{Happy Anniversary} To Us!

4 Years Ago Today....this happened!

And we are spending it at the Turks and Caicos!  It's a perfect way to celebrate this special day and well...this special life!

{Snorkeling} Turks & Caicos

We decided that Camden was ready for snokeling at the reef.  He has been practicing out front of our resort for a few days.  He'll stay under for 5 minutes at a time!  On our walk to the reef we saw a barracuda and a dolphin!  I was sure it was good luck for our snorkeling trip!  We took him to the reef and he loved it!  I'm so glad that Scott has a snorkeling partner now (Camden)!  I'll admit it....I'm still a little afraid of the fish even if they are the prettiest I've ever seen!

{Beach & Pool Fun} Turks and Caicos!

We have been having a blast!  Our normal routine the last few days has been wake up, breakfast, beach/pool, lunch, nap, and back out to the beach/pool!  We are loving that routine!  Here's some pics from the last few days!

{Our LIttle Resort} Turks & Caicos

We are loving the resort we are staying at!  We are at The Somerset on Grace Bay Beach.  It's beautiful!  We are in a 2 bedroom cottage ~ it's perfect for what we need!  Here are some pics of where we are staying!!!

From the breezeway to the pool/beach area

Lounging by the pool!

Looking from the beach to the resort

{Our Little} Home....for now.

{Turks & Caicos} Getting There

YAY!  We made it to the Turks and Caicos!!!  We had a great, uneventful trip and are so glad to be here!  Camden & Bexley did really well on the airplane!  Camden had a great time making friends with everyone who walked past our seats ~ he's such a friendly little man!  He even made "best friends" (as they were calling each other) with a 5 1/2 year old (that's how Spencer, our new best friend introduced himself)!  Anyway, we are here and it is as beautiful if not more beautiful as Scott and I remember it!  Well... we're off to the beach!

Bexley had to have Barbie & Puppy buckled in their seatbelt too!  Here she is, very seriously, watching a movie!

He was so proud of his pilot wings he got from the flight attendent asking
for me to take a pic of him!

Flying into the Turks and Caicos Airport!  It really is that beautiful ~ this picture is not edited!

{Our Little} Vacation back to the Turks & Caicos!

We are leaving for the Turks and Caicos in the morning!!!  Eeek!!!  We are bursting with excitement!  (Insert a small dance here!)  Scott has been talking about booking something since last year (I've been talking about it since we left almost 4 years ago!).  So far we don't have anything planned, but that's the great thing about vacation!  Camden & Bexley are excited too ~ Camden for snorkling and Bexley for the pool (although, once she sees the beach she won't want to leave)!  We can't wait to share this little piece of heaven with them!  Bring on the clear blue waves, white powdery sand and a whole lot of relaxation!

{1st & Last Day of} Preschool!

Here's our sweet little boy on his 1st and last day of preschool!  Isn't he so precious!

{Preschool Graduation} Day!

Such a sweet, sweet day!  Our little CamCam graduating from preschool!  So many memories from his 1st day of 18mth old class, to switching schools from Greensboro to Apex, to his last week of preschool!  School is one thing this boy loves ~ I'm sure it's more of the social part and the learning part just happens to be a bonus!  In a few months we will be off to Kindergarten!  Such an emotional day, I can't imagine what the 1st day of Kindergarten will be like!!!  We are so proud of you Camden!

The party after the Parent Tea Program with our good friends!

Our sweet teacher!

Singing our heart out at the Parent Tea Program!

After party ~ graduation party at our house!

Graduation food ~ Reese's Cup/Hershey's Grad Hats, Fruit Roll Up Diplomas, Cupcakes, & Cookies!

End of the Year Teacher Gift!

End of the Year Gift to our friends!

{Our Last Days} Of School

I've always taken a picture of our children on their 1st day of school, but never on their last.  I saw this idea on Pinterest (duh) and wanted to make sure I did it!  A picture of them on their last day of school, holding a picture of their 1st day of school that year!  This year is really special for Camden as he will be graduating from preschool and moving on up to Kindergarten this year!  (Insert several tears here!)  We've tried to make this week as special as I can for him really talking up graduating, have a last week of school countdown and getting him involved with presents for his classmates/teachers.  To be honest, he's really only concerned about his graduation party...I should have known not to mention this to him until a few days before it!  Anyway, this is going to be a very busy next couple of days...ones that we will never forget!

{Mother's} Day!

(....from Scott)

I couldn't think of a better day to debut my first blog entry than on Mother's Day.

Mother's Day is always an interesting day for me as it reminds me how we should treat our moms every day of the year.  I elected to cook breakfast for Holly and make it a fun project with the kids. We decided on an omelet and off to work we went. Camden was no where to be found because he was "taking a break" from Mother's Day.  While trying to encourage (more like threatening) Camden to participate, Bexley knocked the scrambled eggs over - on to the counter, side of the cabinet, her clothes and the hardwood floors.  We finally mustered a small omelet from the original 5 eggs. I think Holly was pleased, but lesson number one for me was that she deals with this the other 364 days out of the year.

We decided to open her card and gift outside so I could take some pics for my blog today.  Trying to focus two kids long enough for pictures drove my blood pressure through the roof, so lesson number two was that she also deals with this the other 364 days out of the year.

Finally, we went to dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and had a good meal with the family.  In between trying to quite down the kids and asking Bexley not to bang the forks on the table, I was able have a nice conversation with my wife and enjoy the meal. Lesson number three was that Holly deals with this a minimum of 364 meals by herself each year.

I hope she appreciated her day, but more importantly, I also hope she realizes that we (me, Camden, Bexley) love her very much and can never thank her enough for being the glue that holds our daily lives together.  I love my wife and couldn't ask for a better mother to raise our children.  I know I'll try harder to make everyday a special day for Holly.

I would also be remiss if I didn't also recognize two other special ladies in our lives - Holly's mom Sherry and my mom Sharon. Its a shame that it really doesn't "click" until you have kids of your own and begin to understand just how hard it is to be a parent, especially a mom.  Holly and I reflect on all the times we turned up our nose at a piece of clothing that wasn't the "right" brand or a hard-cooked meal our moms found time to provide while working full time and spending all their hard-earned money on their children.  I think we agree that we both regret certain instances, but we are thankful to have both Sherry and Sharon in our lives and wish many more years with them to try and repay just a fraction of all that they do for us.

I also neglected to mention I'm writing this on a plane headed out for four days with work. Thanks again to my wife as I leave her alone (again) with the kids - I can't thank her enough.  Written by an appreciative husband, son, and son-in-law in honor of Mother's Day - I love you all!

Scott

Photographer Camden took these ~ it's so easy to smile when he's behind the camera!

Gifts/Cards from Camden & Bexley

Grandma's Day Gift!