My definition of "vacation"

When I think of the word vacation I think: sleeping late, eating good food and doing absolutely whatever we want whenever we want to do it! Well, today captured that. We ALL slept until around 7:30 (which is late at our house), we relaxed this morning inside and then went out for a great lunch. After lunch we put on our swimsuits and headed for the beach. Julia Kate also wore her "sun hat" courtesy of her good friend Mr. Todd. (this is the only hat she does not immediately try and pull off) She loved goofing off and people watching. This week we have laughed I don't know how many times at how she loves to people watch! Everyone tells us what a quiet baby we have and we respond with, "It's only because she's so nosey!" (maybe I should say curious?)

Before coming back from lunch we made a special trip to Dollar General to purchase a sand castle building kit. JK's dad was so sweet to go down to the water and get the "good" sand and bring it back to build the princess a castle right at her feet.
Well, I haven't figured out how to crop these pictures before uploading them, but this was the sweetest! Jason carried her out to the water and then they sat and watched the waves come in. She would sit and as they came in do her hands up and down in excitement. She enjoyed the water.
Then, she had enough. She and I walked down the beach to watch Jason catch crabs and she just gave it up. She laid on the towel for 45 minutes and just slept. The wind was blowing, the waves were crashing and it was very peaceful.

After three days of phone calls, Jason was finally able to book us a dolphin cruise. We rode for about 45 minutes looking for dolphins and we finally found 2! We all three enjoyed the boat ride. If you look about 1/2 inch above the date to the left you can see a gray strip, that is the dolphin. That is how we saw them live, too. Everyone would yell, "There's one, there's one!", but by the time you looked it was gone.

Jason's crabbing: At first this afternoon he started out with the sand castle shaped bucket dipping crabs, but then he made a run to the neighboring souvenir shop and came back with a shell net! He did catch two blue crabs which was fun. You can see them here, he had a great time and Julia Kate and I had fun watching!
THE CATCH!!!
I have tons of pictures, but these have been fun to share. We leave tomorrow headed home, but we have had a great time getting away. Julia Kate has been so much fun and Jason and I are so blessed to be able to watch her grow each day. Thank you for allowing us to share her with you, she is our heart! See you back in Louisiana........nora

Shopping.....and the beach!

Here are some pictures from yesterday and today. Yesterday we traveled to Foley to the Tanger Outlet Center because it was raining. When we arrived there was a local news crew that approached us for a couple of questions, so......Julia Kate and I were on the local news! It was hilarious, we watched it at 5:00 and laughed the entire time. Around the outlet stores they had these little rides, you know the kind that used to be in front of the grocery stores for 50 cents? This was the first ride for Julia Kate. She is pretty serious about her driving.This was right before we were leaving...she really wanted to stay. She and her Dad were having so much fun exploring store to store.Then, this is from this morning's trip to the beach. She is wearing her swim suit cover up the was the cutest. She was also wearing her jelly shoes.......such a doll!After the beach we opted for the swimming pool for a little while. This was more our speed. We bought her this bikini because it has a life jacket that attaches to it, I think the face is saying, "Mom I can't believe you are taking this picture of me!"This is from this afternoon's trip to the beach. The only way Jason could get her to look at the camera was to wave to her, she is too busy paying attention to everyone/everything else than to focus on the camera.Before we came in I tested her in the water. She was fine as long as her back was to the waves. When she was facing the water it was a little overwhelming (and for me too), the waves are loud and fast. I hope you enjoy these, we have had a great time so far and we hate that tomorrow is our last day here. Stay tuned, there will be more later..........

The Beach

I am having trouble uploading my pictures so here are two from today. I have tons! We went to the beach and pool this morning and this afternoon. We had great food for lunch and supper and had a great day! I will try and upload more tomorrow, but I had to share the bottom one, it's pretty special!

First Family Vacation....What Fun!

So, Jason thinks I packed the whole house and maybe I did a little, but Julia Kate thought it was perfect. She was snug as a bug on the way to the beach! Granted, we had to remove something from either side before we could get her out! This was the scene......
We arrived around two o'clock yesterday: blue skies and sunshine. We drove through rain around Mobile but everything looked great when we arrived at the condo. Julia Kate was so excited to get out of her car seat, of course she had to check out the bed first!For supper we went to LuLu's, which is owned by Lucy Buffett (Jimmy's sister), it is like a big warehouse that is open right on the water and they had live music last night. The food was great and Julia Kate clapped along with every song! We are already deciding on tonight's destination.Then it started raining after we got in last night and the weather was a little bad during the early morning hours. Today's forecast is rain, rain and more rain. This is Julia Kate in her portable booster seat ready for breakfast. She is just too cute not to share. (Take note of how two of our pictures are around eating....we are all about the food, well at least me and JK.
This is the view from our balcony this morning, the rain has stopped for about the last hour but you can see the wind blowing the palm trees! Julia Kate is taking her nap. We are thinking since it is raining outside, what do we do?? SHOP! We are headed to Foley to the outlets! Check in later.....I am going to try and update!

I forgot to mention the new picture of Julia Kate in her tennis shoes. MK, Julia Kate and I traveled to Shreveport last Friday and found these at The GAP. This was Tuesday morning before going to Mrs. Betty's house, I thought she was the cutest in her ruffle skirt and hot pink shoes!

