First Beach trip with the boys

We took our first family vacation this past week and it was a blast!  My sister-in-law & husband recently bought a beach house in Port Aransas, so we thought it would be fun to take the boys on their first beach trip this summer.  We had a nice time and it was so fun to watch Reid & Riley experience the ocean & sand for the first time ever.  What great memories for our boys! 

Reid's first trip on a plane... he was just a wee bit excited -- thank goodness he isn't crying after our 5 hour delay waiting to get on the plane to go to San Antonio!  They both did well considering all that.  :)

The pilot even let him take a little "ride" in the cockpit before we left the plane.  This boy was in heaven!

We got to celebrate Madison's 13th birthday... well, almost 13. Happy birthday on August 27th, Madison!  Can't believe you will be THIRTEEN!!!

The cousins before we left to drive to the beach house...

Reid seeing the ocean for the 1st time in the daylight... we went the night we got there and he got to see the ocean by moonlight!

 Funny story .... after Reid was at the beach a little while, he said, "Mommy, can we go home and come back to the beach next week?"  I don't think he was a big fan of the heat & waves at first.  We had to pretty much carry him into the water both days because he was pretty afraid of the waves.  He loved digging in the sand and taking the outdoor showers after the beach!

Little Riley-Roo getting his first crawl on the sand.

Hmmmm.... is this supposed to be fun?  I'm not so sure yet...

Love this pic of Rod & Reid walking into the ocean together for the first time.

"Now I think I'm gonna like it here!"

Rod, Riley, Aunt Suzanne, & Reid

Reid & Mary-McKinley.  They had a ball together all week!

Mommy & Daddy-- we got to have a little fun too!

A beach trip wouldn't be complete with making a sand castle!

Can I build a sand castle too?

"Aw, nevermind... I think I'll just eat the shovel instead."

"And eat some sand while I'm at it.  A little sand never hurt anyone did it? "

My brother's rendition of a sand castle with some twigs.

The new beach look... a little sand go-tee.  It goes with my outfit, don'tcha think?

Riley loved clapping when we were at the beach... it was so cute! 

The boys... notice Riley clapping-- again! :)

Reid got in on the boogie board action... this was the most fun I think he had all week!

And me trying to pull a 200+ pound husband on the boogie board... not that fun, but it sure made for some great entertainment for those watching! HA!

Sweet cousins

The dads gettin' a little beer hang time together.

We got to take a dip in the pool after our last day at the beach.  Their house is complete with an awesome pool.  How great is that??!!

All the cousins together -- Madison, Riley, Monroe (back), Reid, Mary-McKinley (front) 

Thank you Person family for a fun week and all the wonderful memories we will take with us from our first family vacation.  The boys had an incredible time and Reid is STILL talking about going to the beach!   Thank you for your sweet hospitality. 

BIG Changes and NEW things

This past weekend has been a time for BIG changes in the Lindsay house.  

First, Reid got his new BIG boy car seat and Riley-Roo got his brother's toddler seat. It's so weird to see Riley turned around facing forward in that big humongo thing!  Reid is IN LOVE with his new seat... the first thing he said when he saw it was, "Cupholders Mommy!"  It's the little things, right?  Oh to be 3 1/2 again! 

I don't think Riley knows quite what to think about his new big boy seat. He's so cute facing forward!  I love seeing his little punkin' face when I look back in the mirror!

My little Reid.... he looks so big!  How did he get to be almost 4 years old??

The BIGGEST change to hit this house is.... drum roll please.... 

ROOM TIME! The curtain has officially closed on naps for our little Reid man and we are in the midst of implementing the newest change in our household.  Reid could still take a nap, but we've been fighting him going to sleep at night for months now.  If he naps, which he usually will,  BUT when it's time for bedtime, he has THE.HARDEST.TIME going to sleep at night.  He will lay awake till 9:00, 9:30, and sometimes even 10:00 at night!!!  The boy is a seriously cranky the next day and is not easy to deal with.  Poor guy just wasn't getting enough sleep at night.  Rodney & I are up & down the stairs all night till he goes to sleep. 

Hence, the new "room time."

I had heard of people doing this, but I wasn't sure what it looked like.  

I decided on an hour, with toys, books, puzzles, whatever he wants to play with and thus far it's working....
We'll see how it goes!  This new stage is not very fun for momma's down time, but I think Reid is a much happier camper now that he's getting more sleep and that makes everybody happy!

