Breakfast Picnic on the boat!

Why is it that kids only sleep in on days when you want them to get up early? to beat the heat, Ben got up early, packed our stuff and had the Slade family ready for an early am trip to Morris Island. At 7 am, Mommy woke up to no "peeping indians". Unusual, my friends! By 7:30, we decided, they would be ok to have a "picnic breakfast in the car and boat, so waking them up we did. Their eyes and smiles when we told them we were hitting the boat was SO worth it!!!

See the excitement in Taylor's eyes!!! Turner grabbed his hat and was ready to go!!!

A little sleepy, but happy campers they were!!!

Jack and Taylor share his banana and peanut butter graham cracker sandwiches.

Taylor assisting daddy drive, as Turner took an am snooze!

* Sorry, the beach at Morris Island was too busy with catching fish, looking for shark teeth, building castles with our cousins, so no pictures were taken. End result: Mommy holding two sleeping indians on the way back from Morris Island across the rough harbor to the dock.

Happy 2nd birthday, Davis!

In celebration of Davis' 2nd birthday, the Kruse and Slade families partied down at Sullivan's Island. Carrie, John 5 and Savannah met us there, which was super fun!!! John 5 and the horseshoe crab. I have no idea why, but they are everywhere!!!

Thank goodness it was dead because Taylor was going to torture him either way!!!

Turner had no interest in the "ole crab" with this handy boat in hand!!!

Princess Savannah built one lovely castle!

John 5 hit the waves with Ben.

You know the Slade boys. It is always time for a snack!!! There is sweet Davis!!! Hard to believe he is two now. Harder to believe T and T will be 2 in September!!!

Taylor was out like a light before we had driven away. His poor head was bobbing up and down.

Turner was asleep before the Bob left the beach. Thanks daddy for pushing big headed 1 and 2 through the sand. There is no way that mommy would have gotten off the dunes!!

Vacation: Day 8

Welcome back to the East Coast! These two photos are backwards. We woke up to a fabulous french toast made by Boo. The boys enjoyed terriorizing their home before coming home. The great thing about vacations with little kids is that it is like Christmas all over again!!! They were totally into their old toys that they were bored with just one week ago.
T and T enjoyed our home grown cherry tomatoes, which had blossomed thanks to some tender loving care from great neighbors!!!

Gan and Turner enjoy some snuggling before we hit the road for the last leg of our fabulous journey!!!

Bye-bye Durango: Day 7

Leaving at 4 am was the way to go! The boys napped for a good three hours and mommy got to snooze while daddy drove. Poppy did an amazing job with his navigational skills. no wrong turns !! Turner snoozing from Durango to Denver.

Taylor snoozing with good ole paci!

The train ride at the Denver airport. Thank goodness for the kid's leashes! They loved them and enabled them to stretch their legs before we took off for home.

One last picture with Taylor, Turner and Poppy. Poor Poppy was such a sport after his mountain biking injury. He swerved to miss a big ole brown bear. That's my story and we're sticking to it. Right, Poppy?

Taylor giving Poppy one last hug before we head to Charlotte and he heads to St. Simons'. Loved it, Poppy!

Ben Turner Slade III, IV and V.

It's been a long day. Let's see. Day 7 went from 4am Denver time to 9:30 pm Charlotte, NC time.
boys did great except for the small plane ride on the three sitter across from Cinci to Charlotte where the hysterical screams caused both boys to end up on mommy's lap. (either that or there were going to be lots of jumpers!!) Thanks to Boo and Gan for helping pick us up, find our luggage, and cook us an awesome dinner!! Welcome back to the heat, boys.

Vacation to CO: Day 6

Last full day...B and I decided that Havens and Sunny needed a treat for being such excellent helpers. Aunt Eliza and Poppy spent some private time together and we had some private time at BURGER KING!!! Poor Rush missed it as she had morning camp while we were there.
Havens helping Turner get off the equipment.

Turner climbing up the slide.

Taylora and Havens stopping for a cinnamon snack.

Turner waiting patiently for his turn at the drinking water.

The hail storm and near jog home exhausted the boys!

