Orange Beach - another one in the books!

Had such a good time this year....saw family, went sailing, watched fireworks on the beach, ate lots of seafood, went to a fantastic Children's Museum in Gulfport with my Mom, played with cousins, had a shrimp boil, went on a dolphin cruise, played in the pool, hung out at the beach, went crabbing, made sandcastles, played a little putt putt golf, rode the ferris wheel, did a little shopping, and Will made his first build-a-bear.  What more could you want?!  AND....the weather was fantastic.  Didn't get much above low 90's and with an ocean breeze - perfect.  I think we'll be back next year to make it 5 years in a row! 

Here are a few pictures....Or a ton of pictures!  







No grand plans, just lots of grand moments

     That pretty much describes our summer so far.  We have no grand plans.  We are headed to our annual beach spot in a few days with some of our favorite people.  And we will make a stop by my Mom's house to visit with her and Michael...more favorite people!  But, all in all, we have been taking each day as it comes and just hanging out....playing in the sprinklers, enjoying our vegetable garden, watching movies, watching Will (better, and always more amusing than a movie!), riding horses, swimming, and loving the fact that we have no schedule.

     For whatever reason, there has been less bickering in my house lately.  Maybe it's age related, maybe it's the slower pace that comes with summer, maybe my relentless lectures about patience, kindness, and flexibility are paying off, or MAYBE my girls got together and decided that they would give me this gift for the summer!  I doubt it, but I'll take it.  Less fighting, less arguing, less bickering.  Whatever the reason and for whatever length of time it continues, I will enjoy it. 

     One grand moment for me this summer was setting up my old dollhouse for my girls.  It was actually my Mom's.  I believe her grandfather built it for her.  In any case, it's got some age on it and it's a pretty special family heirloom.  I had every intention of getting it out of the attic, making some repairs, maybe repainting it, buying new furniture and dolls and then unveiling it!  Well, I did get it out of the attic and dust it off.  That's where my plan stopped.  However, I decided that they would probably think it was pretty cool just as it is.  I had played with it as is and loved it...AND I was afraid they would soon lose interest and be too "old" for it!  So - I set it up and cleaned it up as best I could.  I took all the furniture out and realized that I actually already had quite a bit.  I had it all spread out on the guest room bed and when Claire Woodard opened the door and saw it all - her face was priceless.  At age 7, this is right up her alley.  Kate is almost past this stage, but she had so much fun cleaning up all the furniture and organizing it.  They do go in and play with it together, but more times than not, I find Claire playing with it on her own, lost in her own little world.  So glad I did not wait another year to get it out!  The great remodel I had intended to do will have to wait for one more generation!

Here are a few of our grand moments.

Dusting it out

Getting it all cleaned up

Almost ready!

Some of this furniture was my Mom's and some was mine...all pretty old! 

Getting it all set up

Watering our butterfly garden

Riding lessons

grooming Buttercup

Giving Bubbles a kiss! 

Never too hot for this guy...doesn't miss a beat out here helping his Dad!

Sweet Missy.  Kind of looks like she's being held against her will, but trust me, she loves Kate!

We are not winning any prizes for best looking vegetables or aesthetically pleasing gardens, but they are GOOD!

All worn out