Kaiwah Island Beach Week 2013

:: reading with Emmy ::

:: pillow forts with Paw ::

 :: lego building ::

:: little Will ::

:: pool time! ::

:: water dumping ::

:: our very own beach ::

:: sea life discoveries ::

:: beach crawler (aka cute sandy bum) ::

:: beach beauty ::

:: bird chaser ::

:: sand castles ::

 :: cousins ::

 :: beach races ::

 :: discoveries ::

 :: giggles ::

 :: building ::

 :: smiles ::

:: Audrey-sized holes :: 

 :: boogie boarding ::

 :: sand dollar ::

 :: concentrating ::

:: decompressing :: 

:: cuteness ::

:: dips with Daddy :: 

 :: making roads ::

 :: pretending penguiny and elephanty ::

 :: seagull feeding ::

 :: bike rides ::

:: purple fairy ::

:: plow hand :: 

 

 :: hot, baby, hot ::

 :: surfing ::

 :: Maw lovin' ::

:: girls :: 

 :: little cousin lovin' ::

 :: morning with the boy ::

:: brothers and sisters in love ::

 :: family photos ::

First Week of Summer

We had a busier week last week than what I would have imagined for the first week of summer.  

One of the things we did was go in for a neuro visit.  We just wanted to check in before kindergarten.  And we hadn't been in since January 2012.  One and a half years!

We assume Peter has now been seizure free for 2 full years.  His last myoclonic jerk was Memorial Day weekend 2011 and his last tonic clonic was Feb 2011.  His doctor told us that after a child has been seizure free for two years we can begin entertaining the idea of weaning his meds. (!!!)  I wondered when that would be the case so it was great news.  But I already knew that I'd rather not do that, esp with him going to Kindergarten.  She said that was fine and that our comfort level is a definite factor in the decision.  So we decided that we'll schedule an EEG for next year this time and then based on that, we'll make med decisions.  You can imagine that we feel such thankfulness for this good news.  My heart is always a mix of that and caution too.  Every ounce of me knows that I need to be able to trust God with whatever happens and I can't allow my hope to be solely in him getting to come off meds.  His med has certainly been one of the BEST things that's ever happened to us.  But the idea of being well is oh so amazing (and hard to fathom, if I'm honest).  But HE is able and good.  All the time.  So you can pray with us for continued healing and praise God for the gift of being seizure free.  Lord, hear our prayer.  We'll adjust the way we give his med this year to fit the school schedule better.  We'll keep the same daily dosage but give it in two doses instead of spread out over three.  

Catching up on ZZZZ's after a naptime appointment.

We also started swim team this week.  His group doesn't compete they just practice daily for 45 mins. 

 He's the second one over.  His teacher looks so much like my cousin's wife.  So I am thinking of you a lot at swim practice, Molly!

Let the season begin!

We couldn't come back from the beach to a three day weekend and stay home!  So off to Busch Gardens we went!  Preschool passes: Yes please!  It was a blast and a good time to have with the kids after being away.

We went straight to the Elmo roller coaster that Lily wasn't tall enough for last summer and she could ride it!!  Fun times!  She was super excited and after it was over I asked her if it was fun or scary and she said "A little bit of both!"

 She rode the horses while Mike and Peter did the Loch Ness Monster.  Cuteness.

 We ended up running into friends so went around with then for the second half of our time there.   We had fun on the swings with them!!  

They twisted our arms to stay for dinner and then an evening roller coaster.  It was a bonus to have time to catch up with a friend while we waited in line!  :)  Peter was my partner for Verbolten.  WE LOVED IT!  It was hilarious... I had no idea what to expect and there were several fun surprises!  A good Sat night adrenaline rush.

 We went back for a short trip the following day.  Love them.

 Peter agreed to go on the Loch Ness Monster with me.  I may have been afraid without him.  ;)

 We all did the cradle boats and then the kids did this.

 Mike had the kids get wet from a water ride so P rode him shirtless... aw,aw!  

Nice body, Pete.

Kiawah Phone Pics

We headed to the beach the day after the kids finished preschool... perfect, right?!

The kids loved napping behind their pillows.  Also perfect.

 Then lollipops for snacks that they'd gotten from Peter's preschool teacher.

 The trip down was surprisingly fun (and easy) with then!

Not so much on the way home.  I have a feeling that might just be the way vacations work.

The first three days were cloudy but we made it to the beach everyday.

It was our first time to Kiawah.  It was wonderful in every way.  One of our favorite things was the tidal pool in the middle of the wide beach at low tide.

 Paw arrives with a horshoe crab.  Another favorite thing was the abundant sea life!

 ...And shallow grade to the beach, so gentle waves.

 We had fun with Will, Emmy, and Elizabeth.

 Lily loved being the little mama and helping with the little girls.

 Elizabeth loved crawling on the beach!  No fear.

How cool is this little series.  Google automatically did it for me?!?

 My kids loved sharing the little dormer room off of our room.  Sleeping Sweetness.

We all know Peter is our early riser so we'd send him into this closet every morning to play legos.  Lily sleeps in.  :)  I think she was just in playing with him some other time of day.

 Mom and I ran into the CUTE shopping area one day and snagged these at the end of our grocery run.

I, like Jessica, am also waiting on some help from my IT department to provide more space for me to upload pics.  :)