Big Girl At Our House...

Back in March / April, Anna Lauren started climbing out of her crib and nothing we did would keep her in the crib so we took the front off the crib and made it into a toddler bed. She refused to sleep in the toddler bed and spent 4 months sleeping on a pallet on the floor in her room. We finally took down the crib / toddler bed and put up a twin bed to see what she would do...and guess what, she slept in it and has been ever since. So...we finally got beds, bedding, etc. and now she has a "real" big girl room. It is so cute but so hard to believe that our "baby" is now a "little girl"!

Happy Birthday John...

Yesterday, we celebrated John's 3rd Birthday! John had a swimming party, which was so fun for all the many kids that were there to celebrate his special day!

John ~ The Birthday Boy...

Anna Lauren "loves" diving boards...

Love that smile on her face...she is getting ready for her big jump...

Parker, or as we call him, the P-Man...

Anna Lauren jumping again...she could do this for hours...

Drew...he was so sweet...he just sat there for the longest time and watched all the other kids play...

Not sure what is happening here...it looks as if Jake is pushing Anna Lauren off the diving board, but I know he is not doing that so who knows...they were all just having fun!

Emily and Mallory...

All the little kids got out of the pool to eat so Jake thought it would be fun to see how many of their floaties he could wear at one time...

Day 4 ~ Last Day at the Beach...

Monday ~ Day 4 ~ Last Day at the Beach...

Monday was our last day at the beach so we wanted to make sure we made the most of the day. We were at the pool when it opened with cousin James and Aunt Kate, and we played until it was time for Kate, James, Mary Martin, and MeMe to head to Gulfport. After a relaxing afternoon, we headed to the beach to build a few more sand castles, ate dinner, and went to the outlet mall to buy Anna Lauren a few things for Fall.

We had a fabulous "family" vacation and look forward to going back again...

Anna Lauren wanted a boat like her new friend Landon had, but she decided on this Gekko instead...it was lots of fun to ride down on the slide.

And yes, even Mommy enjoyed the Gekko...it really was lots of fun!

James going down the slide...toys of the day...ball and dive stick...he held on to them just like the toys he held onto the day before.

James playing in the sand...

Anna Lauren and Daddy going through the waterfall on the lazy river...

James and Kate having fun in the lazy river...notice...he still has the ball...too funny!

Look at this...is this the life or what...just floating down the lazy river...

At the beach to build one last sand castle...

Look at me...I found a stick! And yes, this stick slept right beside her and had to come home with her. I did manage to get it in the garbage can today...almost a week later.

Day 3...

Sunday ~ Day 3...

Anna Lauren running from one thing to the next at the pool...

Anna Lauren playing on what we call a "floating" playground...

Anna Lauren fighting or should we say having a discussion with a little boy at the pool. She only wanted her new friend, Landon, to slide...yes, she thought she owned the place! Needless to say, we had to leave the kid area for a little while because she was not being the sweetest to the other kids that were there that day.

Mommy and Anna Lauren headed to the sand to build some sand castles...we did this to get over her "nobody but Landon can slide" fit...

Building sand castles...

Kate (Matt's sister), James, and Mary Martin stopped and spent Sunday night / Monday morning with us on there way to Gulfport for the week. The kids loved riding on the cart as you can tell by their smiles. Not to mention that Matt made it a fun ride for them!

Our newest niece and Anna Lauren's cousin, Mary Martin...she is 2 months old...

Enjoying blowing bubbles with James on the condo balcony...

Back to the pool with James...he was so funny...he picked 3 things out of the toy bag and did not put them down the whole time we were at the pool.

James with his 3 things ~ Bucket, Shovel, and Ball...

Anna Lauren helping take care of Mary Martin...she was so sweet and just wanted to help...a little too much at times, but she was good for the most part.

And after a wonderful dinner of steamed shrimp, we celebrated Pop Pop's birthday a few days early...

Look how many people it takes to blow out candles...

Pop Pop, James, and Anna Lauren after the birthday celebration...

Day 2...

Saturday ~ Day 2...

We started Saturday morning off bright and early as we headed out to watch Matt do the Alabama Coastal Triathlon ~ 300 yard swim, 10 mile bike, and 2 mile run.

Matt and Anna Lauren, his biggest fan!

Thanks for our friends Eugene and Jennifer, Anna Lauren has the perfect t-shirts for races. As you can see ~ Swim Daddy Swim, Bike Daddy Bike, Run Daddy Run!

Matt waiting in line to start the swim...he has the best race attitude...he is always all smiles and truly having so much fun as we strongly believe that is what it is all about.

And of course, our thumbs up...we always get a wave or thumbs up to let us know he is "ok" and ready to race!

Matt going into the water to start the swim in some pretty rough water we must say...

Matt coming out of the water. It did take him a little longer than I was expecting but not only was the water rough, he stopped and helped someone until the lifeguard could get to them. He said he just held onto the guy and pushed him up every time a wave came...there is something about racing at the beach...both times he has gone out of his way to help another triathlete...last time he gave his wheel to someone and this time could have very likely saved someone's life.

Matt going out on his bike for his 10 mile bike ride...

Thank goodness...no flat tires this time! Just a twisted bike helmet strap that he couldn't get straight so had to stop and get it straight then go again...all just part of it!

Coming in on the bike...

Matt going out on the run...I did not make it from point A to B in time to get any shots of him head on...just his back...oh well, I was there trying my best with a camera, stroller, and two year old that didn't want to ride in the stroller or let MeMe hold her!

Anna Lauren and Daddy finishing the race...she was all excited about finishing the race with him until she realized everyone was going to clap and scream as they ran through the finish line...she doesn't really like to be the center of attention.

Yea...good race...good race!

And the highlight of Anna Lauren's morning...getting to play on a giant pile of sand at The Hangout!


After the race, we were all hot and sweaty so we headed to the pool for a little while...

Matt trying out the "kid" slide in his tube...it was a little big for the slide, but he made it work...

Since Daddy had a float, Anna Lauren needed a float. However, she didn't slide on her raft...she just preferred to pull it down the slide with her.

For some reason, this picture is so funny to me...

Anna Lauren made a "friend" at the pool. Landon, her new friend, was 9 days younger than her, and they had a blast playing with each other every day. Anna Lauren only wanted to wear her goggles because Landon was wearing his...here...they were getting ready to race down the slide. It is so fun to watch 2 year olds communicate with each other.

Matt and Pop Pop just relaxing at the pool...

Anna Lauren and her new friend Landon decided they would have a sand fight...so...they chased each other around and threw sand on each other.

After Matt's triathlon, some fun at the pool, and a long nap, we headed to the beach to take some family pictures. Then we enjoyed dinner at the Shrimp Basket (one of our favorites).