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..........

Sunflowers.........

Aren't they beautiful???? We are less than a month away from kindergarten......I can't believe it......I am broken hearted and thrilled all at the same time............How blessed I am to have this summer to spend with my sweet babies !! We have seen puppet shows, been to splash parks, movies, pools, beaches and lakes!! It's been such a blessing...............I have so many pictures, I think I am desperately trying to freeze time!! Am on a mission to start posting some of our summer fun!!!

damn near perfect........

We may have had just about the most PERFECT. VACATION. EVER. Time to sort through all the fantastic pics and post some for ya!!

Summer smiles.........

The kids and I are having a blast so far this summer............I promise to get up to date on our happenins..........promise!

Schools--Out--For--SUMMER!!

Is everyone singing along?? I sure am!! Last Friday was Emme's last day at school..........sniff sniff............I'll get to that sappy post later..............Right now, I am too excited about how our first week has gone for this new little threesome! All of my whole MOM life, I have wanted to stay at home with my kiddos............and thanks to an INCREDIBLE hubby and BAD economic times, IT HAS HAPPENED!!

Day One.......Memorial Day.............We blessed those that have fought for our country......had a great but busy family day and grilled out with our neighbors..............Yummy Margarita chicken.....Am sooooo gonna share that recipe, it was sooo good!! and easy!

Day Two.......Playdate!! Our friends Alex and Brandon came over and we enjoyed our new "pool"........ie-blow up knee deep bug swimmin pool..............

Day Three......Swimdate!! Same friends as above invited us to their REAL pool............And let me just tell you...........I have no clue how, but my sweet girl swam.........not just doggie paddled, but actually swam...........Jumped from the side, touched bottom of pool and swam herself right back to the wall! We even have the old timey pool blisters on the toes to prove it!! She did fantastic! So great, that after naps, I took her out to get a new bathing suit! Gymboree had their entire store onsale for $12.99 and under........Jackpot!! Now, the problem with Gymboree is that they really run a little large..............Sweet girl is now the owner of a size 3 bathing suit! Lucky girl, built just like her daddy...............

having blogger issues with my pics.........will post shortly!

Jumper cables................

This beach trip with the girls were the "jumper cables" I needed to restart my battery! It was perfect..................Perfect weather, perfect friends, perfect place!

Andee and her husband have a condo in Destin, Florida............It's right on a canal and a short walk to the beach...........lots of pools, tennis, puttin green and boats & fishin.......Perfect for kids......If we had brought them..........but we did not! We just brought ourselves.........And as always, our first night there starts with dinner at Dewey Destins.........A shack that has great food and very cold beer...........YUMMY!

Tara, Robin, Andee, Christi, Liz and myself have been friends since college. Although we are spread all around (And I was NOT referring to our butts!) we reconnect every year just like college was yesterday!!

Weather was just beautiful!! And only a few times did we laugh at the other parents sitting in sand making sandcastles and smearing sunscreen all over very quick toddlers.........Because those trips are great, too. Actually, those trips are made really great by having these "kid free" trips as well!! I firmly believe you need the balance.............especially to really appreciate life!

The Donut hole is a must.........not really just for breakfast.........They have the best keylime pie! YUMMY!!

I figured I should include myself in a bathing suit shot.......I mean really, who knows what next year will look like, right??? I kid, I kid...............

So here we are, all lined in our sorority pose!!

Saturday night we went to The Boathouse! Unfortunately, these pics just don't show the charm! You know, if you call bras and panties stapled to the ceilings CHARMING.........Which we did!! No, we didn't staple OURS to the ceiling, we just thought it was CHARMING...........many beers, shots and no dinner later!!

Oh to be young again...........We certainly tried............As will the hubby's text messages attest to! It really was a wonderful weekend with really great people! And a special thanks to all those at home that held down the fort, toted kids to birthday parties, soccer parties, dance recitals, baseball games and all those other things crazy people with kids do on weekends!