Family Pictures

Brian and his boys
As good as it gets for a family shot

Melissa and Chris

These where hilarious to shoot.

It has become tradition for us to make family pictures each year at the beach. I enjoy doing them, but I have to tell you this year was a little bit stressful on me. First of all, I have two babies this year. This alone kind of messes with the logistics of things. Secondly, we are dealing with the weather. There is a small window of time when the sunlight is just perfect. Which leads me to the third issue. We have to take pictures of eighteen people, seven of which are children. Not only do I take a group shot, but I try to do individual families, pictures with Grandparents, etc. The pictures turned out well this year, despite the fact that Erin fell asleep,and Grant was terrified of the beach. (Both kids are teething too!) It's nice to see how we all change and I hope we can cherish the photos in years to come!

Check out Liz's blog for more pictures!

Day 3 Morning Pictures

Old Papa and his little girl!

(moments like these are priceless!)

So sweet!

Still not liking the beach

Making his escape!

Help!

Another Precious picture!

Day 3

Chris found this little crab. He also found a bigger one and it bit him twice!
The grandkids chasing Papa! Run Papa Run!

Erin can sit up al by herself now! She's getting so big!

This morning we all headed down to the pool, but it was closed for maintenance (again!) so instead we went to the beach. However, Grant still is not a big fan of the beach. He is warming up. He let us carry him around tonight, as long as we did not try to put him down.

Us girls went shopping this afternoon. After the first store Erin decided that she was not happy. She started crying. I couldn't console her at all! I tried everything. People (complete strangers) always try to "help" by offering unsolicited advice. I tried not to make eye contact with anyone as I hurried back to the car with a screaming baby. I had already changed her, rocked her, desperately tried to nurse her and she wouldn't have any of it! I think it's her teeth. Bless her little heart. Melissa had bought me a smoothie and she immediately started gumming the side of the cup. We decided to leave and go home. I spent the rest of the afternoon in the Condo with the little girl. It was my time to cook dinner anyway. She had a few more meltdowns. (I can't recall Grant having this much trouble teething, but all kids are different. Just when you think you have this parenting thing figured out another kid comes along and changes your whole perspective!)

After dinner we all went down to the beach to watch the sunset and let the kids play. It's so nice in the evening. We took a ton of pictures and hopefully I can upload a good bit of my favorites!

More pictures from the beach

James
Anna

Matthew and Brandon

Sweet Luke

Day 2

Granny, Mimi, Papa, and Old Papa

"War Eagle!"

Under the new tent during a rain storm

I was not able to get a lot of pictures today. It seems that Stephen and I are always heading in different directions. Grant still only likes the pool. Yesterday morning the pool was closed for cleaning so we weren't able to swim. Instead we took Grant and Erin for a walk around the condo down the beach and back. Our plan worked and both babies took good naps when we got back to the condo. After lunch I took Erin down to the pool while Grant was still napping. By the time Stephen brought Grant down I had to take Erin back in. Finally we were able to get together after dinner for a swim in the pool.

We are having a good time visiting with Melissa and Chris and Brian and Liz. The kids are playing together so well. Anna has been a big help with Grant and Erin. The other night Grant just let her pull him around the pool the whole night. Next thing I know she's standing on the stairs cradling him like a baby! I wish I could have taken a picture. We haven't been able to play cards yet this year, but I am hoping we get a good game going tonight after the babies are down.

Our Day

Erin napping with Aunt Liz on the beach

So Sweet!

Anna Loves her baby Erin

Grant only likes the pool

Day One- R.I.P. Tent!

The condo has a poor Internet connection this year. The new router is not as good as the one they had last year so I am down in the atrium updating the blog.

We had a good first day at the beach. After church, we spent the rest of the morning and afternoon down on the sand. Grant was afraid of the ocean and the beach this year. Just as I had suspected. He just wanted to go the pool. Erin, fell asleep and slept a good while for us under Papa's tent. IT WAS A GOOD TENT!

After lunch we put the younger ones to bed and Melissa, Chris, Brian and I went to Publix. We went the night we got here and it was like grocery shopping the day before Christmas when a hurricane is coming! The line to check out wrapped all the way around the store. So I stood in line while Melissa retrieved the items that we needed to get through lunch yesterday. It was crazy and we will never make the mistake of going to that Publix again on Saturday night!

When we returned a thunderstorm was rolling in. Stephen and my sister went down on the beach to get our towels out from under the tent so they wouldn't get wet. When they got to the stairs they could not believe what they saw. Our tent had ripped off of the frame and was floating in the ocean! The wind had been so strong that it even bent the frame. So the tent is no more. My dad is going out today to get purchase a new tent! Hopefully, this one won't meet it's fate anytime soon!

i am having technical difficulties posting pictures. I am getting a full signal down here so I am going to get Stephen to look at it. Check back for pictures later.

What I Should Be Doing...

