Buddy

I don't even know that I'll ever be able to verbalize or write how this whole relationship functions.  They are almost one in the same.  Same love.  Same laugh.  Same silly attitude.  They love each other SOOOOOOOOOOOO big.  It is precious and overwhelming and so much fun.  Buddy was the first person in our family who got to see Miss SpenBrynne via photo right after she was born and I do believe it was the beginning of a beautiful love song.  They are hilarious together.  In person, via FaceTime, on the phone, via Snapchat... You name it and the silly spans miles.  If ever she needed anything, I have no doubt that her Boppy would be first in line to donate an organ, or dollars, or anything else she required.

Heck, he might just give up his right arm if she asked for it!

I love that they have so much fun together!

Seriously?

When was the last time you saw someone smile that big?

Please ignore SB's giant forehead bruise.  She had been stair diving.

Its fine.

Pool Date

I am determined to catch up on life/blog this month.

Here's a cousin swim date this summer.

Love them!  

Hayes and Elizabeth both took ACTUAL swim lessons this summer and they both learned how to swim really well.  I was thrilled to see them progress and learn how to handle themselves in water.

She's 4.

I won this cake contest via Facebook in June.

I was SO pumped that I could get my girl an awesome cake.

It looked fantastic.

Tasted ok.

But wasn't functional at all for her party.

Never again...

I don't think she cared ONE bit.

She turned 4 in August.

She is my favorite 4 year old girl ever.

I love her independence, her stubborn streak, and her caring heart.

She has the best manners in the whole world.

She is literally, the MOST caring child I've ever met.

She never stops talking and she avoids bedtime like it is toxic.

Her favorite things include lipstick, lipgloss, fingernail polish, sparkly things, her skechers, pink stuff, purple stuff, pretty stuff, stickers, markers, and ketchup.

The ducklings

This.

This picture.

It is my favorite photo from the summer of 2015.

My precious ducklings on the way to our pool for swim lessons.

I love them and I love our summers together.

NC: Wolf Lodge

Our last leg of the journey to NC and back consisted of a trip to The Great Wolf Lodge in NC.  We stayed at the Concord/Charlotte location.  It was an awesome experience that I would recommend to any family!  I would recommend that you wait until all children are above the age of 3 for height requirements and restrictions on rides.... but it was STILL FUN!  

We had a few slides that we could all ride.  There were a few obstacles that the children could climb as well.  Spencer enjoyed the floor fountains and the slides that were her size.  

Libby pretty much enjoyed everything.

Hello there.

You are my size.

We can be friends.

I had to beg a stranger to get our picture.

Daryk and I are the only people actually looking at the camera.

Awesome.

This is only 4 hours from home and we are thinking about going again and taking my mother in law.  She can participate with the kids and watch them play.  Everything was zero level entry with no stairs, so she would be able to enjoy it!  

Finally, summer!

Strategically placed baby bell blocks the nekkid baby bottom.

Oh, this one.

I love her so.

And him.

When did he get so grown up?

I miss chubby hands.

Ice cream in the yard daily.

Or driveway.

And the Queen was pushing the Princess around the yard for good measure.

I love sweet summertime.

Swimming and Splash Pads

The next 2 weeks will be 'catch up on the blog because I spent summer WITH my children instead of ON the computer....

June:  Hayes started swim lessons/team.  Hayes started the summer timid and shy, terrified of the water.  He refused to jump off the boat, dock, and the side of the pool.  He completed his summer confident, fearless and most importantly... a SWIMMER!  He now loves the water as long as he has his goggles on.  We are still letting him swim some with his puddle jumper because we don't want to watch him like a hawk and the pool is often crowded.  Kingfish Swim Lessons were successful!  

We also traveled to Chattanooga in June for Daryk's cousin's wedding.  In Chattanooga we got to enjoy some family time and my kids got to play with some of their cousins!  I was honored to meet Uncle Bud, who my Spencer is named after.  He was such a kind and gentle man.  I so enjoyed that weekend.  The time with Daryk's family is so much fun.  I love visiting with his aunts, uncles, and cousins.  My children loved spending time with their cousins as well.  We swam, ate, and visited until bedtime.  Sunday morning we spent some time with the family again and then ventured into Chattanooga for a few hours.  

The splash pad and the cupcake shop were on the agenda.  We also had a lovely lunch!  

I felt like a terrible mother because I FORGOT to pack sunscreen and put it on them for the splash pad playtime.  They were a little bit pink for a few days and I learned my lesson!

Summer Swing

This is what summer in the Cochran house looks like.

Stunning shades and secuirty blankets galore.

Also, side ponytails for the baby mullet.

We finally made time to go swim in the neighborhood pool last week.

I've been getting the inside scoop from our students who live nearby.

Not crowded in the A.M., and the opening hours are optional.

So we can show up shortly after breakfast and have our own swim time.

Perfect.

My children are up and done with breakfast by 8 a.m. every day, think it will be cold enough?

Elizabeth knows no fear.

She throws herself down the stairs with blind faith that we will catch her.

