Toes in the Sand!

Our summer started off with a much awaited trip to the beach. On Friday we drove down to Destin and returned Wednesday.  We have enjoyed spending the long Memorial Day weekend in Destin for the last several years. Our anniversary is May 26 so it also serves as a nice gift for us both. This year we have been married 11 years!

Since February Grayson has been asking us on a daily basis how many days until we go to the beach. A few days before we left, she told me she just really needed her feet in the sand! Me too, Grayson! I have a girl who loves the beach as much as I do!

Our trip started off with a bang...or a screech as it was. Grayson had been riding her bike while we packed the truck. She left her bicycle right in front of the Tahoe, and Ben told her not to do that again because it couldn't be seen and would get run over. Well, not very long after that, she rode it again and left it in the same exact spot! As we rolled forward those first few inches, metal hit metal and we knew it wasn't good. Luckily, the bike and truck were fine. After that start, I was a bit worried about what else might happen, but it went well. We survived a few meltdowns Hayes had in the car, but overall I have to say he did better than I expected given his life long hatred of the car seat! He actually slept a good nap in the car seat going and coming home. This is a first, as we have children who do not sleep in the car. Lucky us.

The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed it to the fullest. I packed the kids all of their matching, ironed outfits, but all we wore were swimsuits or pj's! No going out to eat or shopping. Just beach, pool, and family! We woke up every morning and got ready for the pool. After that we headed to the beach. This went on all day into the night. Pool. Beach. Repeat. Grayson even got her daddy to go catch crabs one night. They came back with a bucket full. Bedtimes were ignored, and we just had a laid back schedule. One night Grayson kept telling me to ask her a question. I asked a few, and she kept telling me to try again. Finally she told me she wanted me to ask her if she was tired! She then told me the answer was YES! Another night she told us she just felt 'zausted'. It was so much fun seeing her have such a great time. She loved the pool and the beach. Hayes preferred the pool. Of course he tried to eat sand at the beach, and was pretty hot under the tent. The pool, however, was a hit. He kicked his little feet as soon as they hit the water! We tried to keep him out of the sun as much as possible though. The shade came over the pool about 3:00, so that worked out pretty well.

 Grayson was a little worn out with us trying to get Hayes to look at the camera, be still and not eat sand. She was totally not herself dealing with the little wiggle worm. You can tell she did much better when he was not in the picture.

 I just love this picture. She is a daddy's girl, and they both look so happy here.

 We were SO thankful Nana got to go with us. She was such a help with Hayes. He just couldn't handle very much fun in the sun, so he and Nana had afternoon nap time together. This was the first trip Nana has gone on with us in at least 5 years. We enjoyed her being with us so much.

My little girl was born posing. I swear we have never taught her to do this or even asked her to pose. Even as a tiny baby, she just lit up for the camera. She loves to strike a pose when the camera is on her. It makes me laugh to see that toe pointed! I waited too late in the day to take pictures, really. And it was the last day so I had to make do. We played volleyball all afternoon, and the time just got away from us. I could kick myself for not taking more pictures to document our first beach trip as a family of four. And for not dressing them in all of their cute outfits. But we made memories, and had a great time doing nothing! We were all sad to leave, and can't wait until our next beach trip!

January 2011

                                                                Dec. 8, 1919 - Jan. 4, 2011
        
Well, we have been missing Mamaw Wilson around here lately. Grayson has come up with some pretty deep thoughts around bedtime...Like when will Mamaw be back from Heaven to see us. When I explained that we would be going to see her one day, she got very worried and said she would be too scared to fly with the angels unless her daddy could hold her. Grayson has also been very worried about Boo. She said he would not be able to sleep at night because he would be thinking of his real mama being gone. Then she just had some memories. She told me, "Mamaw says 'ooh come give Mamaw a hug' every time I go see her!" And that is just how she said it, too. Mamaw was so excited on one of her trips to Philadelphia, where they stopped at Williamsville and she saw this MSU dress. She knew Grayson had to have, and that is what she gave her for her birthday. I had my Christmas card done this year with her picture in that dress. Mamaw was tickled.

Mamaw was so funny. She always kept us laughing. I never knew of her to feel bad or be in pain. She just never mentioned it. As a matter of fact, I never heard her complain about a single thing. Over the years, if she was "sick" with typical things like stomach virus, colds, etc., she just stayed in her house until it passed. She didn't really want anyone to help her. She didn't want any extra attention. That's just who she was. Her death came as such a shock because we weren't expecting it or prepared for it. She hadn't been in the hospital, she was not under the regular care of any doctor. She just seemed ready to live forever. She was proud to be getting closer to 100. For the past few years, she wouldn't tell me she would be 90, she just said she was 10 years away from 100. In Dec., she turned 9 years from 100. I bought her a Sugaree's Bakery cake for her birthday on Dec. 8. We never got to have her birthday, and that makes me so sad. Mamaw loved to see the grandkids in the Halloween costumes. She thought this peacock costume was awesome. She just kept talking about it. She had "lost" her glasses, but she could see well enough to know she loved this little peacock! And Grayson was so proud to hear Mamaw brag on her!

She was so full of wisdom, and gave the best advice. She was always on your side, especially when you were down; she loved the underdog. She had such a positive outlook on life. I learned so much from her about being humble and showing humility, and sucking it up and getting on with it. I also learned to show compassion and kindness to all who needed it, and that it doesn't matter who sees it here on Earth or acknowledges it, because the only reward would be from God. She taught me so much, and I will never forget how she was there for me throughout my childhood. A wonderful person...

A Day at Ballet

Well today little G woke up before 8 am with exactly 3 things on her mind: more milk, how many minutes to dance, and can we go outside? So, we went right outside in our pjs and all since we knew it would be too hot too soon! No time to waste! That was nice, since there was a light breeze and we were in the shade. We enjoyed practicing our writing with sidewalk chalk.

not too thrilled with the "photo shoot"

Then we decided to try our photo shoot for the birhday invite...This would be the 3rd attempt. And, well, it didn't go well. Little G very uncharacteristically was not planning on taking pics--she said it was just too hot. And it definitely was! And it involved using the curling iron, so it was like pulling teeth. But we forged ahead trying to get that perfect shot...didn't happen though. Maybe {fingers crossed} tomorrow.
Then we diddled around until it was time to get ready for dance. G asked every minute how much longer til we go to dance class? I got her to sit for the curling iron again (she was so good). The we got the new tights on, the leotard, & the skirt on when she decided all that just gave her a really big wedgie. And it really bothered her. So after numerous adjusts, we got it settled. She loves dance class, and had a great time.

We got a good surprise in that Morgan got to come over after a night softball practice. They didn't get to visit much, but G was on Cloud 9! I tried to study with Morgan for her test, but she was so tired that I just sent her to bed right before 10. She said her head hurt, she was sore all over, and just pooped. She plans on studying with Ben in the morning at 7 until they have to leave for school.

Grayson and I are just looking so forward to spending another day at home together. It is wonderful.