Getting An Early Start On Our Vacation

We arrived in Destin around 7 am on Sunday morning, but we couldn't check into our condo until later that afternoon, so my cousin graciously opened up her home and backyard (complete with in-ground pool) to us until it was time to head over to Perdido Key.  Lorelai and Miller adore swimming, and getting to spend time in the pool while hanging out with their cousins was the icing on the cake.

 Cannonball!!

 I'm #1!!

What makes a diving board jump even better? Innertubes!!

Trying his best to do a cannonball.

For Starters

We are in Destin for two weeks, and the first official day started with a preliminary testing out of the beach.  Since the word "go," Miller has hated everything about the beach...the sand, the water, the wind.  This year he seems to be warming up to it quite nicely.  Lorelai, our little water bug, has been enjoying it since our first trip down here when she was 1.



Taking in the sights.

Miller was too scared to dive in feet first (pardon the pun), but Lorelai couldn't wait to put her feet in the surf.

A man down the beach was fishing and had blue herons waiting for his daily catch.  The kids and I took a walk down there, but the birds had already filled up on fish and moved on.

I love this picture because it shows their shadows being cast.

 Before we headed back inside Miller gave the ocean another try.  He loved it!!  I love his expression in this one as his mouth is wide open and he's screaming.

A Few Family Photos

Just a few photos of my precious family.  You can tell we had been at the pool earlier because Miller's cheeks are especially pink.

Oodles of Noodles

Lorelai adores Ramen noodle soup, or as she calls it "brains."  I must say I'm partial to it, too, as it's cheap, easy to make, and she eats every last bite.

Courtesy of the Concrete Carnival

Lorelai and Miller were invited by Sierra to the carnival at her school, Concrete Primary.  Grandmother Catherine was there to enjoy the fun and sent me some of the pictures that she took of Lorelai with a few familiar faces.

A Different Side of Miller

Normally the pictures that I get of Miller are of him smiling or laughing.  Clearly I interrupted his enjoyment of eating his celery and ranch, because this is the stern expression I got while trying to photograph him at a recent birthday party.

Pint-Sized Picassos

One the kids' favorite activities is painting.  We don't indulge in it as much as they would like, but since it's summer and we're home all day we've taken to doing it a bit more than normal.

 

Ready to make a masterpiece.

 Miller got started with the glitter glue.

 Lorelai wrote her name in glitter glue and then added finger paint accents.

Moving on to the messy part.

Ta da!

 Lorelai took her time to make hers exactly what she wanted.

 She let Miller help a little bit.  He made a volcano.

The paintings are hanging in their rooms, AKA, their own art galleries.