July 4th beach trip

Mom and Dad take us to the beach for a week every summer. It's always so much fun for our family to get together... well, maybe not ALWAYS fun. Now that we are grown, we don't bicker and fight with each other, we discuss controversial topics instead. Luckily, we are all pretty much on the same page.
The Carsons join in this fun trip... and Uncle Rique and Ilene made an appearance this year! Uncle Rique is Mom's uncle, but he's only 8 years older than she is so we're really close to him. He also lives in Houston, so he had quite a drive.

Aunt Gigi, Uncle Jim, Hayley, Carson, and Caleb Tucker, and Jimbo Carson came from B'ham. Lindsay and David were at the beach with his family and joined us on Saturday the 4th. Will and Margaret came from ATL and Mom and Dad drove down from Eufaula. We had a full house!! Henry thoroughly enjoyed playing with Carson. They are 1 year apart and absolutely loved each other. Caleb is 4 months and such a good baby!! The Bowmans were there too staying just down the street from us.

On the morning of the 4th, we all joined the other 30A-ers and watched Seaside's July 4th parade. Henry caught beads and wore them all week. All the kids got candy and stickers from the participants in the parade. I think the 70-year-old baton twirlers were the most interesting.
Bill had to return to work on Monday, but Henry and I stayed and enjoyed the beach each day. He is such a water bug! He got a kick out of the waves "chasing" him. He would run up to the beach laughing so hard he couldn't breath. Then, he would run back down as if to say... "come and get me!!"

Each night we had a wonderfully cooked dinner by a family member. I will say Will and Marge won the prize for the best dinner. For appetizers, we had shrimp scampi, for dinner we had cedar plank salmon, cheese grits, bacon-wrapped asparagus, and a wonderful salad. The dessert was homemade creme brule. Yummy, yummy dinner!!
They make a good team... luckily.... because they are getting MARRIED!!!!!! We are so excited to welcome Marge to the family!!
Will proposed in Seaside on July 3rd. It was very special... and I was especially excited to be a part of the occasion. We all celebrated afterwards at the Red Bar in Grayton Beach.

It was a wonderful 12 days... we are looking forward to next year! And the wedding!!!

wedding weekend and father's day

My sister, and best friend, takes the best pictures. I just couldn't help myself... had to add a few more from this weekend. Of course, Henry loves water, so bath time is so much fun.


On Saturday, we swam at the Robertsons. It was the perfect day for a swim! 95 degrees... can't beat the pool.

Then, Lindsay and I found ourselves dancing with Laurie's girls --- they would be our third cousins --- I'm the "history" person (I like to know about my family history). As my sister, Lindsay, would say "I don't do history." Right, Lins? So, here we are with cousins Maggie and Mary Helen. Just so you know, I wasn't trying to take the tambourine from MH, just giving her some tips on how to play. Trust me, she didn't need them!







Bill, me, Courtney, Jimbo, Lindsay, David



Mom, Dad, and Maggie

A wonderful weekend! It helps to have a wonderful family.

Summer fun!

Last weekend, Bill, Henry, and I joined the Campbells and Downeys at the beach. Henry had so much fun playing with little Bruce and baby Lola. Of course, we all enjoyed the beach and Henry worked on teaching little Bruce to jump into the pool. Henry doesn't really jump... it's more of a walk into the pool. I have been teaching him this at the club pool in the mornings since we haven't found a swim class to join.

Last week, Henry and I participated in Vacation Bible School. I miss it already this morning. It was so much fun. I worried about Henry going to the nursery everyday, but he loved it! Mom was "on call" to come to Montgomery if he acted up, but he did great! By Wednesday, he turned and watched me leave the room and went right back to playing. My co-teacher, Jenny Cone, and I had so much fun with our classes!! We taught in the "Upper Room" where we painted the 3, 4, and 5 year olds feet red and stamped them to take home to their parents. Then our young associate preacher, David -- dressed as Jesus, came in and washed their feet. It was a great week.

This weekend, we were in Eufaula for Kate Gardner's wedding. It was beautiful, sweet, and SO MUCH FUN! Big Bill babysat Henry so Bill and I could go and have a good time. My cousin Laurie's precious little girls, Maggie and Mary Helen, were the flowers girls in the wedding. They were so cute!!! During a song the band played, Mary Helen was on the front row with a tambourine. I danced with her for a little bit, but she definitely has more energy than I do!

We were also there to spend father's day with both our fathers. Lindsay, David, Aunt Gigi, Uncle Jim, Jimbo, and Courtney came for the weekend. Will and Margaret came from Auburn on Sunday (after Will was in a wedding on Saturday) to surprise Dad. It was a great weekend... as it always is when family is together.

This is a little sad, but I might be the only grandchild that really remembers my Mom and Uncle Jim's dad, Daddy Kit. He died when I was very young. However, I remember one very specific thing he did when I was a child. He made a "rat" out of a handkerchief. He would ask me to "pet" it and the rat would leap from his hand before I could touch it. If Mama Dear, my grandmother, could read this right now, she would have tears in her eyes. Well, my Dad did this for Henry yesterday. It was so funny! He got the biggest kick out of the "rat". Of course, I think Dad spent hours trying to remember/figure out how to make it. You can see in this picture that our eyes didn't follow the white "rat" since it is almost on the floor. We did enjoy it though! Henry couldn't stop laughing.

