The Birthday Boy!

As always a ridiculous amount of pictures were taken to document this new AGE Of ACCOUNTABILITY... dun dun dun...

Just teasing as he would say. Definitely nothing to worry about with our Tyson. Sensitive and sweet and thoughtful and funny and tall and smart and creative and helpful... alright on with the post.

Tyson woke up early Thursday morning to a room full of balloons and a sharp little tack. Let's back up a little. During our 5 week stay in SC we did a lot of creating and projects mostly from simple household items or trash. Yep, Tyson has been big into recycling lately. Anywho, for his Birthday he requested nothing but stuff we were about to throw out. Well, some days it was the trash he wanted and others the many cool new and expensive toys or gadgets on the market today. What do you do, he's only human.

Well we did take a step up from our garbage can and took a trip to the dollar store. And maybe one day if he reads this blog many years from now, he might think "the dollar store, I got gipped." But not today. It was "everything I ever wanted!"

He was too cute, excitedly popping balloons and reading the little clues to a present or notes of admiration. The girls were also loving this extraordinary and exciting morning.

Also in SC as a craft one day the kids and I made this little pinata for Tyson's B-day.
If you can't tell by the picture Heath was very doubtful it would even hold candy.

But we must have done a thorough job because it took quite a rigorous beating.

Then of coarse there were more presents and cake. A note on that black cake. I only hope my cake decorating skills improve with time. It tasted yummy anyhow. And hey, Tyson thought it was "pretty cool". Sweet kid.

Saydee loves birthdays. She sort of understood it was Tysons day, but wanted everyone to open a gift. So she quitely got into my stash of gift bags, and filled them with some old toys or whatever else was lying around and handed them out. She even demanded I take pictures like Tyson did. Funny.

Overall Tyson thought turning 8 was "wicked awesome". Don't know quite where he got that one. But awww, he makes us smile... doesn't he you.

Water Park in Charleston, SC

We loved this place! A water park specifically designed for young kids. 3 very large pools, all shallow with tons of water features and slides and lots of shade. It also had a cyclone pool and a big slide for the older kids. We all had a blast. The best part was no crowds or waiting in lines. And we got the whole fam in for 12 bucks. Awesome, huh! Yeah, we had to go twice.

Our Church Lawn In SC

It gave the kids a lot more freedom to run wild and less of a headache for the mom.

Brain Freeze

South Carolina Aquarium

I tried but couldn't get any good animal pics. There were lots interactive learning things for the kid's. Personally I had high expectations and was a little let down. No big shark tanks or dolphins or huge turtles. Still, it was very neat of coarse.

On the way back home from the Aquarium, we noticed our battery light was on. We stopped at Pep Boyz to get it checked out. They were going to charge us just to check our battery. And we thought "no way, when auto zone would do it for free." Unfortunately, and at the same time very very fortunately, our car had died right there in their parking lot. 3 hours and $400 later, we left with 3 exhausted kiddos and a new alternator. It was a long day.

First trip to the beach

and it went something like this...

Tyson and Elli lovin it.

And for Saydee

3 hours of...

and then finally the last 15 min...

If I could choose a blue just right...

.
... alright, if I could get a color scheme and design just right ... light. airy. happy.
I love this designer. Some shelves featured from her home at Lovely Design.

Life in our hotel room.

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate writing. Well, its true I do. And here i am with no pictures to share (again, no adapter to download) about to bore you to death with all my ramblings that fill my head at night when its finally quiet. Ahhhhh.

I am so thankful for this time we've had here in SC. In truth I have been dreading this trip since we found out about it months ago. I'm sure all of my ranting and ravings about the timing of this trip stressed my poor husband out to no end. I almost refused to come thinking of our 3 kids, 2 of them under the age of 3, in a small hotel day after restless day going crazy. Saydee and Elli couldn't handle more than 2 days in a hotel, and frankly I couldn't either.

But, Tyson only gets to be with us for 2 1/2 very short months and I knew how much it would kill Heath not to spend it with him and all of us of course. Plus, after this 5 weeks in SC Heath only has 4 weeks at home before heading to Virgina for 5 Months. Don't they know he has a family.

So, after all of my complaining. This trip has been the best thing for our family and for me personally. Usually it does feel like a real vacation. So far we have had an amazing time here. In fact much to Heath's delight I've decided to extend my stay and remain for the full 5 weeks. We've made some wonderful friends, got to do and see so many things (thanks to the very affordable discount tickets to local attractions through Heath's work). Most importantly we've got to spend alot of great uninterrupted quality time together. I thought I'd go nuts trying to fill our days and entertain these kids without the library and playgroups and unlimited familiar resources back home. But once we got our routine down it's been much easier and alot of fun.

It does help that our room is quite large. It has only one bedroom, but its separated from the living room and small kitchen. No oven but it does have a cook top which has saved us from eating out, which we usually do once a week. On a positive note this bathroom sure beats the heck out of our pathetic little one back home :)

Sometimes we venture out during the day thanks to "Maggie" our GPS. There are awesome parks here and the local YMCA, which the kids love and is free to us because of my work. Lately, we've taken to going to the Church lawn for picnics and playing on the grass. A lot less hassle with the girls and we still get out of the hotel. Strangely enough it's been voted the favorite daytime activity by the kids, especially Tyson, who says he "needs to practice his running and ball throwing/catching/kicking skills". I'm surprised they like getting out so much in this humid heat. (not to worry Grandmas, we stay hydrated).

Then everyday we do a surprise craft, simple and inexpensive. Tyson and Saydee get so excited for this. Then we have naptime, reading/math, and sometimes letter writing. Tyson is becoming an avid reader and likes it. (knock on wood) And Saydee, his copycat, of course pretends to read too, very loudly. Heath usually gets home by 4:30 and we go out to swim at a sister hotel or go to the sprinkler park, rent a movie, or do the dreaded shopping with kids. (This last time we vowed no more).

On the weekends we sight see and visit local attractions. It was the kids' first trip to the beach. Very exciting and for Saydee, frightening. Poor little girl wouldn't even look at the water and hated the sand. She kept calling it "the dirty mud". What do you do.

So there you go. A play by play of our days here. You should probably get a prize if you read this whole post. But I know a few of you (grandmas, grandpa and siblings) were wondering how we were surviving pent up in a little hotel room for weeks on end. Well, for the most part pretty well. Its amazing what you can get accustomed to. Elli having to nap in the bathroom, Tyson having to run to the lobby for the restroom. Definitely not much personal space or time for anyone. Yes, moments of insanity. But on the whole all very happy, contented and connected.

Rain Rain

Today on the way to walmart it started to rain. I heard Saydee rambling from the backseat, "I like the rain.... Ohhhh, thats a lots of rain....Rain go away!"
I suggested that we sing rain rain go away come again another day.
"No, I say Heavenly Father can you stop that please."
Alright I added the "please".
She's still learning to be respectfully candid with the Lord.