Brothers + Best Friends + Lollipops

We had a great time visiting our dear friends in Atlanta last week. Unfortunately, I lost our camera (second time in a year) so I just have these two adorable pics that Claire sent me. But they are perfect for sharing what Leo told me yesterday: 

"I love Gus more than you. I love you so much but I love Gus the most. I love him more than lollipops. I love him more than ice cream." 

I'm sure John feels the same way about Tyler. 

Stepping Out

Of course he would wait until AUGUST to walk!

Our camera ran out of room before this one finished but trust me, there were several (well maybe two) more steps! 

Here, he is assisted by Daddy but you can just tell he's got it down! 

I don't think this is going to be his main mode of transportation just yet; he's such a speedy crawler that it really is more efficient. But as far as his baby book goes, we're counting today, August 10th, his 14 month birthday, as the day he took his first steps! 

The Simciks take Sandbridge

Here are some pics from our third trip to Virginia Beach with the Simcik side of the family. We stayed in a house with Granny Jo, Popsy, David, Laura, Ellie and Charlie. Leo and Ellie successfully slept in the same room (but not in the same bed as the second  picture implies)! Our house was called "Nittany Li-on the Beach." We were in the middle of two other family-filled houses, for a total of 37 Nana-descendents and out-laws. A good time was had by all! 

Cousins huggin' on our first night: 

Oh, I guess Ellie and Leo have already fallen asleep. Night night!

Moms getting a well-deserved beer break

Leo and Ellie had so much fun with their sand/water adventures

David holding Frank holding Leo. Uncle Rob (not pictured) even tried to get under David! Those crazy Simciks! Ellie and I are just watching from the boogie board, singing, "Girls just wanna have fun."

If you can't find the water volleyball, a four-year-old will do

These two know just what to do for the camera

Cute cousins. (I'm kind of obsessed with dressing mine alike!)

Brothers at Baja, the bar across from our house!

Enjoying the free babysitting!

It's just not a Simcik beach vacation without a giant container of cheese balls (or two)!

Gus loved the muddy part of the sand...

...and the water...

...and the dry sand too!

Gus rolled around like a pig in the mud!

Leo was so brave in the water! Here he is with Frank, riding the waves. 

Nana with her first-born's family (minus Julie, Doug and Franklin)

Nana getting introduced to Jake and the Neverland Pirates

Burying Frank in the sand

Ready for a boogie board ride with Popsy

Ellie in a cousin sandwich. (Like their matching outfits?)

Leo and Ellie on the boardwalk in Virginia Beach

Posing on the boardwalk after the big seafood buffet

Charlie and Gus in their matching PJs. Yes, Charlie IS playing with a vacuum cord!

Charlie and Gus getting hosed down after enjoying Nana's spaghetti

Boy Crazy

The Fagan Boys (Charlie, Colman and Theo) came to visit last week. We like to thank that "Baby Charlie" (now seven) just missed us and told his brothers how great we were. The truth is, it was LegoLand that inspired their journey from San Antonio. We had fun with these sweet boys and it gave me an idea of what it would be like to have five guys! 

 It didn't seem too hard...but maybe cause there were two boy mamas on duty!

Watch out, Fagans, we are coming to San Antonio next!

Don't be a pain in the boat

Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Bill were nice enough (or brave enough) to let us come out on their boat. It was Gus' first boating experience. A man of the sea he is not. But after lots of crying and screaming he proved he was a man of the sleep: 

Leo (a veteran on what was maybe his second boating experience), was comfortable on the boat. Here he is hanging out on the "plank" with cousin Billy.

Cousins Frank and Bill (I know; lots of Bills!) noodling around.

Here is the nanny we hired. I mean Tia!

Every time Leo got in the lake, he announced he needed to go to the bathroom. Luckily, Kathleen and Bill have a potty on their boat because what he needed to do required facilities. No one had ever done that in their boat potty before until Leo did it...twice!

Gus during a brief happy spell

Two of the three Bills

Leo said the boys could sit at the front and the "gwirls" could sit at the back

Captain Leo!

Sleepy Gus

Boating makes you hungry for Goldfish!

Gus doing his "All Done" sign:

After the screaming from Gus and the bathroom christening by Leo, we're not sure we will be invited back. Good thing we have these pictures!