Out of the Country!

Lance is a big believer in “adult vacations” and is very committed to making sure we do this on a yearly basis or so. I never really understood this concept because, admittedly, I didn’t grow up this way. Vacations were always something we did as a family, so it seemed odd when he proposed this theory several years ago. 

I’m now a believer. Traveling with Lance is an experience I have missed so much, and our first trip out of the country since we’ve had children was nothing short of amazing for us both. 

I knew it would be a little difficult to leave the kids, but it helps that they’re with Mom, and I know they’ll have a good time with her and new experiences of their own. It’s good for everyone. 

Secondly, I’ve never been a huge fan of group trips - there are usually too many politics, too many opinions and generally too much going on for me to be able to relax and have a good time.

Again, this trip was a huge exception. We traveled to the Dominican with 6 other couples, and the dynamic was perfection. I haven’t laughed so hard in such a long time, and thoroughly enjoyed everyone we had the opportunity to spend time with on this trip. 

This is our first night on the Beach - I hate that this photo is blurry, but I’m including it anyway because I love it. 

The first thing we did together was a “Booze Cruise”, and it was so much fun that I wish we could do it all over again. I wish I had more photos, but I think that when you’re having this much fun, you don’t always think about picking up the camera. Here’s the boat: 

And, here is the blue water. I’ve yearned for this view of the world since having children - I don’t think I really appreciated a “Beach vacation” until after becoming a Mom. Endless cocktails, blue water and uninterrupted sleep are things that never meant so much before. 

We ate at the Mexican restaurant one night during the trip and I was surprised by another birthday celebration from the waiters - more singing and dancing to celebrate my 40th. Mortifying...yes. Memorable...unfortunately. 

Brent and Meredith were the greatest surprise of the trip. No one, and and I mean NO ONE can outlast them. They’re the first ones up and the last ones to go to bed. I told Lance that on our next group trip I would be willing to pay for part of their trip just to get them to go with us…they’re that much fun. We are so glad they were a part of this trip. 

Kip & Pat - Kip did one of the most hilarious karaoke renditions I’ve ever seen in my life on this trip - it was a pee-in-your-pants kind of performance that I don’t think him or anyone else could ever outdo. Again, I’m so glad I got to see it - I only wish I had a video. Absolutely. Hilarious. 

I think Tom Quigley sings better than Bon Jovi. Period. 

 

Me & Meredith:

By far, one of the best parts of this trip was sharing it with Kip & Rebecca. My 40th year of life has been a real eye opener, and I’m learning that you’re really blessed if you have a relationship like the one we have with them. They are not only awesome family, but great friends. It was so much fun experiencing this trip with them, and I can’t wait to do it again. 

Meredith on the beach:

On our final night, Kip arranged for Rebecca’s 40th to be commemorated at our last dinner. I love the spelling of her name on this cake: 

The boys:

A random group photo from our Mexican dinner:

“Vacation Hands” - A Brent & Meredith addition to the trip:

Awesome trip. Amazing memories. Great friends.

Cheers to doing it again. 

Soon. 

Life Today

The weather was beautiful today - hard to believe it’s July in Kentucky. It feels more like the later days of September, fall-like. It feels a little unnatural for this time of year - seems more like we should be avoiding sweltering temps, eating popsicles and running through sprinklers.

But, we’ll take the simple pleasures of a day like today. Lyla went to summer fun day this morning at her school, and Cade and I went on a few errands of our own while she was there. Immediately after our grocery trip, he was ready to pick her to show her the new cupcake sprinkles he conned me into buying. 

After lunch and a semblance of quiet time (we don’t do naps around here anymore…there isn’t much break in the action from 7:30ish a.m. until 9 p.m.), we tried a very successful new egg-free cupcake recipe for Cade as we will need a plethora of egg free cupcakes to keep up with our August birthday party schedule. 

We spent some time outside playing - Lyla thumbing through a doll magazine she received in the mail today and Cade playing with moon sand and intentionally knocking over any ant hill he could find, saying they’re “dirty”. This is when we took this picture - it was one of those moments when all is right with the world - the clouds beautiful overhead, skies all blue. I love these two so much I can’t stand it. 

This photo is actually from earlier in the day - I jokingly sent it to Lance at work saying that this scenario lasted approximately 2 minutes. It was a great photo opportunity, though:

Lastly, and remarkably, - our sweet girl is getting more and more like me every day. She was watching a television show tonight while Lance and I were deep in discussion after dinner. We have become so accustomed to being interrupted that I’ve started working with the kids on saying, “Excuse me” prior to railing in on all of our conversations. This time, she stood there - “Mommy, did you see my tears?” I looked down at her as she looked up - and she had tears in her eyes. The moment I realized it, she broke into sobs and ran to me, arms outstretched. She had been touched by something that had happened in the program she was watching, and I think she was more shocked by her emotional reaction than anyone: “Mommy, it was just so sweet when he hugged his little brother - it was just so sweet! It made me think of Cade."

I love this little girl - I know she’s ours, but I think she tremendously special in so many ways. Beyond her years and child like, all at the same time. 

Another day of summertime magic. 

Lyla & Cade - Summer 2014

We’re still here - we just don’t blog much anymore. I’m sad about that - it’s just so hard to find the time for anything anymore. But, I’m looking up right now and realizing that Lyla is almost 5 and Cade is nearing 3…time is flying by, and I want more than ever to capture who these beautiful little beings are as they grow. They grow into more amazing little people every, single day. 