...is packing. We leave tomorrow for our annual Wakefield family vacation and I can't hardly stand it I am so excited. I am like a little kid on Christmas Eve. (Oh wait! I still get like this on Christmas Eve too!) Anyway, I have started packing, but it has been challenging you see. It all started when Grant thought it would be a good idea to rise and shine about 4 am this morning. Stephen,(who has been on call this week was just leaving for work. I didn't even question why he was leaving that early) put him in bed with me and closed the bedroom door thinking he's drift off to sleep for a few more hours. Grant had other plans and promptly got up, opened the door and occupied himself doing only he knows what until 6:30 am. He would come in and out of the bedroom and get up on the bed from time to time, but he was in a good mood so I let him play. I know some of you reading this probably think I am a bad momma, but you do what you got to do to survive! He crawled back into bed with me at 6:30 am and went back to sleep.

Oh and the problem that pulled Stephen out of bed at 3:30 am this morning sent him straight to a place I despise. It's called "Peak 10". Peak 10 and I do not get along. You see three summers ago when we took our first family vacation to the beach Stephen had to work the weekend we left. So I went on with my parents expecting him to arrive Sunday or Monday at the latest. (Peak 10 is a disaster recovery site for large companies' servers. Basically, it's a huge building with tons of wires and flashing lights and noisy fans because it is hot from all the computer stuff. That's my take on it. I am sure Stephen would describe the place appropriately.) Any way, Stephen never made to the beach and he spent a month practically living at Peak 10. He would work 36-48 hours straight come home and sleep a few hours and leave again. All of this took place right after I had miscarried our first child at 12 weeks. I was not in a good place, and this just put the cherry on top. Little did I know that three years later I would be taking two babies to the beach with us. God has blessed us greatly! So when he had to break the news to me this morning that he was there I was less than thrilled, but I kept my cool. The good news is that the crisis has been adverted and he will still be going on the trip.

I then took my car to the shop because the "Service Engine Soon" Light has been on all week. On my way there the light went off, but I had them check it out anyway. One phone call and a good chunk of change later I am getting new front calipers, rear roters, a serpentine belt and system flush. (By the way, they couldn't figure why the light was on). They had replaced the brakes back in November so some of the brake work is under warranty. (Not the $$$ part!)

I came home and began packing. I have to say I got a good bit accomplished. Of course Grant has helped by unpacking the suitcase, feeding Hunter, and spraying himself in the face with Dreft stain remover. (He's ok, in fact it really didn't faze him.) We have had lunch and both babies are napping. So instead of getting more important things done I am blogging! Stay tuned for pictures and updates from the beach. I am sure that this is going to get interesting!

4 Month Check-up

Erin had her check-up and shots this morning. She has run a pretty good fever all day. It spiked to 102.9 a few hours ago. It's down to 99.9 and she is feeling much better now (so is mommy). She wouldn't even nurse this afternoon! Poor baby! Other than that she is doing great. She weighed in at 15 lbs (She weighs 16 here. That must mean that I am actually a whole pound lighter! Ha ha!) and is 24.5 inches long. She has jumped up to the 75% (from 25%) for weight and 65% for height. I just love baby fat! Although brother was 20 lbs at five months, I don't think she will catch up with his record.

Developmentally she's hitting all those milestones. She pushed up and rolled over for Dr. White. She told me we can begin solid foods too. (I already did! Bad momma I know, but I waited until she was four months old. She has had rice cereal, bananas, and we started apples last night.) I also must shamefully confess that I have not documented any of this with a single picture or video. I think I took a zillion pictures of Grant every time we introduced a new food. Bad momma! I promise to get pictures of her cute little messy face soon.

Happy Fourth of July!!!!

We had a busy fourth of July, but it's been a lot of fun. Stephen and I began the day by planting shrubs along the front of the house for a new hedge. It was hard work, but I am do glad we did it! It's been a long time since I was able to really get out and enjoy working with him in the yard. (I've been pregnant three summers in a row!)

After a morning working in the hot Florida sunshine we enjoy hamburgers and hot dogs at Stephen's parents house. Boy were they good! I was starving after all that work! Grant and Erin had fun playing afterwards and we all sat around and let them entertain us.

There will be no fireworks for us tonight. The kids have already had their baths and we are winding down for bedtime. Our partying is not over yet! We are going to celebrate some more tomorrow night at my parents house with some good food, some more swimming, and maybe even a sparkler or two!

Fourth Of July Part 2

Erin's new toy (well, new to her)

A lesson in sharing

Grant likes to watch out of the window

Erin loves the musical table

Fourth Of July Part 3

Erin and her Grandaddy

Sweet Faces

Independence Day

Ten More Days

We are jumping for joy!!!!
Ahhh! I can feel the sand between my toes already.
Blue Mountain Beach...here we come!

Water Fun

Grant was playing with his water table yesterday evening. He thinks it is hilarious to throw water in the air at Rusty, Stephen's Granny's dog.

He doesn't think it's funny when he gets himself wet!

Erin splashing around in her bath! She is getting chunky! She weighs in at 16 pounds now!