More Beach Fun!

This is what little man did for the majority of the trip. I wish I could just sleep anywhere.





I love the way Boogs is holding his hand out. It's as if he's trying to stop the water from reaching him...too cute!



Contemplating the vastness of the ocean maybe?







This is little man's, "I'm not so sure I like this weird feeling stuff ya'll call sand" look.



"Yeah momma, I don't like it!"



I try to take a picture like this every year. It's my equivalent of those parent's who take pictures of their kids sitting on Santa's knee every year. I would much rather have this picture than a picture of screaming kids because they are terrified of the man their parents just left them with. There's something calming about this picture.





David and I got a good chuckle from this gentleman. Bless his heart. This was how he was walking down the beach. He decided to sit on one of those wood chairs you can rent...maybe to take a breather? Or maybe to just look at the ocean and think about his life and all that he had done? I don't know. Wonder what the extra pair of shoes was for? I'm sure my friend Rachel could come up with a much funnier description for this because I am at a loss for words.



Funny story here...Picture this in your mind if you can because I was unable to get an actual picture.....You'll understand when I tell the story.

We had been to the beach several times already, but at different beaches so this time wasn't any different. Each time I became increasingly aware of all the stuff we had but with four kids and two adults...you tend to accumulate a lot of stuff. Down in Gulf Shores their is this huge bridge (I can't think of the name right now) you cross over to get to the AL/FL line. As soon as you get off the bridge you can turn right and go to a State Park beach. There are three different walkways you can take to different places on the beach and of course I chose the longest one thinking that the walk wouldn't be that bad because it 'looked' as if it was a wooden walkway the whole way to the beach. Which we all know walking on a paved or built walkway is much easier to walk on rather than trudging through thick sand.

Anyway, we loaded up all of our stuff which consisted of: two adult beach chairs, a beach umbrella, beach bag, diaper bag, camera bag, cooler, three very capable of walking and carrying their own beach toys kids and an infant in a car seat. We quickly realized that the beginning of the walkway was indeed sand that you had to walk through just to get to the wooden part of the boardwalk. It didn't look too bad or so I thought. David had the two beach chairs and little man in his car seat. I had everything else and the kids had their toys.

We thought the sand would never end. Halfway through walking in the sand, Boogs decided he was too tired and needed some help. So David loaded him up on his shoulders along with the two beach chairs and little man...still in his not so light car seat. It wasn't long before David was about to die, but being the manly man that he is, he kept on through the sand. It was hilarious! I was laughing soo hard that I had to stop just to get my breath. On top of that, he was shaking his head all around making comments he used to hear his mother and sister's say while growing up. He was pretending he was them having to drudge through the sand when they were younger. I could not stop laughing. He is so funny! We finally made it to the wooded part of the boardwalk and things got a little bit easier.

We had been on the beach for just a short time when the kids started to get hungry so I started looking in the bags for our picnic lunch. Our sandwiches were no where to be found. David had to go all the way back to the van to get them. Sometime while grabbing all of our junk, he took them out and forgot about them.

After our hike to the beach, we wanted to make sure that we were there long enough to justify taking that route. When we decided it was time to go, we re-loaded up everything to make the long trip back. When the sand part of the walkway started, Boogs again decided he was too tired and needed help so David, being the awesome daddy that he is, loaded him up on his shoulders for the second time. At some point David told Boogs that he was going to have to put him down. Then Boogs said "But daddeee, you luv me!" David and I both completely lost it! It was hilarious. I was laughing so hard that I was crying. I know people passing us thought we were crazy. We finally made it back to the van and decided that from that point on, we were taking only the bare essentials to the beach the next time. I only wish I had a picture to share because it was sooo funny! We are still laughing about it to this day!!

For you, my dear sweet husband, "Go get me a burrrrgerrrr!" and yes, sweet Boogs..we do love you, Mimi, Bud and little man sooo much!

Beach Trip

Here are some of the pictures I took on our beach trip. We had such a good week down there! The weather was absolutely beautiful, no jellyfish and we really had fun!

