Beach 2012, Day 4

The weather today was supposed to be rainy and stormy, so we headed to Charleston for the day.  It was pouring when we left but quickly cleared up when we were just a few miles off the island.  We went to the aquarium, and Levi loved it.  The picture below was of Levi in this section of the aquarium were you could crawl "into" an exhibit of lemurs - basically a plastic bubble so it looks like you're in the midst of the lemurs.

He found an "under 5" area and played there for quite a while.  He pretended he was in prison... played with some puppets / stuffed animals... slid down the slide... delivered packages.

 

Kara Jane thought the fish were pretty neat.

 

Kevin found the poke your head through picture taking opportunity and put Levi up to it.

Levi found this spinning "game", with little metal balls that represented the eggs laid by sea turtles on the beaches.  You'd spin the big wheel to allow the metal balls to drop to the other side to see how many hatched babies would make it to the sea, and how many would get "caught" by distractions from lights, beach chairs, sand castles, etc.

When we got back to the beach house, Kevin's parents and aunt were here.  After dinner, we thought it would be fun to take a quick trip to the beach to walk around since the weather had cleared up.  Kevin went to check it out first to make sure the wind wasn't too bad.  (We had gone last night, and we were pelted with sand because of the high winds!)  He came back with the report that all was fine - and that he'd seen a HUGE sea turtle swimming to shore.  By the time we got down there, we did not see the sea turtle - only the evidence that she had come to shore and headed back to sea.

Levi wanted to get in the water VERY badly, but we were worried about the currents.  So, no water for Levi tonight.  

Beach 2012, Day 2

The weather is supposed to make a turn for the worst in a day or two, so we decided that we needed to spend as much time as possible at the beach.

Kara Jane still loved the sand.

Even though I don't have pictures, Levi began to really enjoy the water.  He would hold my hand - sometimes both hands - and we'd let the waves hit our legs and faces.  The water was cold, but we had SUCH fun!

We had to take a break for Kara's nap.  Levi took a break, too.  Then we were back at the beach. He watched the big boy play Frisbee with his dad.

He made friends with the people who had settled next to us.

Kara spent the afternoon under the tarp without a bathing suit...and had a great time.

Levi and I played in the water some more.  Thankfully, though, Kevin didn't take any pictures of me in just my bathing suit.

Beach 2012, Day 1

We made it to the beach.  I had been really worried that work was going to keep me from being able to go.  But, the guys on my team and I got it done.  So, we rented a mini-van and made the LONG trip to Kevin's favorite beach.  When we arrived, we were hungry, so stopped at one of the few local restaurants.  Levi had his first fried shrimp.  He loved them!  Score one for Mama!  ;-)  

Then, we HAD to go to the beach.

Levi had fun seeing the water.

And, shockingly, Kara Jane liked the sand!

She, of course, also had to put some in her mouth.

She wasn't too sure about that.

But, it didn't keep her from playing.

At the pool party last weekend, Levi adamantly would not get in the water.  He had said all week that he wasn't going to get in the water at the beach either.  We got him to at least let the water touch his feet.

Parties

A set of twins from Levi's class this past year had a pool party to celebrate the end of the school year.  We went and had a fun time.  Here's Kara Jane in her new swimsuit.

Later that afternoon, we went to iJump to celebrate a cousin's birthday.  Last year when we went to a birthday party at iJump, Levi was very timid.  This year, he climbed the highest slide... 

 

raced people down the slide... 

had a wonderful time.

Last Day of School

Levi has had a wonderful teacher and class this year.  We will miss them this summer!  The school had a 3 and 4-year old Spring Program to celebrate the 4s graduating.

Levi was pretty excited to see himself on the big screen at church.

I will try to add a video in a week or so.  Blogger won't cooperate!

He was very excited to see his daddy also.  He also wanted to whole audience to know that his daddy was going to pick him up from school early and take him for pizza.

Mother's Day

Today, I opened a sweet email from Levi and Kara Jane's awesome caretaker.  She had put together a list of some of her favorite and memorable quotes from Levi.  Here are a few:

Levi: Do you know McDonalds?
Miss Aubrey: Yes.
Levi: It’s kinda like Old McDonald, but different because one’s old and one’s new. So,
there’s Old McDonald and New McDonald…. And did you know that New McDonald’s
has a slide?

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Levi: Miss Aubrey, Where is the basketball goal.
Miss Aubrey: You took it upstairs to the bathroom like I asked.
Levi: The bathroom on the stairs?
Miss Aubrey: There isn’t a bathroom on the stairs.
Levi: Well, I took it to the pretend bathroom on the stairs.
Miss Aubrey: …You need to go take it to the real bathroom upstairs.

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Miss Aubrey: (pointing to a picture of Daniel in the Jesus Storybook Bible in which
Daniel has a Teddy Bear) I wonder if the real Daniel had a Teddy Bear
Levi: The real Daniel?
Miss Aubrey: Yes. He was real, but he lived a long time ago.
Levi: Like George Washington.
Miss Aubrey: Yes.
Levi: They’re dead now.
Miss Aubrey: Yes, now they’re in heaven.
Levi: They aren’t in heaven.
Miss Aubrey: Yes, they are.
Levi: George Washington went to another place in the sky.
Miss Aubrey: I don’t know about another place in the sky.
Levi: My daddy told me about it.

Several days later, while walking from school to the parking lot….

Miss Aubrey: Levi, do you see my car? It is a Saturn.
Levi: Like the planet? That’s where George Washington lives now.

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Levi: It is drowsy outside today. (I think that he meant to say dreary.)
 
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Kevin: Daddy doesn’t feel well today.
Levi: You need to eat lots of food and drink lots of water and get lots of exercise.

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Here's some of the things I want to remember...

My question to him: What do you want to be when you grow up?

His reply...

At Christmas...A chef.

Around February...A teacher.  I want to be a teacher with Miss Ann (his teacher from last year) when I'm twelve.  Then I won't live with you anymore.

In May...A doctor.

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Me: How about you put on your (insert any clothing item here...shoes, shorts, etc.) by yourself?

Levi: I can't do that.  Four-year-olds can do that.

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Kevin:  Why do you ask so many questions?

Levi: I'm a talker.

Another Oldie But Goodie

Levi and Kara

Kara Jane loves her big brother.  Anything Levi does or says often gets a giggle from her.  Sometimes even an honest to goodness laugh.

Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Another dress that was mine and my sisters'.

Fun Friday

Levi has had a GREAT week. When Audy asked if he could spend the night with "the boys" on Friday, I thought it would be a fun treat for him and a wonderful reward for his awesome behavior.

Levi was a little excited.


That left Kara Jane and I home by ourselves - Kevin is in Augusta with his mom while she recovers from surgery. I tried to take a picture of KJ so you could see BOTH of her bottom teeth - the second one began to poke through yesterday. Unfortunately you can't really see them. I really did try!!


Last weekend, we visited a sports store. Levi LOVES to putt on the putting greens. Kara thought it was fun to CLIMB onto the putting green. Her first climbing experience. Tonight, we practiced some more. She was very timid the first two times tonight, but by the third she acted like an old pro. (Please note that I was right next to her in case she became unstable on the cushion.)



And for your viewing pleasure - kiss the doggie.