Sand & Sun

We just got back yesterday from a little vacation to Pensacola Beach, FL.  We had so much fun!  Aaden and I were both sad that we had to come home.

We left Friday morning headed down south.  I am so thankful that Savannah and Aaden are both great car riders.  Savannah was a little fussy, though.  I can't hardly blame her since she had been in her car seat for at least 7 hours!

Our first stop was in Ocean Springs.  Tyler played a few songs at a place called Coffee Fusion.  While he was playing, we took Aaden down the road to Monkey Joe's.  I wish that we had a place like that here in Columbus.  Lots of jumpers and games.  He was in heaven and was able to burn off lots of energy from being stuck in a van for so long.  No pictures from there... I was too busy chasing him around!

After Tyler finished, we headed on into Pensacola.  We are so fortunate that we were able to stay at the hotel on the Naval Station.  We were able to stay all four nights for around the cost of one night in a good condo.  We got there around 1 am.  We were so tired from driving all day (plus I had worked the night before!).  And the air conditioning in our room wasn't working.  They offered to move us, but by that time we were exhausted so we just dealt with it.

The next morning we got up and headed straight to the beach. Aaden has been talking about going to the beach for a few weeks. He's been so excited!

He spent lots of time running back and forth from the sand...then into the water.  We also bought him a shovel, bucket, and net.  He would dig up lots of sand, then throw it into the water.  One time he accidentally hit a lady with his sand...oops!

Savannah loved the beach, too! I sat with her at the very edge and let the water wash over her little legs when the waves came in. She apparently loves the taste of sand (yuck) and tried eating it by the handfuls.  She also decided it was time for a nap on the 2nd day we were at the beach.  I don't blame her...having so much fun can wear a girl out!

Savannah has always been a very laid back baby, but there must have been something about the beach that totally relaxed her.  I'd hold her and walk about waist deep into the water, and she'd just lay her head on my shoulder and cuddle up to me.  So sweet..

One night we went to Sam's Fun City (another place I wish Columbus had--we'd probably go broke though!).  Aaden has been dying to drive a go-kart.  He loved it!  He's 100% boy, for sure!

Here he is riding another ride.  The little cars would go up and down.  I think he enjoyed it, but definitely not as much as the go-karts.

Another ride...if you are semi- amazed that a 3 year old would ride this, don't be.  Our boy is a daredevil! 

Our nights consisted of eating yummy seafood and riding down the strip of Pensacola Beach. It..was...perfect. 

On our way home, we stopped at Lambert's! One of our favorites!

Thank you LORD for allowing us time together as a family.

I think vacations serve two purposes... 1. to get away from our daily life "stressors" and 2. to make fun memories.  Aaden may or may not remember going to the beach, but our babies will only be little for so long.  Tyler and I are also so thankful that our jobs permit us to take little trips like these and make such sweet memories with our kids.

Bad, bad blogger

I know I've been a horrible blogger, but don't worry... I've been keeping up with my "blog stalking"!  When it's been 6 months since you've blogged, there's alot to catch up on!

Let's start with this pretty girl.  She'll be 11 months old in ONE week.  Lord, help my heart.  We are starting to brainstorm things for her 1st birthday.  Let's get real..I've been thinking about her first birthday since she was just a few months old!  She's growing so fast.  She can say Da Da, Ma Ma, Bye Bye, and sometimes I really think she tries to say Aaden.  She only hears it a million times a day!  She's been our little "sickly" one.  Most recently getting over strep and an ear infection.

She is the sweetest, most laid back baby ever.  I'm not sure what we did before she was born.  We love her so much!

Aaden is getting big, too.  He just recently started t-ball.  He's a pro at hitting (left handed!), but could really care less about playing in the outfield.  Playing with dirt is much, much more fun!  We opted not to start him in Pre-K this year.  He has that funky August birthday.  He would either be the oldest or the youngest in his class.  Since boys tend to mature a little slower than girls, we thought it'd be best for him to wait a year.  He loves it at Kid's Point, and frankly we love him there too!  We'll be sad when he has to leave there next year...

Melt my heart....

At the Easter egg hunt this year.  No big deal... He's got it ALL figured out now!

The Easter Bunny came to see Savannah and Aaden this year.  He brought Savannah some puffs and sandals.  Aaden got a paddle and ball, bubbles, a magnifying glass, and candy.  Love making these sweet memories.

Now you're (mostly) caught up!

I promise I'll try to do better with the blogging!

Tiny Prints!

Friday was a gorgeous day and we met our friend Renee to take our Christmas pictures.  We  had originally planned on taking them last Tuesday, but because of our crazy weather down here in the South, we had to reschedule because it rained all. day. long.  So glad we waited because Saturday was just gorgeous! 

Renee took my maternity pictures with Aaden, then Aaden's newborn pictures.  We didn't have any newborn pictures taken of Savannah, so we decided to take Christmas/family pictures.  I can't wait to get them back so we can start sending out our Christmas cards.

