Destin Vacation

The four of us headed to Destin last weekend and spent the week as beach bums on Mirimar Beach.  I booked the condo back in February so we looked forward to our first beach vacation for over six months and I can't believe it's over!  The weather was mostly sunny for our stay and the water was absolutely beautiful just like we've always heard.  Although it's a lot of work traveling with kiddos, we had such an amazing time!

Our condo was on the third floor with an amazing view from the veranda.

We spent a lot of time out here just listening to the waves and drinking coffee.  The kids loved lounging and playing out there too.

We checked in around 4 and changed to head right down to the beach. 

It was just awesome watching the kids experience the ocean for the first time.  They quickly noted that the sand was much different than at the beach pool. 

And they watched the waves for a minute before taking off into them. 

Ava quickly declared that she loved the beach after only a couple of minutes.

Keegan couldn't get over the sand.  He was covered from head to toe and carried around handfuls of it for a while. 

He thought the waves were pretty great too!  He spent the week bobbling up and down in his puddle jumper :-)

We spent the majority of our week just hanging out in the sand....building sand castles, riding the waves on body boards, napping, playing baseball, and shell hunting.

 

 

 

The bunk beds did not disappoint and the kids LOVED sleeping and playing in them.

And Ava loved having her snacks and breakfast served up at the bar :-)

We played a couple of board games in the evening but Ava found the card game Old Maid in a basket by the TV and wanted to play it every night.  She still says that was one of her favorite parts of our trip :)

Our good friends staying in Panama City Beach invited us to come out on a boat with them on Wednesday so we met up with them that morning and had such a fun day!

We drove out to seashell island and collected some really pretty shells. 

The kids had so much fun with their friends....and so did we!

It started raining on us that afternoon so it became quite adventurous (and wet) trying to get back to the marina.  I tried to cover the kids up and huddle them close and they passed out on our way back.

We had really great seafood at the Crab Trap one night.

Jeff had snow crab and I had some of the best crab cakes I've ever had!

The kids loved the playground at the Crab Trap.  We let them play for a bit after we ate.  Pretty cool view for a playground!

We made it down to the Destin Harbor walk Village a couple of times.  It was fun to see all the boats take off and dock and we stopped for ice cream one night.

And Ava turned 5 while we were on our trip!  I'll have to post about her birthday soon. 

I don't think I have ever posted so many pictures!!  We had such a memorable time but a lot of the best memories I didn't even capture like playing games at night and swimming in the pool until dark.  The drive was long and the sand was all over pretty much everything we owned by the end of the week!  But it was all so worth it to spend time as a family in such a beautiful place.

 



5 Years Old!

Five years ago today this sweet girl made us parents. 

She changed our lives forever and the memory of those first 24 hours are still so clear to me that I can close my eyes and re-live it.  I can see her tiny fingers and toes and hear her tiny cries. 

I can't believe she is five today.  Not a baby, toddler or a preschooler, but a kid.  Our Ava is such a little lady now.  She amazes us every day and words can't express how thankful we are for this girl.  The last five years have been full of laughs and tears and beautiful moments.  She has grown before our eyes.  We love you sweet Ava and you have blessed us more than you will ever know.

Happy 5th Birthday!

Jesus Loves Me

Just a quick video of Keegan singing his favorite song. He can put on a good show but he kind of froze up for the camera.  He walks around singing praise songs all day long and I think it's the sweetest sound.

July Randoms

This month flew by much faster than June to me! We've had a lot of July fun and as August approaches this week I'm feeling a little anxious. We have looked forward to our August beach vacation for months, always knowing that it was bittersweet in the sense that it means summer is coming to a close for us. I will treasure these last four weeks so much! Here are some pics from the last couple of weeks. I think I've pulled my camera out a total of 3 times this summer so I'm thankful my phone camera is always with us!

 My almost 5 year old before heading out to the Library.  She loves to pick out her own outfits these days and she is most likely to grab the most sparkly shirt she can find.  Oh, and how about that make-up?  She can't get enough of it lately.

