InstaFriday: July 27

It's Friday again!  Here's a look at our week via instagram.  I am loving instagram right now, so much fun.

 1. Last day of cooking camp= fun new shirt and cake.

2.  The last day was Cake Wars, here is Baylor's cake.

3. My surfer boy soaking up the sun.

4. Swimming is hard work, he fell asleep in stroller on the short walk from pool to condo.

5.  Coop wasn't far behind.

6.  My favorite summer menu item at Yoder's, Larry's Big Grilled Cheese with swiss.  Yummy!

7.  A fresh peach pie all to myself.  

8.  He caught a ball at the game.

9.  Date night with Daddy.

 1. On Saturday mom and I sat at the beach all day and watched this lovely sight.

2. Saturday night dinner at Crab and Fin.  This piano player has been there since before we were married.  I always requested "When I Fall In Love" and " The Phantom Medley".  Now when he sees me he just starts playing those two songs.  He is so nice and always talks to us on his break.  It's just part of the restaurant.

3.  The big boys headed to game with Daddy.

4.  Another Good Job God sky!

 1. One the last night Daddy went to get another suitcase with Parker and then took him to get ice cream alone.  I took the big boys to the beach with Mimi.

2. The morning we left Mimi and I got up early to take one last walk on the beach.  

3.  We had 7 suitcases and lots of carry ons.  We even shipped items home.  It all made it and our direct flight went great.

4.  Home again, Home again.  Bax was thrilled!

1. Hello Sawyer Joseph.

2. Pop made a welcome home banner in our kitchen, a card, and a loaf of fresh banana bread for us.  How nice is that!

3.  Baylor's new school shoes, his pick.

4. My lunch date, his pick was Steak n Shake.

5.  Daddy had to work late, we went swimming.

Embrace the Camera: Back to School

 This morning I had my 36 week ultrasound and appointment.  Tom and I went and took Baylor with us.  We thought he would enjoy seeing baby Sawyer.  He was really cute during the ultrasound and asked lots of questions.  He was excited to see all of Sawyer's hair.  The ultrasound tech estimated Sawyer to be around 7 pounds 9 ounces right now.  Everything looks great and he is getting nice and chunky.  This is a picture of his face and you can see his big cheeks sticking out.  My doctor was fine with me going to Florida for the month as long as I took my blood pressure while I was gone, which was fine the whole time, and was home by July 30th.  I was happy that everything went well.  We are now down to weekly appointments until Sawyer's big debut.

 After the appointment Tom went to work and Baylor and I went and got things ready for the start of school.  School starts this year on August 1!  I can't believe it's almost here.  The littles were with a babysitter so I could enjoy the day with Baylor.  We stopped at school to get his Back to School Pack and see his room.  I love his teacher and know he is going to love her too.

 I can't believe he's going to be a second grader!

 We went to Dick's to get new school tennis shoes and then to Target to get a few more supplies.  He had fun and enjoyed his time alone.

His pick for lunch was Steak n Shake.  We ate lunch and then I dropped him off at home and went for a hair cut.  Daddy had to work late so after nap I took the boys to Mama's to swim.  My legs were really swollen from a busy day and the hot weather so the water really helped!

Until...

 next year.

 The beach is my happy place.  I feel calm there even when it's crazy.  I feel at home and am always in awe of the beauty that is everywhere.  

 I love to watch the waves come in and out and hear the ocean call.

 I love to smell the air and feel the breeze.  The clouds and sky are so magnificent at the beach.  I love to watch the sea gulls fly over the ocean.  Such beautiful sights.

 Every year I long for our time at the beach and every year no matter how long I am there I am sad to see our time end.  There are always tears in my eyes as I leave my happy place for the last time.  It's so hard to think it will be close to a whole year before we go back.  It's even harder to think I will have an 8, 5, 3, and almost one year old.  

I know I will dream about the beach several times before I make it back and the memories made their will be etched in my mind forever.

Our Last Day

 Our last day!  We have loved our time at the beach this year.  Such a magical place for little boys.

 They have loved our time at my favorite place.

 Happy boy.

