cool at the pool or babe at the beach?

How do you and your family spend your time at the beach? When I was little my whole entire family was on the beach by 10am and didn't leave until at least 4pm or later. We didn't even leave the beach for lunch...it was always in the cooler...right there beside us. We played hard...in the sand and in the ocean. Took walks...built sand castles and searched for sea shells. Jake says he has never liked the beach. When he was little he spent most of his time fishing...golfing or riding bikes. Maybe it's the difference between a boy and a girl...I don't know but for right now I believe I'm the only one in my family that enjoys it. 

Jake was always ready to take the kids in for their naps when we had only been on the beach a couple hours. Neither one of the kids could take it for very long. I thought maybe at least G was going to be able to hang with her Momma but I was wrong. On the first day out...she ran straight into the ocean...fell flat on her face in the salt water and got up laughing. After about 6 times of that...she wasn't too fond. Now by about 2 o'clock I was ready to head in. The sun is way stronger and hotter then it was 20 years ago. 

On the other hand...I couldn't get the kids to leave the pool. E LOVES to swim! We had only taken G in Gramee's pool a couple times because she wouldn't have any part of it. Here they had just what she needed...a pool just her size. The baby pool was a foot and a half...which was still a little deep for her...but she really thought she was big time! She would bend down as far as she could...water up to her chin...and then jump up and laugh. Both the kids had the best time at the pool...other then running around on the golf course at Aunt Melody's and Uncle Joe's (pics of that to come later).

A crock on the loose!

An unsure baby girl.

One cool dude!

One frilly little bootie.

Daddy a.k.a Booger Patrol

Greens a.k.a Snack Rat

I didn't get very many pictures on the beach but here's a few. On our last full day there Daddy was golfing so Aunt Joanie and I took the kids to the beach. We tried to pull an "all day-er" but didn't quite make it. Jake helped us take all this stuff down to the beach that morning...lets just say on the way back we had one PACKED DOWN STROLLER! (haha Joanie ;)

Just want to say thanks to Uncle Josh and Aunt Joanie for watching the kids while Jake and I went out to dinner one night. It was time MUCH NEEDED and we are EXTREMELY GRATEFUL!

I've got two pool lovin' peeps on my hands so I guess I'm the only beach babe...not sure where Daddy comes in because he'd probably rather be back in the mountains.

all I want to hear is...

Sometimes it feels like the battle Never stops...EVER! I feel like we finally get through one thing and can breathe, but the devil always has something up his sleeve...ALWAYS! I am so thankful I have God in my corner. I am thankful that when I finally make it to the other side that God has opened my eyes enough that I can see why. Sometimes...not always. When you are in the midst of the chaos it's hard not to wonder why...what are you doing God?!?! I am thankful that I am able to look back in my life and say, "Lord, please forgive me for doubting you, now I know why you closed that door or why you never opened it." Thank You Jesus for helping me to let go...and let You have control! We need your guidance right now Lord and we need some peace of mind.

I'm taking a risk and leaving it all...not knowing what I'll go through.

But I'm not alone...as long as I follow You.

So when my life's a leap of faith...I can hear you say. Well done...well done.

So thankful for this time with family. I think we all just needed to get away.

Boy! Does it sure make a difference taking two kids on vacation. Kind of hard at times but we all had a lot of fun.

The beach is great for playing but the kids didn't care much for it when it came to picture taking. As you can see...they just weren't up for it.

Thank you Mamaw, Papa, Melody and Joe for EVERYTHING! I hope we weren't too much to handle because we really enjoyed the time we got to spend with everyone. AND. I hope and pray we didn't TOTALLY discourage Uncle Josh and Aunt Joanie from having kiddos of their own!!!
Love You Guys!

More beach pics to come...

popsicles...pools and bee stings

I guess it all comes along with summer.

I love these pictures of my girl...minus the cup of pop. She would not allow me to get pictures without it. Oh well...I'll take what I can get to capture this precious face.

Popsicles

Something else to make her happy...too cute for words!

I caught her yelling for E. She wanted her big brother to see how big she was sitting on Papa's porch.

Pools

These next pictures show just how big our boy is getting. He LOVES to swim and of course rock out his awesome WV floaties.

WATCH OUT!!! Easy's coming with the squirt gun!

Wonder why it is that EVERY TIME he gets in the pool...he just so happens to have to go #2?!?!

And Bee Stings

Ok...I had my camera out this day...taking the popsicle pics of G when Easy was running through the grass and got stung by a bumble bee on the arch of his foot. After making sure he was ok...and holding him tight for about 15 minutes...I just had to capture this face.

OUCH!!!

Well...I think he's ok now...what do you think?

More summer time fun to come...off to the beach in a week...Yay!!!!!!!!