I'm Pretty Sure This Means My Husband is Okay With Having Another Dozen Or So Kids.

The kitchen table was our first furniture purchase as a couple. I love this table. *LOVE* it. Unfortunately, (or fortunately, depending on how you look at things!), our growing family not longer fits comfortably. And guests? Hah. Please have a seat at the couch.

I've been coveting a new table from Target on Crack (a.k.a. Ikea) for almost a year now. My birthday is this weekend, so Hubster finally obliged. With baby strapped to my chest, Casey in the stroller and Jonathan hanging on for dear life, we set out on our mission. We sought, (we ate), we purchased, and we played a little bit of minivan tetris to get the beast home.

There was plenty of help to take our dear old table apart.

Detritus. Ick. I'm going to lie and tell you I totally vacuumed this up.

On to the assembly!

The little helpers decided to go check on their dinosaurs. Funny, they didn't reappear until the table was finished. I wonder what those dinosaurs were up to?

It's a two vase kind of table. Seats eight adults comfortably without the leaf.
Twelve with. I think I'm in love. (again).

<----->

TomAto, TomOto...

[SCENE: my parents' house in south Florida; family room]

Casey: Mommy, I need help with the touch computer.

Me: We don't have an iPad.

Casey: Yes, Mommy, come help.

Me: No, that was Uncle Casey's iPad, he took it home.

Casey: Yes, Mommy...

[Casey walks away into the bedroom hallway]

Casey: [yelling from the hallway] Mommy, come HELP! Mooooooommmmmy!!!

[I pry myself out of the lazy-boy and amble toward the hallway]

Casey: [dragging a flat screen monitor by the cord] See, Mommy! I found Grandpa's touch computer!

Me: Oy.

Things Are Moving Right Along At Our House. And By Things I Mean Little People.

Remember when the Jayster started crawling? Seems like just yesterday.
(Please forgive the shaky camera and screechy mom voice).

I'm Still Here! Just Recovering From a Crazy Several Weeks. Stand By, Please!!!

Everyone smiles in the same language.

~Author Unknown

My Brother Would Call This Post 'Epic' - What That Really Means is 'Forever Long' Because I Haven't Done a Proper Blog Post in Ages.

Butterfly World with Grandpa.

Dancing in the rain with Aunt Sally.

Clothing optional.

McDonald's. Again.

Happy baby.

Full belly.

Sweet auntie kisses.

Technology!

(Re)meeting relatives.

Touring with Thomas.

Hazing the new guy.

A play-doh break with Grandma.

The Mall. Again.

(Voluntary) naps.

A little monkey at the zoo.

Several little monkeys at the zoo.

With Mama Monkey.

Learning new tricks.

And showing them off.

This Summer's Been SO Busy. We're Living Out of Suitcases. Some of Us More Literally Than Others.

Summer Showers

“Anyone who says sunshine brings
happiness has never danced in the rain”

~Unknown

I Probably Should Have Posted This For Independence Day. But You Can Go Ahead And Consider It An Early Christmas Present.

We're Really Not Into the Whole Gender Stereotyping Thing.

But you probably already knew that.

In Nearly Nine Months, This Was Stephen's First 'Happy Bath' - Yay for Progress!

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More WW here & here.

Mini Vacations Are Kind of Our Thing. I Didn't Bring My Camera to the Beach, So You Can Imagine Those Shots. Sand, Water, Sweat. You Know the Drill.

The in-laws were kind enough to take us on a brief weekend retreat to our favorite old town. We stayed at our regular digs (I'm pretty sure the kids think we own the place), and enjoyed each other's company.
It was nice. Hot. Very very hot. But also nice.

We rearranged the furniture again, but at least this time we remembered a portable crib for the baby. I don't know why I bothered moving the furniture though, since I ended up with both of the big boys in my bed and Wesley got the king and his own room.

Grandma Mimi brought toys. Lots and lots of toys! (And Casey seems to think crossed eyes is cool. It's getting annoying.)

It was a working vacation for Wesley. This was a bummer, but fortunately his career travels with us so we were still able to enjoy a lot of time together.

Would you believe we didn't hit our beloved O.C. White's??? Instead we opted to try something new. The Kingfish Grill. It was fantastic. We sat outside, listened to the live music, and enjoyed great food and drinks. The grub was delicious, timely and the staff was really nice. We will absolutely be returning. Yay. I love a good food find!

The hotel has free breakfast, so we ran down each morning and brought food back to eat in bed. Because that's what you do on vacation.

We made sure to eat in Wesley's bed, though. What? I don't want bugs in MY bed!

It was crazy hot. Ice cream was so necessary.

Chocolate. Of course.

He asked for blue. I was happy to oblige.

Pistachio. Because he has a sophisticated palate.