Sun, Sand and Sea

View from our beach house deck

It's been a week since we left Ocean City, NJ and I'm finally getting these pictures up! We've had a busy few days since we got back. We had a great week at the beach and it's always sad when it's over. Our whole family, about 30 people or so, was able to be there so that made it so much fun. 

We thought Liam would love the beach and we were right. Even with the water being cold, he was in and out. The first day he had no fear, but after taking a face dive, he was afraid for the next few days. It took him some time to warm up again, but before we knew it he was running straight in, yelling "Go, go, go!" The sand was also a hit, especially digging big holes with the older boys. 

Liam made fast friends with my three little cousins, Rio, Mattias (who Liam called "tee-tee") and Marco. They are seven, eight and ten and the best boys on the beach Liam could have asked for. Balls, digging, swimming and running, they did it all. He especially got close to Marco, even to the point of sitting at the bottom of the steps going to the beach saying, "Marco, Marco" until he came out. 

Marco was best buds with Liam all week. 

Digging and playing

"I got the bocce ball mom!" 

Liam also had a great time running in and out of the water with Lydia and Meredith, two of my other cousins who adored him too.

Sitting in the bottom of a big hole was one of Liam's favorite activities. 

We were able to have some great family time throughout the week, including Liam's first trip to the boardwalk and merry-go-round. If you've ever been to Ocean City, you know they are famous for their boardwalk and the many different kinds of food and activities there. Our family doesn't go to the boardwalk very often, but we thought we would take Liam at least once and it was fun. He was terrified of the merry-go-round at first, but got over that and seemed to have a good time. 

Mama and Liam at the boardwalk

Look of terror..

Feeling ok about the horse by the end! 

Rob got his favorite, Rita's vanilla custard

One night we left Liam with the family back at the house and the six Yoder/Bedinghaus kids went on our 3rd Annual mini golf outing. We always have a fun (and yes, competitive!) time together. 

This year mom wanted to get some family pictures with Logan's beautiful new camera, so we were all instructed to bring our white, navy and gray clothes along. We got some great shots with minimal complaining, so hopefully mom got her Christmas card picture from the bunch! 

Waiting to get started...

My sweet baby

Me and my mom 

I paid Marco a dollar to come along and help Liam smile for pictures by jumping around. It mostly worked...

Overall, we had such a fun week and always love to be with our family. It's a long drive (13 hours!) but we wouldn't miss the week for anything. Here are a few more pictures to round out the week. 

I think there were at least three people jumping up and down in the sand clapping their hands and chanting "Liam! Liam!" to get the smiles for these pictures. But it worked; adorable. 

Rob, Ben, Jordy and Luke all had a golf competition going throughout the week called Tour at the Shore. Ben made a trophy and the winner after three rounds of golf got to take it home. Jordy was the clear winner, but they all had fun. 

Evenings on the beach are the best. 

My favorite person. We celebrated four years of marriage on Friday and I couldn't imagine anyone else I'd rather be with. 

Until next time! 

Out on the Lake

My in-laws recently bought a skiing and tubing boat and lucky for us, one of the nicer lakes within a fair driving distance from them is our very own Lake Monroe. It's about 20 minutes from our house and I will be the first to say it was amazing to drive such a short distance for a nice "vacation!" 

A few weeks ago we planned for them to come over and for us to spend Friday and Saturday out on the lake. Thursday came around and they started their trek over here with the boat hitched to their Suburban, but hit major technical difficulties with something in the electrical system of their car. We thought we'd have to cancel everything, but they still came without their boat and instead rented a boat for Saturday. We spent Friday night at the newly renovated Four Winds resort right on the lake and had a blast together. Lauren and Ryan came along for the fun too. 

We weren't sure what to think of Liam and a boat, but he far exceeded our expectations. Knowing how busy he is I thought he would want to be up and running all around the boat. Instead, he sat as still as he ever has in anyone's lap and loved "helping" Boppy drive the boat. Rob said maybe he felt like he was back in the womb with the water and gentle rocking, but I can assure you, he was much more active in the womb! 

Overall it was a lovely weekend with gorgeous weather and good times. We are looking forward to many more memories out on the boat in years to come! 

