We Interupt this Program...

We interrupt this hiatus from blogging with an updated set of pictures from our beach trip we took to South Padre Island last week. All I have to say is this: 8 adults (my hometown besties), 6 kids (under 3), 4 days = a.lot.of.work. But the workload came with a beautiful beach, two swimming pools and zillion new memories.

Three of my girlfriends from home and I had been planning this beach trip that we magically pulled together to start off the summer of 2011. We stayed at Julie's family's beach house . I'll be honest: I had visions of long walks on the beach (ha), reading gossip magazines while our children frolicked in the ocean (ha-ha), and late night drinks and talks while the kids slept (hahahahahahhahaha). Did I mention all six kids were 3 and under?
I Love these girls because it seems like we have known each other forever. As long as I have been going to church I have been friends with Randi and Jill. And Julie and I date back to elementary school too, where we entered a few talent shows together (can we say Dirty Dancing soundtrack?) and she was the tallest girl in our fifth grade class with the biggest foot. We all joined forces in middle and high school and have been thick ever since. Anyway, back to the beach: Our first morning I got to sleep in and woke up to the dads handling breakfast. Now THAT is a vacation.

Poor Rhett, when you're the only boy on the trip, you just learn to make do:

Flash back to when these kiddos first met when Julie brought the girls to our house after Rhett was just born. My have they all grown!
Sadie walked around with that shell all weekend! Megan popped what she thought was a "purple balloon" on the beach. Ouch!

The Henrys: Brandon, Little Riley, and Randi

This is Randi and I back when we didn't have to be responsible for children and sippy cups. Porter often jokes that she and I were cut from the same mold. Not sure what he is talking about.Right before our trip I was cleaning out the garage and found a letter that Randi had written me when I left for college. It says:"Dear Peachy...Hope you are having fun at Clemson...I can't wait till Jill teaches me to use this email thing so we can talk on the computer...." Ha!
Jill and Jaime. I swear they matched every night. And they swear they didn't mean to. Riiighhhht.

Jill is organized like that. Like the time she drove 4 hours to my house this spring just to rearrange my bookshelves. Actually, she was on her way to see Jamie and I had been calling her and bugging her for months to put these shelves out of their misery. And wallah. She's the best. Okay, back to the beach.

Porter's brilliant shrimp boil. It was so yummy!

Brandon, the grill master.

LOVING the pools

Our only family shot! Gotta love it!
One of my favorite pictures:

One of my best friends and my best girl. Good times.

I wish you could hear him now: "Mommy, I dooont waaant another pikturrrr."

At least Jamie isn't complaining.

Nina Lane. If you don't think this picture is going front and center in the shiniest frame I have, you are sorely mistaken.

My guy and my girl. I heart them.

Me, my bangs, Randi, her hat, and Jill.My boy.

Me and my beach babe

Julz behind the lens. Anyone notice the beer can flying between the two babies? Nice one, dads.

Not my baby, but c'mon don't you just want to squeeze her! Sweet Addidson!

Last night group shot minus the babies. Jaime, Jill, Rhett, Porter, Me, Sadie, Aaron, Megan, Julie, Randi, Brandon, and Riley.

But it was a blast, we are wiser for the experience, better friends for the fun. Can't wait till next summer!

Picture of the Day

Picture of the Day:

Or maybe this one?

Ooh, but I like this one!So hard to choose.. This is a good problem, right?

My Little ol' Man

The other day I was in a pop-music-mood and downloaded Justin (yes) Beiber's "Baby Baby Baby," song and played it for Rhett as I danced around him.

After the song ended, I asked him if he wanted me to play it again- to which Rhett replied "Mama, no more babybabybabybabybabybaby!"

He then scooted his chair up to the laptop, clicked on his Dad's Avett Brother's "album," grabbed an apple, and started tapping his foot to the music.

No doubt, he is my little old man.

Speaking of old men, check out what my guy was up to this weekend:

The Prodigal Dog

For as long as we have had Sam, he has loved to escape at the crack of the door or fence, for that matter. He runs away, up and down the neighborhood, dodging people, and miraculously, other cars. When he does this, it makes me nervous, frustrated, and down right annoyed! I yell from blocks down, threaten him, point my finger, and try my luck at whistling while waving whatever we have in the fridge to get his hiney home. I'll even call Porter- for what reason I don't know, he works 25 miles away. But the more I chase and threaten our dog, the further he runs; so my resolve is to go inside- let him figure it out and hope that luck is on his side and he gets home

safely.

(Sam returning from a recent escapade)

Rhett, on the other hand- does not respond the way I do. If Sam gets out, Rhett calls his name at the top of his little lungs, paces up and down the yard, and REFUSES to go inside the house until Sam is safely back. And when our dog does return, Rhett usually quips with "Silly Sam," and greets with him with a big hug. You can no doubt see sigh of relief that comes over my little boy.

When this happened the other day, the story of the Prodigal Son hit me like a ton of bricks. Luke Chapter 15. God is not inconvenienced or put out with us when we go about our own way - but patiently waits and absolutely rejoices when we repent and return to him.

Love having to take a Goldy cue from my 2 year old-

Handmade

If I send Rhett to preschool just so he can keep bringing home these adorable handmade arts and crafts, so be it. My mom used to decorate our home for different holidays with whatever we made at school and it really made me feel like a million dollars, and our home- homey.

And so it will be the same with our guy,And hopefully, our home. Now if only they can teach the tots how to sew, (my unfinished Valentine pillow, 2 days after Valentine's). P.S. Shout out to Sarah Haeg for her "paper weight" recipe she posted a while back-I used it to make these heart necklaces for Rhett's little Valentine school party. Hollar!

(Sarah and I back in '08) Now if only I can find that picture from '88..