Lookie, Lookie, it's a cookie, cookie!

After watching Barney bake cookies several days in a row, Reid was emphatic that we make cookies!  Lucky for you big guy, mommy just happened to have some on hand to make!

He was such a big help and wanted to do it ALL!  I love his almost 4 year old self!

He even helped me roll the dough out.  He didn't think he was that good at it, but I was pretty impressed with his skills!

Waiting for them to bake was pretty agonizing, but he waited the WHOLE 8 minutes it took them to bake! :)

BEFORE....

The decorating part was truly the MOST fun and Reid loved every minute!

Sprinkles are the BEST, right? -- and more sprinkles, and more sprinkles...

"Look what I did, Mommy!"

AFTER

Works of art  :)

Now that is one happy face... all worth the 8 minutes!

They say the darnedest things....

Lately Reid has been saying all kinds of cute stuff and I keep telling myself I am going to write it down so I can remember them all!   He has been talking about Santa and being on the "nice" list lately... guess he's already feeling concerned that Santa won't bring him any toys.  Don't worry buddy, it's only August -- you've got a ways to go to get on the "nice" list!  ;)  This morning he hurt his foot on the chair and said: "I wanna call Santa that I hurt my toe."  SO cute!  The other day, his daddy asked him a question about something he said and answered him by saying: "It's a really simple thing!"  Hilarious!  I love it!  He is almost 4 and I can hardly believe it!  He is still taking his t-ball classes and will start playing soccer in the fall.  I can't believe he is growin' up & doing such big boy things!  

 He is really into building forts with the couch pillows these days. 

 Riley loves the pillows too... look at that wittle face! 

 And he is riding the cozy coupe too! 

With a little help from his big brother! 

Thank you Lord for these ages & stages.  I love them all!  

I have to keep telling myself that so that on the hard days, it won't seem so hard, right? 

New things

This summer Reid went to MDO 2 days a week.  It was a fun summer program and he had a BALL!  At the end of the summer session, they did a little program and let me just tell you this boy was ALL.ABOUT. SINGING!!!  The past few times he has been in these programs, he has cried and been scared to death!  I was not even going to send him to school yesterday, but he insisted that he wanted to sing and for me to watch him in the audience!  It was THE cutest thing EVER and I was SOOO proud of this boy!  He played his "air" guitar while they sang several songs.  HILARIOUS!   I guess he's growin' up and getting that courage I always hoped he'd have!  So proud of you little man! 

 

 

Riley - Roo is doing something new too!  He is doing a little "walking" these days and is all about his little walking toys he's gotten for his birthday.  He is so cute and just wants to go everywhere with it!  Can't believe he is already ONE!  He is growin' up & getting some courage too, just like his big bro!  

I LOVE my boys and am just loving watching them grow & learn this summer.  They are so cute together and they just love playing in the pillows on the floor.  Riley thinks it's hilarious when he gets to crawl all over them.  I love watching them be "boys" together.  

I'm so thankful God gave me 2 boys.  

They are perfect in every way! 

Monday Mania

For the past 8 weeks, we have had THE craziest Mondays imaginable! We get our breakfast, put Riley down for a nap and then it's a race--- get Reid dressed for swim lessons, brush his teeth, make his lunch, get momma ready, get Riley up, and everyone out the door on time!  NO small task in the Lindsay household since momma can't EVER seem to get anywhere on time these days now that #2 has entered our family.  Not blamin' you sweet Riley, just sayin.... it's ain't easy!  

My silly man gettin' himself dressed!

Last swim lesson of the summer with Miss Valerie!

Poor Riley has been happy enduring the heat all summer long for his big bro.

Yay!  We Reid made it through 8 swim lessons! 

Eating his lunch in the car on the way to t-ball.  Poor guy!

A little t-ball practice with all of our friends....

This boy can hit a ball on a T like nobody I've ever seen (I'm a little, biased, I guess!)

Run to the bases, Reid!  GO GO!!!

This boy LOVES every minute of t-ball and is happiest when he is playing it!  He loves the coach and I think that really helps him to do so well.   I am SO SO proud of you Reid!  You have done such a great job this summer with all of these activities (you too little Riley-Roo :).  I know Mondays have been crazy, but you have kept your chin up and been a great sport about it all!   Mommy's heart is so full of love for both of you!