4th of Julily

Can I just say, "I love the beach." For more reasons than I can count or even understand, I am simply drawn to the water. As a kid we would load up the Plymouth Horizon with luggage, spam, Phisoderm, and towels headed for a week of paradise at Pensacola Beach. Each trip we came home with some type of rotting sea creature (usually a starfish), 2nd degree sunburns, and a major entry into the scrapbook of life.
Fast forward 25 years and little has changed. The beach is just as magical as ever. The water is just as emerald, the sand just as white, and the sunsets just as magnificent. But, the magic of a trip like this is watching your kids have the time of their life.


Dylan (age 7)- He is a fish. He spent hours with a pair of goggles face down scouring the bottom of the sea for aquatic life. Every few minutes he would pull up his net which had captured a fish and brought it to shore, showing whoever showed the slightest interest in his personal "Discovery Channel Documentary."
Micah (age 4)- Water? Not so much. Girls? Oh yeah. While Dylan was pulling off a good Steve Irwin, Micah was on shore building sand castles and attracting the girls. It was crazy but every time we turned around Micah was encircled with these little girls who were watching him build castles, listening to him talk about Dylan's fish, and feeding him grapes.
Lily (age 2.5 months)- What a princess. There were a few things that happened on this trip that may turn out to be classic Lily. First, she and I bonded. My younger sister Rebecca went with us on the trip and made mention that Lily cried each time I held her. (I don't think that is actually the case, but I took it as a challenge). We spent some major time talking about life, singing John Denver tunes, and eating Olive Garden's chocolate mints (don't tell her mom). Second, she hates being wet or dirty. And, when I say hate.... I mean HATE. She also doesn't care for riding in the back seat of a car for four hours either. We tried every trick in the book to get her to settle down and only one thing worked. We skimmed through our music selection and came across a techno version of "Kiss the Girl" from the Disney classic Little Mermaid. As soon as the beat started she would get quiet and listen to the entire song. But, as the song ended and the BeeGee's came on with Stayin' Alive she commenced to her screaming fit. (Come to think of it, when the BeeGee's started we all went into a screaming fit.)
Shauna (age 29?) - loved the waves. Looks as good as ever. Made a lot of people on the beach very angry when they found out she had a baby less than three months ago.
Me (age 34) - enjoyed life. Especially enjoyed throwing pistachio shells off the seventh floor at the little man in the speedo sitting in the hot tub.
Vacations serve a purpose that goes beyond taking a break. It is about forging memories with the ones you love, in an environment that doesn't seem possible in the routine of life. For those few days they are the center of your attention and affection. I know they don't understand the value of eating spam sandwiches in a hotel, suffering through sunburned feet, and the joy of sand in every crack and crevice of your body... but, someday they will.... they will.

Lily. A Tribute to Billy Joel

UPTOWN GIRL

A number of years ago I heard an old Billy Joel song that he had written as a lullaby for his daughter. The lyrics went something like,

"Goodnight, my angel
Time to close your eyes
I promised I would never leave you
And you should always know
Wherever you may go
No matter where you are
I never will be far away."
I find myslef humming this little tune when I rock her to sleep at night, or in the morning, depending on what time of day she decides she's had enough. So I thought it might be fun to tag each of these pics with a throwback title to the ole' piano man.

THE RIVER OF DREAMS

SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT
(I know this doesn't make sense)

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

GOODNIGHT SAIGON

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

THE ENTERTAINER

LEAVE A TENDER MOMENT ALONE

TELL HER ABOUT IT

SHE'S GOT A WAY

Lily on the Big Screen

A Day in the Life of Lily

I have to say that for the most part Lily's day consists of eating, sleeping, getting rid of what she ate, sleeping some more, eating again, sleeping again, swinging, playing outside, and sleeping a little more. It's easy to fall into the trap of "I can't wait until she..." But, the truth is I can wait. There will be plenty of time in the future to chase butterflies, drink tea, eat crumpets, play candy land and other mind-numbing board games. For now, I am just content holding our little girl close as she relaxes in complete security on my chest. The chin quivers, the slobbery kisses, the elusive smiles, and gleeful kicks are what make these fleeting moments so tender. I know there will come a day when I will long for the late night rockings and incoherent lullabies. So, as her personality begins to take shape we will be thankful for all of those little things that seem at the time, unimportant and routine.
Will she love animals like her oldest brother?
Will she be adventurous and bold like her other brother?
Will she sing or dance? like athletics or art?
Will she be picky like Micah or try new dishes like Dylan?
Will she like pink, or blue, or green?
Will she enjoy spelling or math or school in general?
Will she be outgoing like her mom?
Will she be spontaneous like her dad?
Each day a piece of the Lily puzzle will be put in place and we will try to enjoy the moments that turn into days that turn into years that reveal a lifetime.

