Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Miss you already, Em!

Our long time favorite and oldest babysitter, Emily is leaving us for the sunny weathers of Florida. We are so proud of her accomplishments and thankful to have had her to ourselves for so long. We know she will make an awesome nurse and can't wait for you to meet us in Disney World in a few years!!!


Emily and Turner reading a book after bathtime!

Em and Turner as Taylor and I took the picture.
Em, thanks for giving us another last night out!! You will be greatly missed! You have taught me so much over the years. I recall sitting on the floor with you, almost two years ago and you entertaining the boys so easily! I remember you playing the Mandalin for them and the crying immediately stopping. I recall you giving me advice because you knew me about babies than me!!! We could always count on you and knew that your calming nature would soothe them. They always had fun with you and were safe when we returned! Thank you, thank you.
Please don't forget us. Keep up with us on the BLOG, facebook and for visits! We have "your bedroom" waiting for your visit!! We love you, Em!!!

Happy 2nd birthday, Madison!

Happy bbirthday, our dear friend, Madison! Madison and the boys go to school together. She is a tad bit older, but we love her anyways!

In honor of the big "2", her parents had a jam up party at the Palmetto Island County Park playground. Wow--they thought of everything! Here were some favorites of T and T's adventurous Saturday!

First time with Capri Suns....Taylor saw me get him one and kept going back to the cooler, opening the top and bringing a new one to me. When I told him "no" and put it back, I noticed him, go back to the cooler, grab one and find the first random stranger (eg. SUCKER)....
" All gone" was the big theme here. Needless to say, we are suckerd into more Capri Suns for life!!!!

See Saw riding with brother and ......

BEST BUD DAVIS KRUSE!!! : )

Turner and Davis playing on the playset. Note: Turner is "all done" with Capri Sun but will not put it down.
Major meltdown from a long and fun morning resulted in mommy and daddy giving the boys a lollipop. Man, what a little Dum-Dum will do for a kid!!!

Taylor and the birthday girl, Madison. Poor Madison got the shaft as the Dum Dum stole the show!
Turner and Madison sharing a smile.







Thursday, April 22, 2010

Washing Mama's Car

Pool Fun

Daddy surprised us all with this handy pool for the yard! It is the perfect size for two munchkins and become a staple during outside time. They love it whether it is empty or filled. Thank you, daddy! GREAT IDEA!!


T and T checking it out for the first time.
Getting ready for swim lessons....

Ole Faithful Guinness is waiting in the truck after the pool run. Poor guy sat there for hours, afraid he might be left on the next errands run.


Round 2 in one day: This time we decided to just go in our diapers!!

Now the fun begins.....the garden hose!!!

Taylor practicing his swimming while Turner re-fills the pool.


Turner plays with some water balloons (Another big THANK YOU to daddy!) while Taylor tries to get his hair wet. He is our water bug. He LOVES, LOVES the water!!

Turner and his water balloons.


Welcome to the Red Neck Riveria on Parkton Road! I am sure our neighbors who were hosting an open house loved us. (Guinnie got hot after his three hour stent in the back of the truck and decided to join in, while daddy and I lounged in our rockers!!)
My "lost" picture was the boys fighting over the garden hose until I gave them each an end. Laughing Outloud...they had no idea that they were sharing the same house with each of them on one end!!

Round 3: An exhausted Taylor, now with his swim diaper.









Best $20 Investment!!!

Friday, April 9, 2010

Roasting our Sweet Ole Georgia

Sweet ole Georgia is going to Doggie Heaven today. As I sit and wait for my "work-free day" to pass, I am wishing the worst part was over. 2:30 is the scheduled time. AGH! I know that later I will be too emotional to post some photos and want Georgia to be remembered in style.

Georgia, also known as "G", was Ben's dog originally, but quickly became mine. Girl to girl, we had an instant bond! As a puppy, she was skitish and very much the troublemaker. Ben says that she used to roll in the mud at the end of the work day at the marina right as Ben called her to get in the back of the truck. Clockwork roll in the mud. (I smile at the thought of her rolling around in the mud, happy as a girl can be.) When his house was bombarded with friends for happy hour or large gathering, G would hide under his house and be no where to be found. Ben would call her, throw food outside and search high and dry. No G. Hidden under the house, she would be.

Ben and I met when G was 10 years old. Brady bunch style we combined my ole Guinnie and his Georgia and Jackson. Ever since, G has been the socialite princess of the family. She was named " sweet G" by the neighborhood kids as she just lays there and waits to be loved on. When I have girl nights, G is the one that is laid out in the middle of the girls (near the food). One time I had a junior league meeting with 40+ girls here. G wandered from person to person, backing her butt to be scratched. During the meeting, she laid on the middle of the floor, as if we were roasting her then. She has been a great sport through the arrival of the boys. Many times we forgot to let her back inside and would find her sunbathing in the dirt under the rose bushes or under the back steps. " Dirty G" is daddy's nickname for her and it has stuck!

Another time, daddy forgot to close the latch on the back of the trunk. Picture this: Daddy was driving down the road while jamming to Patty Griffin or Tom Petty, going about 35 . Still driving at 35, he looks back in his rear view mirror to see this yellow lab standing (about 1/4 mile back) in the midde of a busy Mt. Pleasant 2 laned road, star struck like " what the heck?" Daddy slams on his brakes, jumps out of the car, runs back and sees Georgia standing in the middle of the road, injury free. Up, she is scooped back in the truck, and tail wagging the whole time. Sweet ole thing. She loved to sit in the back, with her chin resting on the side of the truck and have her ears blowing in the wind! Car rides were a favorite pasttime, along with long swims in the ocean and walks on the beach. On our honeymoon, G swam with us under a beautiful waterfall.

