Thursday, October 29, 2009

A Beachy Fall


For Fall Break Megan and the kids and I decided rather last minute to go to the beach. Why not, right? It's kinda becoming our "thing". The only time we see each other, to be honest! It is a fabulous place though and we just absolutely LOVE it. We were only there for a few days so we said no to any organized activity and just decided to let the kids call the shots. It was actually a great idea. As it turns out...kids are WAY easier to get along with when you let them have a say. Who knew!

The tide this time was peaking right at noon so we had to adjust our normal beach schedule. Instead of all day, we went in the mornings to look for shells and in the evenings to play. Perfect. It also gave us some time to relax in the afternoon and go to the Farmer's Market. We even had a cloudy, cold day that gave us a chance to do some exploring and we found the coolest pumpkin patch ever. So cool, in fact, that it needs it whole entire own post.





Dolphins!! Another bonus to going in the evening I suppose.... We saw a pod of dolphins slowing swimming up the coastline. Pretty neat-o with the sun reflecting in their spray. It was one of those ah-ha moments. You know the ones when things are just all around good....I need more of those moments in my world (or to at least take the time to notice them when they come along), but I'll certainly take the ones I have.



Abi's sandy toes!






Chalk another one up the "worst mom in the world" category. Poor Squish is clearly upset over something and the urge to photograph the poor-pitiful me moment completely beat out the motherly instinct to run to her aid. The pictures are totally worth it though, aren't they! Those chubby little hands.... I think she was working it anyway!


All my sweet little shell collectors! They cleaned up too. Literally, they cleaned up. Pretty sure every last teeny-weenie particle of a shell made it home with us and has since been scattered all over the floor more times than I care to pick-up.



Squish, looking like a beast (and strangely like a bucket carrying broom from Fantasia) and Billy looking the dainty small boy. I sincerely hope they both grow out of this stage!


Don't you just want to pinch her!!


Whoa.


An Edgar Allan Poe story or perhaps a scene from Alfred Hitchcock....



Food on the beach had never been a problem before....
I suppose these seagulls were starrrrving (as Billy would say). Megan pointed out an interesting thing here too...why are they seagulls pigeon brown? Could it be? A crazy cross between pigeon and seagull? There were pigeons on the beach. I've never seen that before.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Dr. Uncle George's 50th Birthday Luau!

My Uncle George recently celebrated his 50th Birthday...with a Luau, of course!! It was a ton of fun. A party at a location no one, but the hired help had to clean up. -Always a nice party touch! There were grass skirts for all the ladies, coconut bras for the boys and lei's all around.




Notice Emily and Zoe have their mouths crammed full of flavored Double Bubble. Maddie made all the kids these necklaces from saran wrap and ribbon. Super cute concept, but I'm not sure bubblegum was the right choice....

Our matriarch, Grandma Marie sitting with Bob Paone.
What could be so entertaining...???

Why a Fire Dancer, but of course! I did say it was a Hawaiian Luau.















Dr. Uncle George, looking a bit touched after a rousing Happy Birthday fire and all!

Sleeping Billies



I just LOVE this little guy! Only a boy would actually sleep in such an uncomfortable spot. It's not the first time either. There is a post a month or two back where I am pretty sure the exact same pictures can be found. Just a few days after this little photo shoot Daddy found him asleep on top of my desk. I can only imagine he was watching Emily play on the computer when he just crashed. Unfortunately I don't have a picture to document that one...! Notice the bag of snacks right next to his head...I guess it's just a natural inclination to sleep whenever you feel like it when you insist on wearing your jammies ALL DAY!






Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Party in the U.S.A. ~ Miley Cyrus!


Emily's 1st concert ~ Miley Cyrus and Metrostation (Miley's brother's band) at Jobing Arena, Friday, September 25, 2009.



Holy Miley!! Emily, lucky girl, got to go to her very first concert ever with her cousins and her totally awesome Aunt Paula. Not just any concert either, Miley Cyrus aka Hannah Montana! The hottest tween sensation of the moment. Very cool. She didn't quite understand exactly how cool until it was over. Maddie invited Emily and Zoe to go with her to the show and she designed and purchased coordinating outfits for them to wear. She even mailed them to the house with a card and directions "fashion code" as to how to wear the ensemble. So cute. The girls looked adorable in their flouncy skirts and just a bit of attitude tops. We met Paula, Maddie and Zoe at WestGate so that Maddie could finish the girls outfits with make-up. Wow! I totally let my 6 year old go to a concert with her friends, wearing make-up. Even Abi had to get in on the game. She had a blast and doesn't even know she missed the best part. Billy got to have a "guy's night" with dad. They went to Chauncey's football game. Billy only wants to play "football tackle" now. He kinda has the concept down, but the words are definitely backward.


Abi was dancing. Showstopper!!



Let the make-up craze begin...











I think (from what I gather) they had a blast. Paula bought them treats and treasures. They danced and sang. Miley apparently flew around the stadium on a Harley and broke through a wall of ice. They definitely had a blast. After the show Zoe came home with us for a sleepover and I could hear them in the tent they made Travis make in Emi's room giggling away all night.