Vacation 2010 - Day 5

Well, I was right. Fishing is on tap this morning! Grant, Shelby & John headed down to check out how the fish were biting! I started making breakfast for the younger boys. After their tummies were full, the other crew came in and ate. Paw Paw came over and they all headed down to fish. Over the course of the morning, they caught over 15 fish. John cleaned two of them and plans to cook them another day.

Can you tell that Jack LOVES pancakes?

Michael likes them some times!

Jack caught 6 or 7 fish this morning! Can you tell how happy he is?

Paw Paw helping with the kidos!

The kids are a little tired of swimming today! We planned to take them to lunch one day, so this seemed to be a great day! We had wanted to take them to a fun place that they would enjoy, so John picked Lambert's Cafe.

Paw Paw and Jen Jen went with us! It was a hit!

We ALL had left overs and hardly anyone ate dinner!

Grant, Jen Jen & Shelby - look at those cups!

I don't think Lambert's knows the word - moderation!

Mommy & Michael

Michael was scared at first and didn't want to go in this place. He kept hearing Paw Paw talk about getting hit with a roll, and he wanted nothing to do with that! Amazingly, that boy ate some rolls!!!!

Daddy, Jack and Michael ... more rolls!

Shelby, that roll is TOO big!

Jack & Daddy

Shelby and Paw Paw

Grant, Jen Jen and our roll "thrower"!

Picture time!

John asked Grant, "So, is this the long black train?"

Paw Paw & Jen Jen, a.k.a. Dad & Mom, a.k.a. R.W. & Jen

We had also set aside a little spending money for each child. So, stopped by a couple of souvenir shops and let the kids spend some of their money. Paw Paw and Jen Jen were good sports!

Souvenir Shop! Can you tell we are tourists?

Today's sunset!

Paw Paw, Jen Jen and Aunt Paige had invited the kids to come to their place to spend the night tonight. We decided to take them up on their offer. We dropped all of them off at their condo, the Phoenix East II. John, Shelby and I came back to our condo, Caribe, and packed them an overnight bag. I was ready to prop up and rest! :)

Swimming at Paw Paw's condo.

Michael - are we having fun yet?

Two cookies? I will have to talk to Aunt Paige about that!

After I rested, John and I headed over to my parent's condo to take the kids crab hunting. They had been swimming for a little while and some had eaten a little dinner. We headed out and found a couple of crabs. The kids were thrilled. Michael had bought a light saber with his money this afternoon, so that was pretty fun on the beach at night!

The first one was small, but this one was HUGE!

Michael's light saber on the beach!

Paw Paw & Michael fighting - Star Wars style!

Shelby went to cuddle with Michael before bed!

We took the kids up and helped them get settled in bed, then we headed out.

John and I went to get a fruity beach beverage and ended up playing some Galaga and Ms. PacMan! That brought back some memories!

We came back to our combo to some peace and quiet! Very much appreciated!

Thanks Paw Paw, Jen Jen and Aunt Paige! Hope you rest well!

Vacation 2010 - Day 4

We started our day a little later this morning, but not much! :)

Paw Paw came over and headed on a brief beach trip with us.

Paw Paw on Orange Beach!

Daddy & Grant LOVE these waves!

Michael & Jack

Shelby loving the sand!

Grant & Daddy in the Gulf!

Michael playing by Paw Paw!

After an hour or so at the beach, we headed into to the pool before heading up for lunch.

Grant sliding in!

John's shoes are the only thing sticking out!

Jack & Daddy coming down the slide!

Jack & Daddy coming up for air!

Paw Paw & Michael at the pool!

Then it was movie time - Star Wars! We having been saving the only one that they haven't seen for this trip. But, after previewing the movie AGAIN, we still weren't ready for them to watch all of it! So there were several scenes that the kids had to leave the room and we fast forwarded through!

Movie ... a little intense at times!

After the movie was discussion time about the Star Wars movies and how they relate to our lives! Interesting!

John and Shelby ran to the Shrimp Basket to get us some fried seafood to go with our supper! YUM!

A little rain in the distance. The weather messed up our crabbing plans tonight, but we will try again tomorrow night! John and Grant went to Wal-Mart to get a couple of things and to get John a fishing license ... sounds like a fun morning tomorrow!

Vacation 2010 - Day 3

Today the kids got up early! We had breakfast and headed out pretty early. We went to the beach for a couple of hours and the kids were thrilled! They had a BLAST! Grant wiped out several times, but he kept trying to figure it out and he finally got the hang of it and LOVED the waves!

Can you tell where we are going?

On the "trolley" to go to the beach!

We made it! Can you tell we are excited?

Where's Grant's body!

We came in for lunch, a little down time, then I headed to the grocery. John and the kids hung out for a little longer then headed down to the pool. By the time I was at Wal-Mart, my parents were rolling into town. I met them at Wal-Mart and did my shopping.

When I got back, I unloaded and went down to the pool with John and the kids. After a while, Mom, Dad and Aunt Paige came over for a little visit. When Dad and Mom decided to come early and get their own condo, Aunt Paige decided to come for a few days. It has been since New Year's Eve since Paw Paw and Jen Jen have seen the kids, and since Thanksgiving since Aunt Paige has seen them. They showed them a few pool tricks then we headed in for dinner.

Cool waterfall at the pool!

John & Aunt Paige

God's handiwork! Amazing!

Showers, supper, family time and off to bed! :) Tired kidos! (and parents)

Vacation 2010 - Day 2

This morning we got up to very cloudy skies. We got breakfast downstairs and got packed up right before the rain started. We went in Dollar General to pick up our final swim gear. We stopped at Sam's to exchange our new ice chest that was falling apart and to load up on some food for the trip.

Finally got the rest of our swim gear! We are ready to Rock & Roll!

About 3 1/2 hours later we arrived in Orange Beach to heavy rain, but that didn't stop the fun. As soon as the van was completely unloaded and we had figured out where our condo was and got everyone's stuff to their own rooms ... the swim suit were put on and we were headed to the pools! It was still sprinkling when we first got to the pool, but that didn't stop our kids! They had a blast in the outdoor pool, on the slides, and then we headed in to the warmer indoor pool. Jack took off his vest and decided he could handle the pool without it, Michael was all over the pool with his vest on and I was staying close to the warm waterfall water coming from the hot tub! :) After we swam for a while we walked to look at the lazy river and we could see the gulf clearly! Michael saw waves crashing in for the first time! FUN!

Here comes Michael!

Weeeeeee!

Good job! :)

Swim, Jack!

We headed in, showered, at dinner and watched the sunset from our balcony. We saw boats, a seagull looking for dinner and a few dolphin fins that kept popping up! Hope we get to see more this week!

Sunset - day one at the beach!
It has been a long time since I have seen something like this! Too long!

Watching the weather and hoping for some sunny - non-oily weather this week!