The Dupree Family: this week {from my phone}…

As if we weren’t excited enough about heading into the weekend, we got a visit from Rachel, Greg and Zoe Friday night! They were coming through town and spent the night with us. We don’t get to see them near enough, which is sad, because the kids LOVE playing together! We pulled out the slip-n-slide while Daddy fired up the grill. As always, my boys prefer to go nude.And they made sure to check on the tomato plants too.Boland went down early, and after getting to stay up well past their bed time, the big cousins got to layout their sleeping bags for a sleepover in the living room. The girls got up and going early so they could squeeze in some more play time before Zoe had to leave. Of course that meant playing dress-up.We were sad to see the Phillips go, but thoroughly enjoyed the visit. Watson went right back to stripping down to his undies and running around the house. I had a few errands to run before we left for the beach the next day, so I threw some clothes on to head out the door, only to realize afterward that I was sportin’ orange and black in the middle of the summer. {Can we please take note of the fact that my son is crying because he can’t go to Hobby Lobby with me. His daddy was so proud. Not.}Sunday morning we had a nice little harvest from the tomato and basil plants. Gardening is very new to me, so every little bit of success seems like a huge milestone, and I’ve never been more proud to eat fresh produce! Sunday afternoon we face-timed Aunt Jo all the way in Paris! She’ll be abroad for six weeks, so we’re so thankful that we can still keep in touch so well until she gets home. After a moment of updating my phone software and thinking that it deleted my entire instagram account I was in dire need of a stiff drink. Sadly, no can do, and I had to settle for a grapefruit Izze. We jumped in the car to head to the beach Sunday night, and were out on the beach bright and early Monday morning. Coffee in hand.

Daddy usually stays home to work and doesn’t join us until mid-week, but with the holiday week being so slow, we get him the entire week! While we’re really excited for the grandparents, aunts and uncles to join us tonight, we have had lots and lots of quality family time, which has been wonderful.

{Daddy took turns taking the boys out in the ‘big ocean’, but Watson was very concerned when it was Boland’s turn, and made sure to tell Daddy ‘Do NOT go under da water wif my brudder!’}The beach was nice and flat after the storms a few days earlier, which made for a large, shallow surf that the kids loved being able to play in. Emory was forced to practice going under water. One of my most favorite parts of being at the beach is the the naked, white bottoms as we get ready for baths. It never gets old. {Until, I guess, they get old. We’ll see.}We decided that the beach was for eating yummy, not healthy, so we cooked up a ham and cheese quiche for dinner. Back on the beach the next morning…building sandcastles…and being sweet to one another. {that’s not always the case.}We came up from the beach a little earlier to squeeze in naps before we headed to the Pelicans baseball game. After the game we stuck around for the fireworks show. Boland was a little unsure of all the commotion… But the big kids loved it! We started our Independence Day off with a classic American breakfast of Lucky Charms. We don’t allow sugar cereals at home, so it’s a fun beach treat, and the kids eat about three bowls each every morning!Our beach set up…And we boogie boarded for the first time!Boland was perfectly happy just bouncin’ in the surf…And finally exhaustion caught up with us and we stopped for a little nap under the umbrella…We ate dinner at River City Café and Emory was mesmerized by the fact that you were allowed to sign your name anywhere you wanted. I’m not sure how long her purple crayon signature will last, but she was thrilled to have added her stamp to the restaurant! We took a little break from the beach and headed to a family movie. Madagascar 3. Boland’s first movie. The kids loved it and the parts I saw while I wasn’t chasing Boland around the back rows of the theater were cute. We’ll be holding off a little on Boland’s second movie. I made a run to the grocery store and went to pick out a card for Emory’s first celebration of her birthday. {Yes she likes multiple celebrations each year.} I was sad to see that age-specific kiddie cards stop at 4. My almost 5 year old can get the same card as a 10 or 12 year old. Sad. I tried to fight back tears in the middle of Bi-Lo, but it was a sad, sad moment.

And an afternoon rain storm meant a movie in bed for the kids and sewing time for me. Slowly but surely checking things off of my ‘summer sewing’ list. And it feels good. {Mostly because now there’s room to add more to the list!}