Cruise to Cozumel

Wes and I decided to celebrate our 10 year anniversary by going on a cruise.  We'd never been on one; in fact, we hadn't been anywhere without our kids in 10 years!  We were SO excited.  Kendra came to our house Thursday to keep the kids and Jill came Friday- it takes a village when you have 3!  We were able to easily relax and enjoy the cruise knowing the kids were in good hands.  Thanks, sisters!  We had such a wonderful and relaxing time.  We were incredibly lazy!  Laying by the pool....eating whenever we wanted withouth having to cook it or clean it up....having the bed made and turned back for us....WOW!  We enjoyed it so much- we will definitely not wait 10 years to go on another cruise!

Wes driving to Mobile, where we boarded the ship! I thought it was too funny that they had the life jackets set out on the bed for us so that was the first thing you see! "Welcome aboard. Hope you don't need these....." :) We had to do a little safety drill about what we would do if the boat sank. Comforting. I am still not sure how they were going to squeeze EVERYone on that big ship into those 10 smaller boats along the sides of the ship....

This was a picture of the sunset our first night on board and a lighthouse we passed on our way to Cozumel.  We had to play shuffleboard- we played it so many times when we were in Jamaica 10 years ago!  It's "our" game!  We had to fight off several elderly couples to play.  Apparently shuffleboard is popular among people twice our age!  While laying by the pool on our first day at sea, I saw someone having a Pina Colada.  It looked so yummy and cold I had one.  It was the so delicious I had to take a picture of it! 

We arrived in Cozumel, Mexico Saturday morning.  We spent the day doing very "touristy" things- shopping and being haggled by the store owners and then we went to a public beach and snorkeled!  I loved Cozumel!  The water was so beautiful and I enjoyed the shopping and bargaining!  We got the girls each a Mexican dress and Mexican baby and maracas.  We got Jill and Josh some Tequila and Kendra and David some Amarillo.  We had authentic Mexican at an open air restaurant in downtown Cozumel.  Yummy!  It was such a fun day!

This was us all dressed up for the formal dinner night!  We don't get all dressed up a whole lot normally, so it was fun!

Each night we came to our room to find not only the bed turned back for us but also these cute little towel creations!  This was my favorite- a little bulldog!  Cute, huh?

After 4 days of this view, it was time to get back to reality- job, 3 kids, cooking our own dinner, carpooling, homework, cleaning....  I was actually looking forward to reality on that drive home from Mobile to Millbrook.  Reality is nice.  But, so is a 4 day cruise getaway!

Terrible 2? Never!

On September 14th, 2009, it happened.  Ayden Claire turned 2.  I couldn't stop it from happening even if I'd wanted to.  I love babies and everything that comes with the whole "baby" phase and all of my girls will forever be my "babies"; however, I know that they can't forever physically stay babies.  I would like for the hands of time to slow just a bit- the years just seem to go by entirely to quickly!  Ayden Claire's birthday fell on a Monday- 10 days after Alyssa's 9th birthday, 3 days after the Taylor Swift concert, 4 days after our 10th wedding anniversary and 3 days before Wes and I left for a cruise.  Did I mention her birthday fell on a Monday?  Needless to say, it was quite a hectic week!  We decided not to have a party this year.  Now, that doesn't mean we didn't celebrate- we just celebrated amongst ourselves.  I was very torn about this decision- I love birthdays and I love parties.  I love all the little details and try to make them special.  But.  We just didn't have time this year.  Honestly.  There wasn't a free weekend the entire month of September and with family being 2 hours away and her not really having a lot of "friends"....you get the picture.  I hope she doesn't hold the whole "turning 2 without an official party" thing against us and  need therapy down the road over it.  Back to celebrating- Ayden Claire woke up to us singing "Happy Birthday" around her crib. She wasn't quite amused enough to take her thumb out of her mouth, but she was amused nontheless.

I love this picture of her looking out of the corner of her eyes. I think she looks just like Anniston in it- and I normally don't really see a lot of Alyssa or Anniston in her.  I just see Ayden Claire!  But this one reminds me so much of Anniston- maybe its the way her hair almost looks blonde!

I made muffins for breakfast and we sang and blew out candles- she needed practice before the real deal!

Then we got dressed to take the big girls to school.  I had found this birthday dress at TJ Maxx months ago- for $5!  It was perfect for Ayden Claire- very princess-y and pink.  And on sale.

She had lots of fun in her birthday dress!

She loved her new baby doll! 

We went to O'Charley's to eat.  My mom went with us and the balloon man was there so of course we had to get the birthday princess a crown!  Afterwards, we came back home and had cake and sang a little more "Happy Birthday" and blew out candles once more before bedtime.  Party or not, I think Ayden Claire had a great 2nd birthday!

Happy 2nd!  Mommy loves you!

"I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always.

As long as I'm living

my baby you'll be."

~Love You Forever

Alyssa and Anniston's First Concert- TAYLOR SWIFT!

