FAMILY BEACH VACATION PART 1

So on Friday we loaded up the car around lunch to get a headstart on our vacation.  Me and the kids and our vacation angel/sitter Lacey headed down to Pensacola so that we could get through the Mobile tunnel and causeway on Friday instead of Saturday because Kenny would not be with us and I was so worried about getting stuck in traffic with the kids for hours on end. Leaving also allowed us to get on the road early Saturday and miss all the two lane highway traffic when you get closer to the beach.  We made awesome time both days and I am so glad we left early and broke up the trip.  Now for the part where I stayed in a hotel room with both of the kids on my own.  That definitely was not my favorite. The older I get the harder of a time I have staying in hotels because of the ick factor and being there with small children and having them touch and sometimes even lick all the surfaces.  I was so ready to go! However they absolutely love a hotel room! Love! I was taking lots of pictures and sending them to Kenny who was done with his business trip and was in Orlando relaxing and playing golf.

Conducting business on the phone and taking notes.

Dont interrupt his important call!

The next morning they woke up early and we let Miss Lacey sleep in her private room next door while I took the kids down to breakfast where they stressed me out to the max.  Hotel stays and restaurant meals are things I like to do with Kenny.

Another day. Another call.

Enjoying the muffins at the hotel breakfast.  Hotel breakfasts only heighten the allure of a hotel stay.

So after I had all I could take of the children being wild in the hotel room we got back into the car to make the rest of the drive over to Seaside.  My mom and sister were already there spending a night with the rest of my family that was there the week before.  Our house was still being cleaned so we couldn't unload just yet so we met my mom and sister in the Seaside loop to let the kids play and to get some lunch. I love the first day when you get to the beach!  You are so happy to be there and the whole week lies in front of you! Plus this was exciting for us because Walker was finally more mobile and we knew we had Lacey to help us on nights, and at the beach and for naps so it wasn't going to be as much work as it can be. Just starting this first post on our vacation I'm already so sad that this vacation is over because it was so relaxing and wonderful and we enjoyed our children and our family so much!

Letting Walker stretch his legs and explore!

We ate at the food trucks for lunch and it was hot but still fun!

After lunch we let Lacey take Elle to the pool and me and my mom and sister went to do the big grocery trip! Walker napped in the car with my mom while my sister and I shopped.  Kenny should of been getting close to arriving but got stuck in the traffic I was so worried about.  It extended his trip time by a lot! When he finally arrived we were so happy to see him! It was close to Walker's bedtime but Elle was dying to say hello to the beach.  We always make a big deal out of saying hello and goodbye to the beach. This was the first time we have been to the beach at dusk in years and it was so pretty and relaxing and we had a great time with the three of us that evening.

On the golf cart and ready to go say hello to the beach!

The water was cold but that didn't stop Elle!

These two are the sweetest.

Jumping waves!

The framer.

We ate shrimp that night and went to bed early.  We pretty much went to bed early every night because our kids get up early and the sun takes it out of you.  Kenny was unpacking from his trip and pulled out this giant face fan thing of Tony.  He had given them to the entire company and it was big joke with our friends.  You will see several more pics of this thing.  But on this night Kenny was telling me all about his trip and we were goofing off!  It kind of freaks me out!

Kenny as Tony.

Kenny said its a thing to put the mask in the bed and act like you are snuggling with it so we took this picture to send to our friends.  Also scary!

Stay tuned for lots more pictures from our vacation in Part 2,3 and 4.  Yes really!

KENNY HANGS WITH TONY AND BIBLE SCHOOL

We just got back from a truly magical week at the beach for our annual family trip and I have several posts coming in the next few days where I share probably every single picture I took while we are there.  But first I wanted to do a quick post on the week leading up to us leaving.  Kenny flew out to Tampa for a week of training with his company and a seminar with Tony Robbins.  Tony Robbins is an inspirational speaker and also does a business mastery class too.  He came to their training for one day last year and Kenny really enjoyed him.  This time Tony came for several days and Kenny got  lot from it this time too.

The day before Kenny left Walker started running a low fever but we didn't worry to much.  He left Sunday morning and by that evening he was burning up.  My forehead thermometer kept telling me his fever was around 101 but he just felt so much warmer than that and when I got him out of the bath he was trembling and he had been so cranky all day.  My friend Sarah brought over a different thermometer that was more accurate if you know what I mean and the second we umm put it in it shot to high 103s. So we went to the hospital to be sure everything was okay.  Market curse strikes again! Luckily he was was okay.  Just some sort of virus that we had to work through. It lasted several days and he was pretty cranky all week.  By the time he was better I didn't send him back to PDO because I didn't want him to get sick again before we left for beach.  Monday or Tuesday, Elle started complaining her ears hurt so of course I took her in.  I wanted everyone well! Her ears were a little pink but weren't infected.  The doctor gave us a Rx just in case we needed it while we were on vacation.

