Sun and Sand!

Last week, my folks rented a condo in Orange Beach for a little getaway for our whole family. We don't often get everyone together, so it was really special to spend a few days with my brother, his fiance, and my parents! We had a GREAT time.

Our condo complex was small, but it had an indoor and an outdoor pool and plenty of beach access. There was also a beautiful, well-lit pier off the back of the complex.

When we arrived (after spending most of the day in the car) on Monday night, we ate dinner and took a walk out to the pier. It was getting late and the girls were pretty tired, so we headed inside. Gazing at the handful of people out on the beach and then passing a few children playing in the pool, Catherine said to Nana, "But we haven't gotten to do any fun-ness yet!" She was ready to play then and there! We assured her that plenty of fun-ness awaited and the rest of the week didn't disappoint!

She absolutely loved the beach. I was a little surprised. She isn't a kid who likes to be messy or dirty, but she took to the sand like a little crab! She even enjoyed swimming in the salt water. She got knocked over by a few waves, but she wanted to keep playing! (This is a big deal for our little drama queen.)

Caroline was a different story. Caroline is pretty texture sensitive. She is a picky eater, hates to be wet or messy, won't walk on grass, etc. We've played in the sand a few times this summer and it wasn't met with mixed reviews. She hated it. So I wasn't sure how this week at the beach was going to go. I wouldn't say she ever completely came around, but she did enjoy playing in the ocean, sitting on a mat and playing with sand (for a few minutes at a time), and sitting in a beach chair under the tent. And getting lots of attention from her family! And she also enjoyed the pool, so that was a hit!

Snuggling with daddy on the back patio

Mom and Me at LuLu's one rainy afternoon

Learning to build a sand castle

My future sister in law and my mom

Happy place (note the clean feet!)

Bethany let her wear this awesome hat!

Can you hold a can and paddleball at the same time? It's something to aspire to!

Daddy took both girls way out into the water. In Caroline's words, "I love the little waves. But not the big ones. You have to jump over them."

We surprised my mom and dad one evening with a cake  to celebrate them and their marriage. The bakery was supposed to make it look like a wedding cake. My brother said it made him think of a quincinera. I'd say he nailed it. Hopefully, it's the thought that counts!

Kiddie Carnival 2014

One highlight of summertime in north Alabama is the Athens Lion Club Kiddie Carnival. I can't say enough about how much fun and how family friendly this event is. Let's recap. We spent $10. This bought us four sno-cones, a funnel cake, and rides for the girls all evening. Catherine has been looking forward to this since last year. Seriously, I can't count the number of "Is it July yet?" questions from her.

Caroline wasn't too enthusiastic about the carnival rides. She made it through a couple and there wasn't any crying. But after the third twirly circle ride, she was pretty much done with it. She was, however, very enthusiastic about funnel cake. And playing with her daddy's face. (This is fun?)

I told you she had fun. This isn't posed.

 

Caroline isn't crying!

 

Still not crying?

Face playing

Enjoying snow cones!

Cars (And hey, look! We ran into a friend!)

Independence Day 2014

Our Fourth of July around here was pretty low-key. Wild parties aren't really our style these days. Daddy had the day off and he began by giving mommy a little break, taking the girls to the park for a little bit in the morning. I love the way he looks to serve his family. I am one blessed girl!

After they came home, the girls and I made cupcakes to celebrate the fourth. We have so much fun baking together. Let's just say lots of icing was consumed in the process of decorating. 

We enjoyed an awesome grilled supper outside on our back patio. We haven't eaten on our patio, probably in years. We've always had a little one who needed a high chair, we had bad mosquitoes, and we don't always attend to the backyard the way we should. But it was newly mowed and newly sprayed for mosquitoes and NO ONE NEEDS A HIGH CHAIR. Wow!! We might have to do that more often. It didn't hurt that the high was in the mid 80's with no humidity. I don't think we've had weather this pretty in July . . . maybe ever!

We finished our night by seeking out a location to watch some fireworks. We didn't want to go to an actual viewing place because we thought the girls might be scared if it was loud and we also really didn't want to be caught in bad traffic after they ended. Hey, we were already looking at bedtimes two hours late. We found a little spot in a parking lot at Bridge Street and we managed to see some of the three different shows going on around town. It was fun and the girls actually did pretty well. Maybe we'll get even more adventurous next year. They really thought it was fun!

Sprinkle, sprinkle!

Proud of her creation

I can get a few more of these sprinkles off the plate if I lick it first. It will go with the icing on my face.

They taste as good as they look!

Yum!

I had to post this because it is getting so hard to get genuine smiles out of Catherine. She has learned to "smile" for pictures and getting a real one can be hard. So nevermind that she has ketchup on her face.

 

I posted this one because I was kinda proud of her hairdo. Russell called it toddler cornrows. All I know is that her hair was under control. Which it never is!

Out watching and waiting for the fireworks to start

Just enjoying being outside after bedtime! They don't see the dark much in the summer.

Peaches and Aunt Awesome

We lucked into a somewhat spontaneous visit from two of our favorites last week! Aunt Allison and Peaches came to pay us a visit for a few days and help with the girls. The girls had so much fun. I think Aunt Allison read no fewer than 30 books and drew countless pictures of Minnie Mouse. She is a great sport! And Peaches. Well, have I told you lately how much I love my mother-in-law? Soooooooo much. She is a gem. The girls love you two ladies. Thank you for making the effort to come all this way!

Borrowing Aunt Allison's Chaco's

Peaches helped me bring the girls to the splash pad one morning

Allison and Catherine ready to enjoy a delicious snow cone

Not surprisingly, snow cones pleased our picky eater

Playing in the rain

One day last week, our pool play date ended in a torrential downpour. We got to the car just in time for the sky to open up! Since we got home and it was raining . . . and we were all in our swimsuits anyway, we decided to play in the rain. Blog-worthy? Maybe/maybe not. But it's summer.

My wild child seized the moment

And the one who'd rather play in the drain spout. She required quite a lot of convincing to leave the garage.

The black on the edges is the sillhouette of a towel I had draped over the camera. It was really raining!

Totally spontaneous. Sister love!

Southern Thunder Rocketry Festival

Russell has always enjoyed building and shooting off model rockets and he has been sharing that interest lately with our girls. A few weeks ago, he and Catherine trucked up to a sod farm up in Tennessee for a model rocket festival. Daddy-daughter date at its finest! They met some nice folks who gave them a rocket so that they could participate (Daddy hadn't been before and didn't know just what to expect), and they enjoyed seeing high-powered rockets, some with homemade colorful engines soar as high as a mile in the sky. I understand there were also hot dogs and Cheetos.