Ice Cream...

You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream!

With the scorching HOT days we've had lately, Grant's had many ice cream days with his pals.

He loves going to Moo Chee Chee, the frozen yogurt bar with Sweet Savannah

 He also loves visiting Marble Slab after playing at the fountain with Luke.  Cotton Candy Ice Cream is his favorite!

 Luke loves birthday cake ice cream with sprinkles!

 and I just wanted to throw this one in because it makes me smile.  :)

Beach Bums

Last Saturday we took Laurie and Drew's new fishing boat to Dauphin Island and let the boys loose on their own private Isle.

Grant and Luke had a wild time exploring, playing in the sand and swimming!

When it was time to leave we stripped them down and let them run wild ne-ked before dunking them in the water to clean all the sand off.  Grant loved his ne-ked freedom since he always wants his clothes, "off" anyways.

Boys will be boys...

After an exciting morning it was time to head home.  The boys played so hard and both had trouble keeping their eyes open on the way home!



Christmas in June?

Ron has many lifelong friends from the time he was deployed with the USMC on the MEU.  He's kept in great contact with a lot of his fellow Marines and was able to catch up with one of his past roommates while we were home for Jeffrey's wedding.  Dave has been deployed several times to Afghanistan since these two were bunk mates but luckily he was home on our recent visit to NC.  With a weekend so full of organized activities it was hard to pin-point a time for them to get together so our only option was to invite good 'ole Dave to the wedding!

 Dave had never met Grant but said he felt like he knew him because he's an avid reader of our blog.  Dave paid a visit to Toys-R-Us before his visit and bought Grant several "big boy" toys. His girlfriend wanted to know if he had bought these things for himself and Ron, or Grant!

Grant loves his chainsaw, it lights up and he loves to put on his goggles which he calls, "glasses!"

Watch Out World!

Ron and Dave also spent a lot of time discussing their goals in life while on ship and both agreed they wanted to own a Donzi one day.  One can dream right?

Dave bought Grant (or Ron) his very own remote control Donzi speed boat!

Grant (and Ron) had a great time driving it on the lake behind my parents house!

I think this speed boat will do for now or forever if you ask me!

Thanks for coming to see us Dave and spoiling Grant rotten!

Celebrating MTG

On Father's Day I helped host a baby shower for my dear childhood friend Emily.  She is expecting a little boy in September and his name will be Mark Thomas.  I once again attempted making a diaper cake for the centerpiece and I was pretty pleased with how it turned out.  Check out my first attempt HERE.

This was a dessert shower held at our family friend, Ms. Connie's house.  We had every kind of dessert you could imagine.  My favorite was the pound cake with homemade whip cream and strawberries, YUM-O!

Chocolate cake, truffles, carrot cake bites, strawberry cake, even M&M's.  It was heaven.

Mark Thomas even had his own cake!

 Jessica, Kate, Emily, Lauren, Berkley and I, high school friends

My Mom and the Mom-to-Be, Emily!

Emily loved the giraffe play mat that I gave her.  Grant has a monkey one that we have enjoyed since day one!

Emily and I

After the shower the men were all invited to come eat the leftover desserts.  After all, it was Father's Day!  Grant was able to make an appearance and play with Emily's nephew, Hudson.  They had a blast with light sabers! 

We can't wait to meet you, Mark Thomas!

Grant and Sam, One Year Later

The Martin's came over for a quick visit on Father's Day.    Grant and Sammy love spending time together.  They both have grown by leaps and bounds in a year.  Check out this post to see what these two were up to a year ago together.

 They watched the ducks swim about and yelled, "Quack!"

Of course, I'm not one to miss out on a photo opportunity so when Sammy came over in a shortall that Grant owns as well I ran into the house to change Grant's clothes so we could take pictures of these sweet boys together.

What I should have really done is comb Grant's hair, :)

and they've had enough... escape artists once again!



Jeffrey Gets Married!

My big brother, Jeffrey, was married this past weekend in the town I grew up in, Clinton.  He married Kristie, an art teacher and his love!  Friday night we celebrated with a rehearsal dinner and unfortunately, my pictures are limited because I left my camera in a church pew.  These two I stole off facebook from someone else!

My siblings, Beverly and Jeffrey with Grant

Dad and Jeffrey after dinner

 They had a beautiful ceremony, one I was honored to be a part of.  They were so joyful afterwards, I snapped this photo immediately after they said there, "I do's!"

                                                                                     My beautiful family

 We were so thankful to have Ron's entire family there for the wedding weekend as well.  Grant's Mimi made this beautiful linen outfit for the wedding, thank you Mimi!

The reception was held at the Victor R. Small House in Clinton which is now a historical Art Museum.  I snapped this photo of the house back in January.  The house is rumored to haunted and rightfully so.  Check out this link to listen to an audio recording of the house's paranormal activity!

The weather was much different than our last visit there in January.  It was HOT!  I love this photo of Grant, he looks how we all felt to be out in the heat!

 Jody and I

 Ron's Grandparents drove all the way from Illinois for the wedding!

My bestest friend, Jessica and I

My Mom and some of her closest gal pals

Mrs. Griffin, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Boone, Mrs. Connie and Mrs. Brewer

My Mom's brother, Edward with Beverly and I

Everyone loved the bluegrass band that played.

Some of the wedding party with the band

Grant and his Uncle Jeffrey

Ron, Jeffrey and Grant

My sweet boy had so much fun at the reception!  We heard several times how much Grant favors Jeffrey as a little boy.

Having a ball and the shoes came, "off!"

Candid shot of Bev and her best childhood friend with Mom and Grant

After the reception Grant was worn out.  We arrived at our hotel room and he immediately put himself to bed.  He climbed under the covers and said, "night night!"

Congrats Kristie and Jeffrey!

Water Play

Grant and I have had so much fun in Clinton this past week with our family and friends.  Grant loves being outdoors and we've had some great times lately on and in the water. 

We've gone boating with "Papa."

 and spent a lot of time reflecting on the weeks activities...

Grant also loved visiting the pool I went to daily as a kid.

 I babysat these two girls when they were itty bitty!  Now they're all grown up, lifeguards, and had the best time playing with Grant!

After watching the big kids do flips and dives off of the diving board, Grant decided he wanted to give it a shot! Emily, the lifeguard was so patient and was waiting for him when he was ready to jump! 

                                                                   Aunt Bev was there for all the fun as well!