Dad, I can clearly see your nuts.

Well folks, after eight years of hinting around about how much I'd like to see it happen, I finally convinced the hubs that he'd really like a pair of boxer briefs.  Yup.  I've been dreaming about this day.

The hubs used to be a competitive diver. All of his stories about his high diving days usually end in him being ridiculed for the "Speedo".  Yet all along I've been imagining what that would all look like wrapped up in a sexy little package (every pun intended….except for the little part! I've got your back babe!).

So the other day, after a long hike, he finally came to me and said the magic words…. "I think I'd like some boxer briefs!" I had to stop myself from falling on the floor all "whoa is me" style.  My husband is hot, he doesn't need any help in that department, but I can't lie….I ran to the store!

These are them.  Hello hot stuff! 

Thanks to Target, my hubs had a brand spankin' new pair of men's size medium low rise sexy pants.  Like a giddy little girl I paced back and forth waiting for the shower to turn off so that I could get a preview of my mans new underpants.  He called me into our bedroom and I raced to the closed door, only to be beat out by a curious little 4 year old boy.

In one feel swoop the boy had crushed my wildest fantasies all with a giant bellowing laugh.  It was an uncontrollable, slightly uncomfortable laugh.  One that came up and out of him so hard and fast that he almost looked a bit embarrassed and shocked by it.  And then he said it, the words that from that point on will make me laugh until snot runs out of my face….. 

"Dad, It looks like you pooped your pants right where your nuts are!"

Just like that.  We laughed for a long time.  All of us.  I then eyeball raped my husband.  And then we all laughed some more.  Through out the rest of the evening we all laughed pretty hard about the nut comment, but I made sure to express to the hubs that I didn't think that the boxer brief wearing was a joke, and that I really loved it….but dear, we can all clearly see your nuts now! 

Project 52

This week you and Stella have really formed a bond.

Why I didn't make you start feeding her sooner is a mystery to me.

She has even started to really truly snuggle with you.

You make each other so happy,

and me so proud.

Project 52

Project 52

Your curiosity and desire to explore our new town makes me so proud!

Never lose your wanderlust!

Project 52

You have no fear and that scares the shit out of me!

Project 52

This has been your daily assumed position during this crazy summer heat.

Project 52

There are days when I am not sure how you became so perfect.

Then there are days where I am not sure where exactly where I went wrong.

Some how today, you managed to hit both ends of that spectrum.

I never knew that a temper tantrum could look like that.

Or that you had that much aggression built up inside of you.

But we made it through.

One day you will believe me that you still need a nap sometimes.

One day I will learn that needing MY MOM is what I still need sometimes.

Thankful Thursday

Praying before meals in something that rarely happens in this house.  It's pretty much limited to Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas dinners.  It's not that we don't know how, or not that we don't care to, it is really just not our practice.  Grace before every meal was something that I grew up with, and frankly grew out of.  I feel kinda terrible actually admitting that.

Upon recently enrolling the boy in a religious based VPK (because they don't offer VPK at military schools), I decided that I had better start prepping him for praying before his lunch.  His school that he will be attending come fall says a prayer before eating, does a small bible study daily, and they go to chapel once a week.  You can imagine the sudden feeling of indigestion the hubs is feeling about all of this. ha. 

But, if I was going to teach my child to "pray" before meals...it was going to be my way.  No thanking God for the food that's on the table, rather just giving "thanks" for the meal.  In short just a series of "I am thankful for...", a few from me, and a few from the boy.

So we sat to eat, and I said:

"Tonight we are going to say grace."

the boy: "Grace."

me: "No, we are going to say grace."

the boy: "Grace."

me: "Seriously, let's say grace."

the boy (now much louder and a bit  frustrated): "GRACE!!!!!"

That was when I realized that this had turned into a fun little game of "who's on first".

The point being that we did it.

I eventually realized that he had no idea what I meant by "saying grace", so I went first, and told him what I was thankful for that day.  He followed with some silly almost 4 year old ramblings about being thankful for "butts, and dogs, and poopoo caacaa", he then got THE LOOK and scraped together some appropriate things to be grateful for.

After doing this for a few days in a row it is starting to become obvious that the boy is gaining and understanding of what it actually means to be thankful as opposed to just saying "thank you".  I am teaching him young the importance of living a gracious lifestyle.  Showing him that the more gratitude that you display the happier you will be.

Teach your children to be grateful through your actions and words.  Let them follow you in expressing their thanks, and maybe the future generations will learn to live humbly instead of living with entitlement. 

