Last Day on the Beach

After we had all the fun we could at The Track, we headed back to the condo for a relaxing afternoon. Nonna offered to stay in the condo with Hallie so Jonathan and I could have a little time on the beach. We tried to get Hallie to go to the beach, but she was totally against it--she had had no nap and was a little grumpy. So Jonathan and I headed down for a little relaxation. A little while later, Jessica and Abby headed down. Abby didn't have on her swimsuit, but had a water gun. Hmm. It actually turned out to be quite the funny story. Abby would try to squirt Jonathan, then Jonathan would squirt Abby's shirt (remember, no swimsuit). Then Abby would then proceed to stand at the edge of the water and bawl her eyes out. Jonathan tried to tell her she was fine. But she just stood there. Jessica yelled to her that she would be fine. She just stood there. Then this complete stranger walks up to her to ask if she's OK...while the lady's walking back, Jessica tells her that she's her daughter, and that she's crying b/c her uncle got her shirt wet. The lady gives a sheepish laugh and then says, "I asked her if she was lost and all she said was that her shirt was wet." Oh my. She quickly got over it, though. :o)

After a little while longer, Nonna headed down with Hallie...another one who didn't want to put her swimsuit on no matter how much Nonna tried to convince her to do so. Only Hallie didn't seem to care if her shirt got soaking wet. Bless her heart, she had on shorts and a t-shirt along with a regular Pull Up. So as she got soaking wet, her Pull Up began sagging to the sand. After she was done playing, she wanted her shirt and shorts off--then and there. So in true redneck fashion we stripped her to her diaper, then stripped her completely and wrapped her in a towel once we got to the beach shower. She thought it was all quite funny.

It could not have been a better ending to our beach time! Well...I suppose the girls could have worn their swimsuits. :o)

My mom, Hallie, and me

Loving the ocean

The Wharf @ Gulf Shores

One night we went to The Wharf. It's a really neat place, but we just didn't really have much time to "sight see" around it. It's somewhat of an outdoor mall, I guess you could say. There's lots of shopping and dining, and it's on the bay (I think). We had some tasty seafood and then waited in line to ride the ferris wheel. Hallie was so brave and absolutely loved it!

The Fam

My brother, Kelly, with Abby and Hattie Grace

The Track @ Gulf Shores

One morning, we headed to The Track--an amusement park for little ones (and big kids at heart). Abby had been extremely excited about going here since we passed it on our way to the condo our first day in Gulf Shores! There was a little "Kids Kountry" part that had rides for the little ones. Inside, there were your typical arcade games. And then there was the Go Kart tracks--two sets. While the weather had been pleasant at the beginning of the week, the sun chose to shine down rather hotly this particular day. Nothing some popcorn and an Icee wouldn't fix for Hallie, though! Thank goodness for the indoor arcade with air conditioning. We had a dolphin cruise planned for later in the day, but we had to cancel it because there just wasn't enough to time to play, nap, eat, and cruise, too. Maybe next time!

HG wouldn't ride any of the little rides at the park,
but decided she'd try out the Jetson's car with Hallie!

Right before Hallie decided she did not want to
ride in a Go Kart (much to Jonathan's dismay).

Abby and Hallie

On the little train's caboose!

I was surprised, but Hallie LOVED the swings!

Family Pictures

Nonna and Pop

With the grand-girls...only they didn't seem
too interested in having their picture taken!

The Fam

Abby and Hallie...you'll soon see why Hattie Grace
is missing...

The Echols Family

The Morris Family

Did I mention that HG hates the sand?

Not quite as bad sitting in Abby's lap

Fun at the Beach!

**Warning...LOTS of pictures**

We had such a fun, relaxing time at the beach! We played in the sand, in the ocean and at the pool. It had been last summer since Hallie had been swimming, so she was a little slow in jumping right in the pool--much different from last summer. But after about 5 jumps of holding onto Daddy's hands, she was back to being fearless. I bought matching swimsuits for the 3 girls and they were SO cute in them. After we got home, I realized I didn't even get a picture of all 3 girls in the cutie-pie swimsuits! Hattie Grace had quite an aversion to the beach and well, Abby and Hallie did not. So it would have been hard to get all 3 of them in a shot anyway!

Sweet Abby in the pool

Our little fish!

Cousins

Sisters

Hattie Grace didn't mind the boardwalk...but
hated the beach!