By the way,  if you go to this link and blog about Tiny Prints' Christmas cards,  you will be eligible to receive some free!  You can find their adorable Christmas cards here:
http://www.tinyprints.com/shop/picture-christmas-cards.htm
Just blog about which of their cards you like the best.

Here are some of my favorites...




I love the circle Christmas card...so unique!

They have an awesome selection with so many adorable cards to choose from! 
http://www.tinyprints.com/

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

wordless wednesday

Happy Fall!

A few weekends ago, we went to Holley Farm to let Aaden experience the "country life". Ha! I believe our sweet boy was born to live on a farm. Maybe one day, but for now, trips like this will have to do! This is the wagon ride that took you all around their family's property. It was beautiful! The tour guide made a few stops and would hop off and tell us a little bit about the area and it's history. At the end of the tour, it stopped at the pumpkin patch and you got to pick out a pumpkin! We ended up getting two- one for Tyler & I, and Aaden picked his right off the vine!

This slide is homemade (can you tell?), and SO much fun!!  Aaden and Tyler went down it at least 4 times.

Next, was the corn maze.  Aaden strolled  ran through it.  We could barely keep up!                                       

They also had a corn kernel pit, which Aaden wouldn't have anything to do with.  You know, because it would actually require him to be contained in a small area, and well, he's just too busy for that!

This was a second attempt at a family photo.  I think Aaden was trying to kiss Tyler on the cheek....  sweet, sweet boy.

Our pumpkins have made their home on our door step. I love how Aaden's pumpkin is the smaller one.  Aaden had a great time.  This will definitely have to turn into a tradition.

Happy Fall!

crazy

As I'm writing this, I'm thinking to myself "why in the world are you blogging at 2 am?". I honestly think I may be losing my mind.

It's been a crazy beginning to the week and there are alot of things that I want to post/write about, but just don't have the energy.  So, I will make a list!

• We had a wonderful weekend.  Pictures definitely to come.  We took Aaden to a pumpkin farm in Itawamba County and he had a blast.  Went on a tractor ride, slide down the greatest slide I've ever seen (4 times), picked his own pumpkin, ran through the corn maze.  So, so fun.
• Tyler bought me a camera.  I am utterly excited to learn how to use it and Photoshop Elements.  It is my early birthday present, and I LOVE it. 
• It seems that I am reminded daily that I am a huge sinner, a very flawed human whose only hope is through her Savior.  After some days, I am just so thankful he loved me the same yesterday, and will love me the same tomorrow despite something I say, do, or should have done. 
• I think I have a spider bite on my ankle.  Lovely.  We went to the park Friday evening and I thought I had gotten a mosquito bite.  I usually have very big reactions to mosquitoes so I didn't think much of it.  Except it has been 3 days and it hurts some when I walk, is swollen, and well, doesn't look so much like a mosquito bite anymore.
• Alabama lost to South Carolina.  Oh, glory.  Saturday was a fabulous day!  Our dawgs won and Bama lost! 
• Praying for Bowen, Bennett, and Andi
• Aaden.  Oh, our sweet Aaden.  Just like my Gingaw used to say "if you don't stop growing, I'll put a brick on top of your head!"  He is so big.  I say that every time I post, and I mean it.  It is something new every day.  This morning we pulled into daycare and he said "I wanna go back that way!" (talking about away from daycare).  And talk about melting my heart when he says "I love you, Momma".  Oh, mercy.  To think that Christ loves us unfathomably more than we can ever love our own children.  Wow.  We can't even begin to comprehend it.

Hope your week is wonderful....

Linds

Bulldogs & J-E-L-L-O

This past Saturday all three of us were able to go to the MSU game Vs. Alcorn State.  We had bought 2 tickets to a few of the games, but Tyler called me Friday and said that the Air Force Base was giving out free tickets.  Because children are required to have a ticket, and because we didn't know how well Aaden would do, we just opted to let him stay with his Di Di and Grandpa Roger for the games.  That is, until we got free tickets and thought "Why not?", and BOY did he love it! He especially loved watching the band and ringing the cowbell!  He would get so excited when everyone was clapping and cheering after we made a good play.  He had a blast!

 Sadly, I didn't want to lug around my camera so I didn't even take it.  But this picture was taken earlier in the year when we met our head football coach Dan Mullen.  Oh, how I love Dan.  I have so much respect for him and his family.  Such an awesome guy (and coach!).  Dan came to the base to speak at the Sport's Banquet and Tyler got to introduce him.  He signed a football for Aaden and gave him a high five and fist bump. Ha!

This boy is loving some Jello lately.  He works so hard to get it on his spoon, then finally just reverts to using his fingers.  I don't blame him!

 We had such a fun weekend...  These last few pictures are generally what take place every night.  We turn the movie Cars on, and Aaden stares at the TV until he falls asleep.

I love those pudgy little cheeks.  Can you see the drool on his pillow? Poor baby was so tired after such an eventful day....