I Wanna Go Back

We took our annual trip to St. George Island, Florida at the end of July. I can so hear the waves, smell the ocean, and feel the 200% humidity just by looking at this picture.
The girls were so very busy all week. They did several "wood crafts" with Papa...
Had a luau one night...
And made cookies with Nana (sporting gorgeous self-inflicted make overs).
It was so very hot outside we pretty much spent all of our outside time in the pool or in the ocean. Here's Emily ALL decked out for the pool!
Sam loved the water as long as he had his tennis ball to play catch with.
Becca Sue would not even get close to the pool last year, but she was paddling all over the place this year.
Here's Emily in action...I love it!
I think this picture is my favorite one from all week. You totally can't tell here how much these two love to argue!
Sam looks happy here, but he pretty much hated the sand.
My four trouble-makers...complete with a couple fake smiles, a pair of grumpy arms, and one finger pointing.
Dancing on the beach...too fun!
I'm sure Mara Lin was singing some song here.
And Em was laughing at a joke none of us will ever get...or possibly a fart she'd just let rip!
And oh my word, where has my baby girl gone?! Becca Sue looks so gorgeous here, but way too old.
And finally my sweet stinker of a baby boy!
We accomplished a lot of fun, but accomplished way more relaxing too. Man, I wanna go back!

First Things First

Fifteen months ago I was able to keep the "Three Girl Circus" part of my blog and just added the "and one little monkey."

In twelve more weeks, adding just a tag line is not going to cut it.

We're adding another baby girl to this crazy circus. So what in the world will my blog be named then?

Help!

Grand Plans

Make sure you're sitting down.

I don't want to be responsible for any injuries from your shock.

It's been six months since I've blogged and I really want to get back into it. I have grand plans to do some catch up posts but we'll see what actually gets done. I've got a lot on my mind lately and am excited to have a place to dump those thoughts again.

So, to my two readers I have left....I'm back!

This little monkey...

...is getting more personality every day.

As if I didn't have enough hair to fix...

Well, at least I don't have to talk dolls down from a fit when I 'pull too hard'.

Check it!

See that new header up there with pics of four gorgeous kids?

All. By. Myself.

Seriously, I did it all by myself with this tutorial!

Ok, so maybe I asked my husband a couple of questions. Ok, ok, maybe three questions....but still!

Girl Paradise

Day two of our big trip included a disappointing visit to Northpoint Church. I was so excited to visit the church and especially to check out the children's ministry, but they had canceled services that Sunday. (I'll spare my opinion here about them canceling services for one of the biggest Christian holidays, but if anyone whats to know my opinion just ask I'd love to give it!)

So we had a relaxing slow Sunday morning at the mall instead.

The girls and I ate lunch at the American Girl store while Sam and Daddy ventured out to find an electronics store.

I can not tell you enough how well the American Girl company knows and caters to little girls. We had THE best time at this lunch. They had these little high chair like things that attached to the table for the dolls to sit in.
Emily only has one of her twins here cause she left Elizabeth #1 in the van. She said that "Elizabeth was too shy to go eat lunch and wanted to stay in the van."

The waitress came to the table and asked the girls' names (and remembered their names) and the dolls' names (and remembered those too!). They brought us all menus and the dolls their own little menus too.
Then they brought each of the dolls a little chocolate chip muffin. The girls had fun sneaking little bites of the muffins and pretending that their dolls had eaten them.
It was a very fancy three course meal. The girls had fruit and yogurt, mac n cheese, and a chocolate milk shake....typical 'kid' food but the presentation was gorgeous.
We finished lunch before the boys were done at the electronics store so we went back to the doll salon and watched some dolls get their hair fixed and even ears pierces too.
They all stood just like this watching for at least thirty minutes.
I'm already wondering when we can go back!

The big trip and a new addiction!

If you have a little girl, you MUST plan a trip to an American Girl store. Man, do they know what little girls like. I think the girls walked through the store with their mouths hanging open for the first thirty minutes.
There were lots of dolls to touch and feel, and lots of scenes (with little pieces) behind display cases.

Mara and Emily very quickly decided that they wanted the twins, but Becca Sue had a really hard time making a decision. She would see the twins and pick one up and say, "I want this one." Then I'd pick up a boxed one up and she'd say, "Noooo."
Then she'd walk over to the Bitty Babies and say, "I want this one." I'd pick up the box and she'd say, "Noooo."
I finally realized that she didn't care which baby she got, she just wanted it out of the box! So we helped her decide on a set of twins since the other two were getting twins.
Here's what my little baby doll did the entire time we were in the store on the first day. Guess all this girl stuff was just too boring.
All three of the girls got a set of twins from Mom and Dad and a bag and t-shirts (for them and their dolls) from DeeDee and Grand.
Check out their patient little faces as they wait to pay....
This next picture is my favorite...
And then, what Becca had been waiting on....they got to get them out of the box! Mara's doll's names change about once a week. (This week they're Hannah and Karena...what great names Rachel!)
Becca got a girl and a boy and named them Becca and Dawson.
And Emily named hers Elizabeth #1 and Elizabeth #2.
Here's my baby doll with the girls' baby dolls!....(love, love, love this picture!)
We had such a sweet family time hanging out at the hotel, playing/shopping at the mall, and IKEA too. Next up is our lunch date with our dolls at the American Girl store.....

Oh my word....

Squeeeeee!

Can. Not. Wait!