A Great Weekend

The girls snuggling tonight when we got home... (Morgan with "Peter Cottontail" and Raiger with "Annabel")

It's Sunday night and the girls are in bed and have been since 7:30 (why don't we do this every night!?). Justin's watching baseball and I'm on his laptop uploading pictures and wondering how it works because it's all wireless. Technology blows my mind.

Anyway, we're home and had so much fun at the beach. I always consider myself blessed to have in-laws that are selfless, giving and gracious. They have taken us on many trips and treated us to many luxuries that we otherwise would never be able to do and for that I am so grateful. This weekend was one of those weekends that Justin and I would only have dreamt about. We stayed at the Grand Sandestin Hotel in Baytowne Village and it was absolutely wonderful. We dropped the girls off with Erika and Chance on Friday evening (another luxury) and headed straight to the restaurant where the party was to happen. Dave was very surprised and rightly so. Somehow Jennifer managed to pull off a HUGE surprise and there were around 90 people there to help celebrate... some from as far as San Diego. We had the entire second floor and it was a fun and festive atmosphere. With full intentions of making the most of my time with my husband without children I decided it would be fun to partake in a glass of Chardonnay from the open bar. This proved what an absolute weeny I am. I feel like I've been breastfeeding or pregnant for the last 4 years and should have realized that a glass of wine when you're starving and it's past your bedtime is probably not a great idea! Next time I'll have dinner then the wine! (And Robin, perhaps I'll have to try yours from a box!)

Saturday morning we picked up the girls from E and Chance's. They of course spoiled them rotten with a trip to Pizza By the Sea for pizza and then took them to get new books & a new rabbit. Morgan hasn't put Peter Cottontail down since she got him. In fact, tonight I heard her in Paige's room and I walked in to find her in Paige's crib with a book and she had the rabbit covered with a blanket and she explained, "Shhh... Mommy, I'm reading to Peter Cottontail... he's so tired!" I couldn't resist a picture so I ran to get the camera and then when I managed to find it and get back in there this is where I found her...

She managed to make her way to the top of Paige's changing table and she said, "Shhh Mommy! I'm trying to concentrate on changing Peter Cottontail's diaper... he has a big poopy!" She had wipes and diapers and the whole 9 yards. It's been a big night full of lots of pretending and make believe... I love it all and just watch waiting for what will be said next!

Anyway, we picked the girls up Saturday morning and went to visit with some close friends from Anniston that were at the beach on vacation. We had such a wonderful and formative year while we were in Anniston that the friends we made there will be our friends for life. It was great to see Morgan playing with her friend Ava that she hasn't seen in over a year. And we loved meeting their new precious angel, Annie Benton!

We made a stop in Seaside for lunch on our way back to Baytowne. We somehow spent the rest of Saturday afternoon trying to get the girls to take a nap at the hotel. It sure is challenging to travel with kids... new rooms and strange beds and an exciting new hotel with a huge pool makes nap time almost impossible... which we finally gave up on by dinner time Saturday. We joined up with Justin's parents and brother (Ryan) and his family and spent a wonderful evening at Hammerheads. The kids got to join in with the band and they all got to sing "House" on "Brick House"! I felt like I was at an Auburn band party. And I was hoping Morgan would not start singing "She's a brick.... house" Thankfully she only picked up on her line "house"!

Justin watched the game last night and I couldn't keep my eyes open... I fell asleep and when I woke up in the middle of the night he informed me that we lost and I was thankful that I didn't force my eyes to stay open to watch my Tigers lose. We stopped by Erika and Chance's again this morning on our way out of town. Her new office looks awesome and I'm hoping she'll post some pictures of it soon on her blog. She has such talent and it comes so natural for her. She's like my in-law's; always willing to give of herself for me and others! Thanks sister!! We love you (and Chance) thanks for babysitting Morgan and the "woman". And sorry Paige kept you up through the night... did my girls set the baby calendar back even further? I hope not!!

Click here for more pictures from this weekend.