While we were at the beach I wanted to get a family picture taken. I looked online at local photographers and thought instead I would challenge myself. So I packed my tripod and camera and coordinating clothes and off we went early one morning. I talked Shadd into it reminding him how much money I was going to save us. It worked and here's what we got. Overall I was pretty pleased with them. I think I am ready to move to the beach and take family portraits. I think that sounds like the life!

Help!

I am having lots of trouble with Blogger in the last few days, specifically loading pictures. Any of you other bloggers had any trouble?

Flying rolls and more miniature golf

On our last night in Gulf Shores we visited Lamberts Cafe. Everyone told us we had to eat there and we were not disappointed. It was quite an experience! We tried to go the night before but it was pouring rain and there was an hour and a half wait outside. So this time we went really early and got right in. It is all country style food and LOTS of it! Yikes! But the most fun part is that they bring around BIG dinner rolls and instead of handing them to you...they throw them. I would love to have that job for one day. The guy had a grin on his face as he threw them. He launched a couple of them across the dining room. You definitely had to have your catching arm ready. The girl behind us ended up with one in her purse. It was lots of fun. If you are everin Gulf Shores you have to give it a try!

The kids had a train to play on out front

Yummy rolls!

Are you hungry daddy?

Wow are we stuffed!!!!

Next we went to the coolest place to play miniature golf ever!

The girls

Daddy's girls

This was a hole inside the pirate ship. Too cool!

Here is the outside of the ship

Two of the holes were in caves

Another day at the beach

Another day at the beach in Gulf Shores and guess what Bethany's favorite passtime was again. Yep...napping. She slept for an hour this time. I tried to get creative covering her up and someone near us even offered an umbrella. She cracked us up. She just can't seem to stay awake when the sounds of waves crashing are around her!

Whenever I get stressed I'm going to remember sitting right here...

Baylee and daddy having more fun in the waves

Monday night we went to dinner and then for a walk on the beach

We admired all of the sandcastles as we walked along the beach. Someone had become very inventive here and made a series of caves. It was a little dangerous in the dark. They were really deep. Luckily we saw them before we lost one of our children!

The girls were not big fans of the dark walk. There was heat lightning in the distance and they thought we were going to be struck. the walk did not last too long.

Gulf Shores

The next leg of our trip was Gulf Shores Alabama. We rented a condo and spent three days enjoying the nice weather and beach. It was our first family beach trip and we had a really good time! The people staying in the condo next to ours ironically were from Indiana and even more ironic is that the lady was an early childhood special ed teacher. Yikes!!!

Baylee's favorite part was daddy taking her out to jump in the big waves
Bethany

Baylee

This picture is out of place but this was a highlight for the girls. It was a souveneir shop that had a shark mouth as the entrance.

This was a theme for Bethany on the beach. I thought she would be so excited to play in the water but I think the sound of the waves lulled her to dreamland. :)

This was actually taken before nap time. She took a few minutes to work on the sand castle

Wow mom this sand is hard to walk in!

Visiting the Garriotts

After visiting grandma Purkey we went to stay a few days with the Garriotts. Ragan and I were roommates at UK for two years. We didn't know each other before our freshman year but I sure hit the roommate lottery with her. We had some really great times and the beauty is that even though we live a thousand miles away we can still pick up the phone and pick up right where we left off. So it was a real treat to be able to spend time with her beautiful family. The kids had lots of fun playing with new toys and the boys got to play golf while Ragan and I caught up. It was such a great time. Thank you guys for your hospitality. We love you all and can't wait until you come visit us next!

John, Ragan, David and Andrew
me and my honey

Ragan and Andrew

My how things have changed since college

Ragan and me

David and the girls

David

Bethany

Andrew

Are you guys starting a band?

The girls had an awesome time at their neighborhood pool

Taking a break from swimming

It was a really neat pool with lots of things for little ones to do