Afternoon fun in the driveway with bikes, flowers and balls!!!

Check out the dandelion fuzz that is everywhere!!!! It even stayed there after the dime size hail storm!!!

Back to the barn we went, so daddy could share in the excitement! Havens and Sunny feed some hay to Flower.

Daddy and Taylor, both a little reserved with the feedings.

DURANGO 2010: our only family photo. Pitiful, i know.

Happy Birthday, RUSH!

We were missing Rush's "PEACE" birthday by one day, so Havens and I planned a secret celebration! Sunny's birthday was one week later, so we figured a joint party was in order!!! Havens helped make placemats and party invitations. Their dearest friends came and joined the fun!!!
"SURPRISE!!!" (Rush, Sunny, Ellie and Havens)

Havens and Turner digging into the cupcakes. Turn is only lukewarm about sweets, unlike his brother!

Now, taylor lives for the sweets! Wonder where he got that from as I consider leaving bolging for a big ole bowl of frozen goodness!

Aunt Eliza gives a look as the girls argue about something. Love it!!! (Notice Taylor's plate is empty and Turner's is not touched?)

Vacation to CO: Day 5

Day 5 we decided to venture out of Durango. All B and I knew was that Silverton was an hour away and up a mountain. What we must have not gotten out of the memo was that higher altitude means much cooler weather. I mean, sure we saw the websters wearing jeans but they are really skinny, so we thought shorts would suffice for the "bigger people".

We were way, way wrong!! It was like 50 degrees and drizzling. Here we were freezing our tooshes off. Thank goodness we had our jackets and the dog's blanket in the backseat. Here is daddy, Havens and T and T in downtown Silverton.

Close up of the cold Slade boys. Their fuzziness led to the pacifier being drug out for ole Taylor. I really can't blame them. We were cold, cranky and tired from waiting for our lunch table too.

But nothing an ice cream cone will not treat. Dining in at lunch didn't happen for us, as the boys were too fuzzy for any time of sit down place. So, B and I ate the BEST take out nachos on the street corner with the boys. Now that is SC style!!!

Daddy reading Turner a story at naptime. Thanks to sweet ole Rush for giving us her room!!!

Taylor and mommy read books on the floor.

Mommy paused to get another book and noticed that Taylor was out. Like a light. "zzzzzz"

Vacation to CO: Day 4

Another fabulous day! The rain almost kept us indoors, but cleared by afternoon. Eliza says it hardly ever rains, but it rained two days we were there. Perfect though, because it gave me a chance to play inside tennis with the kids in the garage, play Sorry with Havens, and take a good ole nap with my boys! Poppy and Sunny posing at the bottom of the last hill on the way home.

Havens holding tight to Taylor!! Don't you love her outfit--she is going to be a fashion icon!! This 5 year old has serious style!!!

Trimble Hot Springs--loved it! Basically a pool that is as hot as a jacuzzi. Plus, a regular pool for late summertime, but that was too cold for this mommy!

Snacktime becuase the lightening forced us out of the pool and only after 45 minutes!!!

Aunt Eliza and Taylor hugging while sharing a special snack.

No rain, only thunder and lightening, so we headed home.

Just in time for dinner....

Vacation to CO: Day 3

I am thinking this must have been our lazy day around the house and "Slade boys free" lunch with Aunt Eliza's great babysitter because I have few photos from this day.
A visit to see Aunt Eliza's horse, Elouise. Needless to say, Turner LOVED her! We enjoyed feeding her carrots, petting her, brushing her, chasing the barn cat and just being free in the crisp mountain air!

Elouise eating off mommy's hand as Turner points to Flower who was "neighing" for some.

Taylor was a little hesitant of the horses, but loved the barn's cat!

T and T "chilling" in the barn.

What you can't see is the poor cat that T and T are chasing!!

Bad hiding spot, kitty! They found you!!!

Sunny giving Flower a special treat!

Taylor getting a closer look.

Havens, Taylor, Turner and Sunny hanging in the pasture. Poor Rush missed all the fun times as she had camp every morning!!

Aunt Eliza and Elouise working Ellie out!