Zoo, Birthday parties, and FUMC picnic

Henry took a trip to the zoo on Wednesday with Claire, Blake, Anna Belle, and Wyn. Then, on Thursday we had a playdate at the pool with Madylin. On Saturday we had Townes' 1st birthday party and Tate's 2nd birthday party in Birmingham.

On Sunday, we met the Young Adults Sunday school classes in Cloverdale Park for a picnic where we played with Chapman. Wow! What a week! We are thoroughly enjoying our summer. I take him to the pool most mornings where we are learning to swim. Then, we try to have other activities planned in the afternoons. It's exhausting, but so much fun to see how much he enjoys life. Bill and I are good too (since this blog is usually about Henry, I feel the need to mention that). Bill is working hard at the firm and I'm enjoying staying at home with Henry. He's such a joy... and has EXTREMELY changed our lives. We are looking forward to being in Eufaula this weekend with the grandparents. Henry will stay in Eufaula for a few days so I can go to Birmingham for Jennifer's baby shower lunch for their upcoming arrival, Mary Carter -- due to be born in late July.
We are also looking forward to our first year at Vacation Bible School. I'll be teaching the 3 and 4 year olds, while Henry is in the Baby room. Then, we are back to Eufaula for Kate's wedding. We are gearing up for a BUSY summer!
Good luck keeping up with the Robertsons (sometimes I think we are too busy, oh well)!

BIG Memorial Day weekend

I've always had mixed emotions on Memorial Day. I love having the day off and able to spend it with family and friends, but I also feel sad at the number of lives lost protecting our country and our freedom. I thank God everyday that my father, brother and husband are not in a war and never had to go. I do, however, remember my grandfathers and Bill's family that have fought for us. I also thank God that we live in a country where we can freely praise Him for all our many gifts.
We started the day at Alyce and Billy's house. Billy played football in college at Clemson with Bobby Johnson, Vandy's head football coach. While Bobby and his wife were visiting with Alyce and Billy, along with another couple that Billy has been friends with since college, we were invited for brunch to meet them all. We had a wonderful breakfast, thanks to Alyce and Billy, and thoroughly enjoyed our visit with their friends. Henry searched for Gus, the cat, under Alyce's bed and tried to get him to come out and play. Just before we left, Henry gave Coach Bobby a "touchdown!" Bill asked him if he wanted to "sign" our 14-month-old, but I think it's a little soon for that.
Monday afternoon we cooked out with the Robersons, Browns, and Farriors. Amanda set up two pools and a slide for the kids. Henry learned -- by watching Claire and Anna Belle, of course -- to climb the ladder and slide down unassisted. He had so much fun. Elba cooked a butt and chicken that were both delicious... it was a wonderful day. It's so fun to spend time with friends... especially when you have other children (Claire, Blake, Townes, Anna Belle, Wyn) to entertain your child. Wow, we have really added to our little supper club!

Sandestin

We took our annual beach trip to Sandestin this weekend for Bill's young lawyer conference. Henry wasn't big enough last summer to really enjoy the beach, but wow, what a difference a year makes! He hit the sand running!! The minute I put him on the beach, his little feet fled him to the ocean! He would run into the water, a wave would knock him over, he would get up and catch his breath and take off for another wave. Of course, I was right there to help/pick him up, but he really didn't want me there. He has no fear... I should've named him "little Bill". The other moms on the beach, with their children playing nicely and quietly, just laughed and said "it'll be different next year", and I thought again... what a difference a year makes!

We met Nathan and Vaughan Dickson for dinner on Thursday night at Hammerheads in Baytowne. Henry enjoyed the pier, where I let his father chase him for a change. Then, after a long day on the beach (well, Bill was in meetings most of the day) we took a group of lawyers and their spouses to dinner at the Ocean Club on Friday night. On Saturday, we met up the other Robertsons and Browns to celebrate Jennifer's 30th birthday and Robert's birthday too. It was a fun filled weekend, and it was really nice to get away with my little family. I have a feeling Henry is going to love the beach as much as Bill and I do... I hope so anyway.

BIG helper!

Henry has every toy a child could want... and his favorite things to play with are the broom, vacuum, and swiffer! If only I could get him to really swiff with a pad on the swiffer, we may get some cleaning done during the day.


We have adjusted to being home everyday and I truly love being his sole caregiver. It takes time to adjust, but now that he is running around, it's a joy to be around him all day.
Of course, his first words were "Da-Da". I've talked to lots of mommies about this... why is it that you give birth, stay home with your child everyday, and pretty much make every decision pertaining to your child and he: 1) looks like your husband, 2) squeals when your husband drives in the driveway at 6 p.m. everyday, and 3) says "Da-Da" before "Ma-Ma"! Amazing.

One last update-- Henry had his first swim of the year last weekend. We visited Mom, Dad, Big Bill, and Keitt for the weekend in Eufaula. Henry just about walked right into the pool! He loves water!! He blew bubbles and accidentally drank a little of the water, but overall had a blast!