Summer 2009...

I've been a little behind on updating my blog. I have been doing my Flashback Friday, but other than that...I have been busy.

I cannot believe that summer is over. It has flown - for that matter - 2009 has flown as well. So, here is a recap of the summer of 09...

• Fun beach trip in June (I actually did post about that trip) - you can see it here.
• In July I went to see NKOTB with my friend Karen - see it here
• Fun 4th of July at my cousin's house - see it here
• Cruise in July with the fam - see it here and here
• Went to the beach in August - had a great time. Brandon and Ella swam like fish the entire time.
• I read 5 books this summer. I read the Twilight series - I was curious as to what the hype was about. It took me months to read the first one (probably because I saw the movie first), but once I finally finished it, I read the other three very quickly. I enjoyed reading them - but am still not sure what all the obsession is about. I will go and see the movies though.
• I also read The Time Travelers Wife. I had decided that I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie. The book is a hard read and you have to really concentrate to follow it. Its an ok book - so unrealistic. Movie review coming up...
• Brandon started school this year. I cannot believe he is in kindergarten. He is doing well and has been enjoying it. He is such a kid now and not a little boy anymore.

I will have more posts coming soon with some movie reviews and a few other things...

Hope you had a great summer!!!

Beach Trip Part Deux

Well we just returned from our second beach trip of the year and it was fun for all! The trip down with the kids wasn't as bad as the trip in May. I think they are getting used to traveling long distances now. It only rained one day the entire week so that was great. The kids were great with a few melt downs but that was to be expected. My to do list from a previous post is below - lets see how I did shall we...

Hanging out with my family since we are not all together in one place a lot - CHECK
Sleeping late - uh NO - not with two kids in the condo - the latest I slept was like 8:30 - which is later than normal - but not what I had in mind - but that's ok
Sunsets on the beach - CHECK and I have photos!
Seafood - Capt. Anderson's, Angelo's - YES AND NO - no Capt. Anderson's - which made me sad - but we tried - the 2 1/2 hour wait was a little long for us
Doing nothing if I want to - CHECK
Sitting on the balcony with a good book - CHECK AND CHECK! I finished a book I started a month ago and read two more on top of that. I have a new obsession - Karen Kingsbury books - they are great! Thanks Steph and I am sorry I made fun of you all those years!
Sitting on the beach with a good book or my Ipod - CHECK
Sitting by the pool with a good book or my Ipod - NO - the pool never had chairs
Playing with Brandon and Ella in the pool - CHECK
Getting a tan - CHECK
Shopping - CHECK
Eating whatever because I am on vacation - CHECK - no diet cokes for me - only the real stuff Watching Brandon and Ella have fun - CHECK
Playing cards with the fam - no not this time - little boys like to stay up late on vacation
Playing putt putt - CHECK
Riding go-carts - no - we tried but Brandon didn't want to - maybe next year
Taking photos of the kids playing - CHECK - I took over 200 photos - I will only bore you with a few below. If you want to see more - check out my facebook or myspace
Relaxation - CHECK

AND FOR A FEW PHOTOS...

Updates...

A few updates for my blogging audience - (welcome new readers - I know you are reading and not commenting):