The Scout Runneth... and Lily Sleepeth!

After two years, an engine, brakes, two carbs, a host of batteries, tires, muffler, and an alternator or two... The Blue Beast is alive and well. I know that had nothing to do with Lily but it makes me so happy I had to share it with everyone I come in contact with.
So, life at the homestead is good. Last week my brother and his wife and son (and baby on the way) came in for a quick visit. In order to help prepare them for a multiple-child family we sent them home with our two boys. Before they left I sat Dylan and Micah down and gave them a list of rules they are to abide by:
1) Always say "yes maam, no maam. yes sir, no sir"
2) No whining.
3) Don't ask for things, but when you are given something be grateful.
4) Don't touch skunks that you see on the side of the road.
5) Lift the Lid.
6) Don't touch possums that you see on the side of the road.
7) Say your prayers at night.
8) Don't fight with one another.
9) Have FUN!
After two days they seem to be doing o.k. They will be coming back to Mississippi this weekend with my younger sister.
Lily seems to be plugging along. She is a little more alert every day. You can see her scanning the room for a familiar face, and once she focuses in on you she will lay a heart-melting smile all over you. I can already tell she will use this to her advantage someday.

Memor-lily Day Weekend

Miss Lily, welcome to the life of a Stockstill. With the close of Dylan's first grade school year we've hit the summer with both feet running. Last Sunday we loaded up the kids and a few families from church and headed to the Long Leaf Rails to Trails for an afternoon bike ride. My bike turned into the multi-faceted-all-terrain-kid-train-that-doesn't-hurt-my-legs-at-all caravan that hosted Micah in the backseat and Lily in the rickshaw. Shauna and Dylan each biked the 15 mile route solo.

Dylan swept the end of the year awards, aka The First Grade Oscars, winning the Citizenship Award, P.E. Award, Music Award, and the Accelerated Reader Award. I had to whip him with soggy noodles when we got home just to remind him who was boss. Seriously, we are super proud of all our kids. We are blessed to the full extent to parent such great kids.

Last night we headed to the Gulf Coast for "Sounds by the Sea" a Patriotic Performance by the Gulf Coast Symphony. It still gives me chills to see the men and women who so galliantly fought for our country stand as their military branch's fight song is played. One man, in his 70's stood and waved a small flag as the first notes of "anchors away" filled the air. Very powerful. They closed the show with a phenomenal firework display. Micah liked the ones that "flash and sound like a huge gun." Yeah, I like those too.

Shauna and I celebrated the big 13th anniversary today and I must say, it's been the greatest 11 years of my life :)

Julia Roberts has nothing on these lips!

The Kiddos and RoRo!
Her Synchronized Swimming pose (after her NeNaw).

Robin Hood and Lily John

My neighbor Tommy is one of those guys that everyone on the planet wishes they had for a neighbor. He is the master chef, mighty hunter, yard-of-the-monther, and loves kids. Anyway, he dubs everyone he meets with a nickname- Mine is Padre, Shauna's - Warden, Dylan- Matt Dillon, Micah - Big Buddy, and tonight he christened Lily with - Lily John (apparently the name is still in flux until he really sees her personality). But, at this point it is simply a reference to our looks, which is nice considering I don't even look like Micah's neighbor. I must say that babies for the most part look like babies. If their eyes are shut in sleep... then they look like me. If they are open and awake... they look like Shauna. So, depending on what time of day you stumble across her will determine how you finish this sentence, "Oh, she looks just like _______!"

As she grows, however, I am seeing more and more of Shauna (for that she will be eternally grateful). She is precious. The boys have adjusted with flying colors. Laundry has multiplied exponentially. Now, if she will only sleep - life will be good.