Destin Trip

We just returned from a great week in Destin!!  We all soaked up the sun and great time with family ... my boys were in heaven with all of their favorite playmates.  We began the week with Pops, Gigi, and the McCallas and ended it with all the Moores and Hutchinsons.  

 My boys with their McCalla cousins

 Everyone loved being buried in the sand

 Luke and Carter have become great little swimmers

 Fun family reunion with my dad's sister's family

 Moore boy cousins ...

  ... and even more boy cousins

Sleeping Beauties

How have they gone from this ...

... to this so fast?!?!?

I am so utterly grateful for their tight bond and can't wait to watch it continue to grow and grow!!!

Hot Date

I got a real treat to take Graham to a family wedding in Birmingham last Saturday night.  It was his first wedding and he was really excited about it :)  In preparation, we talked all about what happens at weddings and the reception, and we even looked at our wedding album.  The whole event really exceeded my expectations.  Graham was very quiet (some smarties in Bet Bet's purse helped!!) and loved watching everything happen at the ceremony ... when the bride and groom walked down the aisle at the end, he asked me if they were going to the "cake place." The reception was a blast and Graham loved eating, drinking Sprite, and of course the cake!!!  We even got him out on the dance floor for a bit.  I really had such a fun time with him and am grateful to Kevin for staying home with Luke and Carter, so we got to have this special date :)

My handsome date!!

So excited about the cake

With Bet Bet and Snacks

The moment finally arrived ... he was extra excited that there were 2 cakes and preferred the chocolate groom's cake

Dancing with Bet Bet

His crazy dance mooves

Taking it all in

With the groom, William Moore

To make things even better, we got to stay with my college roommate, Robin ... here is Graham with her two precious girls, Anna and Elizabeth.  Thanks Robin and Todd for letting us crash ... it was short but definitely sweet!!

Anniversary Trip

We just celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary and took a trip down to Boca Raton, FL and stayed at the Boca Beach Club ... I think the word "ahhhhhhh" pretty much sums it up.  We slept in, ate great meals, chilled by the pool and on the beach, got massages, had uninterrupted conversations, and just really enjoyed being Kevin and Shellye for the weekend instead of Daddy and Mommy.  I truly am so grateful for the man I have and pray that our marriage only continues to grow stronger.  I didn't take many pictures (too much relaxing), but here are a few.

Dinner at Cielo ... you can't really tell but we had a gorgeous view ... the restaurant is on the 27th floor 

 The view from our room ... they even brought us a bottle of champagne at check-in :)

 We got a real treat to see my camp friends, Ashley and Brett Birkeland, who live in Miami

And while we were away:

 Sno-cones after an afternoon swim

Fun at the Big Backyard.  

Thanks to grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins ... it really does take a village!!  And I know our boys had a blast being spoiled by everyone ... until next year ... it's a big one: #10 :)

What we've been up to

I can't believe we're already a full month into summer.  We've been having a ball and finding ways to stay cool.  We've been swimming at least 2-3 times a week, but I haven't taken my camera out to Richland yet.  Here are some pics of my boys enjoying the summer heat!!

 You can find us doing this most afternoons in our back yard

 At Cheekwood ... their new Treehouses exhibit is awesome

 At a Nashville Sounds baseball game

 The only place they wanted to be at the park since it's so hot

And yes, even when I thought it wasn't possible, Luke's hair is actually getting blonder :)

I can't help but laugh ...

... at how I find Luke and Carter when I go check on them at night before I go to bed.  They sure do like to par-tay in their room at night :)  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves ... all I can say is THEY ARE A MESS!!!!!!!!!

 What is wrong with them?!?!?!

Seriously, how are they comfortable?

Life at the Beach

We just returned from 12 days at the beach with the Moore extended family.  I'm afraid my boys are going to go into some serious cousin withdrawal.  I asked Graham last night if he was sad to leave Sea Island, and he told me yes because he wouldn't get to see Wils anymore, and then today (after we'd only been home for 2.5 hours) Graham asked if we could go to Jake's house ... when I told him no, he asked if Jake could come to our house :)  And Luke, Carter, and Brantley were like the 3 Amigos this trip!!!  I am so grateful that my boys have LOTS of boy cousins and that they love to be around them.  We had a great week, and I'm hoping that our reentry to the real world won't be too bad.

 Luke, Carter, and Brantley enjoying the waves

 Graham, Wils, and Jake

 Saying the Pledge of Allegiance before the Moore Cup

 2 cuties in baseball caps

 Loving the fountains at the beach club

 We had one rainy day, so we went to the bowling alley