Finishing Out the Summer

We enjoyed a super relaxing last week of summer.  It was so nice to have some low key time before school started back.  We had several playdates with friends and also got to mark several things off our summer list of fun.  We went to the free movie on a rainy day.  

 My sweet college friend Lisa and her little girl came up for a visit on Thursday.  It was so much fun to get caught up with her and watch the kids play.  They had so much fun swimming.  Lisa is such a special friend and always an encouragement to me.  We are so excited about the new addition to their family in the next few months!

 We headed downtown Thursday night for the Green Street Farmers Market.  Kate was so excited that her daddy picked her out some wildflowers.  Ben picked out some okra and green tomatoes.  It was a nice night and really enjoyable to walk around the market.

 After the market we had a date night with each of the kiddos.  Ben and I went to dinner at Rosies (we share a love of all things Rosies) while Kate and Matt went to dinner at Zaxbys.  It was great to spend time with them individually before school started.

 Friday night included cooking up some of the yummy okra and green tomatoes!

 I was so excited to take Kate for her first pedicure as a special treat for heading to kindergarten.  She didn't really know what to think but I think she ended up enjoying it.  It was fun to get to spend some fun girly time with my sweet girl!

It was the perfect way to round out the summer!  It has been so much fun but I have to say this mama is really tired!!!  All the fun has worn me out.  I love being with my kids but it will be good to be back on a schedule and get back to routine.

Wordless Wednesday

#BeachWrEck2015 Part 2

Here are a few more pictures to round out our beach trip of the year.  I never take many pictures at the beach.  Too busy having fun and relaxing.  Every morning the girls would curl up together and play on the ipad.  So cute!

 It takes a bunch of stuff for 8 people to survive on the beach for a few hours.  Ha!  It looked like we were moving to the beach each morning.

 The water was like a lake on the days we were playing the beach.  The kids were not too happy about not getting to play in the waves but it meant that they got to float way out in the ocean.

 Being on the beach makes you hungry.  I think the best part of beach time is the snacks!

 We headed out to the Crab Trap for dinner one night.  The kids love it there because there is a playground.

 We had to do our traditional trip to the Ferris Wheel at The Warf.  LeeAnn is the only adult brave enough to do it so poor thing has to go up with all 4 kids.

 Anytime the Eckleys and Wrights get together there has to be a cookie cake so we found this awesome beach themed one.

 Our favorite part of the trip is getting to hang out and play games.  We stay up so late each night playing games.  Settlers is the favorite but we also played card games this year that Ben joined us for.  Can't believe he is big enough to hang with the adults.  Don't think anyone went to bed before midnight any night.

  We had lots of lazy pool time!

 And Connect Four tournaments when it was raining outside.

 Sweet girls like sleeping together!

 A new tradition has been to go get beignets at a local cafe for breakfast!

 Our kids are not big sand fans but they did spend a little time playing in the sand and building some castles.

We had an amazing time as always.  Can't wait for next years trip!!

#BeachWrEck2015

We got home last night from our annual beach trip with the Wrights.  We aren't sure but we think it was the 6th or 7th year we have gone down to the beach with them.  It was so much fun as always.  Such a relaxing time with lots of fun!  We got down to the condo mid afternoon on Wednesday and I think the kids were in the pool about 15 minutes after we got there.  The weather was really nice (really hot but nice).  

 Matt's mom had made matching shirts for all of the girls.  They loved them and looked so cute in them!

 We cooked dinner in the condo that night and went for a walk on the beach before sunset.  It is a yearly tradition that ends up with kids getting wet in their clothes each year!

Swimming Fun

One of my favorite things to do each summer is to take the underwater camera to the pool to capture the kids playing.  We love our pool days and always have so much fun!

Catching Up Some More

Seems like I keep getting behind on what we have been doing on a daily basis all summer.  These catch up posts seem to work to catch everything I miss.  So here is what we have been up to the past week...

Saturday Kate went to her buddy Cooper's birthday party at the local country club.  She was so excited to get to see all her friends from school and swim with them.  I thought it was funny because growing up I always wanted to go to that country club pool and I finally got invited with my 5 year old!  

 Saturday afternoon we went with Ashley and Kaylee to go see the Huntsville Community Chorus production of Aladdin Jr.  It was such a fun show and perfect for little ones to watch.  It fed into Kate's acting bug and she can't wait to get to be in a musical.  Our friend Lilly Baker was in the show so Kate was so excited to see her after it was over to give her a hug.

 Sunday we took the kids along with Evan and Addy to see Home at the dollar theater.  It is the last time we will see the McClures before school starts.  Booo!!  Sad!  Hate that summer is so close to being over.  It was a cute movie and great to get to spend some time with friends to wrap out the summer.  We have laughed that I think these kids have spent more time at each other's houses than their own over the summer.  There have been lots of sleepovers and late nights hanging out.  So thankful for special neighbors.

 Monday night we had some really special guests over for dinner.  Our friends the Phillips.  We have been friends with Jeana and Derek for like 20 years.  When Matt and I were teenagers and dating we spent many of nights over at their house hanging out and playing with their kids.  Well their kids are now 18 and 15 and they came over to hang out and play with our kids.  Talk about full circle!  It was such a fun night.  Andrew is getting ready to head off to college at Auburn.  We are totally in denial that we are old enough for our ring bearer is going to college.  It was great to get caught up with them and enjoy a fun evening together.

 On Tuesday I decided to tackle the not fun job of school supply shopping.  It is never a fun experience but we made the best of it.  We were able to knock it all out at Walmart (except for 2 folders that we still have to find).  It was a different experience this year shopping with Kate.  She had opinions about what she wants on her folders and notebooks whereas Ben couldn't care less.  I guess I am no longer in denial that school starts in less than 2 weeks since we now have all our supplies.

Wordless Wednesday - New Glasses