And now, thanks to Lori, pictures. Frankly, she has a much better camera than we do, plus she is constantly taking pictures and I don't particularly trust myself with a camera or my phone on a boat, so she wins all the photo awards for these. 

The hotel had such a nice pool even if it was freezing! Liam didn't mind and had a blast "jumping" off the edges to papa and getting tossed around. 

"Hi Mimi! I want to see pictures of Liam!" 

Friday we ate dinner at a golf course and afterwards spent some time on their putting green. Rob and his dad competed to make a shot in a difficult hole and Liam gathered their golf balls and tried his hand at golf too. 

A little lesson from the pro

Running, running! Adorable. 

Not sure why we're all leaning in this picture, but a rare family photo where Liam is actually smiling

Love these two goofballs, Ryan and Lauren. We were glad they could join us, but we missed Kayla and Chris who were at his grandmother's funeral. 

Family out on the boat. Excuse my cop glasses in these shots. I seriously need new sunglasses, but haven't gotten around to getting any lately. Thanks to my brother for these left from his wedding! 

Liam does not look happy in this shot, but he really did have so much fun helping Boppy drive. 

We're still not sure how he felt about going out on the tube, but he did manage a little wave and seemed to have fun. 

Best part of boating -- snacks with Boppy and Mimi 

Ok, ignore the terrible photo of me grimacing, except to acknowledge that yes, I did get up on water skis after many years of not skiing! I got up the first time and felt like it was quite the accomplishment. Was I able to get up again after this? No. Am I still awfully sore from this 20 minute foray into skiing? Yes. 

What a stud. Rob rocked the wakeboard and yes, he's still sore too. 

Trying the tube with mama, but all he kept doing was pointing to the boat and saying "snack, snack." What can I say, the kid might like food more than he likes the tube! I don't blame him one bit either. I like food better too Liam. 

A Day In the Life {Instagram Style}

It seems like Instagram is everywhere these days. In order to learn it a bit better I decided to borrow an idea I've seen on many blogs, taking a photo every hour through a normal day and then posting them. It was strange to me to set an alarm on the hour beginning at 7 am and then taking lots of pictures all day. I don't normally do that and it felt very self-centered, but as a learning experience (and a way to share our daily life) it worked pretty well. I didn't always take the picture on the hour, but tried at least to capture one during the hour. 

Enjoy! 

Oh and if you want follow me on Instagram, find me at katemorganb. 

Waking up. Usually happy and glad to see mama in the mornings.


Breakfast! Oatmeal and blueberries and lots of swirling the milk with a spoon.

By no doing from us, Liam loves his baby story Bible. I think I read it (the titles on each page, not every story) at least five times today. 

We had to get three Father's Day cards and a wedding shower card today which involves a trip to Hallmark. Also known as the most tempting store ever for a toddler. Cards to pull out of every slot right at my level? Yes please and thank you. 

We had our first summer mom's play group from church at the park today. After a rainy day yesterday it was wonderful to be out in the sun playing and talking to my friends. 

We're fish sitting for our friends this week. Liam is fascinated by the fish and here is waving to it since it was "waving" it's fins at him. 

Our post office is a nightmare. This is me fifteenth in line when I got there. I avoid it at all costs, but really needed to mail some things today. Thankfully Rob was home so I went during naptime as waiting in line here with Liam is about ten times worse than Hallmark

I'm not sure how I've lived so long without Rally's fries. I had to go to the post office and conveniently had a coupon for free fries right next door. Treat! It took major self-control to save a few for Rob. 

Liam uncharacteristically took about the longest nap of his life today, so we treated with popsicles after naptime. He only wants the green freeze pops and is getting pretty good at sucking the juice and ice pieces out.

Rob picking lettuce from our garden for supper. It never ceases to amaze me that such delicious things come from tiny seeds!

After supper we read Liam's baby Bible together, our big Bible and practice Liam's catechism questions.

We usually walk around our neighborhood in the evenings and since we know many people who live here, we often run into friends. In this case, Caleb. He's Liam's bud and is just learning to crawl so bushes are very interesting!

Snuggling with mama and Bow Wow (his dog lovie) before bed is one of the best parts of our day.  

Ending the day with our new favorite show, Psych.


Last shot before bed - necessities - glasses, chapstick, monitor, kleenex and alarm set for the morning.