Beach Day 3 and 4 Maybe

Yup. That is right. I haven't finished posting pictures from our beach trip last year. And we are already (or at least I am) thinking about this year's trip!

Some might be duplicates because it has been so long since I took them!

We went to the beach during the day once or twice. But we made it a point to walk on it every night at sunset. Nothing beats a great beach sunset . . .

Sledding in GB

One of the other things I definitely wanted to do when we were in Wisconsin was take the kids sledding again. When we were in GB the last time, they had sooooo much fun. This time it was suggested we go to Baird's Creek which is where I would going snow skiing when I was in high school. I was super excited to take the kids to a place I would hang out at when I was NG and LM's age. I have so many great memories from that place.

I owned my own skis and we would go on a week night or on a Saturday. The hills weren't all that big and we would ski without poles. It had a tow rope and it was super cheap. All my friends would be there and they had a lodge or chalet you could go into and warm up. Just so many great memories.

Anyway, we got to the creek and it was just how I remembered it. Except now they had a place where you could tube sled and it was huge! We paid a couple extra bucks and we could ride the tow rope up to the top. The kids never stopped. They would come up the rope and run to go down again. Especially EG. She was not the least bit afraid. From up top of the hill, we could see her grab her tube and run for the tow rope to do it all over again. Daddy and I had a great time going down as well! Definitely thrilling!

I had a chance to walk through the chalet and head over to where the skiing use to be. That night it was mostly snowboarders. I didn't see one single skier. Things change on the slopes as well, I guess.

I think the kids would have gone up and down and up and down until they could barely walk. But the hill closed at 8 and we still had not had dinner. Gpa and NK had come out for a little while to watch us sled. But then left to gather us up some great bread and hot soup and it was waiting at their house for us. Perfect ending to a perfect night. . . .

Harry Potter Party

Some friends of ours had a Harry Potter party for a few of the families that had read the books over the summer. And it was super cool! Their daughters planned the whole thing and it was fabulous. I wish I could post everyone's pictures but I haven't asked permission and I try hard not to put other people's pictures on my blog. But everyone in the other three families dressed up as well and they were outstanding!

Moaning Myrtle in the bathroom. Ha, ha!

Butter beer. I didn't think I would like it because it would be too sweet but it was actually pretty good.

The dinning hall.

Even got daddy to dress up. We were Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, Little Mama was Tonks, EG was Fluer, Boop was Draco Malfoy and Nature Girl was Narcissa Malfoy.

It bothered me a little bit about how good she did mean and evil. The look!

NG was Boop's mom. Narcissa and Draco Malfoy. So that was kinda funny.

NG, LM and I have finished all the books. Boop is on the fifth. We have yet to watch the fourth movie but we are looking forward to that. And LM is reading them to EG and they are on the second book. Harry Potter has been super fun for us . . . 

The Beach, Part Two

Lots of pictures left to post. Monday was Labor Day and we could tell. There were people everywhere. We didn't get to take our traditional family picture under the beach gazebo until Tuesday. Just because there were so many people coming and going. Monday we just hung close to the condo. Hung at the pool and just relaxed. The night before, we watched our traditional movie, Courageous. Hubby and I had gone to the movie theater to see it a bunch of years ago. It was such a good movie with such a great message. Our first year at the condo we let the kids watch it. Now it is a tradition.

Monday night the we were all super excited to watch our first Harry Potter movie. They loved it. I fell asleep. During my favorite part too. Well, one of my favorite parts in the book anyway and I really had wanted to see how they did it in the movie. Oh well. I guess I was tired!

Loved seeing daddy and EG holding hands walking down the beach. She love, loves her daddy. 

EG had to have a picture with her toes in the sand.

While we were walking on the beach, a young couple caught our attention and had to show us this crab. Boop chased it all around getting it's picture. EG and I think we found it's hole/home in the middle of the beach. He is kinda cute!

EG loved the water. We would walk ahead and I would turn around and she would be running and playing in the waves. And, of course, the sunsets on most nights was spectacular. Sunsets at the beach never get old. . 

Annual Event

We are still eating blueberries from last year's picking. But, it has been a tradition for at least 7 years. So, last Friday, make that two Fridays ago, we went blueberry picking again.

I don't know if it was because it was a little later in the season or because we had a bunch of rain a few days prior, but the blueberries were round and plump and oh so delicious. I don't usually pick and nibble but I did. They were that good!

We picked for about an hour and then headed over to the springs for a little jumping off the rope into the cool, greenish, blue water. It is almost a necessity after picking blueberries in the heat and humidity.

We didn't pick near as many as we did the year before.

This week we had blueberry and lemon pancakes. A family fav . . .

Wedding Bells

Welcome to the family Alex Corder!  

