would put the two boys down and Brad, Brian, Hope and I would usually go ride bikes for a few hours. I absolutely looove riding bikes at the beach and I would usually ride bikes two different times a day. Sometimes before the beach sometimes while at the beach. When the boys would wake up we usually would get showers and plan our night for dinner. We would eat some good seafood and then let the kids run wild at the house until bedtime. It was a perfect little routine each day with lots of fun, energy, and some relaxation too.

 

 

 

Craw played in the sand at the beginning and would run in circles with Hope and Carter just having fun outside. As the day went on he would start splashing in the ocean. Then we asked him if he wanted to get in the ocean...well he loooved it. As in would giggle and screech and want more and more waves to jump over. The only thing making him come to shore was the burning salt water in his eyes.

 

Craw doesn't like sitting still so dinners consisted of us bribing him with iphones so that he would sit still like his cousins and enjoy dinner. Thankfully, he really likes peanut butter right now and we could usually get him to eat a sandwich at dinner each night.

 

The 3 of them just lovvvve each other. Craw is either playing with Carter or having his best buddy Hope show him new things to get into.

 

He wanted to learn how to play this beach game so bad. He would ask us to throw the ball and he would try soo hard to hit the ball with the racket...

 

 

We went to the marina for dinner and he loved the bridge and boats and running around the fountain.

 

This is so sweet of Craw and Carter running out with the boogy board. They didn't really know what to do with it but Brian would usually get them to have a ball playing on it in the ocean.

 

The kids each had an ipad and during downtime you could usually find them each with their own ipad. This particular morning they decided to share the ipad while eating breakfast.

 

Brad, Brian, and I took the kids to the end of the island to see what all was down there. Hope rode behind Brian's bike and I toted the two boys in the trailer. When we got there it was really quiet and people were everywhere. There was a school of dolphins swimming really close the shore and they kept surfacing every few minutes..too cute

 

Craw's favorite person in the world--his paw paw. He just adores paw paw and lights up whenever he sees him. Paw Paw is always soo concerned about Crawford and I have just loved watching their relationship turn into the sweetest thing. Craw always wants paw paw--in the ocean, when he wakes up (he either hollers for mama or paw paw from his bed)...I just love how paw paw would get in the ocean and jump the waves with Crawford...

 

I could hardly ever get a picture of him standing still...he was constantly running from the water back to the sand and beach chairs having a ball.

 

One night Brad's parents let the kids go out on their own for dinner and kept the little ones. We decided to venture to the ocean course at Kiawah for dinner. It was paaaacked. I couldn't believe that the golf course was 10 miles from where our house was. The island isn't the big so it's crazy how far out their this ocean golf course is. It was beautiful! We loved enjoying a glass of wine watching some golfers finish the 18th hole as the sunset over the ocean.

 

We obviously don't go anywhere without Craw's obsession--Thomas. Bath Thomas joined us at the beach and he loved pushing him through the sand

 

On our last night we took the kids out after dinner to get some sunset pictures of them at the beach in their navy and white. Of course trying to get them all to look at the camera and smile is a different story.

 

 

We love this special week we all share together. It's so fun to see that each year will be fun in a different way as the kids get older and enjoy different things. We are sooo grateful to his amazing parents who plan and treat us to a fun week at the beach. We will always remember the fun memories we all share together there.