Hello Destin! Part 1

We have been looking forward to our trip to Destin ever since our last trip to Destin last year.  And, we were not disappointed!  We have friends that always travel around the same time we do, so we decided to ask them if they wanted to go together.  We had a blast!  We actually headed down on Anna Claire's birthday, and stayed a full week.  All of the kids had so much fun playing together.  I almost think it is better having the extra kids, they kept each other entertained.  There was very little whining, which was the best thing ever!  The water was perfect the first few days.  It was a little rough by the end our trip, but we had plenty of time in the water!

Amelia and Jackson in front of Louis Louis.  Our first night out to dinner.  So good!  Everyone was happy that night!

Anna Claire and Hadley Grace

Family shot the second night at the crab trap.

Amelia just didn't want to smile

Angie and I went shopping on our 1 rainy day.  We came back to find this.  I guess AC just had enough of being in a bathing suit.

We finally made it to the track by the end of the week.  The "big kids" had a lot of fun on the airplanes.  We made it to the kiddy part after riding the go carts.  AC rode the cart with me.  She started out not a huge fan.  I don't think she loved it, but she at least didn't scream the whole time.  She was good as long as I had a hand on her leg.  Amelia loved the go carts

This was more up to Anna Claire's speed.  The swings were a hit with all the kiddos.

Our last night together, we made it to Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin.  I love it there.  It is so cute, and so much fun. 

Their version of checkers was stacking all of them by color.

my cute little angel

We may call this blackmail for Jackson one day

They had music in the open lawn area.  We enjoyed some sweet treats while we listened to the music

Once the sugar kicked in, the kids had a lot of fun dancing and running around

Anna Claire tried so hard to keep up with the big kids.  Her little legs just couldn't do it.

At the beginning of the night.  I think Amelia was a little smitten by Jackson!

Happy Birthday, Anna Claire!

Anna Claire is officially 2 years old!  I can't believe that after 4 years, I no longer have a baby in my home.  It's sad and exciting all at the same time.  Anna Claire is growing into such a sweet, happy, funny, energetic little girl.  She is so much fun to watch and brings us all so much joy and happiness. We celebrated her birthday with a small family party at our house.  We just grilled burgers and hot dogs and made some yummy sides.  I made probably the worst chocolate cake ever.  It was ok as long as you had ice cream with it.  Oh well, saved me from eating some extra calories that I didn't need anyway.

I'm terrible!  I didn't even pull out the camera until she opened presents.  She had a lot of fun playing with all the family.  

My little acrobat

This labor day weekend was pretty rainy and dreary.  Saturday, we were planning on taking the girls to the fair.  They've never been and I know they would love it.  But, It didn't stop raining all day, so we had to pass again this year.  I was so sad.  We only left the house to help Drew with taking Lucy to the park to train.  So, by that afternoon, we were all a little stir crazy.  So, we decided to head and play outside for a bit.  It was just a drizzle anyway.  We have a 3 car garage with 3 individual door openings.  So, I opened the first 2 so the girls could get their bikes out.  I turned away for a second while the doors were opening.  Well Anna Claire decided she had other plans than riding her bike.  She grabbed on to that garage door bottom and rode the thing up.  When I turned around and saw her dangling up there, I, of course, freak out and run over and grab her down.  She then pitched a fit because she was enjoying herself hanging from the door.  We had a conversation about not doing that again, but I was cracking up all night when I thought about what she did.  Drew says, you know she's been staring at that door for a while now just waiting for her chance.  I'm telling you, this little girl, you just never know what she is going to do!  She definitely keeps things interesting, and keeps me on my toes!

Going to see Elmo

One of the biggest events of our summer was going to see Elmo.  Anna Claire is crazy about Elmo, so we couldn't miss going to see him when he came to town.  We didn't do the upgraded package where you get to do the meet and greet, but we still had excellent seats!

Waiting for the show to begin

She was very excited to see Elmo!

She was excited too!

The girls love their daddy

Not so excited about mommy. 

Amelia was a little afraid of the characters this time around.  AC had a blast.  We had a little side stage right beside us, so AC enjoyed shaking hands with all the characters.  I don't see any more Elmo shows in our future, but I sure did enjoy taking my girls to both of the shows.  

Our summer in Review

I really cannot believe how fast this summer past.  We stayed crazy busy, but it sure was a lot of fun.  Amelia got a new bike and AC got the hand me down tricycle.  Let me just say, AC can already petal.

We started the summer with VBS at church.  Drew had a minor acting role, and he is quite the actor.  The girls had a lot of fun.  We had a pirate theme.  I was really impressed with our church's vbs.  I was so exhausted by the end of the week.

We met friends at a redbirds game.  It was our first time to sit in the bluff, but it was perfect for the kids.  They ran around and had a blast.  Amelia seems to really enjoy hanging out with boys more than girls. I guess it's a good thing she's always been surrounded by more boys than girls.

AC was excited to meet the redbird.  Amelia wasn't having a bit of it.  She still talks about the big red bird though.