Hallie was writing her name in the sand...
she was saying "H...L...H...L" :o)

Picking up seashells

My sweetie-pie with her ponytail!

Nonna and Hallie lounging

Daddy built little sandcastles for Hallie to smash!
She LOVED doing this!

I wonder what their little minds were thinking...

Mommy and Hallie watching Daddy go in the ocean.
It was extremely cold this particular day!

Someone didn't want to leave the beach to go
inside for lunch! :o)

The Beach

(07.19-23.09)

My family headed down to Gulf Shores for some beach fun! We have been super excited for Hallie because this was her first trip to the beach. She had been talking about going to the beach for weeks and the beach was FINALLY here! When we first arrived to the condo, Jonathan took her just to get a sneak peek at the beach. I must admit I was a little upset b/c I wasn't technically "there" for her first sight of the beach. But I got to see her excitement as she viewed it from our balcony. After supper, we took her down to the beach and she had a blast! I wasn't sure she'd be too crazy about the sand between her toes, but she loved it...and absolutely loved playing in the sand. She also thought the ocean tide was hilarious--coming and going.

Heading down to the beach for the first time!

Sweet little feetsies in the sand!

Loving it!

Back to it

We have been having so much fun enjoying the day-to-day life with Hallie that I just haven't taken the time to stop and record all the cute and fun details! That doesn't mean they haven't been happening. :o) So...be patient as I gather my thoughts and memories of the past two weeks, pick of some pictures (from the many taken), and put them into little stories.

While you're being patient (all five of you), I'll leave you with a few funny Hallie conversations that have been used lately:

*Driving to Rah-Rah's house one morning, Hallie said "Mommy, you're my friend." Not sure I heard her correctly, I asked her what she said. Again she said, "You're my friend, Mommy." Aww. You're my friend, too, Hallie! :o)

*At supper last night, Hallie was trying to get Rah-Rah's perfume out of her purse (she has a small roll on of Clinique Happy--smells great in small amounts). She loves getting this out and giving everyone some of the roll-on perfume. I told Hallie she didn't need it and to not open it. If she opened it, I would have to take it away. She looked directly at me, unscrewed the cap and proceeded to roll it onto her arm. All while saying "Ha-ha-ha...I put it on" in a mischievous little voice. Oh my!

*On the way home, Hallie wanted to take her sandals off. Jonathan turned around to help her (I was driving) and began to pretend like he was going to eat her shoe. He said, "Argh!! I'll bite your shoe!" In the sweetest, most serious little voice Hallie said, "No Da-da...don't bite my shoe. I'll be very sad. Very sad." Aww.

"I going to beach!"

At some point, Hallie overheard Jonathan and me talking about going to the beach. I really think that was over a week ago. Every day Hallie would ask about the beach. If we were leaving to go somewhere, she'd ask if we were going to the beach. She would tell random people "I going to beach!" with pure joy and excitement. I wasn't sure if she would be old enough to understand using a chain as a count down, so I thought I would try something a little more visual. I had some Post-It notes of the days of the week, weather, and various other things. I think I found them at Toys 'R Us (on sale, of course). So Hallie and I drew a picture of the beach together--mind you, she has never been but we have looked at pictures and talked about it A LOT. We also drew a little picture of Hallie. I thought it would be a good visual to see herself getting closer to the beach. And it's been a great little lesson on the days of the week. She will go up to them, point to the day, and say one of the days (although it usually doesn't match up...but one has to start somewhere). She has been very excited each morning to wake up and move herself a little closer to the beach. Tomorrow isn't actually our beach day, but we're flying to Alabama...so for all practical purposes for a two year old, tomorrow we're going to the beach. :o)

A little adventure

Hallie and I were going to go to Calvert--a little town about an hour away--with Rah-Rah to meet up with her sister, Aunt Charlene. We hadn't seen her since Thanksgiving, so it was great to get together! Aunt Charlene brought along Elizabeth (her grand-daughter) and Elizabeth's friend, Jaylee. Calvert really is a small town, but it has a really cute downtown. We were all pretty hungry by the time we met up, so we decided to eat at The Wooden Spoon...a small town eatery complete with fried pickles! We had a great visit, even if it was a quick one! Hallie really enjoyed the extra attention from Elizabeth and her friend.

If you don't have pockets, just put it in your undies!

The Wooden Spoon

Sisters and their grand-daughters
Elizabeth, Hallie, Rah-Rah, Aunt Charlene

Sweet girl