Happy Friday!! We have had a very busy week and everyday I have forgotten to bring my camera and upload pictures! So, I will catch you up on our week and share this one pic with you. This was Sunday before church in a new MK dress. You can also see the drool on her chin, she is getting her seventh tooth in!!

Julia Kate and I stayed home Wednesday because Mrs. Betty is on vacation. Today she and her Daddy are having a play date! We have spent each night this week getting ready for our vacation. We leave Sunday for Orange Beach for 5 days. We are excited. Jason is bringing his laptop so I will try and update with some new pics. This is our first family vacation.

Julia Kate is doing something new everyday. Her new thing is squealing, she loves to get your attention that way. She is pulling up and walking along the furniture or chair rail or bed. I know I'm going to look up tomorrow and she will walk across the room!

Sorry I don't have more pictures, I will definitely have some this next week. Say a prayer that we have beautiful weather and a wonderful first vacation!!

Thoughts from the weekend....

Our weekend was wonderful...I am sorry that it is Wednesday and I am now updating. I know this picture may be a little gross, but Saturday Julia Kate had potatoes, carrots and gravy for lunch! I cooked a roast with the trimmings and we were having left overs, she insisted on trying them and she was very enthused. Although she would have none of it for supper! We spent most of our Saturday cleaning out our extra bedroom which Jason refers to as the junk room. I was busy cleaning out a cabinet and Julia Kate played patiently all day long. She scoots everywhere so it didn't take her long to find me and this mirror. It was so sweet, she discovered this other baby and played for quite a few minutes! She talked and even tried to give kisses, and yes she gives open mouth kisses!

Sunday morning, we were running late as usual, but I tried to get a few pictures of JK and her new dress (an MK original). She did not want to cooperate and smile for the camera. These are the best two that I got, but they are pretty precious.

This week has flown by so far, when we get home in the afternoons, it's time to eat supper, play and have a bath before bedtime. Julia Kate and I have watched some of the olympics, swimming & gymnastics would have to be our favorites. That is in between crawling down the hall and back, down the hall and back..........What a wonderful blessing it is.......Nora

We are crawling...scooting...becoming mobile!

Julia Kate is now scooting. She puts her arms in front of her and pulls while pushing off with her feet. It's pretty funny! Last night she was playing in the living room and I sat down across the room and she turned and started scooting. I hope that you can see her, I recorded it with my digital camera. (You have to ignore my voice, I don't know how to turn the audio down)







Jason was looking for her and discovered her under the coffee table, I couldn't grab my camera fast enough and she was already out the other side. She has become very adventerous! If you look closely you can see the curve in her cheek: she grins the entire time!

I thought for sure she would start crying after making this tumble, but no, she just got up grinning and scooting along. Then she had to have a bath! I took these pictures because her hair has gotten so long and when I am washing it, it stands straight up!

I hope everyone has a great Thursday!

Weekend Happenings....SAT & SUN

Saturday: When I got home, Julia Kate had decided that she wanted to go to the Winnsboro Rodeo. My baby brother, David and our friend Heith were riding Satruday night so I told her that we could go. Jason fed her supper and I had gotten some new baby food for her to try: green beans with rice, easing into the solids ~ this was her reaction. So, of course her Daddy told her she didn't have to eat it, I mean look at that face and those hands.!!Then it was off to the rodeo: this picture is of David getting ready to ride, my camera didn't focus so good, but he is the second cowboy hat from the right. Julia Kate is mesmerized when we go to a rodeo - there are so many people to watch! David came to see her after his ride and she couldn't stop looking at his hat. She isn't used to seeing him with such a big hat! But, it was a sweet picture of her and Uncle David so I had to share.

SUNDAY: Julia Kate had been playing on her pallet in the living room after her bottle when I stepped from the kitchen around the corner thinking Jason picked her up and she was in the recliner with him. Well, no, she was under the coffee table. I said, "Julia Kate what are you doing?" This was my response, "Caught in the act!!"She hasn't fully started crawling. She puts her arms and head down and scoots with her back feet, but she gets anywhere she wants to go. I was in the kitchen and turned around to see her focused on her high chair. If there is anything that she might can pull up on, that becomes the ultimate goal. She is working hard to get there.......Then she got her feet under the bar and she couldn't figure out how to pull up and get her feet our at the same time.......
I added this pic because you can see her toy cell phone. It is so funny, she pushed it toward the kitchen where she was going. She loves the phone!!
Sunday night: We traveled to MK's house for supper with David. He left this morning going back to college in Fort Scott, Kansas. There were a couple of extras there for supper so we had one take our family picture, rarely is there an extra set of hands. I think this might be our first family picture with everyone since Julia Kate arrived! Of course, she's waving to the camera!



I think that wraps up our weekend, a little more hectic than usual! Stay tuned this week, I will try to post more pics! Nora

Weekend Happenings...FRIDAY

We started out our weekend playing outside. Jason mowed the yard Friday evening and Julia Kate and I took a stroll down the driveway and then decided to check out the flower beds. She was so intrigued witht the pinestraw! You can tell by the far away glance that she was closely watching her Daddy on the lawnmower.
She decided to pick some up, just to see what it felt like. I was so proud of her not putting it straight to her mouth!
Still thinking......then I get this look when I had to tell her, "No, Julia Kate we don't eat pinestraw!"
Then, it was funny that I said no!

I have't figured out how to post all my pictures and then make comments. So, to see more of our weekend - check out the next post.