On the Road Again

Car trips have been a staple of our summer. We have made significant progress, including Mommy being allowed to sit in the front seat on the way back from the beach. The plan was to leave for Louisville when Max finished Vacation Bible School at lunchtime. We'd grab a quick lunch and the kiddos would get naps, thus ensuring quiet in the car for at least a few hours, and we would arrive shortly before bedtime.

Not exactly.

Mommy quickly returned to the backseat following the only 30 minutes of peace during a 7 1/2 hour trip. Cranky kids, cranky parents, and a lot of highway. And so the trip began..

The only good part of being sandwiched between two car seats for hours is the view of these sweet faces! 

Some new wheels were waiting for our arrival. The kids did not complain about going for this a ride in this type of vehicle!

Now she wants to rest?

Capacity: Two Small Children, 1 Giant Ball

Another hand-holder in the family

It warms my heart to see Max's excitement about visiting his grandparents in Louisville. Additionally, Max now remembers his "friends" in Louisville too - and their toys. Max fondly recalled Jack's and Calvin's play set and was eager to play again. We thought our visit to the Duthie house would help release the the big boy energy before we all invaded Baby Jax's new house the following day.

Not exactly.

Jack, Calvin, and Max practiced their bouncing, running, and tumbling in the the Ward's downstairs play suite. And Amanda was concerned the big kids wouldn't have enough toy choices at their house!

The babies were content to explore more calmly. Jax, Mary Lee, and Sarah seemed satisfied with the entertainment provided by the older brothers. There will be another boy to join the fun by the time we see them again at Thanksgiving!

Full disclosure: Scott took the pictures above. It is completely unnecessary for me to take pictures when we are together because Scott and Amanda are professionals. Max's "friends" (and their Mommies) are so gracious to host these wild reunions!

Max was perfectly comfortable at Nana and Mike's house: constant coloring companions, walking buddies, a recliner for lounging, special goodies from Aunt Nancy, and books galore. No surprise that he wants to visit more frequently!

"It's a great day for a chair!"

If only he was old enough to drive us there....

Lucky 33

Thirty-three Years and Thirty-three Reasons Why I Love My Life

1. Pushing my babies on the swings in the afternoon sunshine.
2. Homemade (and warm) chocolate birthday cake delivered to my office by my former intern.
3. The smell of freshly-cut grass.
4. A tiger cat enthusiastically purring in my ear.
5. A clean house that did not involve me on my knees scrubbing dried, smushed grape.
6. Hearing "I love you" from multiple people of multiple ages multiple times per day.
7. Saying prayers with Max.
8. The sound of crickets singing outside my window.
9. The weight of Sarah's body as she collapses into a hug.
10. A soft place to land - my bed.
11. Coffee that brews in less time than it takes to pour milk into a sippy cup.
12. Singing Twinkle Twinkle as a family to Sarah.
13. Talking to my mother daily.
14. Sarah's motorboat noise.
15. Pajama-ie Days.
16. Coming home from a terrible workday to find a little boy bursting with excitement about going to Krispy Kreme with me.
17. A friend bringing a birthday lunch for me and my co-workers.
18. Hearing Max chatter about his day in the car.
19. Re-reading my favorite childhood books with my own children.
20. The smell of Sarah's head.
21. Instant gratification from my Kindle.
22. A shower so hot it makes me look sunburned.
23. Opening my Bible to the exact words I need.
24. Daily emails from my husband that make me smile.
25. Rain that breaks the heat.
26. Baby belly laughs.
27. Conga lines around the house.
28. Inside jokes.
29. Squeezes.
30. Squinty baby eyes.
31. My children seeing my parents and grandparents weekly.
32. The chance to start fresh each day.
33. Birthday wishes from around the country!

(These are in no particular order - a fact I must state since the kitties came before my husband!)

I Wanna Hold Your Hand

Max's genetic profile appears to include the hand-holding trait:

A direct inheritance from his father.

Back to the Beach

Who wants to go back to the beach? 

A silly question - we all do!

Mimi and Babba joined us at Isle of Palms for a reprisal of our earlier trip: Beach, Take Two. Sarah and Max had a lot to show their grandparents!

The How To List

1. How to Build in the Sand

Thumbs up!

2. How to Catch a Richards-

Run Fast!

3. How to Get Wet

 

4. How to Make a Presentation to the Sea

Afternoon rain couldn't dampen our spirits! After naps, we ventured into the steam for some playground fun. Where else can you find a giant sea creature other than a playground at the beach?

The zip line was a family affair. First the Max...

Then the Daddy...

And finally the baby...

Baby wins the ice cream prize for best form!

Beachin' is a dirty job...

Cleaned up at the Marina

What's in the sky? A bird? A plane?

A Ball! 

(according to Sarah)

One of the reasons we love Charleston is because so many of our friends have migrated there! Thanks to the presence of Mimi and Babba, we were able to go to dinner one night with some dear friends who were struggling through a difficult time. Being able to see them in person and offer a hug was much preferable to a phone call or email.

We were happily anticipating another night out at a fabulous Charleston restaurant to celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary, but the opportunity to spend time on the beach with a childhood friend whom I rarely see took precedence. She was one of our bridesmaids, so we informed Jason we were still honoring the day! Max convinced her to join us for another round of ice cream before she headed back to the city. After our ice-cream appetizer (and a long day at the beach), we decided to forego our dinner out and send my parents out to enjoy a meal instead and bring back some take-out for us. Unable to find a restaurant that wasn't packed and/or a bar, they returned home with a meal from Burger King. That's right, we spent our anniversary eatingWhoppers and fries at the kitchen table with my parents,  laughing about how superior the food was at our actual wedding reception. It was delicious. A perfect anniversary day.

This beach trip included an excursion to the water park! It was a great park for toddlers and pre-schoolers with slides, splash areas, and the not-so-lazy river, which whips around pretty quickly! 

Being at the beach makes me appreciate simplicity. That might seem a strange sentiment considering the amount of stuff we lug to the actual beach, but the routine is basic and timeless: Get up. Go outside. Enjoy God's beauty. Be with people you love. Fall into bed exhausted. Sleep soundly. Be content. Be happy.

The Richards Family 2012