Beach 2015

What a fantastic week! I so wish I could take the beach home with us. This trip only solidified my goal of retiring here. For reals.




Our house had an early 1:00 check-in time. We left early (before 8) and made it down with no problems in just under 4 hours. We felt like we were really able to enjoy the first day, it wasn't just a "travel day." Our house was super nice and a quick walk to the beach.







The weather was amazing! Only one afternoon was cloudy with a bit of rain. We went to the beach every single day. A couple of mornings I walked to the beach to watch the sunrise.







The girls loved the beach, in small doses. Anne could stay there all day. Abigail and Audrey preferred the pool, but they really had a great time when they were at the beach. I couldn't get enough. I would be out there all day, from sunrise to sunset!

The kids all got along so well and loved playing with each other. I think that's a big reason the big girls wanted to be at the pool, they had so much fun with the other kids. It was interesting to watch Anne. She was constantly on the defense. She did not like it when other kids approached her, especially if she had a toy in her hand. She'd yell and even hit/push :( If Chris or I was holding the baby, she'd yell and cry and point while saying, "No baby!!!" Sheesh. Looks like we have some work to do with this one.

























If we don't retire here, I at least want to buy a house that we can retreat to (BEFORE we retire.) A place where I can spend most of the summer and long weekends. Where the girls can go when they're on college break. It's not about laying out in the sun and getting a great tan...I just love watching the ocean and feeling the sand and breeze. I can't believe we have to wait an entire year to see it again :(

Now we are home and it's nice that I have a few weeks left of Summer. Time to focus on the upcoming school year and getting this house in shape!

Summer So Far

I'm loving these days! Just being home is so nice. Having flexibility in our schedules is wonderful. I adore my sweet girls. Summer is amazing.

Some things I want to remember...

Audrey and Abigail are such great playmates. When Anne takes her nap, they have quiet time and more often than not they prefer to play together. They do argue...but for every five minutes of fighting there's endless hours of sweet sisterhood...I'll take that ratio!! They've been having sleepovers every night. At first Audrey would sleep on the floor next to Abby. Now Abby sleeps on the floor next to her :) Lately though Abby bothers Audrey and Audrey ends up going back to her room (HA!) I hate to interrupt their time when they're getting along so well..that just means extra long baths, extra time outside, and *sometimes* later bedtimes ;)



When they do play independently, it's so interesting to see what they prefer. Audrey is always creating...she likes to sit and work. Abigail prefers to play pretend...she'll play with her princesses or she'll dress up and perform. I love when she goes outside and sings and dances. Our front porch is pretty high and she feels like she's on stage :)




Annie's newest phrase is, "Get me down!" and "Get me out!" She loves to play with her big sisters. She'll go back with them to Abby's room and play (sometimes with them, sometimes by herself...she just likes being with them!) She also likes to play on the riding toys and race her sisters up and down the hall. She wants to be apart of whatever they're doing. She'll say, "Come on, Audrey!" and "Abby, let's go!" She is SO SNUGGLY. Just loves to be held and cuddled. Goodness I love her.

We've been busy...Audrey did Field Day camp at school and loved it! Definitely doing it again next year. Abigail did camp at her school last week and she had so much fun. She's also playing soccer every week (she's awesome!) Anne started soccer as well and she's such a great listener! She follows directions and has a blast. We're signing her up for dance in the Fall, I can't wait!



The girls are up SO EARLY every morning these days. It makes for long days. By 4:00 I'm so ready for their bedtime!

New house hasn't started yet. We've had some delays with permits but they're finally all approved. I drove by a few days ago and they've put up our street sign. They also have most of the stone entrance signs finished. We are really excited to see the home site once it's cleared. All the selections have been made. After a ton of back and forth, we're doing white cabinets with a gray island. I think espresso cabinets are beautiful, but I love the fresh look of white...it makes me happy. I started looking into white uppers and dark lowers, or at least a dark island. When Chris sent me a picture of a gray island...I was sold! I can't wait to get it started!

Audrey Catherine is six and a half!

Audrey is full of energy and super delightful. She makes me smile when she enters the room.

She is creative. Always making things, always drawing, always writing, always asking questions.




This past week she attended engineering camp, just a few hours in the morning each day. We're looking into joining Mathnasium as well. She's doing a Field Day Fun camp in a couple of weeks. She just loves to learn, loves to stay active. She even loves to sit with me and watch HGTV :)

Audrey is kind-hearted and sweet. She just loves to love, and be loved.



It's sounds strange when I think of her being in 1st grade in a few weeks. As "old" as she is, she cannot get enough of her Momma's hugs, kisses, and snuggles. She asks for them all the time. I am so thankful for that.



Sweet Audrey Cate is a blessing beyond belief. I love being her mom.

Grateful

Abigail had her preschool performance and it was beyond adorable. I was so happy to see her front and center, smiling and singing and excited as could be. I feel lucky that she's so happy at school. I am grateful that she still has a whole year of prek-4 ahead of her (although I cannot WAIT to have her at school with MEEEEE!!!) Her very last day of school was actually at the park. Chris took her and then brought her to me afterwards. She loved hanging out with us, and my kids were so sweet with her!






Audrey had her kindergarten musical (she was a mama bear) and awards afterwards. I'm actually having a hard time coming to grips with the fact that she'll be in first grade. That just seems so OLD to me. I watched Chris pick her up and talk to her about how proud we were of all her hard work this year. I almost couldn't breathe...all I could see was him holding her as a newborn in the exact same spot in our kitchen. This is going by way too fast. I am grateful she had an incredible year, and maybe that's part of why I'm a little sad that it's over. Her teacher appreciated Audrey's silly, active, social personality. She encouraged Audrey to be creative. She taught Audrey things that were beyond Kindergarten objectives (Audrey told us all about centrifical force one morning before school as she spun her purse around super fast and, "NOTHING FELL OUT!!") I am grateful for her amazing Kindergarten experience and all of the sweet little friends she has.


Staci came to our second grade awards program since her daughter is in my class. She brought Annie along :) As I sat with my class, I would glance over to where they were standing. Annie had grown bored of the stroller so Staci was holding her. Every once in awhile she would kiss her and tickle her, snuggle her and just LOVE all over her. I am so grateful that Annie has her. She is so loved by that family, and trust me when I say that the feeling is mutual. A few weeks ago I asked Staci if she would take time and consider doing this again next year...I barely finished my sentence when she she said she didn't even have to think about it and that she'd be offended if I hadn't asked, lol. I am grateful that our baby is loved and cared for just as much as when she's with us.

I am grateful for my job. I love spending my day with kids, even when they're rotten, lol. We become a family over the school year and it's very hard to say goodbye. Having the summer off eases the pain a bit ;) One of the best things about the school year ending is planning for NEXT year! I have some meetings over the summer, plus my Pinterest boards will be filling up with amazing ideas for my new crew. We never stop!!

I am grateful for all the things we have to look forward to this summer. Recital. Soccer. The house starting. New niece. Camps. Beach. Packing. Mostly I'm grateful for time with my sweet girls.