• A few weeks ago I posted that we won TPR on Ella. We heard last week the parents appealed the ruling...so we wait - for 6 more months! Gotta love the justice system!
• This is the week for the beach - yahoo!! 6 days and counting. We leave Sunday - everyone is excited. Brandon is counting down the days and is finishing up his swimming lessons. Tracy says he is making progress. We'll see how well he does next week. I will have plenty of photos to share!
• I babysat for my friend April last week. I have babysat for her on and off since she had her first child, Jorryn, seven years ago. And I babysat when Tait came along and even after Sara Logan came along. But, I had not babysat since little Wyatt was born. If you are doing your math - that is four children. Wow! I have total respect and admiration for April and Guy and all you other parents with a million kids. Four children seven years and under. The kids were great. The only problem I had was trying to get Wyatt to sleep. And if I were him and a stranger was trying to get me to sleep - I would cry till I threw up too. As I was watching them, I was thinking about the crazy life they have to lead. And what I would do if I were in April and Guy's position. A) - I would never leave the house unless it was with one or two kids; B) bed time would be early so I could have a break; C) - date nights would be weekly to get away. Now, I know my thinking is totally extreme here - I mean all I have to worry about is me, myself and I - and I was thinking these thoughts when Wyatt was screaming (and its really easy being Aunt Gina, love on the kids, give them what they want - then give them back to their parents). But, by the end of the night "I got it", when Wyatt was fast asleep, the girls and I were watching Diego (that is a painful show to watch btw) and Tait laid her head on my arm and said, "I do this with my mom when I watch tv" and Sara Logan climbed up in my lap and fell asleep - my heart melted. Its not about all the craziness of meals, keeping up with kids, changing diapers, baths, screaming, no sleep - its about all the love they give you and how full they make your life - thats worth all the other crazy things a million times over.

Can't get here quick enough!

So - my family goes to the beach in 11 days for 7 glorious days in the fun and sun of Panama City Beach - really - it can't get here quick enough for me. Preparations are going on now for our trip. Brandon is taking swimming lessons - and is making day to day progress. Truth be told -he is a huge scaredy cat - but we are working on him to stop being (as he calls himself) "Chicken Little". And I am stopping myself from not making my packing list yet - although everyday I think - "gosh I wish it was time to make my packing list", but its not time yet - so I wait. I am also being obnoxious and every few days post on my sisters myspace or facebook pages a countdown of how much longer till we leave. So, in honor of my anticipation of the beach - here are things I am so looking forward to:

• Hanging out with my family since we are not all together in one place a lot


• Sleeping late


• Sunsets on the beach


• Seafood - Capt. Anderson's, Angelo's


• Doing nothing if I want to


• Sitting on the balcony with a good book


• Sitting on the beach with a good book or my Ipod


• Sitting by the pool with a good book or my Ipod


• Playing with Brandon and Ella in the pool


• Getting a tan


• Shopping


• Eating whatever because I am on vacation


• Watching Brandon and Ella have fun


• Playing cards with the fam


• Playing putt putt


• Riding go-carts


• Taking photos of the kids playing


• Relaxation

So - that is my list of thing I cannot wait to do while I am the beach!! 11 days and counting!!

The Beach

We just returned from the beach last week. It was a fun getaway for all. A much needed getaway too. It rained two of the three full days that we were there - but just being at the beach in rain or sun makes you feel better. I rode with my sister and her two kids - wow was that an adventure for someone who is used to seeing the kids a few hours on the weekend in a house where they can run and play to being strapped in seats they hate for five hours in a car - tears, pulling arms out of the seat belts, throwing toys in the floor, wanting to change the movie a million times, asking - "when will we be there", etc. It was interesting for me needless to say. I am not used to hauling kids around, wiping noses, mouths and butts. Parenting is defintely a hard job. It makes me admire my sister (as a single mom) and her dedication and love for the kids. Don't get me wrong - I love them with all my heart - but if you aren't used to it - the patience can wear a little thin. But, seeing the excitement on their faces and watching them play in the sand and with their cousins was a wonderful thing to see. We went with my step-mom's family. Her brother and his wife have a five year old and a three year old. So, combine a one year old and a four year with that - madness was all around. But, fun was had by all. Brandon cannot wait to go back (we are already counting how many blanket days he has until its time to return) - he would live there if he could. He loves, loves the beach. Ella liked it too. It was her first real trip to enjoy. She loved playing in the sand and loves the water. So, its time to count the weeks - only six blanket days before we head back!! Now the question I know you are asking is - "Gina will you ride with Tracy and the kids again?"...yeah probably - this is preparation time for when I will take my own kids (hopefully) one day on long road trips to the beach!