So, when Alex posted on FaceBook or Instagram "Jamaica with my beautiful wife." or something along those lines, it kind of threw me for a loop!  Oh wow, he is married too!  (Weddings are mostly about the brides, right?)

Then, the other day my mom sent a group text "How is your husband?"  I automatically thought about mine.  Then I realized "Hey, we BOTH have husbands now."  It has been great thinking about it all!

The pictures are in no particular order because I have copied them from others who have taken the pictures! I have a bunch more that I need to go through and will post more soon.  Hopefully.

It was a rainy day and it was an outdoor wedding.  But, very wisely, my sister made the decision to have the reception inside.  But, still wanted to get married outside.  We braved the drizzle and it was beautiful and so special. I actually felt it made it more intimate.

The preacher did an awesome job in reminding me that marriage isn't about ourselves but about our spouses. And most importantly about Jesus.  It was a really great reminder for me.  And an awesome beginning to marriage.

The photographer was phenomenal.  Hubby was wondering if she would hang off a tree just to be able to get the picture exactly right!

I think this First Look is kind of new.  And, of course, it takes me awhile to get with change.  But, after watching them, although I am not sure we were suppose to, I get it.  So sweet to enjoy each others company before the ceremony.  Who said the groom can't see the bride before the wedding anyway??

Birthday girl!  Nature Girl is fourteen and so, so sweet to share her day with her favorite aunt!  Sissy did a great job in making sure she wasn't over looked.  She was sang to twice.  Once in the dressing room and then once at the reception.  A great birthday cupcake.

I loved getting all dressed up.  Hubby had the option to wear a suit instead of a tux but I insisted on the tux. He hasn't worn one since our wedding! We had a great time!

Mr. and Mrs. Corder!  Such a handsome couple! Love them to pieces.

Yay!!  Love their smiles!

My hubby had the honor of walking her down the aisle and giving her away.  Two of my favorite peeps!

Had to have a family photo with us all looking so good.  Hubby gave Sissy away, I was a bridesmaid, big girls Junior Bridesmaids, EG flower girl and Boop ring bearer.  I loved that we could all be a part of her big day.

Rehearsal dinner the night before.  

Crazy that it was too weeks ago. . . 

Color Relay

After spending the weekend dancing their feet off, the girls talked us into letting them participate in their Youth Group's color relay.  I say this because in the very first picture, Little Mama still has on her stage make up on to be followed by the color dust!

One thing I love about the girl's Youth Group is the Pastor encourages student leadership.  About a half dozen youth have applied to be student leaders and they get to teach some Sunday nights, they lead group discussion AND they get to organize fun games and events for the kids.  Plus, the whole family is always welcome to participate.  At least three other younger siblings were running around getting colored.

This event was to kick off a new teaching series and as you can see, the kids had big fun.  There was color dust everywhere.  By the time we left, our people were finally wore out!  I am thankful for these kids.  Many of which we have known most of their lives.  They really are a great group of young people . . . 

My Happy Place

Because we homeschool, we have the awesome opportunity to take our family vacation after all of the other families go back to school.  We did it last year and enjoyed it so much we decided to do it again this year.  It is my idea of a perfect vacation.  Our days were spent doing a whole lot of nothing important or pressing.  Beach, pool, walking, biking, shopping, fishing, reading, movie watching and eating.  Oh yes, and football.  By Sunday I was well rested.  As was everyone else.

When we arrived Sunday night there was a massive thunderstorm.  We managed to get unpacked before it started so we were able to sit on the porch and just watch.  It was pretty amazing.  We could barely see the street.  But the morning dawned bright and beautiful.  And we never saw a drop of rain after that.

I decided to keep up my "training" while we were there.  So this is a picture is of my first morning run.  This picture doesn't do my view justice.  I had big beautiful beach houses on one side and the Gulf and beaches on the other.  And a wonderful breeze to keep me relatively cool.

Our first day was pool, grocery store and more pool.  And then after dinner we went for a walk on the beach at sunset.

The next day was more pool and I am not even sure what else.  And then an early dinner and off to fish.  Where we would fish is right next to an air force base.  And they had protected birds and I guess this was one of them.  It looks like a Great Blue Heron.  And he was not shy.

In our Science curriculum there is a book called "Pagoo" about a hermit crab.  And we found one on the beach so we named him Pagoo.  EG was especially fond of him.

Daddy School of Fishing.  Attended by everyone with undivided attention.  Well, except EG.  It isn't for the feint of heart taking and teaching four kids how to fish.  Hooks and live bait.  Oh my.  And I am here to tell you, I am not much help.  Although, the few times I did get to cast, it was kind of fun.

I forgot my camera at home so all I had was my phone and it did not do the scenery justice.  Such a beutiful night.

Well, that is it through day two.  More pictures to come . . .