a beach trip by the numbers

10 days at the coast

3 brown-skinned boys

36 Krispy Kreme Donuts (seems like the HOT light's always on at NMB)

1 near-trip to the emergency room (Sawyer knows now that a clam shell will fit inside his nose)

lots of seafood

hundreds of sharks' teeth

countless trips to the beach

1 dad thankful to be on vacation

4 others glad to have him to ourselves

$20 dinner

Preparing a twenty dollar dinner was one of the most anticpated items on the kids' summer fun list. They planned the menu during the day, and I took them to Harris Teeter to shop. I loved watching them make "adjustments" as they realized how much some things cost! The butcher was nice enough to repackage some smaller steaks for them as the Bobby Flay recipe featuring NY strip with blue cheese and onion relish was the star of the meal.

The littles operated as Jackson's sous chefs -- gathering herbs and taking orders.

A delicious meal!

his name is cinco

My mother gave him to Sawyer on the fifth of May, hence his name. He's a gift and a first pet in honor of Sawyer's becoming a "big boy" and giving up a habit he's known since the day of his birth.

They've become fast friends, and Cinco, who at first seemed to merely tolerate all of the handling, now actually enjoys the warmth of Sawyer's tiny hands.

"here, mommy. these are for you"

I can't get enough of this little one.

starting the summer at lippard creek

We kicked off our summer with a trip to the creek with the Radebaughs and Grooms.

There were crawdads to be caught, feet to be bared, watermelon rind boats to be sailed, and a celebration of summer to be shared.