BIG girl school..............

Emery started Kindergarten today at Brown Elementary.........Heartwarming and Heartbreaking all at the same time!! I cried more yesterday, than I did today......She's such a sweet little girl and I am so excited to see this new chapter in her life but I am still clinging to my little baby girl. The little baby girl that has brought me so much joy and filled my heart till it is completely overflowing............

At Brown's open house last Thursday, she was given a homework assignment (that we almost forgot to do until 9pm sunday evening). In a ziploc bag, she was given some yellow and green paper, a red marker, glue stick, scissors and some instructions. Make a flower out of the items provided and write words to describe yourself. As she was cutting and pasting, the hubby and I asked her to describe herself. First word? HAPPY........Then KIND, LOVING, LOVES EVERYBODY, FLOWER, CARING, NICE.........wow, her words, I 'bout died!

Drop off went really well.........It was the day before that had a little high drama......The adorable outfit that mama was so excited about her wearing has been shifted to Tuesday. Why? She just really wanted to wear a pink outfit that twirled.........WTH!! So, plan B.........I gave her some choices, so hopefully Mama and Baby Girl could be happy. And then this morning? She changed her mind again.........This morning, she decided she wanted to match her backpack...........I know, it's gonna be a long year. And do you know what else I know? Am gonna start campaigning for school uniforms TOMORROW!!


For those of you who know me well, you have to know that it really took alot for me to just let her wear what she wanted. I am a mama with a plan. So, as I was tossing and turning in my sleep last night, I decided I would just take a bunch of pictures, everyday, in every outfit and then decide which photo album I will label as "First Day of School".....I mean, cuz in like 20 years, who's gonna really remember, right? Ok, this probably won't work but I did finally fall asleep............just sayin...........

Emery's teachers are Ms. Cheryl, Mrs. Waits and Ms. Messenger. She got very lucky to have one of her best friends, Kate, in her class as well as Rosie and Lucy. And with the support of my hubby, I was able to sign up to be a Room MOM! I. Can. NOT. Wait! I am very much looking forward to being apart of her first year of school. Brown is a fantastic and very small little school. With only about 250 students, there's only two kindergarten classrooms. It doesn't fall on all the fancy TOP SCHOOLS of the WORLD charts but it is so wonderful to see a very happy and involved Principal and Staff.......I can even have Ms. Cindy, our lunchroom lady, help Emery make great choices at lunch............There's talk of it eventually closing for a bigger and better school so who knows what's ahead. But for her first year? I am thrilled!!

Emery, Mommy loves you more than words can ever say. And the fact that the word HAPPY is how you described yourself makes me thank God for all of my many blessings and for maybe not messing up so bad these first 5 1/2 years!

BEACH-a-licious................

These four lucky kids just spent 14 days together at the beach!! And the parents actually survived it!!!!! Although tough at times, challenging other times, crazy many times and LOUD all the time, it really was great...........Memories that will forever be cherished. It was tough trying to pick just some of the pictures to post............with over 500 to choose from and already way late on summer postings, I figured something was better than nothing!

Of course my fearless son goes right for the crab..........

We had barely pulled into the driveway when they were begging to see some surf and sand......So suitcases aside, off we marched to the beach..........

And then bright and early (12pm.......breakfast, cartoons, sunscreen, lunches prepared, cooler packed, dog walked, on and on and on) we got our first full day of beach!!

There was a beautiful and completely empty community right up the street. It's a part of the Watercolor community but unfortunately was built during the NOT SO booming realestate market............so, great for pics, not so great for their busines!

Hmmmmm.......dare devils and sass...........Lord, help me!

Our first week, the weather wasn't too sunny, which actually worked out great for the kids (and the hubby's) skin............

I love this action shot! The kids thoroughly enjoyed playing in the waves................

On Friday, we rented a pontoon boat that we took out for the day...........I am not sure I have ever done that on the ocean but I promise you I will do it AGAIN! It was fantastic.......We anchored at Shell Island and spent all day in knee deep water, finding tons of shells, small sting rays, sandollars and we might have actually spotted a small shark.......and by we I mean Laura, since I was too busy trying to scale up the side of the boat as soon as she thought she saw it!

We really had so much fun!! As was most of the week, we dealt with a few storms........Thanks to our boat Captain, Mr. Jason, We stayed ahead of most of the rain............As we were trying to out run one of the rain showers, we found ourselves in the middle of a pod of spinner dolphins! It was truly breathtaking and I still can't believe the pictures I got! This was no zoom lense......they were this close!

After a full day on the boat, we headed to Dockside for fantastic shrimp and ice cold beer......And shirly temples for the little ones!

Dockside is right at the Marina in Port St. Joe..........so much fun watching all the boats come in with the fresh catch of the day!

It really was great being at the beach.........And I do love me some beach time as well as friend and family time!

While we were walking around, we ran into this little guy. I, of course, thought it was a shark. It was a cat fish......who knew they were in the ocean!!

So on Sunday, we said goodbye to the daddy's and hello to single motherhood..........with four kids............and decided to treat ourselves to a nice lunch at Schooners in Panama City Beach!!

It was just like the old days.........No, it really wasn't. In the old days, I was single, younger, much skinnier and didn't have to even look at the kids menus!!

Since we loved Dockside so much, we decided to go back and it was soooo yummy!

no clue why this is turned sideways, figures, right? it's the one of two pictures I think I am actually in!! ha!

We had a fantastic time, and I really have so many more pics to go through and many more stories to tell..........