Florida Vacation

We spent last week in Rosemary Beach, Fl. Our second year in a row to go to the Highway 30A area (aka The Beaches of South Walton). We love it there. Last year we stayed in Sea Grove and spent time in Seaside, Rosemary and Watercolor. This year we stayed in Rosemary. I love the architecture, the restaraunts and shops, beautiful pools and of course the beach.
Below is a picture of the four story Carriage house that we stayed in. It was so nice. I didn't really think to take pictures of the inside. Meg loved having her own floor all to herself. There were four beds along the walls around the staircase and she would switch beds every night and naptime. The top floor was mainly a bar area and deck, the main floor was the master bedroom, kitchen and living area. The bottom floor was the garage belonging to the homeowners (whose beautiful house was next to this.....although I didn't get any pictures). We never heard the garage door or even noticed it was there. The entrance to the guest/carriage house was on the opposite side.

Some other cool houses.

View from the beach.

This was Molly's beach experience....under the protection of her 50 SPF tent AND the umbrella. I didn't let a square in of her body see the sun all week. She loved it! She would sleep so soundly here.

This one, on the other hand enjoyed the sun, beach and pools more then any child ever has......

If you have talked to Meg in the last month, you knew that we were going "back to the beach". She has told everyone who was willing to listen. I love how well she remembered our trip last year and would talk about it all year long. When we told her we were going back, she was beside herself.

She enjoyed AT LEAST one push pop a day....and she can tell you how many she dropped. She kept count. They melt a little fast in the humidity of FL.

Me and my girls at sunset.

We must have looked like we needed a family picture, because 4 different people offered while we were on the beach this evening.

Sweet Sisters

I think Meg was a little tired of pictures by this one. She was more interested in playing in the sand.

Although we were sunscreen Natzis.....Chad even more then me....I do love her little sunkissed cheeks. I guess you can't help that when you are beachside and poolside for 7 days straight.

I can't believe how much she has grown since her beach pics from last year. She looks so old....

Sand castles with Dad.

She saw a "big girl" doing cartwheels on the beach, so she decided to try that out....

Last year I fought dragging this thing all the way to FL when we had so many other "essentials" to fit in the car. (even though it does deflate for traveling.) It was such a hit with Meg that I knew there was no debate this year. This year they even got to see some little dolphins pretty close up when the dolphins came close to shore. I, of course, threaten Chad with his life to keep her safe and stay close to the beach.

Great Vacation....Precious Memories

Sisters

Despite how "thrilled" she looks in this picture....Meg is loving her little sister these days. She always wants to see her and talk to her. Molly always turns to look when she hears Meg's voice. Meg loves to "show" Molly to everyone.
Yesterday, we were talking about Meg's birthday party and she said, "Nember (remember) Molly was still in your tummy at my birthday....but now she's out! I love her."

The other night when we were telling God what we are thankful for at bedtime, she said, "I tell him thank you for my baby sister named Molly."

I love my both of my sweet girls!

Two days, alone with one baby......

The weekend before last Meg went to spend three days with my parent's in OK. Something she AND I had been looking forward to for a few weeks. Chad was gone two of those days to OK, as well, for meetings. So it was just me and this girl.....

Funny how when you have one child it feels like you can't get everything done you want to, but when you have two and one is gone (namely the one with all of the energy), it feels like being on vacation. I had a whole list of projects I wanted to get finished while she was gone. Since Chad was gone, I pretty much worked morning to night with feeding and playing times mixed in.....and it was surprisingly relaxing.

First project on the list was the curtains for the dining room. The fabric has been sitting on the roll in the corner of the room since the week Molly was born. Here is the finished product. Pretty simple, but I love what they add to the room. I didn't get a pic of the whole room, because all of my other projects were overtaking the table!
I have a wonderful jewelry armoire that my aunt gave me for Christmas years ago. It is great a great piece of furniture that holds everything. But, for me, out of sight is also out of mind. I forget what all I have, and wear the same things over and over until I just get tired of them. So I decided to make a display. I used an old framed cork board....covered it with fabric and added straight pins.

I also got out a vase, a pedastal and a ceramic tray that I wasn't using and make a little display on my dresser. I love having all of my jewelry out where I can see it. I have worn something different every day.

Then I rearranged the living room. It seemed a little boring and predictable to me before. I like the new arrangement (though I am still working on selling this monster TV and replacing it with one that fits the room).

I also covered the back of Meg's head board, since I hadn't considered that it would be up against a window when I covered it the first time..... I worked on birth announcements.....and I got my desk area closer to the way I want it.

Molly was a huge help!

Curb Appeal

This week we will have lived in our house for 3 months. Hard to believe! Also hard to believe it has taken me that long to get all of these pictures up. I am still not finished (stay tuned for the Nursery and "office").

Actually the exterior was the last major thing to get finished. Our painters were tied up on other jobs and couldn't come back to finish the outside for A MONTH after we moved in. Actually, they started the week Molly was born and were still working on it when she was born. It was kind of a special treat to see it finished when we came home from the hospital.

Remember this BIG problem

Joe and his team did a great job of fixing (and cleaning) the brick. It looks brand new.

Here is the before of the whole house.

After:

I just love the huge trees, landscape and bird bath that we inherited when we bought the house. So different then the new construction neighborhoods we have spent most of our time in.

I love my $16.99 Aqua Adirondack Chairs from Lowes. (When it isn't too hot and the mosquitos are under control)We love to sit and enjoy the neighborhood and watch Meg play on the porch or in the front yard.

I have lots of other pictures to post this week. Some of the girls, of course. Some projects that I worked on while Meg was at my parent's house for three days.....and the rest of the house pics. We shall see if I actually get them posted!