Happy Birthday Daddy!

This is now two days late but Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband!  In honor of him, here are a few shots of him over the last few years.  And because he will read this I will say this on the front end...I did not post any photos of either of us in swim suits, not even ones from "pk" or pre-kids.

This is obviously pre-children.  From our days in Tulsa having fun at the Bow-Meow Luau supporting the Tulsa Humane Society.

Another pre-children shot, back when it was easy to jet off for a weekend trip to Chicago with friends

An after dinner walk on the beach with his favorite little guy, John David.  That seems like yesterday and it was actually 4 years ago.  Wow.

Doing the double hold.  Babies sleeping on your chest makes every day better.

First trip to the beach after the twins were born.  We still looked like we had it together at that point.

Trip to Mount Magazine when the twins were about 6 months old.  It was cold up there on the mountain.

What handsome guys!! Husband and Harrison at the pumpkin patch.  For those of you who know Harrison you will see he still sucks those same 2 fingers.  How do I get him to quit that?

Daddy and his boys in the Grand Teton National Park.

Family photo at Pawley's.  We still look like we have it together.  

Reading a story before putting the troops to bed.  What a good daddy!!

Had to throw in a picture of him recently that didn't include children.  Just to prove that every once in a blue moon we leave the house without a little one in tow.

First day of school photo op.

John David wants to be just like his daddy when he grows up.  His favorite activity with his dad.....Mowing the yard.  Husband really wishes he would pick a different favorite activity.  Personally, I think it is adorable.  Of course, I'm not the one mowing the yard in the middle of this horrible, summer heat.

Christmas morning pose on the stairs.

Daddy with his girls.  I think, know, he is in love.

Happy as can be with all his babies.

Bringing home his baby girl.

Daddy with his little girl.  She definitely has him wrapped around her finger but she is obviously enamored with her daddy as well.

Another family photo op.  Too bad you can't see Ava.  I promise she is there behind Ella.  I can't believe we still look like we have it together.  It is not true.  We are living by the maxim "fake it till you make it" at this point.  

Birthday donuts.  Yummy!  

Taking in the twins school program.  He got a private concert from Harrison.

Play time at the school yard.

He didn't know I was taking this picture so he probably won't like it.  Too bad, I do.

Picking peaches.  So tasty!

So to the best husband and father in the world..........

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

We love you!

Some Fun at the Beach

 In my last post I attempted to express the beauty that is Pawley's Island, our family's favorite vacation spot.  And while it is a quiet, beautiful, peaceful spot, it is a place where we have lots of family fun.  Here are a few shots to prove we were actually there.  (For some reason I didn't take all that many pictures this year.  I guess having my hands full with Ava didn't leave me with the chance to take as many as in prior years.  Oh well.  Guess that means we will have to go back next year.)

 Getting ready to hit the beach.  Safety first...sunscreen and life jackets

Ava is checking out what big brother is doing while hanging out on Daddy's lap

Husband enjoying some hammock time on the screened porch with his girls

One of the many crabs we found this year.  Husband dug this one up on one of our walks down the beach with the three "big kids."

Husband and I actually got to take a walk or two by ourselves, no children.  Amazing I know.  We saw this sign and couldn't pass up the chance for a photo op.

Husband took the three older ones to play putt-putt golf one afternoon.  It was their first time and they loved it.  

Quiet...He is about to putt.

Posing at the waterfall

Another big smile from Ella while out shopping with the girls.

The whole gang minus my brother and Jessica.  They had to leave early and so we didn't get a group shot with them.  Just another reason we will have to go back next year.

Trying to get all four looking at the camera at the same time may be an impossible task.  Here they are sitting on the creek dock before loading up in the car to head back home.

This is actually one of my favorite pictures.  The boys swimming trunks drying on the clothes line. 

A lonely beach chair and umbrella.

The gorgeous sunset one last time.

Thanks for a great vacation Pawley's.

See you next year.

All pictures were taken by me and are the property of 501 Housewife.

A Beach Vacation

I know I am terribly behind, but please forgive this busy momma.

We took our summer beach vacation over a month ago and I still haven't posted photos.  This year vacation was early for us.  Usually we seem to vacation towards the end of summer, but not this year.  This year ,we went in early June in order to accommodate my brother's vacation schedule.  That way he and his girlfriend, Jessica (who we love), and my sister, could meet the six of us, plus my parents at the beach.

What beach?

Pawley's Island, South Carolina.  One of my favorite places on earth.  It is beautiful and peaceful and quiet and there are screen porches with hammocks to read and nap in.    The perfect place to enjoy a little relaxation away from our otherwise hectic lives.  Pawley's is basically a small island, only about 4 miles long, that is separated from the mainland by a saltwater creek.  It is about an hour and a half north of Charleston.  My mom started going there years ago with her friends for a "girls" vacation.  She finally convinced my dad we needed to make it the family vacation spot.  And the rest is history.  We've been going since before John David was born.  Unfortunately we don't make it every summer.  More unfortunate...We aren't independently wealthy nor does husband have a job there so we can be year round beach bums.  But here are a few shots of this glorious island.

Dock on the salt water creek

The Pelican Inn

Some of the wildlife

View from the creek dock looking towards the road.

The creek at sunset

 What a glorious sunset

The beach house

The ocean

Another glorious sunset

All photos were taken by me and are the property of 501 Housewife