When Anniston turned 5, we celebrated in Disney World. Obviously, this isn't the norm for us and the way we spend birthdays. It just worked out that we could go around Anniston's birthday and I said if we were going to go around then, I wanted to be there ON her birthday and I wanted her to think we were there FOR her birthday. I do, however, think birthdays are a big deal. They don't have to be Disney, expensive, or extravagant; but they do have to be SPECIAL. After all, we are celebrating the BIRTH of someone. I mean, wow. That's a big deal and I believe in making birthdays special. I sing "Happy Birthday" at least 20 times throughout each girls birthday- its the first thing they hear when they wake up and I sing it as I tuck them in on the night of their birthday. So, back in March when I found out TAYLOR SWIFT (our FAVORITE singer!!) would be in Birmingham the week after Alyssa's birthday, I knew I had found her present. But wouldn't you know it, tickets went on sale the week we were in Disney World- without internet access. I was more than a little bummed to get home and find out they had not only gone on sale, but also sold out. Big time bummer. Well, I did what any crazy determined mom would- I went to a website and bought overpriced tickets to the sold out concert. And our seats were horrible but neither Alyssa nor Anniston complained and we could hear her just fine! We had a wonderful night with our big girls!




Alyssa and Anniston all dressed up and ready to go!



Heading into the BJCC!


Waiting for the show to begin- we were SO excited!


See that little bitty, tiny blue speck? Yeah, that's Taylor. :)



We <3 you, Taylor Swift!

Bribery

Did I mention before heading home from the beach we stopped at The Wharf in Orange Beach Labor day weekend? Not because we'd totally bribed the kids with Zip-lining in exchange for cooperation during Saturday evenings pictures. Or, maybe so. Either way, every one was happy. We first rode the ferris wheel. It is not my favorite thing to do, but, where the family goes, I must follow. Alyssa had wanted to zip-line since seeing it earlier in the summer. At first Anniston didn't act like she wanted to do it, but the second she saw a BOY who appeared SMALLER than her, it was on! She would not be outdone! So, in the end, both older girls zip-lined across the Wharf's parking lot and then enjoyed a little time on the ropes course/treehouse. I think I'll pass on the ferris wheel next time- I'm zip-lining!

10 Years and A Big Surprise!

Wes and I have been married 10 years as of September 10th. Whew, what a difference a decade makes. A difference of about 3 kids, a mortgage, gray hair and a vasectomy. ;) Wes had planned us a family portrait session- on the beach of Gulf Shores. I was so excited- family beach pictures by a professional who maybe could get all 3 of the girls plus us in a decent pose while we were somewhat looking at the camera with possibly even a smile! Thrilling! So, off I went in search of the perfect matching white dresses for the girls. Easy said in the spring- not so much in August. Fast forward a month, I did find dresses for the girls and thanks to Jill and Kendra, I too, had a beach picture white dress. The plan was for Josh, Jill, Kendra and David to all go to the beach that weekend too. We were going to use part of our picture session and get a few shots with all the siblings- Jen, Jill, Kendra, me and Jay- including the spouses and kids. No small fete seeing how between the 5 of us we successfully live in 5 different cities from far south Alabama to as far north as Ashville. Well, as we were finishing up with the family shots Wes briefly disappeared. I noticed my dad and stepmom had gotten to the beach as well as Jen and Haven. Well, here walks Wes towards me with a bouquet of flowers with some guy who looked like he could possibly be a preacher. Then it hit me- we weren't just here for pictures. He had planned a vow renewal ceremony for us with all of our closest family. Pretty great, huh? So, we renewed our vows right there at sunset on the beach with our daughters standing with us and our family. It was wonderful. We'd always said it was something we would like to do- I just didn't realize Wes was making it happen. We got married in Jamaica- just the 2 of us and have never regretted it. We truly just wanted a marriage. And that is what we have- a wonderful and solid, although no where near perfect, marriage. Here are some pictures taken with our camera- I can't wait to see the ones the photographer took!

Me and my sweetheart!

Jay, David, Wes and Josh. Great guys!

The girls!


Ayden Claire

Kendra and David

Jill and Josh

Jill, Jay and Kendra

Ayden Claire and Aunt Kendra

Wes and the preacher

So shocked!



Me with my girls and Jen with Haven

The Big "9"

Alyssa Grace turned 9 on September 4th. Thats right, 9. Like, as in halfway to 18. 1 year short of a decade. 3 away from a dozen. 9. You get the picture. She chose to have a Paint Party at our house to celebrate. She didn't really have a party last year. Ayden Claire was busy turning 1 and I was, well, a little focused on planning her 1st birthday bash. So, bad Mom that I am, kind of didn't go all out for the 8th birthday. And then, well, we took a family vacation to Disneyworld for Anniston's 5th birthday in March. So, Alyssa was due for a little birthday attention. She invited her friends over and we had Marilyn Bullard from The Canvas Cafe come and do a Sips N Strokes type party. Minus the "Sips", of course. Ha! They painted a zebra print canvas to match her room. Everyone seemed to have a great time. And the best part was, I had very little to plan or clean up afterwards!

"I'm almost out of fingers!"

The birthday plate



Alyssa working on her masterpiece!

The living room- transformed in to the Canvas Cafe

Dancing to Miley's "Its a Party in the USA"

Sassy girls

All the girls with their finished canvases

Alyssa and Anniston realizing those pieces of paper are tickets to see Taylor Swift!