summer does not equal summer without a trip to the beach

What did we do last week?  We went to the beach! 

Thanks to family, we had a place to stay for five nights and Peyton seemed to really like his first time playing in the sand and ocean.  Here are a few pictures to prove it.

Sometimes he hung out with Dada

Sometime he played with Mama

He even struck a pose for Baby Gap (just kidding, but this could be on the website- right!)

At the end of each morning, he was wiped out, ready for lunch, bath, and nap time.

     Our evenings were spent at the boardwalk, relaxing, me doing homework, eating and a little shopping.  Peyton didn't love the water on the first day (it was pretty cold), but the weather heated up and Peyton became fearless- as usual.  He even picked up dead baby crabs and neatly placed them on my shoulder after watching his dad do it.  

In 6 days, Peyton will be 18 months old!  In 5 days, we find out if he'll be a big brother to a little brother or sister.  I can't even believe he won't be the baby anymore.  He's getting to be so big and so smart.  Next year he'll be showing his little brother or sister how to play in the ocean!

to the ocean for a weekend

     Unfortunately, I haven't been too motivated to blog lately...  I guess there just hasn't been a whole lot going on.  Last weekend, however, something pretty exciting went on!  We took Peyton to the beach for the first time.  I'd like to document with a picture because it's just such a beautiful picture.  Hopefully we'll make it back a few more times this summer when the weather is a little nicer and Peyton can actually go in the water- because believe me- he wanted too!

Top FIVE of 2011

Top 5 Events 

(In the Chapman family household)

#5  We got Nelly

Nelly came to us by way of a local breeder (if you're interested in labs, let me know and I'll give you their website.)  She was three months when we got her.  Peyton was also three months old when we got her.  Her birthday happens to be the same day as Brandon.  Having her in this family was meant to be :-)

Little Nelly

I promise she did this on her own :-)

# 4.5  Peyton learned to swim

Just kidding.. but he did take lessons

#4 for real..... Our Trip to New York City

We went to NYC for 3 nights.  We stayed in Times Square and had a really fun time.  It was July, but it wasn't too hot.  Peyton was at a really good age- big enough to be out, little enough not to squirm the whole time, just observed and chilled in his stroller.

Times Square

Boat ride to the Statue of Liberty

Tour Bus... Times Square

Central Park

Upper West Side street fair

Peyton <3 NY

We also visited Greenwich Village and Harlem.  Peyton was perfect the entire time.  I'm sure we'll be going back soon.

#3  Daddy started his summer camp 

Brandon had the idea for some time to start a Christian based flag football camp for kids.  While I was on maternity leave we had lots of time to organize it and with the help of our church, we started Character Driven Athletics flag football camp.  We ran one week of camp with about 25 campers in July!  It was really fun and everything went really smoothly.  This year he hopes to run at least two weeks of camp, one flag football and one with a variety of activities.  Email if you'd be interested in sending your kids!

Full group of campers and coaches

Brandon with the campers

#2 All of Peyton's Firsts

There are a lot.. so here we go.....

First real bath

First walk with mommy and daddy

First real smile (which took forever to happen because we have a super serious baby)

First Easter

First 4th of July

First time at the Aquarium

First time at the Pool

First time to the Pumpkin Patch (Sorry no pictures of his Halloween costume..)

First Thanksgiving

First time cutting down the Christmas tree

First Christmas

There are many other "firsts" that I could add.. but this will do.  

# 1... Peyton's birth of course.. duh.

Because is there anything better that happened in 2011?  I don't think so.. not in our lives at least :-)