Family Beach Trip and More..........

Wow!   It has been a very long time since I posted anything here.   We finished up the school year on a Thursday in late June and the very next day we were flying south to visit family.    We spent our first week in Gulf Shores, Alabama with Peter's extended family.   There were 27 of us total and we shared a duplex unit with a total of 11 bedrooms.   We were all sad that Shoo Shoo and Uncle Hollis couldn't join us, but we made the best of it and tried to focus our attention on watching the kids make some of the best memories ever.   The girls loved playing with their cousins.   After a week at the beach, we headed back to LaGrange to spend some time with Mimi and Poppy and Shoo Shoo.   We also squeezed in a 4th of July BBQ with some old friends.   Thanks to everybody that hosted us and made our visit so special!   Here are the pictures.........

Susannah's first field day was a great success.

Apparently the girls even won the tug of war competition.  

We spent one of our last after school outings with friends at the pool.

This was the morning of Sarah Avery's Father Day breakfast at school.

Watching these two walk in together made my heart melt into an actual puddle.   

We spent one afternoon at the park with some friends.   This little friend will be in SA's class next year.

This was Father's Day before church.  

Backyard fun.

Ready for her second to last day of school.

Sarah Avery's last day of school.   

This little one has grown so much over the school year.   She went from worrying us with her lack of speech, to driving us crazy with her constant questions.   She went from being shy and reserved at school, to running in and participating in every game and activity.   

We are so proud of you Sarah Avery!

We will miss Ms. Adrienne and Ms. Josefa.

We stopped by her field day which was the day after her last day of school.   She only did the obstacle course before her shyness set in, so we left early.

And went home to try on Mommy's sneakers. 

And before we knew it, Susannah's last day of Kindergarten was upon us.   

She wanted to make her last day sign.   She has grown and changed so much this year, it really takes my breath away.   

We are so very proud of all that she has accomplished this year though.   She is a wonderful reader and a wonderful friend.    

Walking her to school with her little friends was the epitome of bitter sweet. 

And one last shot with our beloved Ms. K.   Susannah, you are becoming such an amazing person and Daddy and I are so very proud of you!

The last day was an early release day so we met some friends at a park for a last day picnic.  It was hot, but such a fun way to end the year. 

Then the next morning, we were at the airport.  

And the day after that, we were on our way to the coast!   We stopped for lunch at Waffle House so the girls could have the full southern beach trip experience.  

And later that afternoon, we were relaxing on the deck.   

Watching the girls with their cousins was the highlight of the week.   Susannah and Clara Kate were inseperable.  

And Sarah Avery was always happiest when the big kids decided to include her.  

We stayed in a very remote location so we had the beach in front of our house completely to ourselves.   It was really nice.  

Peter rented a kayak and gave me a ride.  

We didn't have perfect weather, but the view was nice everyday no matter the color of the sky.

Last year, Susannah was scared of the waves, but this year she was a little dare-devil and spent every second we would allow her in the water.  

This one was a little more high maintenance, but she loved playing in the sand and the pool.   

The girls loved having a little independence to walk to and from the house.   

Sarah Avery wanted to be in the water all the time too.    

Some of the older cousins taught Susannah how to play baseball.   She loved it.  

And Aunt Nancy gave the girls a little make-up tutorial.   

The great-aunts kept the children one night so the parents could go out to dinner.   

There was a long wait, but we didn't mind because we had drinks and the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen.    

Complete with dolphins swimming right in front of the docks.   It was perfect.   

Jack loved his Uncle Peter.  

One day the kids decided to bury each other.  

Sarah Avery, you are such a handful and I love you so much.  

The girls both loved cousin Avery.   

We spent our one really rainy day at the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola, FL.   

The girls got to sit in the cock-pit of some of the planes, including one that Peter flew.  

All the other kids bought hermit crabs at the souvenir shop and they were an awesome source of entertainment the rest of the week.   Susannah begged for one, but because we were flying home we said no.   She begged so much though, that Peter had 3 hermit crabs and a little tank set up when the girls and I arrived back in Alexandria.   We named them James, David and Herm.   David has already disappeared.   

The little boogie boarder.  

And fashionista.

Sunbathing with cousin Avery.

The little baby pools on the decks were Sarah Avery's happy place.  

The ice cream truck came everyday and these dads couldn't resist the pleas of their little bathing suit clad girls.   

Ice Cream!

Cousin Emma was so sweet and brought crafts for the girls to do everyday.   Susannah adores her.  

We had a family photo shoot the last night we were there.  

Merry Christmas from the Mallorys.   ;)

All the grandkids.

The girls with their aunt Nancy.

We stopped for chick-fil-a on the way home to LaGrange.   

We befriended this cat while we were at Mimi and Poppys house.   The girls loved it even though it scratched them.  

We spent one afternoon with some of our oldest friends.   So good to see you all!

All the kids in the patriotic gear......the military family dropped the ball on that one and wore pink instead.   

It is so fun to watch our kids play together.  

Preston and Susannah picked right up where they left off last summer.  

These two didn't remember each other of course, but they seemed as friendly as 2 year olds can be.  

We spent the rest of the week with Shoo Shoo and before we knew it, we were headed back to the airport.   Peter had already returned to Alexandria for work, so the girls and I were traveling alone.   

And it was such a joy.   A complete 180 from the dreaded trips to and from Germany.   We had a wonderful lunch watching the planes.   

And checked out all the art work between the concourses.   

I even got to read my book for part of the flight.   Now that we are out of the baby/toddler phase, traveling is such a joy!!  Praise the LORD!!!

We have been home for a few days and are enjoying the relaxed pace of summer break.    We even have time to work on our hair braiding skills in the mornings.   We hope all of you are enjoying your summers and had happy independence days!   Love and miss you all!