Ike is 5!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY IKE!

Ike, where has the time gone?  It seems like you were just wearing the size 18 mos clothes that Legare trots around in everyday.  You are such a big boy now and I feel so lucky to have you as my son.   You are learning so much these days at school and sounding out all the words you can get your eyes on and telling me what letter words start with.  I can't believe you will be in Kindergarten next year!  We are loving reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory each night before bed - I love that you tell me how you are "imagining the pictures in your head" as I read :)    Just talking to you is my favorite thing to do, I love that we can talk about anything and everything from funny to serious and everything in between.   I think it is so cool that I can do that with my own child, you are not a baby anymore.  You are simply the sweetest, most kind hearted child I have ever run into.  If ever anyone is hurt, sad or simply needs a hug or an "i love you all the way to planet jupiter and back" you are there!   You love to love Legare with hugs, kisses and pats on the head even though he often doesn't sit still long enough.

I have figured out that being a parent gives your heart the ability to keep growing and growing with no limit.   I didn't think I could love as much as I do as a mother and that is why we worry and protect, mother nature is amazing that way.

Happy birthday to my sweet, sweet boy.  I love YOU all the way to the moon and back!!  love, mommy

 On Sunday night, we went with Kyle, Bing and Dana for hibachi dinner... a first for Ike.  He loved it and it was the perfect thing to do for a winter birthday dinner.

This morning I went to school to bring special snack of blueberry muffins, strawberries and smoothie to Ike's class.

 I took a photo of his class and they all painted their own picture frame for this photo to take home.

 Our dear friend, Ashley, made Ike his number 5 birthday shirt.  She has made him these shirts since his 1st birthday and he was so proud to wear it today.  We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends!!

 Tonight we had a little pizza, cake and presents.

 Legare liked the presents and Ike opened everything in record speed :)

 Ike got a zipline from Kyle & Bing, details to be ironed out but he is very excited.

 cake made with love by Ike and Mommy

Legare liked the frosting!

We are thankful for...

Thursday, November 24, 2011

... our family and health!  Ike said in his school Thanksgiving play that he was thankful for "playing in the snow with Daddy" which seemed a bit odd but then this morning out of nowhere he says to me "mommy, I am really thankful for my family".    

It was different this year to not have Uncle Dean and Uncle Steve here as they usually come in from the city but since they are residing in Savannah for the next year and a half they are with the family in Charleston.   All my food turned out great and looking forward to the leftovers, I usually don't like leftovers but this is an exception.    

trying to get their photo by myself on some scary steps, not the best idea! 

 thus legare is mid-wiggle :)

 Ike's first time in a coat and tie (other than Dana's wedding when he was 3) and he was a bit reluctant but happy in the end about how handsome everyone told him he looked.  

 Legare and Henry had a great time together

 Legare and I went exploring before dinner

 he loves my phone and always holding it up to see if anyone is there?

 a typical Legare expression as he is "telling" me something and pointing

 Freddy the dog was happy for a visit

Love to all our family near and far!!  

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

This year I was really craving my mom's food and feeling a bit homesick about it so I did as she suggested and helped myself!  There are many dishes I miss but the dressing is the main one.  You see, in the south we don't "stuff"... we "dress" - much prettier that way :)  My mom's dressing is moist, crispy on top and oh so delicious.  

The base is celery, onions, and butter mixed with fresh skillet cornbread and some herb stuffing, dot the butter on top and...

...magic in the oven gives you this!!

I couldn't help myself when it came out the oven!  mmm.... now if only I was cooking it with my Mom but it was as close as I could get.

We are headed to Schutz family Thanksgiving with our nearest and dearest 27 relatives so I made the turkey breast and dressing for our house - not to share :)    I have only cooked a few turkeys but this came out pretty if I do say so myself.

My contribution to the big family meal is a Mrs. Hamby's veggie casserole and a big tray of string beans with almonds.

Family Photos

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

We had our own family photos done last weekend by a photographer that I found online and loved her work.  She works out of Mystic so we went to Harkness Park for our session.  It was so interesting to be on the other side of the camera and watch someone do what I do.  Ike was a bit of a pill we still managed to get some good shots with a little bribery :)  Below are the 3 that we have seen so far...

Happy Birthday Legare

Thursday, August 11, 2011

All we can say is wow! What a fun, challenging, memorable & exhausting :) year it has been with our family of 4. I know it sounds cheesy but Legare definitely completed us as a family. The boys love each other so much and I can already see into the future all the fun things they are going to do together. We feel very lucky to have our little family!!

The bummer is that Legare has had a virus and has been sick with a fever since Monday so he will miss school tomorrow with his buddies but hopefully on Friday he can celebrate with them and Ms. Glennda. We had a family party last Sunday so here are a few fun shots from that.

June craziness

Friday, June 24, 2011

Holy cow! Where has a month gone!! Well, we had an awesome vacation in Charleston and so many great photos soon to be posted. Since we got back I have been very busy with Kerry Schutz Photography, school came to a close, Fathers Day, summer began and oh Legare is almost walking (crazy since the last post on the blog was of him just crawling)! Yes, I have lots of new posts coming soon so don't go too far. Kerry

surfin' Legare

the boys (9.5 mos and 4.5 yrs)

Lille & Ike boat riding by Morris Island Lighthouse

teeny tiny shark that the boys caught in the harbor...

beware, mommy shark must not be far!

hermit crab race on Morris Island

Legare's first day at the beach

cousins on the beach!

Beamer, 1999-2011

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

This morning we said a tearful goodbye to Beamer (aka Brongie, Broro, Orange Dog). I found Beamer as a small puppy on the side of River Rd on Johns Island and brought her to my parents house - she was starving, covered in fleas & ticks but with lots of love, food and help from Dr. Patrick we were able to save her and I knew she was all mine. Our close family friend & neighbor, Joe, said to Beamer that night "dog, you don't know it, but you just went to heaven without dying" and I love that! She did have a great life and we were mutually lucky in finding each other.

She spent time at my parents and lived with me on Charlotte Street, Sullivans Island, the cabin on Long Hill Road and Podunk. She had a quick affinity to Harcourt and loved everything he did from boating to fishing to mountain biking. Whatever it was we did, she usually went with us. Even though she was a Southern dog in blood, she enjoyed playing in the snow but her favorite was always basking on a sunny day in the hottest spot she could find. When we added Nilla to the mix, she was at first put off but quickly they became buddies and Nilla always respected her as an elder. Ike only knows of having Beamer and he loved her despite the fact that she loved to take his food off his plate when he wasn't looking :) We explained to Ike that she was going to heaven and he just kept saying he didn't want her to go. Last night, we went to the pet store and he picked out a chameleon beanie baby, "Iggy", for her to take with her to heaven so she would always remember him as well as some treats and a candy cane bone which she sniffed but didn't take. As she went to sleep for the last time this morning, "Iggy" was under her chin and the vet promised us it would stay with her. We know there is a new fluffy dog bed waiting for her in heaven and all the treats she can eat!
Saying goodbye today definitely feels like the close of a chapter of my life. She was with me through so much in 12.5 years from graduating college, meeting Harcourt, leaving Charleston to establishing a life in Guilford, marrying Harcourt and having Ike & Legare. Parting is such sweet sorrow. Sweet girl, we are all going to miss you very much.

She was always a good sidekick to whatever Ike was doing outside!
as I said, "Whatever it was we did, she [they] usually went with us."