Let's Kick Off the Summer of 2014!

My birthday girl!

On Bennett's 7th birthday, we packed up our car like Sanford and Son (literally had an overhead bag that was stuffed and a hitch that was loaded...not to mention we couldn't see out of the windows), picked up Sara and drove to the beach!  There is nothing better than kicking off our summer with a beach trip!  Everyone traveled wonderfully (the kids watched the movie "Frozen" twice)!  We arrived at lunchtime, and drove straight to Seagrove Market for a delicious lunch.  There is nothing better than kicking off a week at the beach with a great seafood sandwich.

Daddy's little girl

Once we finished, we quickly drove to our house so we could get unpacked and settled.  That part didn't take long, and the kids were ready to hit the pool, so Sara took them swimming while Steve and I hit the liquor and grocery stores for the week.  Once we got back, we met up with the kids at the beach for a few hours.  That night the Jarmons came over for dinner and we enjoyed a beautiful sunset on the beach!

Sunset with my honey

The next day, we all rode our bikes to the donut truck (the way we always start our first morning at the beach).  Then the kids played in the sprinklers at Alys Beach for a bit before we came back and made our way to the beach.  Since we have to take so much to the beach, we really like to make the most of it, and stay all day long. 

Having Sara helped immensely, as she was great about taking the big kids to the pool every so often for a break.  Walker was just as easy this trip as he was for spring break.  He lounged in our arms, and napped and played in his portable crib.  We thought he might tire of the beach, but he never did.


happy as a clam...as always

underwater camera

Saturday night, we hosted the Passarellas and Tanners over for dinner.  The kids all played, and we ate and chatted.  Since we all had sitters with us, it was a very relaxing evening.  Of course, all of the kids gravitated to "Say Say" and hung on her all week long!

The rest of the week, we did more of the same....bike riding, hanging on the beach with the Tanners, Passarellas, and other Homewood friends, swimming in the pool, and enjoying the occasional meal out.

Dinner at The Pearl, Rosemary Beach

Since we had so much fun last year, Steve and I decided to organize another bonfire with our friends.  We invited a lot of our Homewood friends, and had a great group!  All of the kids played together, enjoyed the s'mores, and tried their hand at crabbing, while the adults hung out.  It was a gorgeous night, and everyone had a ball again!

some of the girls at bonfire

family shot

Pres and his buddies

All of the mamas

kids enjoying the morning

The weather was beautiful all week, except for one afternoon in the middle of the week.  Of course, we used that as our day to dine at Dusty's with friends.  Since we had some other friends staying in Panama City Beach, they met us there for a late lunch.  By the time we finished, the rain had left, so we went to the beach for sunset.

girls at Dusty's

digging crew on the last day at the beach

finished product several hours later, a 20 ft oval!

It really was another wonderful trip to the beach, and we both felt it had a lot to do with Sara accompanying us.  She was a tremendous help to us, and the kids so enjoyed having her there.  I am so glad that it worked out, because now they have these memories for the rest of their life, and they are closer to her because of them. 

The day before we left



Glamour Girl Bennett's 7th Birthday Party!

Just us girls

Due to Bennett's birthday falling the day after school lets out, we decided to hold her party a week early.  She had a difficult time trying to decide what she wanted to do, but finally settled on a jewelry making party.  A friend makes and sells jewelry, and does parties for little girls to do the same.  She was so sweet to invite Bennett in for a "meeting" to discuss what she wanted to make and firm up her birthday theme.

We decided on a "glamour girl" theme, and they decided to make crowns, washer necklaces and hairpins.  In between making their items, the girls walked the red carpet that Janie put out for Bennett, posing and making faces.  They also enjoyed birthday cake and the other snacks I put out (ring pops, candy bracelets, gummy rings and chicken poppers).

It was a casual party, but it worked out perfectly for the girls.  Janie handled everything, and I just took pictures and walked around.  The girls were so cute, and I think they had a blast (I know Bennett did)!



