Instagram Friday

Last weekend my oldest brother Ryan and his wife Kacie renewed their wedding vows, which meant an awesome party with awesome people. Speaking of awesomeness, Sean was able to fly out from Houston for the shindig {lucky me, I got to see him twice in a month}. Because he was still on Houston time, he came down early on Friday morning as we were all waking up so he could see the kids. 

This was crazy exceptional because I don't usually let people come over as we're into our morning routine. Caleb has to be woken up the same way, using the same phrases, as I make him the same waffles that he eats in the same place every.day. We like sameness. But because Uncle Sean is one of those awesome people, Caleb had no problem doing all of the above. He even made him a craft before he went to school, and Uncle Sean babysat LC for five minutes while I dropped off CC. 

Lilly and I were treated to breakfast on the pier, and in the middle of our meal she ask edit to sit next to him {crush much??}. It was such a fun morning.

Fast forward to Saturday and the beautiful vow renewal ceremony/reception. The weather was perfect, the food and drinks were splendid, and my big brother and his beautiful bride couldn't have been more perfect and in love. Our old youth paster/friend Ryan performed the ceremony {just as he did for me and TJ almost ten years a go}. His words were beautiful and their vows they had written were just perfect. Can I say perfect again? I mean come on, look at that sunset!

I will always take advantage of the golden hour {especially when my beautiful big sister is standing next to me}. Do we look like sisters or what?!

TJ did pretty good this year for my Mother's Day gift. I just love this organization that employs women in Uganda who make beads out of paper. Paper! Aren't they gorgeous?! 31 Bits; Fashion For Good.

I was given my yearly delicious breakfast from Corner Bakery and the option to pick whatever I wanted to do with the kids. I just wanted to go where the kids are usually the happiest...the beach! Caleb kept announcing that he was on his way to Nineveh {via the Pacific Ocean of course}. 

These crazies. 

My favorites.

Holy moly.

This day it was...102°? I can't remember. There've been so many triple digit temps lately. Have I mentioned we lived four miles from the beach and it was still that hot?! Ugh. Heat wave or not, chores still have to be done {adulthood is great} but I was not about to turn on the dryer. It's a good thing we have a giant retractable clothesline in our side yard. That queen sized quilt was dry in one hour. 

Every so often Lilly and I have a play date with Miss Jenna and her kids. Lilly's learning to share, to not be so nervous/scared around her peers {maybe she's a bit jaded from Caleb} and she's having lots of fun. Miss Jenna is one of the most generous people I know and I'm so blessed to have her in my life. Seriously love her face.

Lilly and big brother Eli built this castle wall {to eventually crash}, and she kept saying "Hi Eli!!" I think maybe she liked him.

Yesterday I took LC to the beach, just for an hour and a half. She was covered in sunscreen and got a nice tan. I on the other hand forgot to sunscreen myself and I'm now a lobster. Sigh. Yesterday it was 104°. Ugh.

I have to admit I really really love it down at the beach. I love teaching Lilly about a healthy fear of the ocean, but helping her understand how to pick herself up and run in after a wave knocks her over {while ignoring raised eyebrows from passer-bies}. I love digging for sand crabs and crossing my fingers for a one-in-a-million sand dollar. I love having random conversations with other moms, strangers really, but we're both in our bathing suits, sweaty and sandy, happy to be with our kids. It's an incredible gift to live so close to it, and I'm soaking it up {but next time with more sunscreen}.

And today.

We went to the store for some treats for Caleb's IEP, and I let her navigate with her own cart for the first time. She was so happy. She turned back and said "I love you!!" I'm holding on to that for a while; those three words are pretty precious when they come from her.

Happy Friday!

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