Ocean Isle --> Beaufort --> JAX --> Home

Saturday we left Ocean Isle, NC and drove down with my parents to Beaufort, SC to stay with Dru & Kristin.  The next AM we went on a walk and waited patiently for the ice cream truck...

 Dru and Kristin are such wonderful hosts and made us feel right at home.  I am so happy for them both!  God's plan is very apparent in their lives - first just bringing them together, then getting to really know one another, then for everything to work out for Kristin's job in Beaufort (less than 1/ 2mile from their gorgeous neighborhood)...
Me & Dru -- I'm so proud of my little brother!
I love you DRU!

The beauty of Beaufort, SC

The newlyweds...

Sunday, we went to the beach!  Uncle Dru did a fly-by with one of his students while we were enjoying the day at Hunting Island...

 Monday we had a great visit w/ Dr. Jackel at the Mayo Clinic 

and he gave us the great news that Eddie's scans looked awesome!  

Praise God!

We drove back to Melbourne that afternoon, and tried to get the majority of things unpacked and ready for the week...

Avery's Walking...

Avery's walking well -- She took her first steps not too long ago, but now, there's no stopping her!

The transition phase... crawling --> walking

 Avery will have a memorable 4th of July Holiday... 

it's basically when she really started walking!  Really walking!

 

She gained some confidence just days before the beach trip, but she got lots of practice walking to all her cousins.  She did an amazing job at the beach with the waves and soft sand!

It's so cute to watch her concentrate on balancing and strategically place each footstep...

Happy Father's Day

We celebrated Father's Day together on the lake.  The water was very choppy, but we still had a great time just being out on the water together!

 Avery & Daddy on the boat ;)

Avery testing her sea legs... 

Look at that happy girl with her Daddy!

Mommy & her precious girls...

 The swimming spot...

 Some things don't need words...

 Ali is 3 going on 16... 

`This week at Ali's school, they had a special play time for the fathers, Ali gave these two things to Eddie along with lots of hugs and kisses!

~ HAPPY FATHER'S DAY ~

And to my Daddy, Thank you for being such a great Daddy!  I have so many great memories from our years together -- some of the ones that come to mind and make me smile... asking me to figure out word problems on the way to dancing... teaching me new things... working on anything and everything... patching the coolant line in the hoopty van with bubble gum on our way to Florida, tying knots, snow skiing, water skiing, and always having the coolest science fair projects!

You are always someone I looked up to.  I aspire to know just a small % of the many things you know -- You are such a special part of my life and I love you more than words can express.  Thank you for always believing in me!

Our Most Precious Gift...

God has blessed us in so many ways!  

These little miracles are walking, breathing examples of God's love for us...

We are reminded as we look at them every day~

Avery Caylor & Ali Payton 

(11 months)                                       (3 yrs 3 months)

I love some of these pictures of Avery... 

 look at that grin...

... and those baby blue eyes!

 ...the innocence of an inquisitive little mind - 

NOW I Understand...

... how happy it makes parents to see their children LOVE one another!

Ali is such a good Big Sister to Avery!

 Such a happy, smart, and pleasurable little girl...

I love the beauty of our little girl in the tall grass...

April is one of my best friends in Florida.  We decided to do a photo shoot of our girls... 

We are both aspiring photographers (along with many other things) and enjoy learning together as we capture memories of our most precious posessions -- 

This is one photo of her girls that just makes me grin because it shows a little of each of their personalities...  Bryleigh, Elliana, Kiera (except she is a very happy baby) 

Ali (3) with her twin friends, Bryleigh & Elliana (3)

...and their little sister Kiera (8mo) with Avery (11mo)

Avery comforts Kiera as the big sisters all watch intently...

The girls love getting together to play!  

They "talk" on their cell phones to each other, and ask when they get to see each other again.  

We are so fortunate that they have each other and us parents can hang out too!

Bye Bye until next time...

Avery's 1st steps...

Avery took her first steps today!

She took about 3-4 steps from me to her Big Sister,Ali!

@ 10 1/2 months, Avery standing on her own!

Ali has been such a good big sister, helping Avery learn to walk -

She gives her things to hold then talks her through the steps, literally...

"Avery, just pick up your foot and take a little step! You can do it!!!"

_ _ _ _ _ _

Ali & I enjoyed the pool this morning while Avery was taking her nap.  She swam to me, to the wall, to the steps, floated on her back, we kicked on the kickboards, we played for a while longer, then she curled up with me on the float in the pool and we rested. We had a blast!

On a random, but funny note, Ali requested a cheese quesidilla for dinner last night, and when Eddie came home from work, she was in her high chair eating and yelled "Welcome to Moes" and chuckled... so cute what they remember!