Our Beach Trip

Our Wonderful Week at the Beach...

I so enjoyed watching Landry's sweet, caring spirit.  It's really quite amazing to see how maternal she already is.  She loved to help dress, feed and play with Will and proudly told me she "just wants to be a Mama" when she grows up.

 God sure got things right with her.

I spent some special time with my middle love.  The one whose smile lights up my life.

I enjoyed several walks with my knee baby, scouring the beach for the perfect shells, filling our tiny bucket to the brim.  We talked about all the things we'd make with our finds, equally excited with our big plans.  And now that we are home, he's totally abandoned me and my crafting dreams.  I refuse to give up.  He refuses to participate.  A serious battle of wills is under way at our house.

I was a little sad to spend so little time with my oldest.  I felt like there were days I barely saw him and by the end of the week I was aching to get him home, all to myself.

And while I missed spending time with him, I thoroughly enjoyed watching him play all day with his best buddies.

One day, they'll know how lucky they are.  To have this.  To have each other.

I was thrilled to see Jack and Landry rediscover their friendship and play so well together.  Often times, Jack will refuse to play with her because "she's a girl," but all week they were the best of friends.

They even told me I didn't need to stay in the room with them while they watched a movie because they "liked their pri-acy."

I probably shouldn't admit this, but I couldn't get over little Landry's body.  Yes, I know she's three.  But seriously, this girl has the most amazing, ripped legs and butt that I've ever seen on a kid.  It's like she's a very short 18 year old from the waist down.  It's unbelievable.  I realized I should have probably kept my thoughts to myself when I emphatically told Jody that he should take a look at her little body.  "I mean it, Jody!  Look at her!  Look at those legs.  And her butt.  Just look at it!  It's unbelievable!  Look at her body!  Look at it!"  He shot me a panicked look and then stared at me like I was an idiot.  And now I get it.  It probably didn't sound right for me to be begging my thirty year old husband to check out my three year old niece.  I totally get it. 

I admired Cannon's intensity.  Brother's serious.  And determined.  And very, very intense.

You think that fierce stride through the surf is something?  You should see him play a friendly game of corn hole.

Because he may just stick out his chest and say "Take that, sucka!" when he makes a good toss.  Maybe.

Sweet, little Saucy Dingle kept her Mama up a couple of nights which prompted a trip Urgent Care.  The cause?  Double ear infection.  Welcome to motherhood, Rebecca.

Will totally redeemed himself for being needy and clingy by prancing around in just his swim diaper.  One look at those sweet, soft legs and I was smitten.

I enjoyed watching him dig and dig in an attempt to quickly fill his bucket.  Any fussy moments were quickly replaced by a happy, content boy playing in the sand.  And that's what I'll remember.

Rebecca and Chris rented "The Michael Jackson Experience "for the wii and Cade Lee was in heaven.  Seriously, he spent hours challenging everyone in the house to a game.  And for the record, Allyson challenged me with "Thriller" and let it be known that I won.  When the "MC Hammer Experience" comes out, I'll be giving clinics.

One night all three of our boys were asleep at a decent time and I had so much I was going to do.  But when Cade got bored drawing on my ipad, I made it my mission to find something to entertain him.  I began downloading apps that he picked out and nearly two hours later I was still enjoying watching him entertain himself.  I've never seen him laugh so hard.  So much for me being productive as my kids slept, but I do have a fat, white talking cat, dancing ninja baby, talking biker pig and MC Hammer dancing on the moon on my ipad now for future hours of enjoyment.

I discovered that not only does Saucy not enjoy being hot (hmm, where did that come from, Rebecca?), but she also has issues with the sand. She copped a serious attitude with me when I sat her down and as soon as I took her picture, she became a diva, snapping her head back and forth and laying a serious stink eye on me.

It was a wonderful week.  And we all survived seven, seven and under.

Yes, seven kids.

Ages seven and under.

A 4 month old.  A sixteen month old.  Two three and a half year olds.  Two five year olds.  And a seven year old.

Thanks Mama and Daddy for such a great time.