Blake & Bryce Turn 9!

Blake & Bryce turned 9 on Monday....missed the first day of school & stayed home with their birthday gifts & sprinkle do-nuts. It was a good day! Happy Birthday to our boys! You are growing up too fast....so glad you still act like kids, even if you are crazy!!!

First Day of 3rd Grade & Weekly Menus

Today was Blake & Bryce's 1st Day of 3rd Grade! Yesterday was technically the first day, but since the boys had the flue last week & still fever on Sat., I kept them out on Monday...which was also their birthday! They didn't mind a bit, believe me!!! Here they are this morning...my big 9 year old 3rd graders *sniff sniff*. Also, I'm committed to planning & shopping for my weekly meals this year. I think I will blog it on Sundays...if you're interested in sharing yours, please do as a comment on the post...it will help me if you share your ideas. I think I will FB it too, as I'm not sure how many actually follow the blogs anymore :)

Here's mine for this week:
Monday: Pasta & Green Salad
Tuesday: Shrimp Stir Fry with Bok Choy, Mushroom, Snap Peas, Sprouts (all fresh) & Sauces....
Wed.: Beef Stew & Cornbread
Thurs.: Tacos & Mexican Cheesy Rice
Friday: Think I'll give myself a break & make BLT's & Sweet Potato Fries

Have a great week!

The view out the condo leaving at 8:00 am....

All I could get was fake smiles that morning...everyone was sick :( Blake had 104.4 by the time we got home to Tyler! YIKES!

Blake & Caleigh on the oh so typical beach condo furniture! LOL

Long drive home from Florida, with everyone running fever & feeling overall: BAD! I think I got the least of the bug....James & Blake the worst. We made it to Tyler in time to drag into the clinic at 7:30 (they close at 8) & we were all seen, tested...with the results of *drum roll* Type A Influenza. Oh My!! All 3 kids tested positive. James & I didn't, but they said we probably got it first and/or it's a false negative. Either way, we're all on Tamiflu & Cough Med. w/codine (makes ya a little loopy!!!) So, the boys cannot go to school on the first day...they have to wait until at least Wed., possibly Thurs., depending on how everyone is feeling. They're excited that they don't have to go on Monday, which is their actual Birthday!

Evening On the Beach

We spent the day shopping at the Outlet Mall & eating/playing at Fudpuckers....FUN! We spent the evening on the beach...so pretty. It was a hot one today; true Florida August weather...a shocker after our cool week!!! Our friends went home to Auburn today & I was kinda sad :( Miss them already. On a fun note: Our Vietnam Travel Buddies, Marvin & Dawn along with Caleigh's orphanage mate, Hadassah & her big brother Noah are coming to Destin tomorrow!!! We're meeting up for a quick reunion tomorrow night....can't wait to see them! Caleigh was running a low grade fever tonight before bed...praying it's her two eye-teeth almost cutting through on the bottom (her top two FINALLY cut through over the weekend). Hope she feels fine in the morning....fingers crossed!

Birthday Surprise

Blake & Bryce's Birthday is next Monday...the 1st day of school...bah humbug! So....we surprised them last night with a mini-beach party & had some yummy cake & Ice Cream! The weather was stormy in the morning & we went into town to run around & ate at Dewey Destin's. It was yummy. I think I could eat their grilled salmon every day for the rest of my life & never get tired of it! Tonight...crab legs...somewhere...crab legs! Must have them!!! Thankfully, we woke up to a beautiful day full of sunshine today. We've taken full advantage of it & we're heading back out after Caleigh wakes up from her nap. The guys are golfing. Our best friends are here & we are catching up after being apart for a year! Good times!!! I don't want to go home on Friday! Reality stinks.

Storm blowing in Sunday Night....

The weather started turning on us Sunday night...but my oh my...the sky was beautiful!!!! Windy & misty today.....there are still people on the beach...kinda crazy! We've taken the morning off & just rested, cooked breakfast & visited....Here are my favorites from last night:

Fort Walton Beach on a Sunday....

We hit the beach in our pjs around 7:30 am...so nice out & had the view all to ourselves....back out after breakfast for a couple of hours & I took the boys out to boogie-board while Caleigh napped. Yes, she actually napped (after talking to herself for almost an hour :) She was having the most wonderful happy conversation; I just couldn't get on to her! It was cute to listen to her on the monitor. We drove over to Destin & looked around this afternoon & we're off to go seashell hunting this evening. Our best friends from Alabama are due in around 7:30...can't wait!!! Here are my favorites from today....luckily, the weather has held out for us so far!

Well....Hello Beach!

We waited all summer for our vacation & thank goodness, we're finally here! The weather was perfectly cloudy & a nice 86 degrees! We stayed out & played for hours without breaking a sweat! It was awesome. Apart from skiing in Colorado (which is almost impossible with little ones), this is where I would choose to be. The ocean, the beach, the seashells, the fish, the crabs, the sand, the waves, the endless sky, & don't forget the great seafood....I don't know how anyone could come here & not be revived & full of God's wonderful glory! Here are a few of my favorite pictures from today....cloudy & the beach (I'll have to read up on my camera settings for that! I was prepared for sun & the water/sky/sand!) The boys dove right in....Caleigh wasn't quite sure about the "Big Water", but she played happily on the beach shoveling her sand....