For now, Happy Thankful Thursday!

Be Grateful & Inspire

Project 52

15.  I love how much you want to be like your Daddy.

You two inspire each other and me more than you will ever know.

Project 52

So this day has finally come! 

You are so independent and exceptionally smart.

But when it came to taking care of business...

Well, let's just say that I officially don't have to come

"wipe your butt hole" anymore!

Wipe your own butt hole!

Discover your backyard...

Yesterday's Geocaching adventure was one for the books!

We started our day off exploring the Loggerhead Marinelife Center 

and checking out all of the rescued sea turtles.

If you are in the South Florida Area and you have not been here....you must go!

After kicking around there for a while we were off the Geocache.

I told you we were obsessed!

The boy loves it so much, he actually has asked to do it everyday since we started.

Yesterday was a hot spring day, yet perfect for a beach and dunes hike.

It always blows my mind that some of this natural area and scenic views really do exist

in our very own backyard.

So, we set out on foot from the Loggerhead Marinelife Center,

north up A1A.

When we got closer to our first cache we dipped into the canopy of sea grapes.

The sticks and leaves where pilled deep on the ground,

and with every step can a lot of cracks and crunches,

which the boy found hilarious....

I was just waiting for someone to step on a snake.

This is the "Shut up mom! And stop worrying about snakes" look that they gave me!

We found that well hidden container buried in a rotten log,

and when I looked up from the adventure,

this is what I saw.

What a magnificent view.

From there we headed due west.

I couldn't stop laughing about us emerging from the over grown sea grapes

 for long enough to cross A1A, and crawl through an over grown hole

in the scrub forrest...

Into the deep wilderness. ha.

We were blessed with a few minutes of hiking up hill in the shade...

but from there on out it was full sun,

and very hot.

This is the part where I have to tell you what a trooper my kid it.

There were many points of the trip that I thought:

"This is it.  He's going to break down because of all of the walking and the heat!"

But that boy of mine held strong and never complained.

It's so awesome to me that he's that into our new family adventures.

So up the trail we went.

When we reached the top of the hill 

we found a great little place for an impromptu picnic. 

None of us could eat fast enough, 

we all wanted to continue!

So, Onward.

Our last cache gave us a little more trouble.

But that's what makes the discovery so much sweeter.

We hiked about a quarter of a mile in the wrong direction 

before we realized that it was happening...

my fault since I was holding the map and the compass.

But it's hard to be upset about the extra walking when you get to see beautiful sights like these.

After lots of walking and searching we finally decided that we needed to trek down a

very overgrown path (which my legs were not happy about).

This was another one of those 'scared mom' moments...

but the view...

oh man that view! 

Do you geocache?

Or are you like me as of a week ago saying:

"What the heck is Geocaching?"

You can learn all about it here!

Project 52

I love that you still love me more than our new Jeep....although I know it's close.

Project 52

Watching your brain work blows my mind!

Today.

After a stella early morning play date at the beach,

the boy asked so sweetly and politely if we could have 

lunch on the pier.

I couldn't say no.

The smells of pancakes, bacon, and warm maple syrup filled the air.

 

He was such a good little man.

He sat quietly and ate every last drop of his lunch,

only stopping in between bites to ask 

questions of 'why' and 'how'

Still in our bathing suits and covered in sand,

we made our way to the farmers market.

I love going there with him.

He makes such wise decisions about food,

and loves when I tell him about all the crazy produce and where it comes from.

After packing up the car full of fresh fruits and veggies,

we took a long stroll through the Nursery.

As we literally stopped to smell every flower,

we found our selves amidst a little game of garden 

hide and seek.

It was a perfect morning and afternoon.

Now if I could only convince him that we should take naps.

Project 52

You are even crazy when you sleep!

Look at this tangled mess of blankets and sheets.

Either way, I love you my wild little man.

p.s. Clean your room when you wake up!

Project 52

You can't pass up a good hop, skip, and a jump.

Project 52

Watching you stretch with your Daddy seams like the perfect ending to a crazy fun weekend.

A Peak Inside: The Boy's Creative Space

A quick peak inside the boys creative space.

He loves all kinds of mediums.

My new Tumbleweeds Sunglasses case 

has become the new home for his marbles.

My Great Grandmothers 

handmade kitchen utensil holder

now houses his collection of pencils...

which he loves to sharpen...

on both ends.

Project 52

Watching you two 

splash and squeal with joy

brings so much sunshine to a rainy day.

Project 52

How you manage to eat balanced like this blows my mind.