Summers End

We have been squeezing the last few drops out of summer.  When you go back to school in the middle of August, when it still feels like the inside of an oven outside, it makes for tough times.  Penny and I took Xander and Keatyn to the splash pad the other day and I made sure every drop of water was dried out of K's hair before we picked Trace up from school.  Nothing's worse for a 6-year-old than jumping in the car after an agonizing 7 hour day of 1st grade to find your mom and sister smelling of sunscreen and pool water. Luckily, she didn't spill the beans. Or if she did, no one could understand her ;)

Why can 2 kids never look at the camera in the same picture?!?

August is the birthday month around our house...Jimmy, Sisty, and Granddaddy.  Sugar shock anyone?

We were back and forth, but reluctantly decided to go to my 20th class reunion.  I'm glad we went, but I'm glad they only come around every few years. High school was not my favorite.

When you can hear the band from your front yard playing at the Friday night football game, it's safe to say you'll win the award for "lives closest to the school."

Memorial Day, we went to Kadi's mom and dads pool for a little R&R. If there's such a thing with 2 kids running around.  (It was fully fenced and we had it to ourselves...R&R)

Dad's new truck.  It's safe to say, he's in love again.  This may be T's one day!

Or hers.

A last of the summer boat ride and Amigos on the water.

Her lovee somehow ended up overboard, swimming with the ducks.  So we didn't let her have it the rest of the night, because it had "duck tee tee" all over it and needed to be washed.
(That's one way to break the lovee habit ;)

My salsa queen.  She ate half a bowl before we even got our water.

Feelin' the heat...

 
Dunkin Doughnuts on a Saturday morning.  Heaven on earth!

Bring on FALL!!!

1st and yellow

So, it's September 1st and both of my children have now been in school for 2.5 weeks.  One would think my "blogging moments" would have erupted with all kinds of time, but no.  We are slowly getting back into the school routine.  Much to my 1st graders resistance.

My preschooler, however, seems to love it.  And even topped off last week with her first EVER poo-poo in the potty!!!  Thank you Ms. Retta.  And, I'm sorry. ;) 

Leslie and I took Jack and Trace to Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate the last day before 1st grade.  We practically had it to ourselves which made for a much more delightful trip than usual.  (It has been often been referred to as "Chuck E. Cheese Hell" by members of my family.)

And then the day came...
 (Luckily, there are no pictures of "2nd day of 1st grade" because that would have included he AND I both crying all the way down Hwy. 27) No one wants to remember that.

Photo bombed by his little sister...

This is his precious teacher, Kat Sabourin.  I'm not exaggerating when I tell you she is simply delightful!  Just what you would think a 1st grade teacher would be.  She had been in 3rd grade for 2 years and said she begged to come to 1st.  Her smile is infectious and I think Trace is going to love her!

So, without realizing it, I apparently started a cookie cake tradition in Kindergarten.  The night before school started, as I was walking out of Trace's room after saying goodnight, he says... "Momma, don't forget my cookie cake for the first day of school tomorrow."  huh... huh...  It took me a minute to even realize what he was talking about.  So the next morning, guess who was at the Cookie Company in Northgate at 10 a.m.?  I couldn't let my boy down.  AND since he was getting his yellow belt in TaeKwonDo that night, we had 2 reasons to celebrate!

Sassy sat out in the waiting room with Nana, Papaw, and Nanny putting on her face...

So proud!

Gulf Shores 2013

Our first annual Brown/Cofer va-ca-shun is in the books!

7 days, 8 people, 3 cars, 1 house.

I'm happy to report we are home safely and all still speaking to each other.

We spent an amazing week in Gulf Shores in a gorgeous beach house.  This was the first time all 8 of us had vacationed together and it was truly special!  My family and mom and dad got there on Saturday and Andy and Kadi came Monday night.  Then Jimmy had to come back on Thursday for work and a CBA (which he won... woo-hoo!)

We stayed at BeachSide at Romar resort in the "Coasting" house.  It turns out (after looking at the pictures in the house and reading their guest book) that the beach house was owned by one of Andy's fraternity brothers at Auburn.  Small world.

The first of many walks across that beautiful bridge to the beach...

"There's just no waves buddy..."

We kept hearing about the hot spots... Lulu's, The Hangout, and Lamberts.  We never made it to Lamberts but you don't get much more "kid friendly" dining than Lulu's and The Hangout. So much fun!
 

Trace did the ropes course at Lulu's and I swear it was 110 degrees outside, which is just what you need when your kids dangling high above the ground by a rope.  You could be in the Arctic and still be sweaty.

Our one and only full family photo...

My sweet little man on his 6 AND A HALF birthday.

The kids and Aunt Kadi loved the photo booth!

 Things got a little lulu at Lulu's...

A rare moment of sibling love...
 

 

 

Trace loved the bunk beds!
(No, those aren't his middle fingers.  He hasn't learned that yet... I hope that's 2nd grade.)

 Nighttime crabbing on the beach...

This was one of my favorite moments.  We had just come in from looking for crabs and gave both kids a bath.  Totally naked (and probably still wet) they crawled up in Aunt Kadi and Uncle Andy's bed to watch Shark Week.  (I wouldn't recommend your 6-year-old watching that while you're actually at the beach. ;)

 Trace was really sad when Jimmy left on Thursday morning.  We expected a little sadness but not the tears.  It about broke Jimmy's heart.  That boy loves his daddy.  So I took him to the fun park for a little arcade/putt putt/race car action...

 

 



He wasn't quite tall enough to drive on the big race track by himself, so we had to settle for the toddler kids track.  I bought the ticket before we saw it, and literally what you see behind him in the picture is the whole track.   I could have crawled faster than the car.  I almost had the operator stop it early because he looked so completely bored.  ha!  He was a good sport though.
 
Trace and I made a wish on the "Wishing Wall" at the Hangout.  
Mine- "I wish for our family to be healthy and happy."
T's- "I wish I could fly."

Nana and Keatyn building a sand castle.

Trace and Andy spent many hours riding the waves and attempting to "skim"  They really needed helmets.

We met a little friend, Knox.  Knox McGhee to be exact.  Don't know if that's his middle or last name, but you know you'd better listen and stop running toward the ocean when mommy calls BOTH your names. :)

Digging a tunnel from the puddle to the ocean...

I realize our tent looks a little "Sanford and Son-ish", but we had to take the tarp down that day because of high winds...which, yes, completely defeats the purpose of the tent but makes a nice place to hang your towels and shirts.

A little pedi from Aunt Kadi...

Absolutely one of my favorites... (They chased those poor birds all week.)

 

It was a week I will never forget!  Reconnecting as a family and creating memories my kids will carry forever is priceless.  Thank you so much mom and dad!!   Love you all!