Catching up.

Forgive me, once again, for the delay in posts. Being summertime and having three children to occupy my time, I find it rather difficult to keep up with the whole blog thing right now. So, I'm playing catch up. Please feel free to scroll down through all the August posts. They are all from these past 6 weeks or so. Once school starts I think I'll be better about keeping up with the pace of things...I hope anyway.

Kelsey is "7"

While at the beach, we celebrated Kelsey's 7th birthday. I cannot believe she's that old already!
She blew out all the candles on the first try. I guess her wishes may come true.

Cole gave her a casio keyboard for her birthday. Ella gave her an Ariel mermaid bath doll which she takes to the pool with her. I didn't get a picture of her opening that.

Daddy gave her 5 pair of earrings...

and a pink and white Auburn jersey.

Mommy gave her a cupcake maker....

and some additional cupcake mixes.

I think she made out pretty well overall.

Trip to the B'ham zoo

Train ride at the zoo. Ella's not too sure of this.

Children's zoo area where the kids had a chance to cool off in the water fountains.

Annual Beach Trip to Destin

We make a trip to Destin every year for Jason's ALOA board meeting and CE classes. We alway try to turn this into a mini vacation, which is usually very stressful. However, this year proved otherwise. Ella is finally old enough and mobile enough to go places easily without carting around multiple bags and a stroller to boot. Despite having been to the beach every year of her young life, this is the first year she actually got in water. Our first year at the beach with Ella she was 8 weeks old and recovering from a nasty allergic reaction to Penicillin and really couldn't get in the sun anyway. Last year, the seaweed and jellyfish were so bad that we couldn't get in the water. This year, the weather was wonderful, the waves were big and the water was crystal clear.

This is just about as far as Kelsey would go without someone holding her.

Cole, on the other hand, kept me on my toes. He was body surfing the waves and kept getting further out. Finally, when the water level reached his shoulders, I made him come back towards shore a little.

See what I mean. A little unnerving for a nervous mother.

We stayed at the Sandestin Hilton Resort which has a poolside bar and restaurant. This came in very handy our first day there since we had to wait many hours for our room to be ready for checkin. We spent a couple of hours at the beach, a couple at the pool and then headed over for some lunch. I enjoyed a tasty grilled grouper salad, while the kids ate chicken tenders, popcorn shrimp and macaroni and cheese. I honestly don't remember what Jason had.

Ella making the rounds before lunch was served.

Kelsey admiring one of the shells she found.

Our fish.

This was our room view from the balcony. I was trying out different lighting techniques with my camera. This was fluorescent lighting at night.

This was the actual view at dusk with normal lighting.

I wish this picture wasn't so grainy. Ella just looked so cute.

We took advantage of the indoor pool during a rainstorm one morning while we were there. Kelsey is quicly turning into the fish that Cole has become.

Ella and Mommy playing on the steps of the pool.

Cole being silly.

Tour de Helena

It's taken some time this Summer to get Ella used to the bike. The baby seat, that is. Until recently, she would scream and cry hysterically as we buckled her in, and as Jason rode off into the sunset with her. When he returned, she'd still be screaming. He started her off slowly by just riding up the street and back. Then, he'd go a little further each night. Now, she loves the bikerides and even looks forward to them. Her helmet is hanging on the garage wall next to the van, so every time we leave the house, she says "my hat...go bike ride with Daddy?" It's very cute, and I have to say that even though she was so upset those first few times, I laughed hysterically every time. I know tha sounds mean but it was so funny to watch. Perseverance paid off, though.

Daddy's bike riding companion.

There they go.

Fourth of July

We spent the fourth of July at Missy & Jamie's house up in Huntsville. Uncle Jamie took the kids and bought them fireworks to shoot off. Here are the boys having fun with the smoke bombs.

Ella and Morgan checking out the pop-its on the ground.

Uncle Jamie helped Kelsey light a smoke bomb.

She's proud of her accomplishment.

Kolon enjoying himself.

Yes, that is my son in the white socks running across the street. It's a wonder he still has socks left in his drawer. He's always going outside in them and most of them are no longer white.

Nana gettin' some hugs from Ella.

Missy and Ella at the fireworks show.

Cole and Kelsey getting ready for the fireworks show.

Jamie, Frank, Becky & Missy.

Kolton

The whole gang, minus my Dad. He pooped out on us and stayed back at the house to nap.

Missy & Morgan, Nana & Kelsey, Me & Ella.