Bennett with Scarlett

Sweet Henley with her crown

Tate and Bennett

Mary Ellis, B and Carson

B and Harper

birthday cake

Making her birthday wish....

fun continues with Katharine

Caroline and B striking a pose

Maddie and Bennett

some of the hairpins the girls made

Tate, Maddie, Caroline and Carmen

Bennett with her friends

....and Lucy was waiting for her at home!

Bennett's birthday celebrations will continue this week when I read to her class and have lunch with her on Wednesday.  Then we are celebrating with the Mizeranys that night at her favorite Mexican place. Finally, we leave for the beach on Friday morning (her actual birthday), so we will most likely celebrate later that night at the Sugar Shak!  Fun times ahead for this soon-to-be 7 year old!!  We love you B (even though you prefer us to call you Bennett)!

Walker is 5 Months...Almost



Enjoying his bumbo seat

I seriously can't believe my baby is almost 5 months old!  We tried so hard for this precious boy, and felt so blessed to just have him here....healthy.  Except there is not a day that goes by that I don't look into his eyes, and feel even luckier that he is healthy AND happy!  And by happy, I don't mean is he is just happy.  I mean he seriously is just a miracle child.  He wakes up talking to himself in his crib, smiles at whoever gets him (sometimes that is just Pres crawling into his crib to play with him), laughs, talks, eats, catnaps all day and then does it all over again.  He doesn't even cry when I suction boogies out of his nose!  What kid doesn't cry during that?!



Selfie with kids!

He has been a wonderful addition to our family, with the big kids feeding him, talking to him, holding him and just entertaining him.  He is happy go lucky, and is the typical "third child" that is just along for the ride.  Unlike my other two, he doesn't have formal naps.  He just catnaps when he can.  Since he isn't crabby, and he sleeps through the night, I don't force him to sleep more during the day.  Now things may change as he gets older, but his temperament and ways work just perfectly for this busy family right now.



W loves to be held (at P's graduation)

Walker currently loves his bottles, hates his rice cereal and has rolled over twice (that we know of).  He is about 50th percentile for weight and height, weighing about 15lbs right now.  His eyes are still very blue, and we are keeping our fingers crossed that they stay that way.  He has found his fingers, and loves to put them in his mouth.  He laughs daily, especially at his brother.

almost 4 months old (love that belly)

4.5 months old

As you can see from all of the photos....he just has an air about him.  Walker's little smile (with his tongue in or out) is contagious.  We love you buddy!!

Preston - The Graduate!

1st day of 5K

It is hard to believe Preston just graduated from preschool.  I mean, I can still recall the little boy who timidly walked into Ms. Cassie's class back in September. 

Now he is a much more confident little boy, who can count to 100 by 1s, 5s, 10s and 2s!  He can recognize about 30 sight words and read a little.  He has grown up so much this year, and is more than ready for kindergarten!  However, if you ask him, he will say "I don't want to go to Kindergarten because I will have to eat real food."  You see, we have been mentally preparing the child that his typical peanut butter cracker lunch will be a thing of the past soon!  You would think after eating it for lunch almost every single day for the past two and half years he would have grown sick and tired of it, but NO, he hasn't.

Tour at SCE

Thankfully for him, he doesn't have to master eating to graduate. Instead, he has to master the basics...which he has done!  Now we are onto the next stage...kindergarten!  He has several friends heading to Shades Cahaba with him, but he isn't shy, so I know he will make lots of new friends.  Having an older sibling there will help too.  In fact, last week he even took an informal tour of the school!

Today was his last day of school, but his graduation was yesterday.  They have been practicing for the past couple of weeks, so he was ready.  All of the graduates wore caps and gowns (4K was in blue and 5K in red).  They sang a couple of songs for us, and were presented their diplomas.  Following the ceremony, there was a reception where the kids posed for lots of pictures, and received a small parting gift from their teacher.  It was a big day for our BIG boy!

graduation day!

Receiving his diploma...sniff, sniff

His goodie bag from Ms. Cassie

We should have checked out B from school

Ms. Cassie with Pres