We had a very busy weekend! Between Kali's 24th birthday on the 24th and a Memorial Day cookout with friends we still managed to get in a few fun (maybe not the word for it) things around the house.

Brock woke up Saturday morning covered in purple marker and so excited to show us the "Rocket" he drew on his bed. I thought we covered the "we color only on paper" conversation after the marker incident last week. I would have taken a picture of him too but I didn't want him to know just how funny I thought he was. Sheet changing was not on my list of 3 day weekend things to do... but we did and the rocket washed out just fine.

When the sun came out for 2.5 seconds we let Brodey run through the sprinkler in the front yard. We are in a watering ban and this is not allowed, but it has been raining for DAYS (maybe weeks) so I think it's okay. He loved it.
Lyla and I sat in the almost shade of the newly-dead tree in our front yard and she played naked in her little blow up pool while we watched Brodey. Sometimes I wonder what the neighbors think about us and all our naked kids.
And then today Brodey built this lovely Church (that's what he said it was) and I thought he did such a good job so I took his picture next to it. (Sunday on the way to Church he told me he's been asking Jesus to put another baby in my belly because he really likes babies. I didn't know what to say to that!)

I have a friend that also has 3 small kids that refers to family vacations as relocations. I agree. Vacations aren't much for relaxing anymore.... more so just packing up everything you own, traveling a long way, and then do daily tasks somewhere else. You go into it knowing a lot of work is involved. But we still had a VERY FUN time! (and maybe some not so fun times.)















Friday night before we were to leave for the beach Brock came down with a high fever. After doctor's hours, of course. He was feeling so bad we debated not going at all, but after some Tylenol and a breathing treatment he seemed to be feeling much better. (He slept in our bed so I could listen to his breathing... after a scare last year, this is how we do things when Brock gets sick). As anyone who has ever given a 2 year old an Abuterol breathing treatment knows, he was VERY chatty for the rest of the night and kept us up all night laughing at the crazy things he was talking about. Anyhow... even though the fever was not gone in the morning and we were all very tired, he seemed to be okay for travel. I diagnosed him with "Roseola" (yes... google diagnosis... I stand by it). We packed up and hit the road.



















One mile down the road (seriously... one mile) Brodey asked for the first time "Are we there yet??" and followed with "this is taking a long time". Repeat that 4,589 times and that's how the rest of the trip went. (Lyla was a rock star... when she wasn't sleeping she looked happily out the window and babbled a bunch of gibberish.) We got to Gulf Shores around 5 ish, ordered a pizza and played in the pool... everyone was happy.















The next day was Mother's day! Spent the whole day on the beach.. it was fantastic. Lyla was awesome... playing and taking naps in her little pool under the umbrella, Brock played with a bucket of water next to me (so easily entertained!) and Brodey swam in the ocean with Jeff. We went out to eat that night at a fun family place. There is a huge sand pile in the middle for kids to play in while you wait... genius. Anyhow.. after we ate I was standing up talking to a woman at a table near us (who's daughter's name was Lyla!) when Brodey walked over and threw up on my feet. Then turned and threw up in Jeff's direction. Then looked at us and said, "I feel better... can we go back to the beach now?". Happy Mother's Day to me! As a friend pointed out, he must have been getting me back for leaving him at school last week. He's always been a random puker, so we knew he was fine.. but definitely got out of there as fast as possible!















Other fun things that happened... Brodey made a friend on the first day, a 4 year old girl named Taylor, and they played together all week. At the end of the week Jeff asked Brodey what his favorite part of vacation was and he said, "playing with Taylor". Jeff: "you mean playing with daddy, right?". Brodey: "no, playing with Taylor." So we are officially no longer the funnest people in his life... we thought we had longer!




One morning we went out for breakfast and Brodey insisted he sit next to Lyla. Jeff gave her a coffee creamer to play with and she stuck it in her mouth like a passy. A few seconds later she popped the creamer and it burst all over Brodey's face... I got a cute picture and even Lyla thought it was hilarious.



Lyla was a huge hit at the beach. Several people commented on how laid back she was and how well she behaved on the beach. She was so content when she was awake and took really long (2+ hour) naps right there next to me. I read a whole magazine one afternoon! It was amazing! The boys were both crawling the first time they went to the beach... not so much fun. Lots of sand. Lyla is not crawling yet so was very happy to just sit and look around. She's my kind of vacation-er, lots of sleeping, lots of eating, and lots of taking in pretty scenery!


The trip back went pretty well... everyone was so sleepy! Brock was all healed up, but Brodey and I both lost our voices and Lyla started running a fever the next day. I guess there is no avoiding it when you have so many kids. We had a great time and are so thankful for the opportunity to take a vacation.... and for the amazing weather! Low 80's and sunny everyday!

These two colored their entire bodies with markers yesterday. And the wall, the wood floor AND the carpet. There was so much marker on their skin that the water turned pink. Someday (a long long time from today) I might think this is funny.

Lyla is 8 months old today. She has changed so much in the last month! Last week she got her first tooth.... this was more upsetting than I thought it would be. Not so much for her... I would have never known she cut a tooth if I didn't see it while pushing her in her swing. She never drooled or fussed or anything. (I realize by saying that I've probably guaranteed a hard time for the rest of those teeth... oops) I was surprisingly sad about her tooth. It marks the beginning of no more big toothless smiles and makes her even less like a baby. I wish I could keep her a baby forever.