OBX 2014!

Even though we have been back from our 2 week beach vacation in the Outer Banks for a little while, we are still talking about the amazing time we had! I swear each year we say that it was the best beach trip ever and this year was no exception...it was THE best! We swam, "surfed" the waves, tried paddle boarding for the first time (Jimmy & Matt), made sand castles, played a little miniature golf, ran a 5k, visited the lighthouse, splashed around in the 90 degree pool (thank you dad for keeping the pool at hot tub like temperatures), made it through hurricane Arthur, and the list could literally go on and on!  Thank you Mom and Dad for another great summer down at the Beach Ball! Is it July 2015 yet?!!!

These pictures are from the full two weeks so there is a ton of them! And because the computer didn't want to work with me they are totally random and out of order...let the fun begin!!!

Isla Bean was a total beach bum!

Took Kaia out for a "run" one morning...let's just say it was the first and last time she went with me! She loves to run but she LOVES to chase cars even more!  

See that person way out there on the paddle board...it's Jimmy! Took him a couple days but he got the hang out it! 

Digging...

Stomping...

Loving life!

Our little water bug! 

I swear she would live in the water if she could! 

There he is again!

Isla is seriously in love with her Aunt Kris!

Best buds! 

A little golf lessen...

"Maybe no one will notice if I move my ball a little more to the left"

He already looks like a golf pro

How toddlers play golf

Bell was really good!

Isla said hell with the club and started collecting balls!

Sister pic taken by Mackenzie (took us 340939482309 pics but she finally got one!)

Another pic by Mackenzie :-)

The girls

And then the craziness began....

They 

didn't

want

to

stop

taking

pictures!

Pool time with MomMom

This dude is too cool. He plopped down on my bed to watch some cartoons!

                                                                                                             

"Mom stop with the pictures!"

 

After nap snuggles

Matt made a new friend :-)

Watching the sunrise because BOTH girls felt the need to see it that morning!

Looking more and more like twins with Isla sporting her sun kissed hair!

OBX Lighthouse 5K

Last week I did something I have never done before...I ran in a race! A 5K to be exact. I'm pretty proud of this accomplishment as I have never considered myself a runner (and still really don't). I have been consistently running for the past 3 months and it turns out I kinda like it! When I saw that the Outer Banks Lighthouse 5K was happening during our vacation and was taking place less than a mile from our house, I thought why not! And to make it even better my Mom agreed to do it with me! A 5K is 3.1 miles so it was the perfect one to get our feet wet. It was a beautiful HOT day and we had an awesome cheering section that accompanied us! Uncle Vince, Tyler, Kristin, all the wee ones, and even Kaia came to cheer us on (Jimmy and my Dad were back at work and weren't able to be there). My Mom and I finished like champs and both of us hit our time goal! Needless to say we are pretty proud of ourselves! So proud that we are already looking for another race to run! Ready..Set...Go!

Our bibs! 

Before heading off to the race

Hanging out before it started

Best part was doing it with this lady!

Waiting to get started

A high five and then we were...

off and running!

In the chute!

Waiving to my awesome supporters! 

Getting ready to cross the finish line!

Sweet Beckham came sprinting over to me when I finished. Best sweaty hug ever!

We finished!!!

Thumbs up to a great first race! 

(I realized after doing this post that I have no pictures of my Mom running. I am sure Kristin will be posting some of her running pics in a future blog post!)

Isla Marie- 21 Months

Isla turned 21 months and I honestly can't believe this little peanut is only 3 months away from being a 2 year old...what?!!! Isla is one of the sweetest, funniest, most loving little girls I know. She has the type of personality where you just can't wait for people to meet her and see for themselves just how special she is! Speaking of special, her special heart (that's what big sis calls it) finally got the 24-hour heart monitor test done. Back in March we wrote about how Isla's heart was still experiencing Premature Atrial Contractions (PAC) where her heart randomly skips a beat every 3-5 seconds. The doctor ordered a 24-hour monitor test to make sure that these fast beats were not consecutive (which would not be a good thing, it is better for them to be random/irregular).  We are so thankful to say that the test showed no consecutive fast beats! She still has PAC which the cardiologist will continue to monitor on a yearly basis. We have been asked to "check-in" on her heart with a stethoscope at home to keep and eye (more like ear, ha) out for them. But all around very good news!

Isla has been super busy and seems to be growing and changing by the hour, so here are some quick fun facts about our little girl!

 Nicknames: Isla Bean (we call her this 90% of the time), smiley Isley,  peanut, ladybug.

Favorite Food: Broccoli, Mandarin Oranges, Avocado, and of course Ice Cream!

Most Disliked Foods: She is not a fan of chicken, pork, or beef. She eats like a vegetarian.

Favorite Toy: Anything that her big sister is playing with

Favorite Stuffed Animal: Bunny, Bun (back up bunny), and the newest addition...Monkey!

Favorite Activity: Dancing, signing, and tearing up little pieces of Play-Doh and smashing them into the rug (Mommy loves this as she then has to vacuum it up (see "Biggest Fear")).

Biggest Fear- Vacuums, boo-boo's (Lord help us if she gets a boo-boo because we won't hear the end of it even after it's healed!).

Greatest Accomplishments: Learning new words everyday! Today's word  is "wawa" (water). She has also gone potties a few time on the big potty which is followed by a very elaborate potty dance!

Favorite Friend:  Mackenzie :-)

Keep doing what you are doing little Isla, because you are doing great!!!!!

Isla Bean

Story time with MomMom

Oh just a little grocery shopping

They couldn't believe they could actually ride it at the same time!

Showing off her heart monitor. Her shirt is hiding a ton of wires. Try making a toddler wear that for 24 hours, yikes!

Father's Day :-)

Sister love (in princess costumes of course!)

Two of her most favorite people 

She loves (and I mean LOVES) her PopPop! 

Cousins are sooooo  much fun! 

This makes me smile :-)

Isla Marie- 20 Months

Isla turned 20 months on May 18th (yes, this is super late) and we are loving this stage of her life (yes, we say that with every stage)! She has become more verbal, more understanding of others feelings, and has gone from not only seeing her sister as a playmate but as a leader and teacher. She loves to follow Mackenzie around and do exactly what she is doing. If Mackenzie jumps, Isla jumps, if Mackenzie is signing, Isla will start singing, and so on and so on. She loves to use Mackenzie as a tool for learning and I love watching that unfold. Mackenzie loves every bit of it too! Isla is also becoming more interested in potty training although we will not be going down that road for awhile longer. She loves to run circles around the kitchen, take rides in her pink car around the neighborhood, and especially loves her "chores" of feeding the dog and unloading the dishwasher. It would also not surprise me if she grew up to be a vegetarian as she loves all vegetables, fruits, and beans. Her main squeeze is still her bunny who unfortunately is looking more and more like Mr. Ducky these days...dirty, raggedy, and covered in loved. She has the sweetest personality and is still very much living up to her nickname, Smiley Isley!  We love you so much, Isla Marie. Happy 20 months!