Panama City Beach 2009

We meet Nana and PawPaw, Aunt Kris and the boys in PCB. It has been several years since we saw the Gulf . I forgot how blue and clear it was . And the sand....oh the sand... Did I ever tell you that I HATE sand. I do . I can not stand it. I do not mind putting my feet in it but I do not like the feel of it on my body! IT gets everywhere and is just gross.
But, that gulf sand is so gorgeous. So white.
We had a great time there....but do have to say that I prefer our beaches on the Atlantic..all nice and packed :)

Nate diving into a wave

Kids playing on the beach

My girls


Sweet LanieLou

The boys playing putt putt

Three Amigos

The mermaid loves the water!!

The summer started with Rosie wearing floatings and being a bit whiny when water splashed her face. Then one day she decides to swim without floaties. She had no fear. She started in the shallow then cruised to the deep end. Rosie was so proud of herself , as where Pat and I.
Then one day I come home from a run to find that she can swim to the bottom of the pool and touch the bottom...gasp...thank goodness her daddy was right with her or I would have freaked out. She loved it. And now she is the meraid :)

One of their many talents

Core 1 arrives

After much prayer and discussions with Pat, we decided that Nathan needed to be in Core 1 of Sonlight. Nate was having the hardest time keeping up the pace along with Jon Tyler. The decision was a hard one as schooling two from one core would be much easier, saves money and saves me time. But it was not worth knowing that Nathan was falling behind . He was so lost in the stories and questions etc that he was left with his mind wandering (not a good thing for Nate LOL).

Core 1 came on Saturday but we had our family here. We opened it last night. My neighbor girls (who Pat warmly calls his second daughters ) were here. I am not sure who was most delighted, Nate or the girls.

First---I love the new binders. They are so cool!!!!!!

some pics

He carried this book to the table to read at supper. He didn't put the book down til bedtime.

Nate and Ashley discussing a book

Jon Tyler was caught in the box getting books and taking to the living room to read them :). I think he is as excited to get new books in the house as Nate is lol

I know it was the right decision. It might mean more time from me, but that is ok. Thanks goodness we all love Sonlight in this house.

Warms my heart

How do you make your teen daughter happy? Let her get her hair colored. She has been wanting to get her hair colored in a couple of thick strips for a long time. I was nervous as to bleaching such a long piece of virgin hair. My neighbor (our hairstylist) said we could do the under part of her hair and it would be less noticable to grow out etc. So, Sunday night Michelle made Delanie a very happy teenage girl. It looks really good :)

I made her take her glasses off for the pic. She was not happy LOL

AS if the hair color was not the most wonderful thing in the world..............

A friend , whose mom is a high school teacher, brought over two boxes of books for Delanie. The books have NEVER been opened...no creases....brand new .............

Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyer, Great Expectations,Othello and A Tale of Two Cities to name a few. 23 books in total.

I can declare that right now my daughter is the happiest teen on earth!

Mom and Bea and the Kids came

What a great visit!!!!!! Our agenda was pretty easy . Just hang out and swim. And that is what we did. No Down Town Disney . No big shopping trips. Just hanging out with the kids.
I love watching all the cousins play and interact. IT is so neat to see how much they have changed in the past months. Jeb is talking A LOT and is so funny. He is quite demanding but is so hysterical. Emma is turning into a sweet little soul ...but she still has her moments lol. And Hannah is transforming into a nice young lady.

Jon Tyler(mine) , Delanie (mine) , Hannah (Bea's), Mammie, Emma (Bea's) Nathan (mine)

Jeb (Bea's) and Rosie (mine)

Momma and Me

This was the second time that I had a difficult time with saying good-bye. The first time was when we moved to FL (Aug 2007). Mom and Dad came to help us move then left after a week. IT was so hard . It is much easier for me to leave AL and come back here. I am usually so sick and tired of being pulled from family to family when in AL, that I am so ready to leave. But to have them here with me is a different story.

I really enjoy seeing the 'pleased' look in my moms eyes when she is with my kids. She sees Bea's every day, several times a day. But seeing mine is different. She may go months before seeing them again. They change so much each time she is with them. I enjoy being able to have these moments when she is so happy and pleased with how they are growing up.

Mom lost her mother to breast cancer when she was in her early 20s. My grandmother didn't get to see us grow up. I know this is one reason why mom loves being with the kids.

New Smyrna with PawPaw and Nana

My gorgeous daughter.She is the sweetest child in the world. I am so blessed that we have her as our daughter.

I have no idea what he is doing. My handsome big boy.

What would my life be without this one? God has taught us so much with the birth of him! It might have been hard but I thank God for it all!

What words can I use to describe this world-wind ? LOL Pat and I say that if she would have been child #1, that she would have been the only child :).

We took PawPaw and Nana and Kris and Jimmy and their boys to New Smyrna.

We love the beach there. We can drive onto the beach, park, and have a fun day of playing in the waves and sun. The public beach is so nice there. Granted it is not perfect or clean but one of the nicest I have seen.

They all had a great time. PawPaw swam in the ocean most the day playing with the kids. The kids (well mine at least) loved it. We don't get to see the grandparents much so it is nice when we are with them.

The boys caught fish in their nets all day.

What a fun day !

I love this picture! The purple really pops against the black sky.

I love living in a little town. They always make big deals about holidays and really focus on the family.