Georgia is my lady companion and I will miss herl This day has been filled with many last things for G...last swim, last feeding, last medication administration, last kiss, last hug, last wave from the boys. As I told the boys this am, many people would say that they don't understand, but as I told them to say goodbye to G, they waved to her as if they knew. I know you can feel the tears as I write. It will be a long day but at the end, we know that she will be fed and resting well in doggie heaven. I am glad that her cancer will be gone. She will live forever in our hearts. We love you, G!!!



Georgia was a "big girl". She loved her foods. When the Brady Bunch family first got together, she snapped at Guinnie with a bite as frisky Guinnie tried to take her food. Thankfully, her message was understood and no more attacks occurred.

She loved to sit on the porch. Whenever she hears the chime of the door from our alarm system, she scurries to the front door, not wanting to miss out on the action!


See how gentle she was with the boys. This was Tuesday night during our date night with Noelle.
It is no wonder that T and T can say "Georg-uh" so easily. They loved her!!!

Dinnertime! The boys love to throw their leftovers to the dogs. As you can see, Georgia knew where the "good stuff" came from.

Sweet ole G and her precious smile, despite the tumor, which had extended from skin cancer into her nasal and oral cavities.

I love that dog. See her smiling as she got ready for a car ride. She loved the car. Daddy would spoil his little princess by putting a dog bed in the back for her.


Georgia relaxing in the truck.

In conclusion, I am happy to report that we are ok since Georgia's exit to doggie heaven. It was hard and sad, but I am very thankful for her presence in my life. Poor Ben could not even enter the vet office as he tried to fight back the tears. I thank my medical career for giving me the strengthen to be with her. I guess I am used to the lingo, knew the drill and asked all the questions upfront so I knew what to expect. I held her tight, spoke sweet melodies to her, as I felt her heart stop. Her head gently fell on my leg and I saw a peace in her that I have not seen in a long time. She looked happy, content and well. Friends, I swear I felt the cancer leave her body as she transitioned to a doggier heaven with mountains of gravy stained biscuits, cats to chase and big ole green pastures for sunbathing that overlook a large lake for swimming.
Thank goodness for sweet ole dogs like G and for doggie heavens! Love you, Georgia! Love you so much, my "baby girl".









Thursday, April 8, 2010

Boo and Gan's Egg Hunt

In the Dove family, when we do things, we do them BIG. Caroline, Boo and I decided to put together an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids. Guess Boo didn't get the memo that we were only doing 12 eggs per child. Gotta LOVE grandparents!!! Just another reason to love some Boo and Gan. They spoil our boys!!! No lie--150+ eggs later, The Easter Bunny Helpers (Daddy and Gan) were found eating the chocolate as they lay nests full of eggs in the pinestraw.

Turner putting his "golden" egg in his basket.

Taylor "double dipping"

One of our neighbors and babysitters , Sterling, helps lend a helping hand with T and T so mommy can get some photos. Thanks to our neighbor, Esaton, who came to accompany John 5 so he would have some big boys to play with.



Taylor stopped to eat some along the way.

Savannah stopped to smell the camilla bush in her precious hat.

John 5 and Easton comparing loot.


Look...not one, but FIVE!!!

Taylor discovered real quickly that if it drops on the ground, the goods come out. So, he stopped and threw his on the ground for some munching along the way. Only our Taylor!

You know the sugar high could only last so long! Here are T and T fighting over the noodle!


Taylor and Gan having some 1:1 time.









Easter Bunny!!!

The Easter Bunny came.....


Naturally the boys were totally psyched for new stuff, but even more for them to be at their highchairs. Normally, we only let them eat in their chairs. As you can see, they were dying to get up and do some basket exploring!!!!

The balloons were an instant hit. They were a bit perplexed by the action, as you can see as they sport their serious looks.

Taylor went right for the good stuff--FOOD!!


Turner held his balloons tight as he ate some breakfast and played with his new toys.




Happy Easter with Boo and Gan

Boo and Gan brought over easter gifts. Yes, mommy and daddy have been outdone again!

Thank you, Nanny Yoshino for our Easter books! We love to read and have thoroughly loved them!!!

Adorable baskets filled with yummy treats and fun toys!

Special time with plenty of ramming time! Mommy loved the free time to drink her coffee while drying and straightening her hair in peace. Thank you, Boo and Gan!



Taylor shares a moment with Gan. I know it seems that Gan has a favorite, but this is not the case. Turner just doesn't like to sit on Gan's lap (or anyone's, other than mommy or daddy).


Playtime with our new loot. AKA: The den is trashed again!!!

Taylor and Gan playing with the basket's ribbons! Oh, I love the bond they have. Taylor Fitzhugh Slade was named right!!!!






Sensational day at the Aquarium

The best thing about being members of the SC Aquarium is that you can visit and not have to stay all day. We love just dropping by, seeing some exhibits, running around and being able to leave when we are tired. As members, we can come and go as much as we like all year. WE LOVE IT!!!

T and T checking out the boats as they strolled by on this beautiful Saturday!


Just some of the "ish" that we saw. (Grunt, grunt, point, point)


Smiling on the park bench....


Sleeping in the car with his hand stuck in his snack cup.


Cuddling with daddy after a good lunch and a busy day.

While Taylor helps mommy water her garden......I mean, play in the hose!!!!