Clearly she jumps into the pool with the same blind faith...

Hayes is always a little more cautious than his baby sister.

Hesitant and a bit more reserved.

Dare I say that he's my child? 

This is sleeping beauty.

She sports this look at LEAST 4 days a week.

Lights on, noise machine off, and all 3 of us sweetly saying 'good morning baby'....

She doesn't budge until we physically make her move and get her up.

Dare I say... she is also my child?

I think the things they gather from each parent expand far beyond eye and hair color.

I can't wait to tell you how they are both like their father!

Cochran Baby #3

I've been gearing up for baby #3 for a long time.  I'm pretty sure I was ready for #3 about the time Elizabeth turned 1.  We were moving and the house got bigger (thank you Jesus) and I just knew I'd get to have another little person.  Last week we named the hypothetical 3rd child.  I'm pretty sure I've got it in the bag now. 

I can't wait to be pregnant again!  I love being able to grow little people.  I can't wait to introduce Hayes and Elizabeth to a new member of our family.  I can't wait to have my own little baby to smell and hold again.  I think that if I didn't have a job and bills to worry with that I would just keep having babies for a long time.  Something about the new and the adventure they bring makes them addictive.  I can't wait to nurse a little one and soak up the baby rolls and squishy fat. 

I have jokingly told people that if my sister wasn't getting married I would already be knocked up.  That's a truth, not a joke, but it wasn't until last week that I was certain I would be able to do so.  I just couldn't accidentally get pregnant with our 3rd baby.  As much as I wanted a baby, I wasn't willing to lie to my husband for that.  Talk about a mess....

Either way, we are gearing up for our summer break--30 more school days left (not that I'm counting) and I couldnt' be MORE ready for summer and our newest attempt at an addition. 

Woot woot for a Cochran Baby #3.  And summertime!  The pool, the playground, the creek, the sunshine!  My babies have recently developed a deep affection for blowing bubbles, so I need a good bubble juice recipe.  Any ideas?

Saying a prayer for baby #3 and hoping that God provides.

I can't wait for squishy toes and baby snuggles.

Disney Day 3. Wednesday....

We ventured to Hollywood Studios to see the Star Wars ride for hubby.

We weren't even into the park before we got to meet Minnie!

Hayes and Elizabeth were thrilled!

It was a great start to our day.

This is the Muppets fountain.

I think Miss Piggy is beautiful, always have.

We watched The Muppets 3D show & Elizabeth LOVED it.

She giggled and bounced around the whole entire time.

Daddy rode the Star Wars ride.

Also, took his picture on this weird Star Wars thing.

Then he spent about 3 hours in line trying to enterain this girl.

Well, not 3 hours, probably more like 20 minutes.

Kid is not patient.

Stabbing daddy with his own glasses.

Making faces at each other.

Daddy wins!

Look at her grin!

Hayes got to meet Phineas and Ferb.

We LOVE them and want to live where they do.

They get 100 days of summer vacation.

We only get about 60....

Elizabeth wasn't really sure about those guys and bailed on them pretty quickly.

See.

So we took a family photo instead!

She was also terrified of Mike and Sully.

Can't say that I blame her, Sully was huge and Mike was just creepy looking.

I truly felt sorry for the cast member who gets the Mike job.

Also, I want to know how the cast member moves those arms!

Tricky!

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!

Coming up next, Buzz & Woody.

We rode the Toy Story Mania ride and had a blast.

Thankfully we did a fast pass for that one so we didn't have to wait too long.

To say he was a little excited would be a huge understatement.

They both squealed and gazed lovingly through the windows as we waited.

Hayes meet Buzz.

Hayes was speechless.

Woody and Hayes discussing his Mr Potato Head shirt.

Good choice for that day Mom!

Elizabeth went RIGHT to Buzz and hugged him!

Family picture!

At least I've got Daryk trained to look at the cameras and smile...

Art of Animation studios drawing and coloring in the pictures of the Disney characters.

She wasn't really feeling it...

We got to meet our favorite Neverland character, Jake!

We also got to see a Disney Jr interactive show and my kids loved it.

It was really dark and no flashes were allowed, so no pictures of that.

But there was lots of dancing and singing along with Mickey and crew!

After nap time we headed out to the pool for some water fun.

I believe she had a good time in that fountain!

Hayes had a blast squishing it underneath his feet.

They both look like they are pretty relaxed at this point.

Squishy fountain face!

When we planned this trip to Disney World I had nightmares visions about riding Its a Small World.

I love that ride.

Who doesn't?

But that creepy little song sticks with you for dayssssssssssssssss.....

So, we rode Wednesday night after dinner and a few other rides.

I had promised my mother in law that we would ride and tell her all about it.

The little people loved it.

Elizabeth was asleep in that pink coat draped over my shoulder.

Hayes looked like that for most of the ride.

He squealed and laughed and yelled out about all the animals as we rode along.

We also rode Under the Sea with Ariel that evening.

Clam shells are the preferred method of travel in the ocean.