HHI 2011 Part 3: Sunday & Monday

Sunday morning we all woke up, enjoyed a yummy pancake breakfast, and watched some Joel Osteen church on TV.

Kidding, kidding! We watched our church back home since they live-stream services! It was a neat way to experience church.Sunday also was Levi's 5 month birthday, so I took a picture to document the occasion!

After church, the girls went shopping at the local outlet mall WITHOUT children! It was glorious and I got some great deals! The rest of the evening was spent hanging out at the house, cooking, etc.

One of my favorite parts about vacationing with friends (other than saving money by splitting everything 3 ways) is after the kids go to bed. We usually end up staying up (way too) late, playing games, and laughing more than you can imagine. I have so much fun with these people!

Monday morning we packed up and stopped at the outlets (yes, again!) on our way back home! We spent a few hours there and then rewarded Carter for good behavior with a ride! I don't know why he loves these things so much.

This little guy just hung out!

I would like to take a moment to document the fact that Carter actually FELL ASLEEP on the way home! You know this boy is tired when he falls asleep in the car. It only lasted for about 20 minutes, but I'll take it!

Overall it was a great weekend and I am already looking forward to next year!!

HHI 2011 Part 2: Saturday

Another little tradition that we started on our vacation is that the guys get to go fishing while the girls entertain the kids for the afternoon. Last year that was not a problem as we only had 2 kids with us. This year, with 5, it was a bit of a challenge.

Thankfully, the resort that we stayed at had a great playground that we took the kids too. We didn't last too long (it was super hot!), but it was a good way to fill up the time!

Levi didn't get the full playground experience, but he was SUCH a good boy, just sitting in his stroller watching everything going on around him!

Here is Corbin and Greg with the catch of the day! Corbin caught a shark! We actually fried it up and ate it this past weekend. Well, I didn't exactly eat it, but I did eat some fish that we fried with it!

That night we headed down to the South Beach Marina for some shopping and hanging out! We all enjoyed ice cream and listened to some live music!

And of course no trip in public with toddlers is complete without a meltdown! Hudson's tantrums are so cute I had to catch it on film! Ha!

And here ya go! Proof that I was on the trip as well!

Two peas in a pod!

HHI 2011 Part 1: Thursday and Friday

Labor Day weekend we ventured off to Hilton Head Island with the Thompsons and the Martins for our second annual friend vacation! Corbin and I were soooo looking forward to this since it was the only vacation we got this year and we had to wait until September!

We left right at nap time hoping that maybe, just maybe, the kids would sleep for the 2.5 hour drive. Well, you can tell that Carter was enjoying his Mommy riding in the back seat with him too much to sleep!
I used our special "get baby to sleep" method (i.e. blanket over eyes) and Levi napped for a little bit of the ride.

Sweet baby.

Everyone got there Thursday evening and we were ready for some pool time on Friday! We were lucky enough to get a house that had it's very own pool! So nice! The pool water was a bit too cold for my liking, so Levi didn't get to swim this year, but he had fun hanging out poolside in a pink bumbo! The big boys enjoyed their pool time!

The house also had a nice deck so we got to enjoy lunch outside!

Last year in an effort to save some money, we decided to each take a night and cook. And honestly, with 5 kids ages 2 and under, it is A LOT easier to just stay at home and eat than to venure out! The adults got to sit at the table and enjoy supper while the kids were set up watching TV! It worked out perfectly.

And of course before bedtime there was some friendly wrestling as always!

Part 2 and 3 coming soon!

A boy and his trucks...

...and trains and cars and books with wheels!

My sweet boys!

...are growing up!! I know, I know, it has been a while! My last post was about Levi starting rice cereal and now he is a big boy eating real food! (Post to come on that later!) Things have been so crazy around the Crittenden household. I feel like my memory is slowly diminishing. For example - today I completely forgot to get the meat for our supper out to thaw. Guess we're going out! And my birthday, which was back in AUGUST, was great. I took the time to write some thank you notes to various gift-givers. Of course it would have been nice if I actually MAILED them. Yep, found the stamped letters in my purse last week. So, if you sent me a birthday gift, please forgive me! I did receive it and I am so very grateful - I have no excuse for not sending a proper note!
So yes, these three guys have been keeping me busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way! I mean - look at them! Love them so much!

This is pretty much the only way I can get a picture of Carter - with me restraining him. And of course he insisted on posing with a cup on his head.

So this little guy is the subject of more photos at this point in my life! He is 6 months old now! His well check was earlier this week and my boy weighs 15 lb and 2 oz! I have to mention that Carter weighed just 10 ounces more than this when he was a YEAR old. Oh my! Don't let that fool you though. Levi is not "big" - only in the 8th percentile! But he is my big boy and getting bigger every day!

He also has two teeth on the way - but they haven't broken through quite yet!

I really cannot get over how much these boys love each other and I pray that it stays that way! They are a joy to be around and I am so lucky to be their Mommy!

We have A LOT of updating to do and I will be trying my very best to do just that in the coming weeks! Stay tuned!