it's cold, even at the beach

We just got back from a nice relaxing get away in Destin at Eric’s parents house. Well, relaxing for the kids and I, my man worked his tooshy off setting up his mom’s and their friends new computers. But no worries. He eats that stuff up.

The weather was too cold to really do much outside. One day the girls and I got brave and adventurous. We took a golf cart ride and played around on Jolee’s Island in Sandestin. We had a lot of fun just goofing off.

Doesn’t it look like they are the best of friends and would never fight! HA!

Really and truly they are best friends. It really is amazing how well they do get along, but they have their moments!

Chicago

My man and I just got back from a week long trip to Chicago. It was amazing. For all the reasons as to why we’d drive 12 hours up to the windy city can be found here on this website -Soul City Church. We had a blast, made lots of memories and our kids looked ginormous (shocker – spelled that word right first time!) when we got back. I think they grew many many inches while we were gone. OH, and I don’t see how it was possible but the kids looked even more adorable and beautiful once we returned.

Here are a few pics from the trip. I am kicking myself for not taking more photos!

beach pictures

Well I have my camera again and the cannon powershot is finally charged so I finally uploaded all our vacation (I mean trip) pictures. I wish I had taken more but it just didn’t happen. Keeping five kids fed and in clean clothes kept us extremely busy. We had a wonderful trip and I can’t wait to do it again next year.

Packed out my friend’s mini van! Previous years photos go here and here.

Only a five minute walk to the BEACH!

We even made a day trip over to Disney. It was CRAZY fun. We crammed 3 parks into one day. Thankfully it was a slow day for Disney and the lines were unbelievably short! I have hardly any pictures because we were racing around to make the most of the day. We had the BEST time!

back from the great escape

Sometimes you just reach your limit and you need an escape. Well last week I was at that point and thankfully I had scheduled a beach trip with a friend and the timing was absolutely perfect. I’ve been gone for about 10 days and I am SO glad to be home. I am re-energized and almost completely focused on what is ahead. We have a contract on our house. The negotiations were settled only an hour or so before I left on our trip. All three of the kids are in a play this coming weekend so we’ll be diving into the theater first thing tomorrow to help get things set up.

I was able to enjoy a wonderful meal with my mom and my dad’s family at my aunt’s house after visiting my parent’s church this morning. I hate I left my camera there in my hometown. I am bummed that I can’t share any pictures! It’s probably best that I don’t have it. I would want to stay up for hours digging through every photo.

I am too tired to type anything else. I am off to spend time with the most awesome man in the whole wide world. 10 days with out him is just too long.

back

So … did I miss it … the world wide web, email, TV? No, not one little ounce.

I have been to one of my most favorite places on this planet, enjoying the out doors, visiting with some of my most favorite people (we got to visit with two sets of best friends!) laughing deep and hard, sharing -being raw and real.

I spent quality time with each child and heard the most precious words from my four year old, “Mommy I love spending time with you.”

I reminisced with my college sweetheart and my heart swelled with pride with the realization that he chose me … what a lucky girl I am!

I woke up each morning feeling refreshed and renewed and I am home feeling so completely full.

Back from heaven and I am ready to face real life.

playing with sand

It was our last day and we didn’t get off the beach until 7 pm. I soaked up every minute of sun that I could. I still haven’t gotten a photo of everyone together. I hope to accomplish that tomorrow before we drive away.

One of my personal favorite things to do at the beach is to create random things with sand and sea shells.

I am playing with some different settings … here’s some pics of my stuff.

The girls and I built a sand city – houses, roads, trees, a church, grocery store and a pizza parlor. This is the spiral church.

Lots of drips, we love them! All buildings are decorated with drip roofs, fences and drip trees.

These little mollusk shells look like butterflies once they’ve split open. #3 and I loved them!

our morning walk

We three woke up before everyone else, so we decided to go for a walk. The kids looked for treasures, collecting the colored shells that they valued the most. The beach was peaceful and calm, refreshing and alive. I love it here. We’ve been coming to the same beach since I was in kindergarten. I have so many memories here and it’s wonderful to experience my kids making their own.

my friday

We’re at the beach, this time on the Atlantic, cruising with my parents in their new ride!

our last day

This sudden trip has been just what our little family needed. We’ve really missed my man’s parents and its nice to have time with them all by ourselves!
Great food, lots of laughs, a new fun new card game, lots of ice cream, the beginnings of a suntan, I hate that it all ends tomorrow.

I can’t wait to get my hands on this book.

The ocean was really cold,

Thankfully Grandad heated his pool!

We’re all getting spoiled! Ice cream every night!

home again, home again, jiggety jig

It was sad saying goodbye to the beach. Now that we are home again, trying to recreate normalcy is hard, but it feels real good to be back. Here’s a few pics of the trip.

He’s grumpy b/c he didn’t want to get his picture taken.

Goofy Goggle Pictures:

if you look close you can see that they are half way filled up with water

How can that even be comfortable?