So, here are a few fun facts about each of these sweets, off the top of my head. 

Lyla. She really is 4 (and a half) going on 10. Well, sort of. I love her passion for life and her happiness…she has this amazing ability to be an old soul and an impassioned child all at one time. I love her little personality. 

Last night I let her stay up late with me, which means a movie night with mommy and her choice of dessert. Last night she chose sugar cookies with purple icing and sprinkles. We try to keep these nights a secret from Cade, and when he asked for a treat after dinner, she whispered to me, “Mommy, I’m not going to have an after dinner treat because I know I’m going to have cookies later. That’s just too much sugar for me.” She stuck to it, too, even with Cade offered her Hershey’s kisses. 

Current interests: kindergarten (which she won’t attend for another year) and Sophia the First (an 8 year-old Disney princess). She loves kindergarten readiness activities and books, folders, books, pens and pencils. She loves crafting and pretending. And, she especially loves toys and playing. Tonight we played a game of monster between the four of us, and it was so funny the way she directed each scenario: “You be this, I’ll be that…"

Here, she won a contest at the neighborhood cookout in which she pulled the only yellow balloon out of a cooler full of water balloons. The girls running the contest really didn’t have a plan for the “winner”, and in seeing her excitement at winning, I told them they were going to have to think of something for her. They ran into their house and came back with this little purse. Lyla acted as if she’d won the lottery when she saw it: 

She loves putting her brother in dresses and surprising Lance & I. They’ll get really quiet upstairs and you can hear the vague commands in her voice - “Do this with your arm, Cade; put your leg here…” The next thing you know, they run out of her room, roaring with laughter and Cade is in one of her dresses, an old recital costume or something equally ridiculous. I love how they both think it’s just so funny. 

These two really are the best of friends. She worries over him, talks all the time about trying to include him with her “big” friends, although she usually forgets all about him the moment her friends arrive. But, they’re happy to see each other most mornings, and they really love spending time together. Watching this relationship evolve has undoubtedly been one of the most magical things I’ve experienced my whole life. 

Cade - aka Cade E. Bugg. This boy is all things boy that I never understood as a girl, having grown up with 2 sisters. He loves trains and trucks - I now am more versed in trucks and construction sites than I ever dreamed I would be. He loves big rigs, concrete mixer trucks, and dump trucks. Today, he asked Lance & I if he could stop at a construction site and watch the “mans” work. 

Here he is with his good friend, Sam. They were watching a truck load and unload a dumpster in Sam’s neighborhood. It was great summertime entertainment for them both - they were completely transfixed. 

We had our driveway re-done this summer (which has been a most painful process in our less than 3 year old home), and it was nonstop entertainment for Cade. He was so excited to see the concrete mixer truck come to his house. He heard it coming, looked out the window and yelled, “Mommy! It’s a concrete mixer truck coming to my house! It’s white! My favorite color!” Here, he took a picture with the man in the truck - I know he was scared in this photo, but he was determined to get inside the truck when the man offered: 

Cade E. Bugg is all things 2. Lance & I laugh at our text-book 2 year old. He is everything you expect from a raging 2 year old. He’s sweet as can be, but the tantrums sure can be trying. He climbed out of his crib a few weeks ago and has since refused naps. He often falls asleep in the car now in the afternoons, which is always a bedtime recipe for disaster. He also wakes up at least one time per night, usually at 3 a.m. and wants for us to lay beside his bed while he goes back to sleep. He is sweet. He is wild. He is just amazing to me. I love having a little boy. 

So, I would like to say that I’m going to blog about these beauties more consistently, and it is definitely my heart’s wish to do so. I just don’t want to miss a moment, and I want for all of us to have this to reflect upon years from now. I’ll keep trying.

Life is pretty trying these days - it’s hard to have a conversation with Lance, and I constantly hear my name being called throughout the house: “Mommy!” I try to remember that someday I will miss these days, because they really are magical. 

Some days it’s easier to imagine than others, but I know that I am the luckiest Mommy in the world to get to spend my days with these little miracles. 

1st Annual Neighborhood Cookout

Today was the First Annual Ash Landing Neighborhood Cookout. It was a sweltering evening, but so much fun to be with everyone. The neighborhood gathered in our cul de sac this year, and almost everyone was in attendance. It was a great time to see everyone, meet new neighbors and watch all these kids have so much fun. 

Here are Cade & Jack having so much fun in a neighbor kid’s tractor. They spent so much time trying to figure out how to turn it on - Cade actually ran inside our house to get some plastic toy keys he was playing with earlier today, convinced it would turn the tractor on. Ultimately, the tractor’s owner agreed to take the boys on rides up and down the street. They were all thrilled. 

The mark of a good party in our neighborhood is the expanse of wagons that are inevitably all parked together: 

Lyla was so excited to be the kid who picked the lone yellow water balloon out of the Steedly Girls’ cooler. She was so excited to find out what her prize was - I think the girls weren’t exactly certain of the prize themselves, but after some thought, they ran into their house and presented Lyla with this little bag. She thought she’d hit the jackpot and carried it around all night. She was soooo excited!

The night culminated in a beautiful fire, complete with ghost stories around our firepit. It was so much fun to watch the kids together: 

It was an amazing night. We are so blessed by our little neighborhood.