Vacation Baby!

For the past several years we have taken our family vacation during mine and hubby’s anniversary week. We usually go to Gulf Shores and stay at a great condo with a zero entry pool ( a MUST have with a small child—it is wonderful because you don’t have to be with them every second they are in the water…only every other second). This year I guess I waited too late to book our reservations because everything at our favorite place to stay was booked. Luckily, we have some very close friends with a condo in Panama City Beach, FL and they were nice enough to help us get a reservation at the property where they condo and it had everything we could have wished for and more.

The pool was awesome!

The view was spectacular!

The night before we left for the beach I got a stomach virus and was up ALL night. I couldn't tell you the last time I had been sick and the night before we leave….well let’s just say I lost 8 lbs. in about 6 hours. I tried to sleep the whole way down to the beach in hopes that when I woke up I would feel better. If anyone is wondering it takes approximately 1 showing of the Sound of Music, a 1 ½ hour nap and about 30 minutes to get to Panama City. ..just in case you were wondering. Madie ended up with the stomach virus Sunday night and Monday. She was such a trooper. She was a much better patient than her mommy was.

While we were at the beach we celebrated Father’s Day~Thanks hubby for being the wonderful father you are. And we also celebrated 9 years of wedded bliss~Thank you hubby for 9 wonderful years…I’m looking forward to 100 more!

Happy Father's Day!

Last year when we were at the beach Madie hated the sand. She didn’t want to touch it, stand in it or be anywhere around it. This year she loved it. I had so much fun watching her and hubby play in the sand. I am not a big fan of the sand….I like walking in it and standing next to the shore, but I don’t want to sit in it, get it under my finger nails or get it in places that sand should not be. It was great to watch Madie have so much fun.

Fun in the sun!

Building a sand castle with daddy.

We had a great time at the Treasure Ship.

Madie taking a break from swimming and enjoying a sucker.

Funny things that happened on vacation:

Madie thought the plane that flew by with the banners attached said, “Madie is at the beach!”

While out eating our waiter asked Madie if she was on vacation. She replied, “PCB Baby!” Thanks for that one hubby!

Do you know how fast Madie can knock down a sand castle? As fast as hubby can build them…Smile!

At the Treasure Ship restaurant a pirate told Madie he was going to make her a pink balloon poodle...Madie saud, "I don't need a pink one, but I'll take a blue one." My baby knows what she wants.

At the souvenir store Madie pickes a stuffed chinchilla as her souvenir prize...what?!? Really !?! And...it was $9. She hasn't played with it since we've been home.

Madie telling her daddy that she needs a smoothie with cherrie in it to make her feel cooler. They were very refreshing~

What a great week! None of us wanted to come home. We are so blessed to have each other and create such special memories. I can't wait until next year!

Catching Up And Chattanooga

Wow! Summer is in full swing. So much so that I just noticed that I haven't written a post since Madie got out of school. Time has certainly gotten away from me. Madie and I have been on the go go go. We made a trip to visit Madie's grandparents in Muscle Shoals and had a great time. They have just recently bought an Ice Cream Store and what kid (or adult) doesn't love ice cream. I think we sampled every flavor. And then we had visits from my mom and those are always filled with shopping, eating out and staying up late. And this past weekend we went on a mini -vacation to Chattanooga and then went to visit hubby's grandmother.

Chattanooga was great! We left on Thursday night so that we would have all day on Friday to play. Chattanooga is such a cool city. I felt safe the entire time I was there. We stayed in in the downtown area, parked our car when we got there and didn't get back in the car until we left on Saturday. Unlike Birmingham, I think Chattanooga has got the tourist thing figured out.

First we went to the Tennessee Aquarium. Madie had a wonderful time. The Otter and the jellyfish were her favorite. She got to pet a snake, stingray and sturgent. We saw Nemo, Dory, Gill and Squirt. And we loved watching the penguins. After we finished the aquarium we grabbed some lunch and then headed to the IMAX. It was the same one we had seen at the McWane Center but this one was in 3D. It was cute to watch Madie reach out and try to touch the fish swimming by. With those silly glasses on, it looked as if they were swimming right for you. When we finished the movie we went to our room for a few minutes and then headed for the Chattanooga Choo Choo and from there downtown again for dinner and then to the Free Friday Concerts in the park. We were so tired by the end of the day but had a wonderful time. I had

forgotten what it felt like to getaway.

Madie looking at the jelly's

Madie petting Mr. Ray

Beach vacation countdown has begun.....20 days and counting.

Back To Reality

Back to reality----Vacation was wonderful. We had such a good time. And other than the occasional meltdown, because she was tired, Madie was great! We got home yesterday afternoon. Since then, hubby has gone back to work :( and I have spent my time unpacking, washing clothes, entertaining Madie, cleaning the house and wishing for more time on vacation.
I'll make time later to sit down and post some of the happenings and some pictures from our trip to the beach--but I have to get my house back in order first. I love being on vacation, but I hate being out of my routine. I've got a lot of catching up to do. Back to reality!

Everything But The Kitchen Sink

Why is it that when you are packing to go on vacation you pack way too many things? I've caught myself packing shirts that I haven't worn all year.....why would I wear it the few days that we are going to be gone? From the looks of our luggage---Madie and I are planning on staying at the beach for a while....I think I've packed everything but the kitchen sink.

Vacation Count Down

We are leaving to go to the beach on Thursday. I am very excited. I will be crazy busy getting things packed, ready and organized tomorrow. We (Hubby, me & Madie) are going on vacation and also celebrating mine and hubby's 8th anniversary. It doesn't seem like it has been that long. Happy Anniversary Babe!

Hopefully, Madie will like the sand more than her last visit to the beach. She would only walk in packed sand and she didn't like doing that. Last year when we went, she wasn't walking yet, well not upright, she walked on all fours (like a crab) so she was very familiar with the ground and everything on it. Thank goodness the place we stay at has a zero entry pool. I think if you have a small child who doesn't like playing on the beach, they are the best. They can play in the pool and you can sit in the water and stay cool and still entertain the little one. It should be a lot more fun for her this time. I've been talking to her about it and getting her excited about going. When hubby gets home from work she always asked him "Dada Beach?".....only 2 more days!

White sandy beaches.....here we come!