Beach bums!

Summer is here and has been crazy busy.

Here are a few photos of my little "beach bums", pardon the pun. Both my kids would live at the beach and pool if they could. We actually spent so much time in the sun, the last couple of weeks, I welcome the rain and cool upper 80's we've had since the fourth of July holiday.

The Bevins family has joined us on many occasions. They can hang tough with the best OBXers. their conversion is complete.

Ezra has been surfing on daddy's back... WITH a life jacket.

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Jaida loves to play with and eat the sand

Jaida and me @ the YMCA pool, just chillin.

A great side effect is they are completely toast on the car ride home.

Aunt Nikki and Jaida.

I think my favorite part of a beach day is after all the fun and the nap on the way home and a hardy meal of spaghetti or La Fogatas. Everyone gets all cleaned up. Showers; baths; lotion; fresh clothes. You feel all warn out, in that really good way. Your belly is full and your all fresh and clean and....ready to go to bed. You can even see the feel good on your babies faces. They are so happy.

Ezra and Jaida on just such an occasion. Happy Summer!!!!

Buffy warning look no further!!!

This critter, rest his soul, was living under our sandbox. The biggest fattest black widow I have ever seen. Not that I've seen a bunch. O.K. I have only seen three, including this one, this is the fattest. Just a nasty little surprise in my blog for all you arachniphobics. (that word was so big that the spell check had no suggested spellings).

that weird globb above the spider is one of two egg sacks.

Trip to Myrtle Beach

Recently we were invited to go to Myrtle Beach by Walking on Water to do a Luis Palau event. Noah and Jesse had the opportunity to speak briefly at this big "Beach Fest" event. Kinda looked like a christian lalapaluza. They had BMX demos, skate demos, surf camps, Bands, various pro athletes to share. Pretty cool. Here are a lot of pictures from that trip. We took this chance to also have our first Snyder family Vacation. All made possible by God and Walking on Water/Luis Palau ministries, cause we could have never afforded to go and stay in Myrtle beach, other wise. We had such a good time. Ezra is still talking about how he "loved that hotel in myrtle beach".

Nascar Speedway Park

We knew we could not avoid Ezra's dream come true...the Nascar Speedway Park! He was absolutely so thrilled to the point of being totally overwhelmed. He was just so happy. This is the part, as a parent, where you just enjoy life, and things you may not have ever done on your own, through your child's eyes. I mean Nascar!? Never in my weirdest dreams did I think I would know anything about nascar let alone go near a race car. Ezra is educating me quickly. Tony Stuart drives for Home depot, for example.

Not sure who was having more fun Ezra or Noah.

Ripleys Aquarium

On Fathers Day we got up and went to the Ripleys Aquarium. So much fun! I think I loved it more than anyone else. But I have always been a national geographic nerd. Ezra went from wonder and excitement, to terrified and back again. We had to keep reminding him that the fish could not come through the glass, especially the sharks.

What amazing creatures God made in his infinite creativity. Awesome Beauty!

Jaida was just taking it all in. Daddy enjoyed his family at the aquarium. What a good Dad to endure the kayos on fathers day.

Car Show
Ezra got to go to his first car show. Also a dream for the lil' man.

The amenities

They put us up at an really nice condo off a golf course. It had such a beautiful view, and was so nice and quiet. We had our own living rm and kitchen, which is a blessing when you are traveling with kids on a budget. That alone was so fun for us and our chick peas.

Also Jesse and Rachel's dad Rick and step mom Jenny had us over for a delicious steak dinner at their beautiful home one night, for fathers day. Rachel, Brad and kids were there, Jess and Whit and many Dogs, Chickens, and frogs. Ezra, Seth, and Emily had a blast!

I told Ezra Courtney's duck story, see courts blog, and he was convinced that they were the same ducks that lived @ our condo.

Dedication

We finally officially had Jaida's dedication on May 25th three days after her 1st birthday. We were so blessed and honored by Noah's family coming to take part. His grandmother Doris and her identical twin Marge came all the way from Annapolis, MA for the event. As well as his dad Rob and awesome wife Debbie(a.k.a. Gampa Bud and Nana or Gama Debbie) from KDH.

I love the tradition of dedication because it is not so much a baptism, which we believe Jaida is too Young to choose, But a commitment or pledge on the our part and those who love our children to conduct our selves in a way that will point our kids to Christ and the knowledge of the Gospel. A pretty huge responsibility if you think about it.

We really want to say thankyou to all of you who take part in our lives and our children's lives. We are so honored to be given so many amazing friends and family to help us in our endeavor to raise healthy loving, and God loving kids. We don't take it lightly, that so many of you have layed down your lives for our family. We can only say, one day, we want to do the same for all of you and your lil' babes to come.

"Pic'n strawberries makes me feel like a MAN!"

This is how they start out, isn't it amazing how they end up!!

So I finally joined all the "good mothers" and took my kids to pic strawberries at the patch.
It was fun watching Ezra search for each little treasure. Then pretty much squish each one as he picked it with the heavy hand of a three year old. After a while he began to learn how to be gentle. He actually ended up with a couple pounds of edible strawberries. The funny part is when we got home I set the bag of fresh hand picked goodies on our front steps while we played outside for a few minutes and our precocious cat, Storm, made a bed for himself on the bag and squished almost every one. So I froze em' for smoothies, not a total loss.

Its amazing how getting your child involved in the process changes their opinion. before this day he said "I don't like strawberries."

At the end of our strawberry adventure he said happily " Pic'n strawberries makes me feel like a man!" Oh Ezra!! I love my little man!!!

We had a good time with Aunt Niki, Whickey, & Buffy!

Monkey, Monkey....One?!

I can hardly believe its already been a year since we met lil Jaida. She turned one year old on May 22nd. We had a small get together that was just perfect for the occasion. We are so greatful to have such wonderful family and friends who love our kids.

Jaida has really never had sugar before this, so she wasn't sure what she thought.....it didn't take long though. I think she loves it!

As with all first birthdays, we were more excited than her.

Glad to have my mom here for the party.

Princess Monkey! She definately know shes a girl. We'd put the crown on her and she'd look at you like "I am soo beautiful!" then she'd rip it off.

Ezra was a very well behaved gracious brother. He even allowed her to have the spot light....till the sugar kicked in.

Later that night! I'm not kidding.