Up close with Jax

A Pirates Life For Me...

Last weekend our friends Corina and Jed had a birthday party for their 3 year old, Braylon. It was a pirate themed party complete with gold coins, eye patches, and a buried treasure full of dirt cake!! The kids had a lot of fun playing with Bray's toys and his new choo-choo train. We all sat around the train tracks for the longest time watching the train go 'round and 'round!




Jackson needs one of these "bad boys!"



My little pirate...



"Arrrrr"



2 hats are better than 1!



Jackson loves the babies!



Luke and Ayla were born a day apart. They will turn 1 in August.



This picture took some work! Grandpa Jack showed Ayla how to take hats off, which in this case applied to hats and eye patches!




Luke, on the other hand, didn't mind the patch!

Too cute video of Ayla

We went to the beach last week to celebrate Jack and Sherry's anniversary. The kids had a blast playing in the sand and water. Ayla was too funny sitting in the tide. She would laugh and splash every time the water came over her. This video is only a few seconds of what she did the entire time! She would even crawl toward the water, but didn't stop when she go close. It was so cute!

Happy Father's Day

This morning I kept the house quiet (or tried) so that Justin could sleep in. I made him breakfast and served it to him in bed with a side of a "cartoon free" morning! Jackson brought his Daddy a card and said, "happy Dada day!" It was a good day!



A father's day picture taken before church.



Jackson's new trick...using this toy to crawl over the couch. He is also giving Daddy his new look.



Up and over the couch successfully!



It's hurricane season! Life on the water is tough. Life jackets must be worn at all times!!



The kids in the pool at the compound.



Here's the new look. For a few days, it's the only look we got!!



Here it is again, on a different day! Justin and Amy agree that it's the "Sarah Brooke" look!!

A few randoms...

Amy and I went to Starbucks tonight, so I'm wired! I thought I would add a few more pictures.
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I challenged Justin to a game of putt putt. Unfortunately, our game was postponed due to rain. Babe, I still owe you a "whoppin!'"



Justin's cousin's twin girls, Ava and Shae. I just want to pinch Ava's chubbiness, and Shae is so darn precious!



Aimee, me, Amy and Terri at Cara's wedding reception.



Yes, another wedding. But this one was outdoors, and it stormed. We got wet, but it was worth it. Christie was so excited to get married that she didn't mind the storm. There was a lightning show during their vows! Kara, Sandy, me, Amy, Ashlee and Christie.

DON'T BLINK...

Kenny Chesney sings a song that hits home for me right now. In the blink of an eye your baby is grown... The thought scares me. Sunday a slide show was put together for the high school seniors graduating this year. I had to leave after the 3rd person because I was bawling my eyes out. Not because I knew these kids, but because their baby pictures were so familiar then with the change of a slide they were seniors. It hit me that I would be sitting in their parents place in 16 years and my "baby" will be college bound. I will need medication!! It sounds so silly, I know! Amy, Aimee and I were all teary eyed while our husbands mocked our thoughts. But seriously. Jackson's life has flown by already and I wonder if I have enjoyed it as much as I can. In my months of sleep deprivation, and fighting the Type A tendencies, have I taken it all in? I hope I have. There is a conversation that I have often with some friends about your kids not remembering how clean the house was, but they remember a favorite game or outing taken as a family. It's the truth!

Jackson loves for me to go sit in his bedroom and watch him play. He likes to pull every book off his shelf and shuffle through them, throwing a few to the side to find the one he wants to read. Then he'll crawl in my lap and say more. As I read, I point to objects and feel the satisfaction in knowing I taught him that word or that sound! I treasure those moments.

I still can't believe Jackson's one and a half years old. Then, I also can't believe that I'm 27, I feel like such a big kid. And that makes my mom, well, I'll spare her age!!
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Here are a few random pictures taken over the last few weeks. Thank you for reading my sentiments. And don't mock me, I'm emotional!



One year ago, 6 months old


18 months...the fearless swimmer!



Jackson showing his muscles while Ayla wonders what his problem is!
He is gonna bust a blood vessel some day!!



Playing in the water at Aunt Amy's house. Notice the Texas crocs? My mom bought them not thinking about the fact that Daddy's not a big UT fan but, Uncle Brett likes them, and they go with a lot of outfits!


He dumped all of his toys out so that he could get in


Getting a drink


Uncle Justin feeding Ayla Grace