Lights Out

I made a promise to myself that if I didn't blog for six consecutive months, I would give it up. And that time has come. Between the kids, work, and health, I haven't be able to indulge. Heck, it is now May 2014, and I haven't even downloaded pictures from my camera since last year. I wanted to end on a high note though, and it seems fitting that the last blog will be for the last few days of 2013. The past five years have been wonderful, exhausting, wouldn't-give-it-up-for-the-world years that seemed to go in a blink.

Boys, those smiles that nearly cracked your faces when you went sledding for the first time? I hope your lives are full of those. Love you forever and always.

Our Birthday Boys

Another year sped by, and the boys turned 3 and 5. 

Fall in a Flash

September......

October....

November....

Beach Boys

We finally made our way to Virginia Beach in late August for the first time - the boys' first ever beach trip. They were enthralled. Wyatt was fearless as usual, trying to throw himself headfirst into the waves. Max was a little more cautious, but nonetheless wanted to spend every minute standing along the shore. The second best part were the fighter jets flying directly overhead, solo and in pairs, about ten times a day (dubbed "Echo" and "Bravo" by the boys). I think we still have sand in our pockets.

A pretty awesome thing happened the first night when we were out strolling. A couple was leaving to go home and handed Max and Wyatt their kites. They were more than happy to take over the helm. 

After an early morning and lots of romping on the beach, the boys crashed on the bed.

Max and Mom were up early the next day, and picked up a "breakfast of the (vacationing) champions"  from the nearby 7-11: a quart of skim milk and a box of Krispy Kreme donuts. 

Kisses for Dad.

Bravo! (Max actually corrected me later when I told him what I wrote; he said, "That's Echo, not Bravo.")

Try as I may, I could not get the boys to look at the camera for this picture. They just wanted to watch the water lapping at their feet.