Harrison Turns 4!

My sweet-souled baby boy is now 4!  Seems like we were just bringing him home from the hospital and now he's 4.  He's at the age where he knew his birthday was coming up and that birthday's only come once a year, so it was a special day and he made sure everyone around knew it was his birthday.  We celebrated a little differently this year since we were on vacation at Sanibel (see prior post).  We had a fun day at the beach and at the pool and then ended the day with a little birthday party, good BBQ, and birthday cake!

I guess it's the Mama in me, but I can't help but to reflect back on that hot summer day, June 21, 2006, when we became parents.  I never knew I could love someone so much.  During my pregnancy people would comment, "You're life's going to change," and I would unknowingly agree.  I had no idea how much my life would change until that little 6-pounder baby boy arrived.  I immediately learned the reason God put me on this planet; to raise children that love God and love people so that they in turn bring up Godly children and the cycle continues generation through generation.  I was (and still am) overwhelmed by the huge responsibility that entails.  I can't help but think of how God has changed me and "grown me up" through my years (although few) in motherhood.  He speaks to me in the day to day highs and low with my boys...things I probably would have never learned if it weren't for being a Mama. 

I'm so very grateful for this precious son of mine and the pure joy (and pure frustration at times) he brings me.  Happy Birthday Sweet Harrison!

New Boots

A special Spiderman lifevest for a special fishing trip from Mama & Daddy (post to come)

Make a wish!

Livin' on Island Time

We made our annual trek to south Florida for a week of sun and sand and it couldn't have come any sooner!  The whole Chapman brood (all 15 of us) packed up and hit the road.  Our Sanibel vacation is something we look forward to all year long.  That quaint little island holds a special place in our hearts.  We've made many memories over the past years and I look forward to making memories in the years to come with my boys.  I like to think that one day when they're grown and have families of their own that we'll still be going to Sanibel every year and reliving those moments year after year. 

We had a FULL week this year.  Vacation fell in the midst of Father's Day AND Harrison's 4th birthday (post to follow).  A few days before we left, I was talking to Harrison about the beach and said, "It's the beach and Father's Day and your birthday and fishing trip ALL in one week!"  He said (with a huge smile on his face), "I know...I'm so ess-sited!"  ("excited" for those non-4-year-old-language speaking folks!)

With our brood now up to 15 folks (10 adults, 3 kids, 2 babies), we opted to rent a house on Captiva (a little seperate island at the north point of Sanibel) versus the condo on Sanibel that we had rented in the past.  The house was beautiful and roomy right on the gulf with amazing views and a private pool!  Though there are drawbacks to not being actually on Sanibel, there are huge perks to our new place.  All in all, the entire bunch was happy there. 

Being the "Type A, plan-a-holic" that I am, I tend to get a little nervous as vacation nears.  When you have that many people in such close proximity, it's easy for there to be drama or someone get their feelings hurt or someone smarts off to someone else...yikes.  We're all adults, but seriously, I worry about these things.  Our week went quite smoothly with little drama and I think everyone really enjoyed the time together.  For me, this year was different because it was Brig's first trip.  He's at a fun age where he's out of being a newborn, but not yet walking and into everything....very portable, in my opinion.  I can honestly say my favorite part about this week was the time spent with my little family - Justin and our boys.  I know I'm with them day in and day out and at times the mundaneness of Mommyhood gets to me, but I had the most fun just playing with them in the sand, swimming in the pool, catching little moments on the video camera and seeing them be happy.

Until next year Sanibel!

My Better Half

Just a couple of beach bums - Claire at 2 months and Brig at 6 months

So relaxed

Little fish #1

Little fish #2

Pool fun

Tuckered out

Sand fun

Beach stroll at sunset

I read in Southern Living that the sunsets on Captiva are the prettiest in the world. 

Can't say that I argue with that!