Grammy & Poppy made it back from their two week vacation and brought the kids back these t-shirts from California.  They were excited about the shirts but more excited to spend the day with them!

We converted Keegan's crib into a toddler bed so he can get out when he wakes up.  This was his first nap in his "new bed" and I have to say it is working out great.  It was a little surreal the first couple of times he came walking into the living room in the morning.  He is so funny because he brings everything with him.....Everything.  All lovies, blankets, toys....both arms are full when he comes walking into the living room and it always cracks us up!  He even brings a diaper from his basket sometimes and asks for a 'fresh diaper.' Ha!  Yes, it's time to start potty training soon!

A pic from the pool last week.  They were chasing each other around the trees and I begged them to stop for a quick picture.  I want to remember these days forever!

We celebrated Grammy's birthday with a cook out on Friday!  These kids are so blessed to have such an amazing Grammy.

And Poppy!

And Nana & Gramps!  They just adore their grandparents and they have loved spending time with all of them this summer.

Our nieghborhood celebrated 25 years this weekend with really fun festivities, games and prizes.  Ava was so proud of the t-shirt she won.  She put it on around 4 and wore it the rest of the evening and even slept in it.  I love how kids get excited about the smallest things.

There were at least a dozen bounce houses and slides for the kids

And a "choo choo train" to ride

And late afternoon were the duck races.  About 150 people at the beach pool signed up to be assigned a duck with a number.  The first 10 kid ducks and first 10 adult ducks to cross the finish line won prizes.  Let me first say I have NEVER won anything raffle style in my entire life so when both mine and Ava's numbers were called I was more than just a little excited!  Ava chose a kid prize and I won a pavillion rental with 25 guests which will cover Ava's birthday party next year.  Woo hoo!!

We finished the night with the fireworks show at dark and put two tired kids to bed shortly after.  It was a great weekend! 

Yesterday was my last day to teach one of the 3 year old classes at church.  I'm going upstairs with Ava's class in a few weeks on promotion Sunday.  I can't believe she's going to be with the elementary kids.  And more than that, Keegan will move out of the nursery hall to an actual classroom and go to chapel second hour.  I will no longer have a reason to walk down the nursery hall in a few weeks and that makes me sad.  But I can't help but smile when I picture that sweet boy dancing and singing in chapel like his sister has always loved to do.  I can't stop time so I will just have to try and celebrate it.

A Weekend Get-Away!

Jeff and I have officially been together over a decade!  We celebrated 10 years on Thursday by booking a couple of nights downtown Dallas. 

We stayed at the Fairmont and it was a beautiful hotel and such a relaxing stay.  I've always loved visiting the city since I was a kid.  It was really fun staying right in the heart of downtown. 

  We spent most of our time lounging at the terrace pool except for heading out to dinner. 

The views were so pretty we would head back to the pool late evening and watch the sunset.

Our views from this chair....

The kids had two fun-filled days with Nana & Gramps!  We enjoyed getting pictures of them :-)  And we were soooooo happy to pick them up on Saturday!

It was such a treat to spend two days with just each other.  I'm so thankful for this man and the decade that we've had together.  SO much has happened in ten years and we pray for another decade (or five) of more amazing things to come!

More Summer in Phone Pics

Summer is flying by like it always does! Here are some pictures from the last few weeks.....

Most of our days are spent in a pool.  Love these three kiddos!

Ava & Caroline

Ava had the the best week at Vacation Bible School!  Three of her best friends were in her class and they got to worship in "big church" with all the grade school kids this year. 

Keegan had a great time too!  He ran into his room every morning and barely said goodbye.  He would talk all about the short bread cookies and watching Veggie Tales in the car every day.  Ha!

Ava at Jack Carter Pool......This was the first year she actually went down all the slides.  So fun!

This little man has me wrapped around his little finger

I had to get new tires last week which is not so fun.  Ava was dressed like this before we left and begged to wear it.  I choose my battles carefully these days so Belle came and spent the afternoon twirling around Pep Boys :-)

Dinner and music on the lawn at Watters Creek

Listening to the band on the lawn.  She looks so grown up lately :-(

My boys