Gymnastics

So far they are really enjoying gymnastics and learning new things. Their teacher is VERY patient and sweet and they are excited to do "big tricks" soon. Carson's birthday party is this Sunday at the gym (held in May because so many people are out of town and on vacation for July 4th when his actual birthday is) and he is so excited! I'm happy because it seems like it should be pretty easy for us to just sit back and watch the kids have a blast.

 

 

 

 

Visualize

Someone requested some explanation of the places I talk about, so here's your visual map. LOL Saint Andrews is a state park on the gulf. Rock jetty's seperate the beach side from the channel side and the kiddy pools. This is a perfect place to go with kids! Shallow clear water, no large waves. It being so perfect also makes it a bit crowded, especially on holidays. Directly across the channel where boats travel through from the gulf to Panama City Ports is Shell Island. It's just a little island breaker that, well, catches a lot of shells. It sort of catches and protects things like sand dollars, huge conch shells, crabs and hermit crabs and cool sea urchins and starfish. Sometimes there are jellyfish, so you have to watch out. There's a gulf side (with waves) to the island and a channel side, with long stretches of knee deep or less water, so perfect for the kids to roam and play and look for sea life. We were up against another jetty, protecting the island from rough waves of passing boats, and it creates a protected cove which is even MORE calm and nice to just sit and relax and play in. LOL Is that clear enough? Paradise just a few miles away...

 

 

 

naptime

after hours of playing in the sand, the water and the sun...Adelyn decided the pack and play was a nice place to rest. I can't blame her. Sea breezes, the sound of the ocean, a big umbrella over her...

 

Beach

we were in a protected cove at Shell Island, so no waves to boogie board on, but we just used the boards to paddle around on, sit on, make sandcastles on and as an impromptu water coffee table to sit drinks on. I guess they were worth bringing along. John thought we were packed enough for a ocean cruise, but you never know what you'll need when you're out on an island all day with three kids! There is no store to run to out there! you can't even run back to the car! The hard part was lugging all that crap to the boat.

 

 

 

 

Mother's Day

We're so relieved that Adelyn loves the beach. Carson wouldn't touch the sand and cried the whole time we were there when he was her age. She loves feeling it, sitting in the water, even watching the fish. We saw the usual pale colored fish you see at the water's edge but yesterday we saw some cool black and white striped fish swimming near us too! and tons and tons of hermit crabs! they were everywhere!

 

 

 

 

Mother's Day- Beach Style

For Mother's Day our gang went to Shell Island, which is just off of Saint Andrews State Park. You have to boat or shuttle to get there, but luckily two of our neighbors have boats so we hitched a ride. We were a bit nervous about having the baby on the boat. Would she like it or be scared? We bought her a baby life preserver and took off. She LOVED it. I should have known, because she loves car rides and loves when Reed goes four wheeling with the Forerunner. She cooed and hummed the whole way there and SLEPT the whole way back even though we went out in the choppier gulf for quite a ways looking for dolphins. She just leaned back against my chest and took a nap. LOL!
We took a picnic, snorkeled, swam, climbed rocks, found starfish, Huge horseshoe crabs, sea urchins and starfish. Adelyn napped in her playpen and we just RELAXED. it was amazing. The boys had a blast playing with the neighbor kids and catching fish in their little nets. This is the second mother's day now we've celebrated at the beach and I think we've started a tradition...

 

 

 

 

beach part 3

 

 

 

 

more beach

 

 

 

 

Just another Sunday at the beach....

We truly truly love where we live. I can't imagine us anyplace else, this little town fits us like a glove. It's not fast paced and surely doesn't have all the amenities that some bigger cities offer--we get frustrated at times with our mall (not even a Gap! LOL!) but the slower pace, the laid back atmosphere, usually light traffic....and the beach! holy cow, the beach. We love going, even just to sit. The sand is pure white, the water is usually crystal green/blue and it's so wonderful to sit and listen to the sound of the waves and feel the breeze.

The ocean hasn't quite decided it's summer yet this year, so there's still a strong wind and the water isn't as pretty as normal, but even without perfection it's still....perfect.
Sunday we went with the neighbors to sit and enjoy the lovely weather, lunch and some surfing fun. Reed taught the boys to body board and went out himself some with Garrison, our neighbor's son. The boys are so excited now to go back and practice some more, even Trevor who got a facefull of salt water and sand on his first attempt.
Adelyn was pretty content in her playpen and although we have to drag 400 things down to keep her safe/content, it's so worth it. She even took a blissful nap under the umbrella. What more can you ask for?

 

 

 

 

Growth Spurt

Both of my boys complain of leg pain at night every so often...and when they do we know a growth spurt is on the horizon. It's so bittersweet when this happens. We're happy, of course, that they are healthy and thriving. Sad that our little guys are growing up so quickly! Time just flies by. Trevor always gets within an inch or two of Carson and then Carson shoots up again. Now Trevor is back to just under Carson again and I can't get over those long skinny legs! In my head Trevor is still three years old and in love with Mickey Mouse. lol. I guess I need to move my mental picture up a few notches.

 

pretty bunny

I had a bunny purse almost just like this when I was little, with a zipper in the back for small things and cute pink handles. So when we saw it at Carter's, I couldn't resist. Plus, Adelyn didn't get the usual Easter fare in her basket this year, so we figured the bunny purse was the perfect gift from the "Easter Bunny". She chews on the handles, but apparently they don't taste good, because she always makes a sour face.

 

Garrison

My neighbor Garrison was kind enough to let me practice! Can you believe that hair? I'm so jealous!

 

 

 

Adelyn