Running from the Storm

Ok, so we were not "fleeing." We left a few days early because of Ike. He was creating big rip tides and the beach was flying the double red flags (no one can get in the water). It also got very windy and we were staying on the 20th floor.....made me nervous! So, here we are headed home -- the van all loaded down.

This was taken a few days before we left. On Thursday when we left, the tide was at the sand dunes -- the beach chairs had already been moved or they would have been swept out to sea.

Again, taken a few days before we left. The night before we left, it rained on and off and was cloudy -- great reasons to come home!

Hours in the car driving to and from the beach: 16

Number of baths given to babies on vacation: 8

Loads of laundry when we got home: 6

Seeing the boys with their feet in the sand and water: priceless

(By the way, on Wednesday, our last day on the beach, Benjamin got in the water and loved it. Sorry that we have no pictures of it.)

Random Beach Cuteness

So we headed home early from the beach (see the next post for details). Here are a few of the cute pictures of the boys while we were at the beach. It was a great vacation! Brian and I were able to have a date night twice -- Grandmother listened for the boys while we had drinks at a little beach bar. We also were able to eat dinner with Brian's good friend Alex, who was in the area for business. We had not seen Alex since Christmas!

New trick and one step closer to the Ocean

After dinner last night, we went down to the beach. Benjamin was a little more receptive to the sand and even played in the sand. We got this smile at the end!

Yesterday, Ethan got up on all fours and started rocking back and forth. I am sure that crawling is not far away. He is already scooting himself backwards.

Hopefully, today we are getting in the water! Keep your fingers crossed !

Margaritaville

Last night we had dinner at a place you can't go wrong with! We ate at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. Brian and I have eaten at the ones in Orlando and Vegas. A lost shaker of salt dropped from a plane in the ceiling. As we were leaving, Benjamin kept saying "bye, bye salt." He said it the whole way home and even today is still saying it! The adults loved their Margaritas!

More to come!

My Summer Vacation by Benjamin

My feet and dada's feet -- when I agreed to walk in the sand.

Dada and Mama brought me to the beach after a long car ride. As it turns out, I don't like the sand/beach this year either! See me holding on to dada's shirt? I did this last year when I went with Mama, Papaw and Uncle Evan. I love the pool and feeding the birds. The sand feels really funny on my feet and I don't like it! I have learned what the moon is and what sand is.

Me and dada looking for birds!

Me enjoying my breakfast on the balcony. I love our view -- I get to see the sand and water from the balcony!

My View from the Back....

Well, we made it to the beach. The drive was fine, though we had to stop and let a little boy run around a little more often the we would usually stop. We had lunch at a State Park in Alabama. It was nice, but hot! Most of the trip, I rode in the very back of the van. Below is what I saw from my seat. Brian did ride back there for part of the trip. The van sure was loaded down with lost of stuff. I will get a picture of the "fully loaded" van on the way home. Boy, we really love our van!

Relaxing Labor Day Weekend

We sure enjoyed the long weekend! As you can see, there as a good bit of relaxing and playing that happened. We are getting ready to go to the beach and I am starting to pack. Probably, I will pack way too much -- better to have more then you need -- especially with 2 kids under two!

Benjamin has always loved being read to. Ethan is now starting to get in to the stories. I read to both boys each night.

We also spent some time at my dad's house today. Uncle Evan made a great meal -- Ole!

Usually, one of us is taking the pictures, so there are very few of us together!

We also went to the park today. The weather was cooler and cloudy so we played at the park after breakfast. Benjamin is becoming more and more of a dare-devil. He also loves drinking from the water fountain.

More stories.... We also just got Benjamin a new car seat. It is a Britax Marathon and we love it. I have ordered one more for Ethan to start using in the next few months. Brian calls it Benjamin's Lazy Boy Recliner. It looks really comfortable!

Who wouldn't love this face?? Ethan is just so kissable these days.

Have a great short week!