Fun In The Sun (Beach Trip Part 3)

Okay...hang on to your hat, there's A LOT of pictures from our last last two weeks at the beach. So, I will try my best to post just the cutest of the cute, but it's been tough to narrow them down.

It turns out when sorting them the best way to break them up was by beach related and non-beach related. 

So, this post will be all about our fun time at the beach.

The kids were SO excited to get to spend time with their big cousins, Ricky and Cate, at the beach.

I LOVE this picture!

Of course, Ma and Big Daddy loved playing at the beach too. 

Trying to catch sand fleas and periwinkles. 

Ma taught David how to boogie-board.

Rachael gave it a try from the beach.

Big Daddy was always willing to help Rachael fill up her bucket.

And throw the football with David.

David really loved fishing off the beach with Uncle Rich.

While Rachael enjoyed "resting" from all the fun [for about 2 seconds, then she was off to play again]

The kids loved their special beach break "snack"- icey pops. 

Oh, and when she wasn't eating the sand, Rachael loved eating watermelon on the beach too.

Our sweet, old Bogie continued to have a wonderful time. The beach is his happy place. 

Yes, Mama and Daddy played with their kids too, of course! But, there aren't too many pictures of that. Ma did take this one of us all out on the sandbar, though.

One cool thing we did with the kids was taking them on a looooong walk down the beach to see these sea turtle tracks.

The night before, after putting the kids to bed, Ryan and I went for a beach walk. We were just about to turn around when my Wildlife Biologist husband noticed some strange looking tracks in the sand. We followed them all the way up to the sand dunes and there on top of one of the dunes was a sea turtle!! We watched her from a distance and in amazement as she searched for the perfect place to lay her eggs. It was incredible to say the least. We left her before she started laying but we wanted to go back and check. So, we took the kids and Ryan explained to David what we saw. David really wished he and Rachael could have been with us to see the turtle. I did too. 

We attempted yet another family beach picture...

And I'm not one to post a bunch of picture of myself, but Ryan had the camera and captured Rachael and I playing. I love this series of pictures and just had to share. 

I have no real reason to post this picture, except to ask- Could this girl be a model or what?!

Oh my, we're in trouble.

One Night In A Hotel (Beach Trip Part 2)

After we said goodbye to Ryan's family at the beach, we headed into town for our one night's stay in a hotel. Our room wasn't ready when we got there, but that was okay. We went for a boat ride in the Bay while we waited. 

The kids were so excited to get on the boat.

They loved standing at the front of the boat taking in the view.

We road out into the bay to do a little fishing. 

Nothing was caught, but that was okay. We had a great time just hanging out on the boat together.

After dinner that evening we went for a sunset walk around the shrimp boat docks. I tried to take some pictures of my wiggly kids-

After a good night's sleep in our room overlooking the bay we had a delicious breakfast. We sat out on the porch and enjoyed a beautiful sunrise. 

The kids got a little silly at the end of the meal.

After breakfast, we packed up our things and took a short drive to the beach front house where we would spend two weeks with my family. 

Hi, Uncle Michael

The Georgia National Guard has a medevac post near our house. On an almost daily basis at least one of their Blackhawk helicopters flies over our house. Because their Uncle Michael flies helicopters for the Army, the kids think each helicopter that flies over us is being piloted by him. [It's too cute to tell them the truth] So, as soon as they hear one coming they stop what they're doing and want to see exactly where it is so they can yell "Hi, Uncle Michael" until it's out of sight. Well, that's what David yells, Rachael says, "Michael, Michael, Michael". 

I was finally able to get it on video the other day. We were playing at a neighbor's house and we heard one in the distance. I luckily already had my camera in hand:

7th Anniversary

Yesterday Ryan and I celebrated SEVEN years of marriage. I received some beautiful flowers from my sweet husband.


And we took our babies out with us to our celebratory dinner at a nice Italian restaurant close to home. They were well behaved and joys to be with as we reflected on our nuptials and lives since that day. 

It's hard to believe it's been that long since we said "I DO". With each anniversary I am more and more thankful for my wonderful husband who chose me for his wife. We have been blessed with another fantastic year filled with great happiness and memories. 

Our Beach Vacation Part 1

Last month we were lucky enough to spend not one, not two, but THREE straight weeks at the beach! It was a fantastic. We spent the first week with Ryan's family, one night in a hotel in town just the five of us, and then two weeks with my family. In those three weeks, with two cameras, Ryan and I took over 2,000 pictures! So, after going through each one and picking out my favorites [a very difficult task], I've decided to break up the pictures and happenings so as to not completely inundate one post. 

Our first week at the beach was filled with lots of partying and celebrations. Since we don't get to see them as much and Aunt Nicole, Uncle Michael, and Parker were soon moving to Kansas, we celebrated mine and Ryan's birthday one night.

with help from our babies, of course

And then later in the week, we sang to Uncle Michael and Aunt Nicole for their upcoming birthdays.

And Father's Day just a bit early too.

[LOVE this picture]

Clay Edward, David Edward, Ryan Edward

Of course, most of all there was LOTS of beach play. David's number one sand castle building assistant was Uncle Michael. Many times he would work hard on a super cool castle just to have David smash it upon completion. 

Rachael loved playing at the shoreline,

relaxing in the sun,

and eating the sand.

The kids didn't have many opportunities to play with Parker at the beach, but when they did they made the best of it. 

Me with my youngest nephew, Parker!

Cousins.

David, 3 years; Parker, 13 months; Rachael, 20 months

David also had a great time playing around the pool. He was a bit hesitant to get in too far the first week. But, he did enjoy putting on his scuba gear.

Bogie had a fantastic time too. He loved looking for small fish in the shallow waters, taking beach naps, and watching over his babies.

Mama and Daddy [with a photo bomb from David]

Our precious beach babies exhausted from another day of fun.

Ryan caught this 19 lb. Red Snapper that was almost as tall as Rachael!

Our first attempt at a family picture on the beach. Not bad.

David and Rachael with their paternal grandparents- Bing and Twinkle.

The big kids with their little kids.

And a group shot.

Our first week at the beach came to an end much too soon. But, we were excited to have a night with just us in town at a hotel overlooking the Apalachicola Bay.