It’s Beginning to look a lot like SUMMER: A Memorial Day Thank You and Josiah’s 16 Month Update

It’s beginning to look a lot like SUMMER (on most days)!  Good ol’ Virginia weather has been it’s typical unpredictable, slightly bipolar self. Just as soon as I put away the cool weather clothes for the kids, it seems I have to dig them back out for a day or two. However, it’s officially looking like summer has arrived as we spent this weekend making the most of the Memorial Day holiday and the outdoors. Memorial day is always a somber holiday for our family, the barbecues and long weekend vibes are always met dually with excitement and implicit sadness.  It is not lost on me sitting on the beach Memorial Day weekend with my husband, that so many of the Marines he served with are not doing the same thing.  I think of them, their families, and so many other American families like them. You can replace the gender, the branch, the job, you can change ages from young to old, the theatre they served in, and you can come up with several combinations of the family members and loved ones they left behind.  So often, I think of these families. On Memorial Day, my heart is heavier and more thankful for the ultimate sacrifice that these men/women made and their families continue to make each day. I am grateful that such brave men and women exist. We have not forgotten your sacrifice.

So on this Memorial Day, like usual, we celebrated and remembered. We spent time with our family, we enjoyed the freedoms we have as Americans, and we remembered those who gave us that right to do so.  We hit the beach, we barbecued with friends, we spent a rainy evening watching movies, we checked off our last soccer game of the season, we praised Jesus, the kids enjoyed snow cones, bounce houses, ice cream, bubbles, and parks, and embarked upon a really good night’s sleep by the time darkness fell Monday night. Memorial Day 2017 is in the books and the start of the beach season is upon us! Here’s to sandy floors, sunshine, and happiness this summer!

Josiah turned 16 months old this month. 16 months.  He is (as I’m sure all my posts say) ALL BOY. He is the sweetest, most daring little thing I have ever met.  This morning his talent was showing me he could climb up to grasp the porcelain sink in the bathroom and hang like a monkey navigating himself around the edge. That was before we even had breakfast, so you can imagine how my days go. He keeps us on our toes.  He adores his sister. I mean totally adores her.  Monkey see, monkey do.  Whatever Addisyn does, you better bet Josiah is going to attempt.  He cut all four molars in the past month and is working on incisors now.  His current favorite foods include apple sauce, black beans, carrots, and berries of any kind, but he is in love with blueberries. He recently just had salmon for the first time and loved it. His favorite thing to do is to be outside. He also loves bubbles, cars/trucks, playing ball, and dancing to music.  He is obsessed with the ocean and loves the sand and water. He’s saying so many new words and doing so many new things. He’s added beach, no, love you, thank you, please, snack, cup, and more to his vocab in the last month. He will tell me when he has “made a mess” by dropping a snack or milk, and he is quite the helper as he loves to feed Gunner, help me put clothes in the dryer, and deliver items to his sister. He loves Bubble Guppies, and will ask to watch “Bubble” almost daily. His achievement I’m most proud of is the ability to both say and sign “Jesus”. It’s absolutely precious!

Big sister is living the life! She finished soccer and received her first ever athletic medal! She definitely earned it since admittedly, it was a challenge to get her to stay engaged and on the field when it was her turn to play.  We dealt with snow flurries and cold, rain, as well as intense heat this season and she was there for it all, even scoring a few goals! It was a good year for Coach Justin, her and Team Sonics! She is just a week away from her first official dance recital and gymnastics skill day and that will be a wrap for the summer.  She’s working on identifying and writing letters, is obsessed with ALL THINGS DISNEY PRINCESS, and of course is begging for the beach every day. I look at her and I see a little kid where my baby once was. She helps me around the house, she’s a great big sister, and has the sweetest soul! She amazes me every day.

I’m so thankful that my every day is spent with these two littles and their Daddy.