 The seaweed moved out of the water but was all up by the shore which made it hard to skimboard.  They played pretend sand baseball most of the morning and had the best time.

 When the older two get along they really have so much fun together.

They also played some Frisbee.  They tried to play in the water but the waves were a little too big.

 Coop did some more body surfing.  He said that was one of his favorite things to do at the beach.

 He loves to swim right into the waves.

 Handsome boy.

 Park did lots of digging again.  He said he was looking for pirate treasure, too bad he didn't find any!

 Playing in the shade.

It's been so crowded and the groups are so large and set up so early that we just brought our own chairs to the beach most days.  The double stroller makes it much easier to get it all to the beach.

 The found a big crab today that provided lots of fun.

Coop was determined to skimboard on his last day, but the shells by the shore made it tough and the little water area before was loaded with seaweed.  He did have a couple of good throws.

 Go Buddy.  I have loved watching him and his determination.

 He could be a little surfer dude.

 Playing with the crab.

 I'm hoping Sawyer will be a great beach and water baby too.  He sure had a great introduction this summer.  He's gotten so big, I can't believe he will be here in less than 1 month!

 Looking for fish.

Don't they look like best friends.  At times they are!

 Three buckets for three boys who I love.  

 There was a time that I came to the beach and worried we may never be able to have a baby.  I can remember walking on the beach and praying that we would be able to have a baby soon.  Here we are now with three little boys and one on the way.  Most days are crazy and loud, but I am so thankful that they are instead of the alternative.

 We had to go the pool for our last swim.  More underwater pics for Coop.

 He have been working on perfecting a belly flop, why I have no idea.

 Mid jump.

 Baylor's ready to flop.

 We went to Phillipi Creek for our last night.  We had a great dinner.

 After dinner Daddy and Park went to get ice cream and another suitcase and Mimi and I took the big boys to the beach.

 Gator Boy.

Call of the Wild Man.

It was a beautiful sunset and a great night at the beach.  We swam and then hurried back to finish packing.  It was a great last day!

Monday at the Mote

 Over the weekend a tropical wave out in the gulf carried in lots of seaweed.  The beach front was covered and it was all in the shallow water.  The boys are not huge fans of swimming in seaweed so we decided to head to the mote for the day.  It was also really crowded at the beach this week and the pool was nuts so we thought it would be good to go on an outing.

 The Mote is such a great place and there are always new things to see.

 Checking out the big crab.

 They all went in the hurricane simulator together and had the best time.

 The wind started out slow and then got so strong.  The big boys were giggling and having the best time.

 Park decided to exit but these two hammed it up.

 We were there for shark feeding again and we watched from down below this time.  Love Parker's face here.

 Can you tell which brother was getting in trouble, notice the foot.

 The sharks coming to their designated sign.  

 You could really see the sharks eat from below.  It was a great spot to watch.

 We have enjoyed all of our visits this summer.

 Yeah for a fun day!

 We had to touch the stingrays too.

 They got to pet several today.

 Then we headed to the Old Salty Dog to eat.  Such a pretty spot for lunch.

 The boys got little fans at the mote in the gift shop and they kept us cool at lunch.

 I took the big boys to the mammal center one more time to see the turtles, dolphins and manatees.

 He loves learning about sea life and was always asking questions to the volunteers.  The Mote has such nice volunteers, many are retired teachers.

 Hugh and Buffet the manatees.

 The we stopped at the snow cone store, really so Mommy could get a treat.  I love them!

 The boys love them too!

 They all went with all cherry this time.

 Parker was a fan!

 Such a fun day.  By the time we got home it was time for nap.

 Daddy met us for dinner at Demetrio's.  We had to go one more time.

 We ate there so much over the past month and the boys would pick to go there every single night.  It's their favorite for sure!

 Parker loves the sauce shells.

 Then we headed to the beach for sunset.  The sun went behind the clouds but the sky was beautiful.  I love all of the colors.

 3 Hurst boys in a row.

I took the boys swimming after the beach, a great way to end the night.  I can't believe our time is almost over, oh how I love the beach!