Beach Bums

A week at the beach.

We hadn't had a WHOLE week at the beach since our honeymoon six years ago.

It was wonderful. It was a little different this time, you know, with a baby and a toddler.

But oh so great!

Lillianna couldn't have had more fun.

Here she is at the ocean for the first time on the night we got there.

Straight out of the long car ride, into our suits, and onto the beach.

She loved it all! Loved drawing in the sand...

Loved decorating the towers with sand, shells, or seaweed.

Loved taking walks with her drawing stick...

Loved taking a break and just enjoying the beach around her (and on her) ...

I couldn't believe she loved being buried in the sand...

Loved figuring out she could make the towers herself...

Loved all the different kinds of treasures (shells, dead fish, jelly fish, sand fleas, seaweed, sticks, crabs, etc.) she could find on the beach...

Loved sitting and talking on the beach...

Fell in love with her real, live hermit crab she and her daddy found!

So sad when he "crawled back to the ocean to be with his family."

Did I mention she LOVED the sticks? Loved them.

So what about Ellenie you ask?

Well....

I'll say that our expectations might have been a little high. I imagined the sound of the calming waves lulling her into long, deep naps. I imagined her laying and playing in a little tent while I played with Lillianna and searched for shells for hours. I imagined Ellenie smiling and laughing at all the bright colors and sounds. I imagined wrong.

It was just too hot for our little one. Even though she was completely shaded and there was a really nice breeze each day, she just couldn't get comfortable. But we still tried everything those first few days until we finally figured out we would just have to take what little time we could get with her out on the beach and then take turns with her in the condo. After that, it was great.

Here she is having the most fun she had in a tiny little pool we borrowed. Thanks Haley!

She was upstaged by Lillianna who took her fun to the next level...

Here's where we tried laying under the umbrella in hopes of more breeze. um...no.

Here's a happy moment in the bouncy seat we lugged to and from the beach 23 times.

And 30 seconds later...

I promise she's in the shade here but you can see how my little Sweaty Betty was just too hot.

And here she's all,"Really Mom? Really? You thought I'd like this?"

She was even more beautiful at the beach though.

So we pretty much just did the beach and family time. Which was so great. Once night we did take a recommendation (Thanks Ginny!) and went to The Wharf to ride the new Ferris wheel.

We ALL rode it! For $8, we all rode it and had a ball!

Now, we are all missing the beach.

Yesterday morning, our first morning back at home, we went to get Lillianna out of her room and said,"Come on, let's go downstairs." She said,"No, let's go to the beach."

Brad quickly reminded her of the LOOOOOOOOOOOONG car ride it took to get to the beach.

But I could see by the look on her face that even that didn't faze her desire to be back there.

We really can't wait to go again.

Picture Perfect

This sweet little angel is a flower princess.

Also known as one of two flower girls in the wedding of Aunt Ashley and Uncle T-dog this past weekend. We had a lovely, wonderful time full of fun, sweet memories. I was so proud of both of my girls - Lillianna was so excited and perfect in her role and Ellenie was, well, Ellenie...content.

Here's the highlights of Lillianna's weekend:

Bridesmaids Luncheon: Meeting Maggie {the other adorable flower princess}

They hit it off right away!

Discussing the lunch menu and what they will wear to the rehearsal that night.

Opening their flower girl gift. Maggie is clearly excited when she sees the head piece they get to wear for the wedding....Lillianna looks a little unsure. (She knows her thin hair may not be up to the task.)

The morning of the wedding we wanted to wear the girls out so they could take good naps.

So we went swimming and sure enough, it worked. These next few are a moment caught between them before they both went to sleep. I love that these super sweet moments are becoming more and more frequent. There really isn't a better feeling that seeing the love between them.

Since Brad and I were also in the wedding, we don't have any pics from the ceremony but these are from the reception. It too was so much fun! Lillianna was a dancing princess and truly got the party started with her one of a kind moves. When she got too hot and her head too sweaty, she had to come inside for a break. Once, she came in to find Ellenie who had just finished dinner and was enjoying Dandy's lap.

LOVE these pics! They capture my girls perfectly right now. Lillianna in Ellenie's face. Ellenie laughing so hard at Lillianna one second and then everything changing in a split second.

ow.

Outside at the beautiful reception

My favorite of all: Dancing with her Daddy

Congratulations Ashley & Tarleton!

We pray for a lifetime of love and days filled with joy! Thank you for letting us share in the special weekend with you!

Her first rodeo

Guess what?

Someone was giving free rides on their really old, sweet, gentle, pet bull.

So our always brave (ha!), always up for something new (ha!) Lillianna took a ride!

She loved it and rode like a real cowgirl - bareback and one handed!

ok, so he was a really old, gentle, stationary, metal bull at the put-put golf course.

Lillianna was quite good.

She has her Daddy's golf stroke.

We had a great time with all our friends!

How cute is this?!

So this is Lillianna's "Babeinsuit"

That's what she calls it.

How adorable.

Maybe that's the real origin of the word because that's defintely what she is.

Going for a swim next door at our sweet neighbor's house.

Let's go!

{How cute is that $5.99 suit from Kmart!}

Lillianna: Did you say time to go? Mmmm...I dont think so Mom.

Ellenie: You guys have fun. I'll just catch up on beauty sleep.

Ellenie: Can't sleep. Guess I can't get any more beautiful.

I'm gonna miss this

There was a moment today when I let myself get so frustrated. So frustrated that I couldn't get anything done.

That's what I kept telling myself, "Ahhhhh. Why won't Ellenie go to sleep or atleast be content for one minute so I can fold that silly laundry, finally unload the stupid dishwasher, or atleast make those two phone calls. I can't get anything done!"

And then the moment passed. I finally got sweet Ellenie to sleep. I finally got those ridiculous things done. And then I was frustrated at myself for being frustrated.

I know how quickly this precious age passes. I know how fast these little girls will grow up and how badly I'll miss this time.

I know one day I'll think back and wish I could have an hour and a half where I had to hold, rock, sway, or bounce my (crying) babies to sleep. I'll miss the funny things Lillianna said as we peer into her (stinky) potty or how sweet it is to read (the same) books to her everyday.

I wish that thought was enough to pull me out of that frustrating moment. And I know I'm not the only mom having them so I don't feel crazy. Crazy would be what my house and life would be like if I didn't worry about those little things that have to get done.

Just like a little funny moment tonight when I pulled a pair of pajamas out of Lillianna's drawer to put on after her bath. As I pulled them on her first leg, I spotted a large brown smear. "It looks like chocolate. Have you been eating chocolate for breakfast?" I asked jokingly. "It looks like poop." Lillianna said. (It passed the smell test and seems to be peanut butter.)

In rushing around this morning during a 4 minute stint where Ellenie was content on the floor and Lillianna was engrossed in Dora, I had a armful of stuff to put away. I had seen the spot but accidentally put those dirty pajamas back in her drawer instead of the hamper.

Everyday is so yummy with these two. So full of sweet moments, funny instants, and unforgettable times. Yet they are also full of some very long minutes I'd like to forget.

I guess it's those yucky, frustrating moments that make the good ones that much sweeter, brighter, lovelier...all around so very very worth it.