The simple things never get old...

 Dallas is out on another trip this week (this one is for a whole week), and it was quite a whirlwind to get him out. The extra guy we had lined up to go out with him and help backed out 2 days before the trip...so we were thrown into scramble mode immediately. "Scramble mode" involves me usually emailing, texting and calling family and friends that I think may be interested in helping us on the trip (in exchange for a free flight down here).

Of all the messages I sent out, I got one positive reply (THANK HEAVENS)! Uncle Kevin was on his way down to save the day. Well, his exact words to me were, "I got the time off--I'm good to go if Bev says ok :)" Bev, THANK YOU for saying "OK"! And for running around and picking up things like diapers, peanuts, highlighters, batteries, and of course some cool new toys for the boys.

 I don't even want to think of how hard a trip like this would have been on Dallas if he had to do it on his own. I know many of you are thinking, 'can't you just hire some of the folks from there to go out with you for the week?' And yes, we could if: 1) we knew a local that was interested in doing a trip like this (camping for a week), 2) they could get time off their job and 3) it was someone Dallas trusted our guests with. Those three factors are pretty tough to come by for us right now down here. Hopefully Kevin has a good time! I'm so excited that someone in the family gets to see what we do first hand.  

The weather has warmed up for us and we are back to our afternoons at the beach!!! YAY! I've been asking Joss if the water is too cold to him and his response is always, "it's not that bad." This afternoon was so sweet for me. We didn't do anything special at all, but it was me with my boys at the beach playing games like throwing the sand in the water at the same time (all three of us), saying "on your mark, get set, GO!!" so the boys can race down the hill to the water, digging holes, splashing each other, just sitting in the sand with one boy on each side letting the waves crash on us... PRICELESS moments that never get old!

 As I mentioned, Dallas is back on the water after being out on a trip last week. He had three very chaotic days at home and then was heading back out. We tell Joss that Daddy has to go out so we can buy him milk and juice. When I ask him if he remembers where Daddy is he says, "He went to get milk!" Well, he wasn't too excited to hear that Daddy was heading back out so soon, so he told him "I don't need milk, Daddy!" Sweet Boy! Part of Dallas is thrilled that Joss is reacting to him coming and going more now, but it also makes him sad when Joss gets upset that he has to go out camping. This week it is pretty exciting since Uncle Kevin is here to go out with Daddy, so he said they could go camping and "Mommy, you can stay and play with me and Emit!" Thankfully he isn't to the point yet where he wants mommy to get out of his hair :)  

 Yes, these next couple photos are of the boys with a snake... I'm not going to fight it, I have BOYS and they love the critters. Emit was not about to miss out on his turn either.

 

Emit is very much in his discovery stage right now. He loves finding things. When we are looking at books or he spots something on my shirt or around us he'll put his hand up in the air, palm up, and say "uuhhh?" and in our little world that means "Where's the _____?" Then he'll get to find it and do his little power point at the object and say something in his own little way along the lines of "there it is".

 Whenever I give the boys a little snack like fruit snacks or something like that I give the package to Joss and he hands Emit his share. He's really good about this and does a very good job sharing his treats. They had some M&M's the other day. Joss has a really cute way of saying this. When they were at the end of the package Emit was holding his hand out for more and Joss leaned toward him, shook his head and sweetly said, "There's no more, sweetie, no more!" At least they do pick up some of the good things we say too :)

I'm trying to work on Joss' listening skills right now. I know that I shouldn't expect him to hear what I say, do it, and never see otherwise, but there are some things that we are working on for him to listen better with. It's mainly an issue when we're out playing on the road or in the yard and I want him to be safe, but we're practicing with smaller things too, like picking up a toy or quietly waiting for something...things like that. Most of the time when I give him an answer he doesn't like or want to hear he like, "No, we're not going to play with that", he says to me, "That's okay, I can play with ____ if I want to." It's hard for me to not smirk when I hear him say this, but it is definitely a thing we are working on.

Emit has learned to call for the iTouch now too, but it usually comes out in a really sad sounding whine and he just hopelessly calls out for the "touch!"

This is what my driveway looks like after a big kayak rental and trip. The other side of the house has all the spray skirts, tents, life jackets, and gear drying on the lines. Needless to say my goal this week is to do some SPRING CLEANING inside and out of our place. Most of the kayaks are back in place, but we have a mess from the whirlwind of things that have been going on. We are so thankful to be busy though, so I'll take the mess and extra work to keep things somewhat tidy any day!

Cleanup days turn in to fun mud days for the boys. They had so much fun playing in this puddle the other day.

I was squirting them with the 'snake' (aka water hose) in these two shots and that was a big hit too! What a fun little playground these guys have with all the parts, gear, boats and STUFF out here right now :) And of course Joss was having a ball "running around like a naked boy!"