Daddy's Day

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on

those who fear him."  -- Psalm 103:13

This year, we spent Father's Day kicking off our week-long vacation at Sanibel.  Though generally Father's Day involves church and then a celebratory dinner, this year was a nice change of pace.  We started the day with breakfast, then lounged the morning away on the beach.  Came in for lunch and naps.  Then more beach time and fishing.  Finished the day with a favorite meal...steaks on the grill. 

Though I don't always take the time to put it into words, I'm incredibly grateful for Justin every day and our boys truly adore him.  He is an amazing Daddy to them.  Where I lack (or just plan wear out) in my Mama duties, he picks up the slack. 

Below are a few older pictures of Justin and the boys.  I could have went back much further, but there are an insane amount of sweet "father & son" pics to post!  Here are a few....

Brig's birth

Brig's first day home

Monster Truck Jam

Spring Garden

Wild Waters Fun

Father's Day 2010 in Sanibel/Captiva

Sweet Summertime

"Perfect song on the radio, sing along cause it's one we know

It's a smile, it's a kiss, it's a sip of wine

It's summertime, sweet summertime"

--  Kenny Chesney 

We're well into summer now and in our dear Florida that means....scorching heat!  What have we been doing to keep our cool?  Three words - "SLIP AND SLIDE!"  I picked one of these up at Wal-Mart just as a fluke for only $8!  It was seriously the BEST $8 ever spent.  Just seeing that thing in the box brought back fond memories of summer fun - AND scrapes and bruises.  I set it up in the backyard for Harrison and immediately remembered the slip & slide of my youth being a lot bigger!

Obviously, size didn't matter for Harrison.  He spent the entire afternoon on this thing!  I think I heard "Watch, Mama!" about a hundred times.  Joy in the simple things.  After the slip & slide had been running for an hour or so, it was more of a mudslide than a water slide.  Did that make a difference to my dirt dauber??  Absolutely not...in fact, the mud made things MORE fun!

Note:  Justin's mom has a similar photo of Justin on a slip & slide and he's about the same age as Harrison.  If I can find it, I'll add it to this post.  They are the SAME kid, just 25+ years apart!

(What can I say?  The boy's got skills)

Happy Birthday to my Better Half

June is quite a busy month for us...  We started the month off with a bang celebrating Justin's birthday on June 2nd.  He is now on the (fast) approach to the big 3-0! 

To celebrate, we had a low-key cookout at our house with friends and family.  Though the weather was blazing hot, the kids had fun outside on the slip & slide (I swear the BEST $8 I ever spent!) while the Daddy's chewed the fat on the porch and the Mama's chummed it up inside in the cool air.  Such a fun time with good BBQ and laughing til my side hurt, as is obvious by the lack of pictures I took!

"My next thirty years will be the best years of my life

Raise a little family and hang out with my wife

Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear

Make up for lost time here, In my next thirty years."

--  Tim McGraw

 

Happy 29th to you, J.C.!

Growing Boys

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him...How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!"  --Psalm 127:3, 5

Our boys are growing like weeds!  May/June marked Brigdon's 6-month milestone and Harrison 4th birthday...both within a few weeks of each other.

Brigdon is changing and learning every day.   He's now rolling front to back and back to front.  He's mastered what we're calling the "back scoot."  Rather than use his feet to scoot around on his tummy, he rolls to his back and pushes with his feet until he gets where he wants, at which point he rolls over to his tummy.  He's mostly sitting up unsupported for a few minutes at a time.  Once a toy...or an entertaining big brother...enters his field of vision, he will topple over.  I know it won't be long until he's crawling and into everything!

Harrison is my bright, inquisitive preschooler.  Every day brings new questions (as well as old questions that I answer over and over).  With those new questions, are his funny remarks and such.  He constantly keeps us laughing at things he says.  Such a bright, happy child who loves Jesus...much like the person I should be. 

You boys are my heart - your Mama loves you more than you'll ever know!

We're just entering the real world back from vacation....Garden news, Father's Day, a birthday AND vacation??!??  All coming soon...