We don't feel like we have "officially" gotten to the beach until we stop at Alabama Point first. When I was little I used to go fishing there with my dad. A long time ago there used to be nothing but the wall, but over the years they have added more of a wall and a rail.



The kids and I decided to ride this gigantic skyscraper.... ok, it's just a ferris wheel but still, it's huge! It's funny because we always think we want to ride it until we get on and it starts going and they stop it at the very top to let other riders on. To me, that is the scariest part and I always pray for safety when we are up there. I'm fine once it starts going again....it's the stopping that scares me.



The kids, right before we got on the ride.



My handsome hubby waiting with little man.



This picture was taken while we were moving. See how Mimi's face looks? Bless her heart, she was scared and holding on to dear life to that pole.







Look at how much fun they are having!













Daddy lovin'.



I LOVE this picture of little man. He looks just like my precious grandmother that passed away earlier this year. I see her sweet face in his.



Little man's first time in the ocean.





I love the way this picture turned out.



LOL ~ Look at little man's face as the wave rolls in...too cute!



I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the way this one turned out too!!





Mimi sure does love her little man!



I've got lots more pictures to post but it's late so I'm going to bed. Good night ya'll!

Where Are the Extra Hours?

Well, I can't believe I'm actually sitting down trying to update this blog. Of course, I should be in the bed, but I'm telling you, this having four kids is kicking my butt. I sometimes feel like I can't adjust but I am, just slowly and slower than I'd like. I'm not depressed or anything like that. I'm having a hard time adjusting to schedules. With the older two being pretty much self sufficient and Boogs on his way, you'd think that only really taking care of one would be easy but it's not. Bless his sweet heart...he's the hungriest little fellow I've ever known. He's now 12 weeks and is still nursing every 1 1/2 hour to 2 hours. It seems like as soon as he's done eating, he's gnawing on that little cute fist again. I feel like I can't get anything done. It's funny, because I'll start a project and then he's hungry. He'll eat and I'll start another project and then he's hungry again. And so on and so on....I have so many little projects I need to finish it's not funny!

See what I mean?



I think he should be in a "Got Milk?" commercial....what do you think? LOL!



I tell you what though, he's the sweetest little thing ever. He's really starting to smile at you and I can even get one of those cute little giggles out of him. Oh and he just loves his Mimi. She's such a good helper and she loves little man so much!!



The last week has been very busy! For various reasons and making a very hard decision, David and I decided not to homeschool this year so Mimi and Bud started 'big' school. We were busy with clothes and school supply shopping because it was a tax free weekend. What a mess. That was one thing about homeschooling that I liked because you didn't have to clothes shop. Mimi could just wear whatever she wanted to (except for her jammies). Do you know how hard it is to find decent and modest clothes for little girls these days? It's shameful. I even went into an Old Navy store and asked the girl if they had regular jeans for little girls..no flare, no slim or skinny. She looked at me and said "Huh?". She had no idea. It's totally disgusting.

I was a wreck last Thursday. It was "the big day". I dropped them off and was pretty much a crying shame the whole day until I could pick them up. I couldn't wait! The night before, Mimi was very anxious and worried about not being at home with mommy and not being here to help me. I assured her that I would be ok and that she would have fun at school meeting new friends and all. We cried together and it was such a sweet moment. For those who only have boys, I feel sorry for you. And I say that with a sincere heart. I wouldn't know what to do not being able to have those kind of moments like I have with her. Boys are just not like that.

It's amazing the difference between boys and girls. On Thursday, Mimi gave me lots of hugs and kisses before she got out of the van but Bud...well he just jumped right on out of the van and didn't look back. He didn't even kiss or say goodbye to me. I knew he was excited but still, for mommy's sake I needed that lovin'. I made sure I got it the next morning. When I picked them up from school, Mimi was a chatter box telling me about her day. Bud on the other hand basically said he had fun. Isn't it funny how different boys and girl's are?

