High on Summertime

Today I woke up and I realized for the...I don't know how manieth time....that this is the best time of my life.

If you are from the South and say y'all and ain't and how manieth, holler now would you?

Thanks.

And for the record, you can have a college degree and still talk like this.

It's totally ok.

I think?

Anyway, back to this...

Watching my children grow in front of my eyes and celebrate summer and life and family vacation is just the best thing on the planet.  I know it's a lot of work for us parents and all, but oh my goodness gracious...is it ever worth it.



We trecked down to Sandestin, Florida again during our off week from baseball.  It's our home away from home.  It's the place my love and I dream of retiring.  I can just see an older version of us... riding in our golf cart to Publix for groceries and walking our dog on the beach.  I want to see the children of our two visit us and watch them dip their sweet feet in the beautiful emerald waters for the first time.  I want to see their precious little hands gather the white sand to form something grand.  It's a good dream.



I'll look at my grandkids in this same way I'm sure.  I'll say, "Oh honey, your Mama and her brother ate all their snacks out of a Red Solo Cup."  Surely there will still be Red Solo Cups?  I mean, there is an entire song dedicated to the Red Solo Cup.  Right?




I'll say "Your Mama or Your Daddy loved coming here.  They would pause for me every year right here on this path for a quick picture before they ran to the ocean."



"They didn't seem to mind, even though the ride was so long and all they wanted to do was just run."



"I'll never forget how they looked and how it felt to be there.  It feels exactly the same now."

Anyway, that's how it goes in my dream.  I will be super blessed if it comes true.  But honestly, I feel like just this...just this is good enough for me.  The rest is a bonus.

The first afternoon, we literally ran to the beach at first.  The kids played for a while and then we went to dinner.  We went to Tommy Bahamas...oh Mama.  Hello coconut shrimp.  Anyway, it was fabulous...then we ran back to the beach for fireworks.





















I'll never forget this moment.  I could have stayed out there all night.  It was incredible.  There are times in life when you think to yourself, "this is good."  You know?  This was one of those moments.

We kept it going.  The next morning we were at the beach first.





Jonah, you were a total surfer boy this year.  You braved the waves and even dove through them.  When I saw you dive in one for the first time, I nearly lost my breath.  How could you possibly be old enough to do that?



And Jesse, honey, you braved the waves with our help too.  You still love to play in the sand more though.  You were all about the sand castle and digging the big hole.  I loved watching you.



Taking your picture is just an excuse to stare at you more.  Thanks for being so patient with me.

I only took 2500 or so...so many more I haven't even seen yet.

This is going to be fun :-).  I'll try my best to share more.

Oh good grief, I live for the beach and summertime...there's nothing better.

The Good Life

We had finally made it.  It's a very long ride, and it's a very exciting moment when we get there.  It's the gulf coast.  It's Destin.  It's our home away from home that we dream of the entire year.  It's about the seventh time we've been and it's still just as exciting as the very first...when Jonah had little to no hair and big rolls on his sweet legs and the puffiest cheeks.  Oh, I remember sitting his little bottom on the sand and thinking it couldn't get any better than that moment. 

Little did I know...



seeing this excitement and watching them grow up going here makes it better and better every year.



Destin is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen.  The water is crystal clear, even after everything that's happened.  The sand is lush and white.  It's a dream.



We go to Sandestin every year.  It's familiar.  It feels good.  It calls our name.



This is not exactly what I meant by get in the picture Jonah.  But, it's ok.  I sort of like it.  It captures your spirit.



This is along the village in Sandestin.  It's a really neat atmosphere full of shops and restaurants and activities for kids.



And this is our boy on the Euro Bungee.



I was proud of us this year.  We spent more time at the pool and the beach than anything.  We took it easy.



The weather was great.  The pool was probably their favorite.  Funny how that is.

Jesse girl.  She's something.  She was quick to tell us when she had to go potty.  You heard that right.  Jesse girl is potty trained.  It's a miracle.  This is our first trip with her in big girl panties.  That's a big deal.  And she was quick to remind us every time she went potty that she needed some M&M's.  I actually think it is more about the prize than anything.  Hey, whatever it takes.

Jonah gets braver every year.  Jumping in like a wild man.



Making friends as usual.  (Such a sweet boy.  They reminded me so much of each other.)



"Hmmm, if I go potty again, I wonder if she will buy me another bag.  She's so easy."



"If not, I'm sure I'll get her again tomorrow."



"...and the next day."

I think I mentioned that my love turned a year older.  Yes.  He did.  Jonah wanted a Harry Potter cake, but a beach theme seemed more appropriate.  Although, the theme of the weekend was an equal mix of Harry Potter movies and beach for sure.

I'm just going to sit back and let you see these...

Birthdays are special.  It doesn't take much to make it that way with our family.  There's cake.  There's a song.  There's smiles.  And there's love and laughter.  That's what it's all about.



And it helps if you go for an unexpected game of mini golf after cake.  Well equipped with glow in the dark necklaces and bracelets of course.  Yeah, that's a nice treat.



I can't look at these long.



Where's my baby girl?  Oh good grief.



Sometimes we went out to dinner.  One time it didn't turn out well, but this night was fantastic.  Lesson learned:  stick with what you know.



Then we went back to the village for a little adventure.  Well, Jonah went adventuring.  It was his night.



There wasn't anything he didn't want to do.  He started out on this.  He's connected to a rope pulley.  He has to follow the course to the top and ring the bell.









If pictures had sound, well, you would hear me screaming, "Way to go Jonah!!  You rock buddy!"



But that wasn't all.  They had a zip line.  Holly Molly.  They had a zip line across the lake and he wanted to do it.  Where's my little chunky baby boy?  I can't handle it.



And she hung out with us and watched and told us stories of what all she would accomplish in this life time.



"Well, that's my brother up there."



"But, when I'm a big girl, I'm going to go here."



"Yes."



"You're going to be so proud of me."  I already am proud of you my sweet Jesse girl.



I'm proud of the both of you.

Note to self:  Why didn't you zip line?  Next time.



Nature trails are a treat, but you have to go early.  Like after a morning breakfast out.



And of course, vacation is the perfect time for Harry Potter and ice cream in bed after a mid-day nap.



I mean.  Why not?



Cause we got more beaching to do you know.  We need some energy.



We are so drawn to them.  You know...dogs.  I do not believe we go on a vacation that I am not capturing a picture of them with a sweet dog of some kind.  They have the same hair.  I'm loving this breed.



Oh good grief.  Where did those longer legs come from?





Oh, good grief.  My sweet young man.  I can't handle it.







No honey, touch your cheek to Jonah's cheek.  Don't literally touch his cheek.  Oh honey, that's his chin.  Oh shit, don't listen to me.  Just be natural.





You know, sometimes the very, merry unpefect shots are my favorite.  I would like to blow this up and put it on my cubicle wall at work.









Sea breeze.  I'm so happy at this moment.



And yet again, we look desperate enough that someone comes along and says, "Would you like for me to get your picture together?"  "Oh, thank you so much!"  I hand over the camera and in my mind I am remembering that I forgot to take it out of manual mode.  I'm thinking, oh my this is not going to work.  Then, I just say to myself, there's always a chance.  We gather together.  I don't know if she counted or said the familiar "say cheese".  Actually, she probably said nothing.

And it turned out just fine.

It's all I needed.  One picture.  Thank you.  Whoever you are.

It's been harder than ever adjusting back to the routine this year.  I just think that every year I realize how precious my time with them is.  I see how much they are changing.

Being with them is the good life.  It's a real good life...no matter where we are.