Happy First Birthday Bodhi!

I was able to take a lot of photos today - and it was a great day. We had so much fun with the Hottman’s celebrating Bodhi’s first Birthday. I can’t believe it’s been a year since he joined our family - it’s just so amazing to think that so much time has passed already. He is a real light amongst us - such a happy boy! It’s going to be really interesting to watch him grow over the next year. 

Our day started with Rebecca’s Little Man theme - oh, how I love a summer birthday party!

The Birthday Boy:

Face painting with Uncle Kip - our family is so lucky to have such a talented face painter: 

I haven’t seen Cade sit this still in a very long time, if ever. He originally wanted a full-on tiger face, but we talked him into a more reasonable version: 

Uncle Kip did a great job!

Lyla sweetly held Isa’s hair back while she got her sparkly butterfly. I’m so overwhelmed with pride at Lyla’s innate sweetness. She is such a kind, thoughtful little girl: 

Lyla was thrilled with her sparkly, purple unicorn: 

Our August Birthday Boys: 

We were so happy that Daddy stopped in for a few minutes on his way to work to wish Bodhi a happy 1st: 

Our sweet girl preparing for her first real potato sack race. She did a great job!

Cade was more interested in wearing this green balloon until he popped it on the grass. He was not happy about that.

The race begins: 

The race:

Cade likes playing in Isabella’s sandbox. Unfortunately, he also likes throwing sand all over the yard, despite numerous redirections. Ergh!

The kids were thrilled about the piñata - although it was a bit difficult to break: 

I’m not sure what Isa is telling Emory, but it appears she has some pretty serious piñata advice: 

Emory attempts: 

Blaire attempts:

Isabella attempts: 

Lyla attempts: 

The kids wait and wait - I think they’re looking pretty tired here: 

The piñata was ultimately broken by the Birthday Boy and his Mommy.

Cade was thrilled with his candy bag: 

Bodhi and his birthday cupcake. Happy Birthday sweet boy!

We attempted family photos - Don and I switched off to take these. It was a pain getting everyone together, but I know we’ll be glad we did someday. :)

Here are a few of my favorites of the Birthday Boy in his Birthday Suit: 

And, then there’s our sweet Cade E. Bugg - he’s quite a talker these days. Here, he’s showing Nonnie his new school back pack: 

I’m not sure what he’s saying here, but I love Uncle David’s reaction. Cade really is very humorous these days in his observations of the world.

Incidentally, a new favorite expression is his use of the word “very”: “I very want it, Mommy! Please!!” I know it won’t be long until the very is replaced by really, but I love every time I hear it in the meantime. 

 

It was a great afternoon - I’m so glad we could all be together. The kids were exhausted from having such special time together. 

Happy Birthday, Baby Bodhi! We “very" love you!

A Visit to Lexington

Again, I wish I’d taken more pictures today - but sometimes when you’re having a really good time, you just don’t. I’m so glad we were able to squeeze in a visit to Lexington before Lyla and Cade start school at the end of the month. We spent the afternoon at Aunt Sue’s visiting with Mimi, Nana, Aunt Sue, Sue Beth and even Uncle Tommy. It was a joyous, relaxing afternoon. 

Lyla & Cade really love Nana - they talk about her all the time, and Lyla has declared that Nana is her favorite grandmother. They were instantly thrilled to see her, and they both insisted on bringing suitcases full of toys to show her. 

Aunt Sue had a beautiful lunch for us, and the table was set when we arrived. When Cade saw it, he said, “Look, Mommy, they were eating dinner.” 

Here, Lyla and Cade snuggled up with Nana to watch some videos Aunt Sue wanted to show them on the computer. I had to pull Cade off Nana because I was afraid all their weight might hurt her. 

We were able to show Nana several things on our phones to help her catch up on the family. We showed her Reace, David’s new girlfriend and Sue Beth showed her newer pictures of Jack & Owen. It’s so nice to be able to share these things with her so easily now: 

The kids played and played outside. Aunt Sue had bikes set up for them and water balloons. They both had a wonderful time wandering around looking at her water fountain, her flamingos and hiding water balloons from each other. It was really neat that they were both able to ride the tricycle that we all rode as kids - I can’t believe it’s still there. Again, really wish I’d taken a pic of that!

They were both so worn out from playing and were thrilled for some inside time and a couple of shows. After that they dragged out more antiquated toys that Aunt Sue keeps in her closet - Lyla was so excited about the toy record player that plays Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and insisted that she needs one before we take our Myrtle Beach vacation at the end of the month. 

