Mom day

Mom day - that's what the kids call it when we spend the whole day together. This specific day we went to see a movie, went to eat at Elmos, played outside, and ate sno cones. I love summer! This kids are getting used to my crying "happy tears". Bella just hugs me and says she knows I love her. ha! I'm just grateful for them and for the immense beauty of being their mom.

Sno cones!

Mommy's school and school shopping

I've made a point to have Mommy-daughter or Mommy-son days this summer. I've let the kids decide what they want to do for the day. One of Bella's favorite thing to do is to go to my school with her homework. So one most Mommy-daughter days, we go to my school and Starbucks and Duke Gardens. JT likes to go too!

Don't you love school shopping!

It's one of my greatest joys to experience my school with these kids!

Summer 2015

This summer flew by! I've been able to take off all the summers since we've been here for my PhD program. But, this summer was different since I'm graduating. Halleluyer! Even though it was busier than normal, I think I appreciated this summer more than the others. I didn't take time for granted. When you feel like you have months at home with the kids for the summer, it's easy to let time just go by without any intentionality. However, when I knew I only had a few days a week with them, we soaked it all up! (Mostly...there are still tired days and days with too much Wild Kratts...you know, just being real y'all). Enjoy a few pictures of what we've been doing.

Y'all, he giggled so much doing this. The train was automatic and I think he thought it going to run into him.

He's helping me with laundry.

I told Bella to pick up her dirty clothes. I found this in the laundry area. Dirty clothes, Mom! At'a girl.

I know this picture is grainy but it's about 6am while I was reading my bible. This sweet little one comes and climbs in my lap most mornings to cuddle.

Bella still wanted to do homework in the summer. Of course we obliged and bought some books!

JT made his own tea party in the courtyard for his bear, his tractor, and his pirate ship.

Most nights, JT sneaks up to cuddle with Bella while he falls asleep. He will ask if he can hug her every time. It's so sweet.

Happy summer everyone!

Hiking with the kids

One of the things I am thankful for with being in a PhD program is I can largely dictate how I spend my time. This means I can spend lots of time with sweet kiddos during the day...and stay up late working on my dissertation. =) But it's all worth it. One early morning, we packed a lunch and went hiking on the Eno River. Or I should really say Bella ran the ENTIRE hike while JT tried really close behind...but his momma was holding onto him with a death grip. Y'all, there were lots of roots and I just knew he was going to trip and go into the river. ha! Then there's my 6 year old fearless gal bouncing like Tigger through them all. She's a little athlete! We had to walk down some stairs before getting to the rocks in the river. She ran down the whole thing, jumped from the third step, and kept running on the trail. Uhm, yes, I was worried! She's so agile! And we all ended up taking off our shoes and getting in the river for a little muddy swim. After a great picnic lunch and more nature walking, we headed home for a long nap!

"Mommy, this is where Pooh puts his honey!"

They were making a home for a worm!

Daddy

I can't begin to say how thankful I am for my husband. I wouldn't know where to start! But, I do know I can start with some great pictures of him loving on our kids by taking them out on dates, helping them sleep, and all around cuddling. You guys, this guy. I am one thankful gal!

Swim lessons

Our kiddos had swim lessons this summer. And you could definitely tell their personalities! Bella just jumped right in and JT, well, I had to tell his teacher I was walking away and I'm sorry. He's our cautious one! But by the third day, I could walk away without tears. Then he became fearless! Bella was a champ and learned all sorts of fun things in the pool. After lessons, we stuck around and swam for a while. We were tan, smelled like sunscreen, and tired the whole week! But that was fun!

The future doctor

Our sweet 6 year old is quite the artist! Of course, our kiddos could scribble all over a piece of paper and I would hang that puppy up over the mantle. She was hanging out with me one morning while I was getting ready for school and decided to draw pictures that looked like the doctors office. And this is what she came up with! She drew one picture of what the cast would look like. And another picture of the broken leg. You never know what these cuties will think of next!

More Easter pictures

Look at these sweet kiddos!

Y'all, this picture makes my heart burst!

Granddad hid an Easter egg in his pocket and JT had a hard time finding it. So sweet!