Let Brock Eat Cake

Caught in the act.

Let me take a moment to explain that Brock is celebrating his birthday in his diaper because we had just come home from a long day at the beach and the pool!

Daddy's Gift - He loved it

Mommy's Gift - He loved it too.

His favorite gift was his cars book full of cars

First year to blow out all the candles!

Pepper gets new digs

Pepper's house was... just unacceptable.  So we got her a new fancy place to call home.

Ichetucknee Springs

 Imagine a chilly icy spring water river under our rafts and tubes. 

 It really was a super fun time with the kids.

 Honestly the best thing I have found to do on a hot day in Florida outside.

 Brock was born to float down a river.

 Juliet could wait to be done only to beg to start over again.

Meet Shilee

Let it be known that i never throw any fabric away.  Shilee the rag doll consists of:
Muslin: 1/4 yard: 84 cents
Shoes:  Juliet's Dress she wore to Mitch and Elizabeth's wedding
Legs: Gingham from Cougar (age 9) baby room decor
Dress: Juliet's baking apron
Ruffle: Juliet's Easter Dress not this last year, but the year before.
Cheeks: Baby Charlotte's dress bloomers
Hairbows - Juliet's baby carseat cover
Hair: Dress I sewed for myself 4 years ago

Juliet named her doll Shilee.  She made it up herself,

Stuffed Owls

Stuffed Owls

 In honor of Harry Potter this week we made stuffed owls.  Each of the kids drew out what they wanted their owls to look like.  Next they went though all the scrap fabric I never throw away and picked out their owls' outers.  Finally we went and picked out felt for the eyes and noses.  The kids have kept me busy cutting and sewing, stuffing and stitching, but  just in time for the Harry Potter premier we all have owls.

 Brock's owl will no longer feel lonely.

After we got home with Cougar from HP the kiddos were asleep in Juliet's bed.  I guess Brock didn't like the idea of sleeping alone.

Wrapped Around her Little Finger

Juliet cried when we wouldn't let her get the LelliKellys because we were shopping to get Cougar one pair of shoes since his toes busted through the front of his old pair.

She cried in the store.

She cried in the car.

She cried at home.

And until the next day when her daddy took her back to the store and got her the most beautiful shoes she has ever seen.

4th of July

Some of our friends we met during medical school in Oklahoma matched for residency in Gainsville, FL just down the road. It was so nice to have them come visit on the 4th for a day of sunning at the beach, playing in the pool, watermelon and chili dogs!

We finished up the night by heading to the beach with the rest of the population to watch the fireworks off the Jax Beach Pier.
We met up with another Mayo Resident from OU named Siam and his wife on the beach.
Going to the beach for the 4th is taking a risk. It is really fun, but stupid dangerous. Not only is everyone there for the big fireworks, they all bring their own. It is absolute chaos. Bottle rockets are shooting off in every direction. Fountains are falling all over the place shooting into the sea oats and starting fires. The police are all over the place just watching the bedlam with lackadaisical passivity.
It is way fun, but way crazy.