I love visiting Aunt Sue’s because it’s one of those places that is so warm and full of really good childhood memories. I love this living room and can vividly remember watching television there myself not so long ago. 

A great day that I’m glad we had. It was worth the ridiculous temper tantrum Cade threw at bedtime when he refused to go to bed after taking a late nap in the car on the way home. It’s always so nice to see Nana - no one I’ve ever known ages so gracefully. 

 

A Visit from Hunter & Lincoln

We had a great day today - it was so special because we got a visit from Hunter and Lincoln! It was so much fun spending time with Hunter and watching how he and Lyla & Cade are becoming real playmates. We started the day at All About Kids open gym - the kids really enjoyed playing on the inflatables. 

When we got home, Lyla insisted on trying to hold Lincoln. She’s so into babies these days. She just loves everything about them. 

Mom made us BLT’s, which were wonderful as she used her own home grown tomatoes. Unfortunately, I forgot to buy lettuce, but she made it work - they were fantastic!

I wish I had taken more pictures - it was such a fun day because Sarah, Mom, Donna and Nancy were here. It was just so busy that I wasn’t able to use my camera much. We had a really fun “Doll Contest” - Lyla decided last night that we were going to do this today - she entered her new doll, and Donna and Nancy also had dolls of their own. Participants were judged by me and Mimi on hair, interview and clothing. Lyla’s doll was the ultimate winner. 

It was a great family day. So fortunate to have such wonderful people around our babes!

Turning 8 and Floyd's Fork

Today we took another trip to Floyd’s Fork - this time to show Rand and celebrate his 8th Birthday. The minute we were introduced to this place, I could hardly wait to bring him here - I knew he would love it.

It is so hard to believe that this sweet little boy is now 8…we can hardly believe it. I know it’s cliche, but really, where has the time gone? Just yesterday it seems like he was asking Lyla to get out of her car seat and “walk around”.

The kids are all really growing up. Today they walked up and down the creek, visiting “Shell Island” and discovering new spots - “Rock Island”. Rand loved throwing the biggest rocks he could find - trying to break them into multiple pieces, of course. 

Here are Cade & Lyla walking through the creek, accompanied by Brie, Lyla’s constant companion these days. I’m so amused at how she favors this doll above all others, much the same way a mom prefers her child to any other. She says Brie’s clothes are the prettiest of any of her dolls, and she thinks she is better in every way imaginable. And, Cade is absolutely NOT allowed to play with her!

It is so sweet to watch Cade beginning to truly admire Rand as a real “Big Boy”. He watches everything he does with amazement and adoration: 

Rand is just beautiful, inside and out. I am so happy that we have the absolute privilege of being a part of his every day life - I love that we’re all just a fixture in his childhood. 

I can’t believe this beautiful boy is really 8!

Our kids all love their walking sticks - this was a huge acquisition today: finding just the right walking stick and using it for everything from walking to battling leaves. I love how much our kids love being together. It is one of the best things ever about our everlasting friendship with Ari and Crystal. We are so blessed to call them family, and the happiness of this photo says it all: 

Floyd's Fork Reprieve

Sometimes, just sometimes, you get the opportunity to retreat into nature and feel a sense of peace and calm that is almost indescribable. The outside world is quieted. There are no cell phones ringing, no alarms buzzing and none of life’s ugliness chirping in your ears. Today, the sound of the creek and laughter from these sweet kids made me completely forget that Cade broke our cabinet drawer before we left and that Lyla spilled (more) milk on the couch. 

Nan found a shaded picnic table for us, and after lunch, we hiked to a forest sweet spot - a place where time stands still, birds are singing and the water is moving in a way that makes you forget everything…except how to find a clam shell or a minnow, or what a sycamore tree looks like.  

How could you not feel the deepest happiness when you see an image like this - it’s what makes everything in the world worthwhile: 

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I want to remember from today:

-Cade identifying that Nan and Mimi are both “grandmas” and Lyla adding that Nana and Grandma Hottman are also grandmas. Cade insisting that Pat & Eli are “grandpas” and the look of mischief and laughter on his face when we giggled at his joke. 

-Isabella finding Lyla’s prized doll, Brie, and bringing it to us before we left the park

-Using big leaves as “pockets” to hold all our shells from “Shell Island” (also dubbed Pirate Island by Cade)

-Strawberries and whipped cream

-Bodhi’s sweet smile

-Cade asking to play with Brie because the girls had new dolls from Aunt Beccs…I love that he is at a time of life in which he loves playing with dolls just because his sister does

Thank you, Nan, for making today happen. We love you.