Leaving the game to go home, they had to walk hand in hand to the car.  It was the cutest thing ever!

The jeep is finally getting some use.  AC has no fear and loves to drive it.

We had a lot of fun July 4th hanging out at my sisters pool.  It was a little cool so besides me and Drew, there were no other adults in the pool.

I've been so impressed with AC's ability to use the puddle jumper.  She really can swim pretty good with it.  She wasn't such a fan of the fireworks we shot off.  She clung to my mom the whole time saying, I'm scared.  It was so sad.  She did well watching the Arlington fireworks, but we were much further away from them.

We met friends at the sprinkler park.  We had been here for a while at this point, so it wasn't possible to get AC in the picture.  We went to the sprinkler park 3 times this summer.  It is so much fun, and seems a lot safer for the girls than a pool.

We had a family trip to the zoo.  AC loved feeding the birds, Amelia wasn't so excited.  She wanted to watch from a distance.

Such a perfect spot in the bird area for a photo session.  I couldn't get the girls to cooperate with me though.

We then headed to Huey's.  There is no better burger in Memphis!

We went to the CSI gymnasium in Arlington.  It was a blast!  This is the only picture that I got.  I was having to participate too to get AC interested.  We get to look forward to having Amelia's bday party there this winter.  She loved it!  Plus, my girl is such the little social butterfly.  She makes friends everywhere she goes.

We ended summer break with a trip to the zoo with our friends Keylee and Misty.  It was a beautiful day that day, and the girls acted so good!  As long as AC had a snack in her hand, she was good to go!

My niece, Madison, turned 12 years old.  She got a little whipped cream in the face.  She had no idea it was going to happen.  Her reaction was priceless!

Of course Amelia had to try the sombrero too!  Pink, her favorite color! 

The grass was a little thirsty, so why not throw on some swimsuits and have a little fun while giving it some water!

We had a lot of fun this summer!  I wish I had done better at documenting it.  We had a lot more going on than just this, but maybe next summer I will do better!

Our spring in review

Tonight, I was feeling really nostalgic and read through some old blogs.  It made me realize how much I enjoy having those memories, and how much I have forgotten.  I am going to do my best to start keeping up with it better, but there is no way I can do all the detail for Spring and Summer, so I will have to do a spring in review and a summer and review and go from there.  So, tonight is our Spring in review.

Early May, we met our friends, Misty and Keylee at the Big Backyard.  It was a beautiful day out, and we had a blast!

Trying to show off their hula hoop skills

The cocoon swing.

I just love all the cute play houses they have

Making music

I have a picture of Amelia sitting in this when she was 1.5.  Had to recreate it with AC.

They loved the slide

Of course Anna Claire had to go the hard way up!

Now for my photo dump

The girls love helping my pick out flowers, Amelia wanted all things pink!

We had a fun trip to the zoo with all of our church friends.  Of course the girls had to walk the whole thing like all the other big kids

All of our group, minus Anna Claire who was probably screaming at my feet

We spent a lot of time playing on their playset

Amelia loved swinging on it like a monkey

Not the picture I meant to upload.  They are so small and hard to see, but we enjoyed lunches on the patio.  It was beautiful outside, and we were the only ones on the patio.  The girls loved dancing to the music.  There was no screaming and crying while waiting for our food.

Amelia enjoyed all the wildflowers and picking them apart

The girls started hugging each other.  It is the cutest sweetest thing.  They now hug and give each other kisses. 

We had a lot of fun going with daddy to take Lucy to the park

There were lots of afternoons eating popsicles

We had a lot of fun at Arlingtons, Arlington in April.  Its a lot of booths selling crafts or services, but the girls especially loved the blow up slides.  It took a lot to get Amelia off.  AC was still a little small.

We did a little bowling on a cool rainy Saturday in May.  The girls really loved it.  AC was able to pick up her own ball.  It was really impressive! 

They had a blast in their blow up pool.  There was more water before they did all their jumping in it.

We ended our summer with a fun day at the pool with friends, that turned in to a few days at LeBonheur.  Nothing to do with the pool, but went home to find out that AC had a fever.  As a precaution we went to the ER and ended up admitted for 2 days.  Turns out she had a case of roseola.  Why can't the rash come with the fever.  It was not a fun experience, but at least it was just a normal childhood illness.  We will not head to the ER so fast next time.  We learned an expensive lesson with that virus.  We also will probably never go bowling again.  At least not for a while!  

Virus won't get these girls down.  We were all over that hospital for 2 days.  The best part was running into AC's surgeon in one of the family rooms.  He had all his residents with him and took a moment to use her as a teaching moment.  He said, "This is how a baby looks after a Kasai that works"  Was the best sentence I have heard.  I was a proud momma at that moment.  

AC found her love for walking in her daddy's shoes.  I must say she is pretty cute in cowboy boots.

We took the girls to ride the carousel.  It was unexpectedly closed, so we went for a jump on the spider.  Amelia loved it.  She didn't go as high this time as she did the first time

AC was not as much of a fan.  She just really has crazy separation anxiety, so this was way too far out of her comfort zone.