'Back in the days'

These pictures feel like they were ages ago already... I guess considering it was September and we're in April now, that is quite a ways. 

 This particular day the boys went to help us get the new sofa off the mailboat. They were in super silly moods playing on the dock, throwing rocks in the water, sitting on the giant cleats... This picture directly below this on the top left with Joss holding his hand out... it's really hard to see here, but he found this tiny little piece of metal that he said, "I bet this is a tiny horse shoe." I asked him what kind of horse would fit that shoe and he said, "A tiny one!" :)

 I think all the boys in the house were pleased with the sofa choice I made. I still haven't gotten around to sewing new pillow covers for the throw pillows... but that is my only complaint, we have been VERY happy with it. Major improvement over our previous sofas and lots of fun family snuggles happen here. Every afternoon just about, the boys will sit down and ask to watch a show and ask to snuggle... how can you pass that up? Please Lord, let them make this same request when they are 18 years old :) 

 These guys still love to 'swim' in these black bins. It's going to be so fun to see them trying to get in these in a few years. The fact they can even manage to snorkel in them amazes me. 

 We visited with some friends of ours down here, Sandy & Mike, and they have this little lookout tower on their property...the boys enjoyed the little hike to it. They gave the boys these super cool racing boats to play with in the water. They were so much fun and had a ball playing with them. Of course, anything remote control doesn't last super long, but they had a lot of fun the time they had them. 

Who needs hose water when you can just play in the rain in the bins?? :) 

 Don't you love my sporty work glasses?? Special treat from the hubs, I guess he was tired of me complaining about the old ones. Proof the sofa meets Daddy's approval!

Love our summer rain clouds. They are so pretty, and the rain is missed this time of year when we've had a pretty dry winter. However, we do not miss the bugs that tend to come along with the rain, so it's a toss up... lots of pretty greenery around the island or bugs? 

We go through our toys every couple of months and pick out a whole heap of toys to give away to friends, donate or toss...the boys were super sweet sports this day with all their cars, trucks, boats, etc. But they wanted pictures of them with all their stash before we thinned it out a bit. 

Below is also the finished master bathroom vanity with the Greenheart project. Just needed the counter-top built and installed. I have pictures of the final product a little later to show. 

Dallas is quite the boat repairman these days. With his involvement with the regatta races and sailing club, he has learned how to repair and patch and install quite a few things on these handcrafted Bahamian sloops. The photos of the Two Friends above are some 'before' shots. He repainted and repaired a lot over this time, and getting rid of the boobs (get it... Two Friends) was a high priority for him. Thanks Babe!! This 'friend' appreciates it :) 

 I was still aching to get out and spend some real time on the water, in the water, under the water... just get me out there. Now that we're wrapping up our busy part of the season (almost anyway), I'm already getting this ache again. But this particular day we did our little family paddle out to Birdwell Island. This was Zoe's first day in the kayak. She did pretty well. 

 This is also the boys' first times to dive up conch. They were so excited. We got it on video and everything. I was We were so proud. 

 I love Dallas' hands motioning Emit upward... he did so great, and loves to grab sand as proof he touched the bottom. So the fact he dove down about 5' and grabbed a conch was way better proof in his mind. 

 This afternoon was perfect! Joss and I went on a little snorkel together while Daddy and Emit played with Zoe on the beach, the water was incredible, the boys were happy... just a great day to be in Exuma :)  

 The love playing with all the baby sea urchin on this island. 

 We learned that our little doggie LOVES to dig, dig, dig in the sand. Every single time we go to the beach she gets covered in sand like this. I'm not sure who has more fun with it...her or the boys. 

 And yes... we are still schooling along the way. They are very smart in my book and doing a fantastic job of learning things. Just wish I could get them a little more excited for 'school time'. Even though they have a blast with it, most days, and have fun in some form or fashion, I still get the "Aw mom, school is boring, I don't want to do school today"'s.  

Nevertheless...we press on :)