Part 3 of 4

I love taking pictures. I take them of my children all the time. Any opportunity I get, I am snapping. They get so frustrated with me sometimes. All of them, including daddy. This was my first time taking pictures for someone else. It was awesome. I squatted. I rolled. I laid on my back. Any position to get the perfect shot. People were taking pictures of me taking pictures. It was quite comical actually, but the result? Beauty. Family and memories to have for a lifetime.

The Derr Family








The McDonald Family










My Bean and Bear(they look so big in these pictures) *sigh*









The last night of our trip landed the four of us at a new place. A place we LOVED. I can't explain the uniqueness of it. So quaint, yet so alive. We are in the works planning our own trip there sometime. Dinner at the Crazy Crab was a hit. For all of us.







So, part three ends with a week full of fun and love. We await next year. To be with these same loved ones again. Wishing it was only Monday, when it is in fact Friday. That is when you know you are experiencing a true vacation. Thank you for a wonderful time Grandma and Grandpa McDonald!

Part 2 of 4

The rest of our vacation week was great. Beautiful weather with two late night storms to lull everyone to sleep. Going back and forth from beach to pool is what our days consisted of. Decisions, decisions. It was rough, I tell ya. Gathering for lunch and dinner everyday, watching two little girls eat like never before. That swimming is hard work I tell ya. Sleeping girls that breathed in sync.


















I could not believe the progress the bean and bear made swimming. They got it, and fast. Jumping off the side of the pool, while telling me to get out of the way instead of catch me mommy. They are fish.






Our second day there, a jellyfish was so kind to slightly sting the bear. She didn't cry. Not a tear. I was so proud of her and even more surprised when she got right back in.

My bean was a hoot. She was so easy this year. Doing everything on her own. I remember thinking last year how much easier it would be this year. It was. And for that, now I am sad. She didn't stop at all. Watching her made me tired. Wheels spinning continuously in her mind. I loved watching every single minute of it.



My bear also celebrated her fourth birthday while there. Aunt Sarah made the most beautiful, appropriate cake. Cousin Bryan had celebrated his second birthday only a week before, so it was a joint party. However, all of the grandchildren were showered with gifts. As always. Our girls are so blessed.















A treat for the girls while there was to build/stuff their own animal. It was a big hit and they are so proud of their creations. Those animals have a permanent spot on the beds of two little girls.








With the week winding down, I did my first photo shoot on the beach for my siblings. I loved it and even managed to get a few of my own. So, stay tuned for part three. It will be full of beautiful smiles and sandy hands.

Part 1 of 4

There is so much to tell. It is going to be long, so it is going to come in parts. I hope that by the end, I will be caught up. Of course, in real life, we never catch up.

But, let's start with our vacation. Fun, fun and more fun. Our girls loved it. Every part of it. From the ocean to the pool to the resort activities. This vacation delivered in a major way. We met lots of family there, and were greeted with open arms and hugs.

We started our trip a day early with a visit to Edventure Childrens Museum. It was an interactive, hands on place where two little girls explored and enjoyed. I highly recommend it. Very fun, yet educational.



















Our trip at HH started with lunch at one of Daddy's old favorite places. The food was wonderful and the setting was beautiful. We were so excited to just be there, knowing that we would soon have our toes in the sand.








And they were. I always knew that my kids would love the beach. I just never knew how much. Like little crabs, they scurried along the beach, trying to decide how wet to get their toes and how far to dig in the sand. To clean off, we decided an evening dip in the pool would work. And it did. If you will notice, the bear is in a puddle jumper here. With each new part, you will see she graduated quickly. With the help of her Grandpa and others, she was in a vest, swimming under water in no time. Both of them were. Just like they had always been doing it.















So, there you have it. Part one. Stay tuned for jelly fish stings, teddy bear making and birthday parties at the beach! It just gets better.

Until then

I may not be able to share pictures of our good times with you, but I can write them. I want to start with our latest, favorite thing. Movie night. It started Friday night. Aunt Ginger brought over The Beauty and the Beast. The four of us piled in our king size bed, popcorn and drinks, and all jammied up. I had no idea how much fun this would be. Thirty minutes into it, the bean was fast asleep on my arm, while the bear watched, eyes so wide that I saw more white than I have ever seen before. It was just the perfect way to end the day. So perfect we repeated it last night. And, just like the first time, the second time was perfect. Only better. More popcorn in the bed, more snuggles and heavier breathing while my bean slept in my arms. I want to stop time people. I mean, I  really want to stop time. This time with my girls is happening. So fast and right in front of me. I just hope they know how much I love them. And I hope my husband knows how much more all of this means to me because he is part of it. I have had close relationships in my life. But, I have never know closeness like I know with these three. It is such a wonderful feeling of complete.

Our yearly weekend for the two of us(Andy and I) just went and got canceled. Seriously. We can't do it this year. Don't want to. Instead, we are taking our girls and we are heading south. I can't wait. Everything about them is fun right now. Everything.

I had to put this particular time down. With hopes that my kiddos will read this one day, I just needed them to know how this special time makes me feel. How they make me feel. Pictures or no pictures, it is beautiful and so real.

Vacation, birthdays and I'm full..

Literally. My blogger has reached it's limit. I am out of memory. I can't add any new pictures. I am going to have to look into that and clear out some pictures so I can continue. I have so many beach pictures of fun and family, birthdays, funny moments and new projects to share, but can't. It is a work in progress. I promise I'll be back very soon. Stay tuned.