Gulf Shores Beach 2011

In August, we went to Gulf Shores for a much needed vacation with the girls! We had a blast, and Eva Marie and Ella Kate loved it! None of us wanted to leave! We cannot wait to take them back. Ella Kate had fun playing in the sand, and Eva Marie had fun in the water. Eva Marie definitely has NO fear. She even floated in the ocean, and she did not want you to hold her hand; she just wanted to float by herself. Ella Kate was just content playing in the sand. I think she really probably would have stayed there the whole time. Give her a bucket and shovel, and she was fine! She did enjoy the pool too! The last day, we couldn't get in the water in the afternoon because tons of jellyfish came up; they were everywhere. If you have ever seen the movie "Finding Nemo," it was exactly like that....seriously. I wish I had gotten a picture on my camera of it. We are so thankful the girls loved the beach so much because their mommy and daddy sure do! It makes the trip go much easier! We ate some great food; the girls love eating fried fish!

FISH! we saw this the first day we were there. a guy was actually running the beach and casting his fishing rod in hopes of catching something in the middle of this...and he DID!
Awake and ready for the beach!

love...

Ella Kate would have stayed playing in the sand all day if I would have let her.

Eva Marie's first time floating in the ocean...she loved it.

love this picture of Jerry and Eva Marie

Eva Marie was "miss independant" with her floaties; she didn't want you touching her..she just wanted to float by herself

One of my favorites...

Babies to Toddlers

Toddlers, that is what our babies have become. These pictures show just how much they have grown up and do not look like babies anymore. Many days, it makes me sad that they are growing up so fast, but then I know I can't stop them from becoming little girls. They are so fun, and they say some of the funniest things to us. We love them so much and enjoying watching their personalities develop!

they love to play in our dining room curtains!
Me and my precious Eva Marie (or as Ella Kate likes to call her Eva-la-ria or Eva Maria)

Of course, I had to get one with my precious Ella Kate (or as Eva Marie likes to call her "ka ka"

Sweet times with my girls

They look so grown-up in this picture, and the next pictures that follow!

Look at Ella Kate's sweet face

Sweet Eva Marie

One of my favorite pictures of Eva Marie

Easely Amused

It has been forever since I posted. Life has been crazy since August. We are on the go all the time! It won't slow down either until after Christmas. We took a family vacation to the beach in August, and I still have to post pictures from that trip. Then, football season started, the girls 2nd BIRTHDAY PARTY, and then other children's birthday parties as well!

I promise to "try" and post pictures this week...we'll see!

One picture I HAD to post was from this past weekend. Kristi and I are childhood friends; literally since birth. Our mom's are good friends, and we grew up spending lots of time together! (I wrote a post about the girl's play date with her little girl)

When we were in high school and college, we ALWAYS got asked the question,

"Are y'all sisters?" It didn't matter where we were, if we were together, we got asked that question...even in gas stations in Starkville, MS!

So, Kristi had a couple of gift certifcates to Easely Amused, and she asked if I wanted to go with her. Of course I would, I love to paint and so does she! It just happen to fall on the same weekend as her little girl, Meredith's birthday, that we would be in town for; so we booked it! We had so much fun painting and catching up on everything that has been going on in our lives. We finished our painting and decided to take a picture with our finished product...and what do we get asked??....."Are y'all sisters?" we just started laughing.

Even in our 30's, we still get asked that same question! We are planning to do this again soon!

Kristi and me with our paintings "New Day"

I think I am going to frame mine and hang it in our dining room!

4th of July weekend!

I know, it's a month later, and I am just now posting pictures from 4th of July weekend at the camp in Bay St. Louis! Life has been a little busy lately, with football season coming up and the girl's 2nd birthdayy party; my mind is running in a million directions!

Enjoy the pictures!

Eva Marie loves to slide; even in a pool...ready, set...
GO!

They love playing with buckets/cups, etc!

Cheese!

Aunt JuJu and Eva Marie

They LOVE boiled corn!

They had marshmellows dipped in chocolate with festive sprinkles!

She loved the chocolate

Father's Day Weekends...

I know this post says, "Father's Days Weekends..." well that is because Jerry wasn't in town on actual Father's Day; so we had to do his pictures with the girls a weekend later! I absolutely love this picture of Jerry and the girls. Eva Marie and Ella Kate are getting such personalities, and it's funny to see how they "pose" in pictures now. Eva Marie especially is such a little ham for the camera! We finally got pictures of the girls with my dad...I don't think he has had a picture with both of them since they were little! We finally got a picture with Melanie, my sister, and the girls too! AND, we got a picture of all the grandkids. That was a difficult task; trying to get everyone to smile at the same time, sit still, not to stand up, not to make silly faces, etc, etc, etc! This picture that Beth, my sister-in-law, took of the kids is great. She is a photographer and takes great pictures...go see her work at www.bethhontzas.blogspot.com

My favorite picture of Jerry and the girls!
Love this sweet picture too, of Jerry and Eva Marie

All the grandkids from left to right: Athena, Shelby, Parker, Ella Kate, and Eva Marie!

My dad and the girls!

Melanie and the girls!

Eva Marie heard a fire truck near my parents house, and she thought it was the best thing ever!

Play Date with the Stuckeys!

My good friend Kristi and I grew up together. When I say, grew up together, I mean, literally, we have been friends since we were born. Our moms are good friends, and I believe, my oldest sister was even in Kristi's parent's wedding! We lived around the corner from each other most of our lives. I remember them moving to what seemed like miles away, even though, it was really probably not even a mile. We did everything together growing up. I have such special memories with her. So, it was only natural that we would want to have kids the same age, grow up together, be best friends like Kristi and I are! Well, one of those things happened, our kids are 1 week apart in age! It's funny how those things happen!

Even though Kristi and I live 90 miles apart, we still try to see each other when we can. We both lead busy lives, but no matter how many weeks go by that we don't talk, we can talk on the phone and pick up where we left off from before.

I was so excited to finally set a "play date" with Eva Marie, Ella Kate, and Meredith (Kristi's little girl). It was so fun to see the 3 of them interact. After our play date, we ended up having to get Eva Marie and Ella Kate a "slide" because they loved the one Meredith had so much. We had such a good time, and I can't wait until we get together again soon!

Eva Marie and Ella Kate found Meredith's shopping cart, they had fun with it!
Meredith looking at her mom as if to say..."do I have so share?"


Ella Kate trying out Meredith's chair; she LOVED it! Maybe they will get one for their birthday??? :) Meredith shares so well!

Cutie Pie Meredith!

Meredith "sliding"

Eva Marie "sliding" she LOVED it! We had to go buy one!

They found Meredith's "water park" Needless to say, that was the end of all of them staying dry!

And they found Meredith's pool! Can you tell, they didn't care if they didn't have bathing suits on? They dove right on in, shoes and all!

Meredith striking a pose!

Trying to get all 3 of them to look was challenging!