First day of 'big' school. *tear*



Boogs restarts his speech therapy tomorrow. He's doing better at talking but I don't think he's where he needs to be. He leaves off the middle or ending sound on words so hopefully that will pick up this year. I hope so at least. He starts K3 in September. He'll be going two days a week and I hope that being around other little ones his age for a few hours during those days will help with his speech.



I'll eventually get around to posting our beach pics and some others that I have taken with the new camera. I have the best hubby! =) David surprised me with a zoom lens to go with my camera so it's been neat learning about what it can do too. Sooo much to do and sooo little time to do it in. Is there any way to add more hours in the day and still be able to get the sleep needed to function? If you know of a way, puhhhhleeeease let me know!

Another Year Older

Today is a great day! Why? It's our birthday (yes, I said "our") because I get to share it with my bestest friend...my twin sister!

Every year we try and spend it together. This year, she came to spend the weekend with us. We went shopping on Friday because it's tax free (yayayayayay) and then yesterday we spent the day at the pool.

Last night we went to this new Japanese restaurant and it was sooo good! I took my little digital camera so the picture quality isn't that good.

Mom and Allison


Danny, Amy and Spencer



David and me



Mimi and her Dee-deed



Bud and his Dee-deed



Me and Boogs



Little Man ~ look at his little lips! And I'm not sure why his hair looks red. Maybe the lighting?


We had such a good time! Today, we are just relaxing. I've got to go take some more advantage of this tax free weekend. I'm trying to find Mimi some jeans. They just don't make jeans for little girls like they used to, but that's a whole other story.

Hope you have a great weekend! =)

The Girl I Used To Be

*A very dear friend sent this to me. Thank you Faith!*

She came tonight as I sat alone
The girl I used to be....
And she gazed at me with her earnest eye
And questioned reproachfully;
Have you forgotten the many plans
And hopes I had for you?
The great career, the splendid fame,
all the wonderful things to do?
Where is the mansion of stately height
With all its gardens rare?
The silken robes that I dreamed for you
And the jewels in your hair?
And as she spoke, I was very sad
For I wanted her pleased with me...
This slender girl from the shadowy past
The girl that I used to be.
So gently rising I took her hand
And guided her up the stairs
Where peacefully sleeping, my babies lay
Innocent, sweet and fair.
And I told her that these are my only gems,
and precious they are to me;
That the silken robes is my motherhood
Of costly simplicity.
And my mansion of stately height is love,
And the only career I know
Is serving each day in these sheltered walls
For the dear ones who come and go
And as I spoke to my shadowy guest,
She smiled through her tears at me.
And I saw the woman I am now
Pleased the girl I used to be.

by Rowena K. Lewis

A New View

First of all, thank you to those who prayed for me yesterday. I could definitely tell you were praying. I sometimes wish there was a book called "Raising Kids for Dummies" that told us every situation and every possible scenario that could go along with having kids and then gave us a resolution to those things, but there isn't soooo....we are left to guess at it sometimes. And I say that in second only to the Bible being first!! I'm talking about after and more specific. Aww, you know what I mean.

Anyway, as I mentioned in a few posts back, my sweet and awesome hubby decided to surprise me with a new camera for my birthday. My birthday is next weekend but he decided to go ahead and get it for me so that we could take it to the beach. I'm so glad he did! It is a Canon EOS Rebel XS Kit 10.1-megapixel digital SLR camera with 18-55mm IS zoom lens.



It is such a nifty little thing. I had just a regular point and shoot digital camera but I wanted something that was able to take better quality shots and also continuous shots. With little man being 10 weeks old, his facial expressions change so quickly so I wanted something that could capture each of those quickly. I am still learning about it and what it can do. I don't understand a lot of the wording or what the heck the instruction manual is talking about in some of the chapters but I want to learn. Guess I should look into taking a photography class. Hmmmm....

Here are a few shots from the first time that I used the camera..

I think this is my favorite!









Enough Mommy ~ I'm sleeeeepy!



I was hesitant about posting this picture because it looks like MiMi has a booger in her nose, but she really had a sore right up under her nostril. It's still soo cute though!



Here are some more pics of our little man. Isn't he the sweetest?