Elle also went to First Pres' Bible School all week with some of her friends and had the absolute best time.  We are still singing the songs! (even Walker is now)

We were upstairs playing and Daddy came up to give us all hugs bye.  I snapped this cute picture!

Cuddling with my sweet boy.  His eyes look pitiful in this picture.

Elle and I played outside while Walker napped and enjoyed a Popsicle.

Bath time is where Walker seemed to take a turn for the worse.  

His trembling after the bath made me super aware of how warm he was. I was scared.

I had him wrapped up in a blanket trying to get him warm.  

Sarah arrived shortly after and we were off to the ER.

At the ER they ran lots of precautionary tests and by the end he was tired and over it.

But by the end of our visit he had several doses of medicine 

to get his fever down so he perked up a little bit.

With the help of constant rotation of medicine we managed to keep 

Walker's fever down so he would play some.  He was just so cranky!

This silly girl! At the doctor after Bible School getting her ears checked to be on the safe side!

Playing outside and checking on our baby birds.

One of our three sets of baby birds.  At least these didn't poop everywhere like the other two nests.

Elle wanted her picture taken with the birds.

I started packing gradually throughout the week.  By the time we 

were supposed to leave the whole floor was covered.

Elle with her sweet friends at bible school.

On the last day of bible school they had a little program where all the kids sang the songs and they did a slide show and then they had lunch in the Fellowship Hall.  Elle was super excited to wear her t-shirt and for me to come watch! I took lots of video so that I could send them to Kenny,

Elle sporting her t-shirt before we left that morning!

Elle with her hard hat and lantern on stage at church.

Enjoying some lunch at end of the week!

Of course we had to get a selfie together!

And finally just a couple of Walker enjoying a snack and 

watching Elle doing something that he was obviously intrigued by.

FUN WITH NANNEE IN MEMPHIS

The second day in Memphis Kenny and Elle slept in, which means until 7 or so! They got dressed and went downstairs for another hotel breakfast.  Jumping on the bed and the breakfasts are Elle's favorite parts of staying in a hotel.  We will keep room service a secret from her for as long as we can!

Kenny took Elle over to Annie- Nannee's house to have a fun girls day just the two of them. Kenny went back to the tournament to follow Phil hole to hole.  He loves that but it was just too hard for Elle to do.  It is even hard for me to do.  Much less it is so hot!

Nanee had planned such a fun day for Elle.  First they went to the Memphis Children's Museum which had lots of new exhibits and Elle had a ball!

Annie was texting us pictures of Elle playing in this 

new kitchen for kids to play in and it was so nice!

Playing a gigantic game of operation!

Sliding down the Fed Ex airplane slide!

They had this big thing to climb in and Annie said she loved it!

After lots of fun inside the museum they changed into her bathing suit and played at the splash pad.  

After they dried off they head out for some lunch and

 some sweet treat and got their nails done together!

After nails they went back to Nannee's house and Elle got to swing on her favorite swing!

Kenny came to pick Elle up that afternoon and I think they were worn slap out! 

Enjoying an ice cream cone after a quick meal in the car!

ELLE AND KENNY AND THE PURSUIT OF PHIL

Last week Kenny took Elle to Memphis so they could go to the Fed Ex Cup and see Phil Mickelson play some golf.  Kenny and I are huge Phil fans and have passed that love down to Elle.  The four players we root for the most are Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson, Jordan Speith and Dustin Johnson (the new and improved version). Phil had an early tee time on Thursday so they left Wednesday afternoon so they could get into town and check into their hotel for a good nights sleep before the big morning.  

She cried a few tears because she said she was going to miss Mommy but I think that went away as soon as they pulled out of the driveway.  She looks pretty happy to me!

Before going to their hotel they went to Elle's favorite restaurant in Memphis, Aldo's.  We usually go to the location downtown before plays and Elle loves their pizza and that they bring you pizza dough to play with while you wait on their food. They went to the Midtown location because it was closer to their hotel and enjoyed a nice dinner together on the rooftop patio!

Playing with her pizza dough.

They FaceTime with me to be sure the hair was done correctly and to say hi and I snapped this picture of them together. Aren't they cute!

Motel breakfast before they head out!

Well not very shortly after they arrived, I got a call and it was Elle.  She and Daddy were so excited to tell me that Phil Mickelson had given her a ball.  They had hoped this would happen! Kenny tells the story: They arrived and went out on the course passing Dustin Johnson on one hole and giving him a high five (another thing they were excited about) and then they arrived at the hole Phil was on. He was finishing up and was walking towards his golf bag and where a few little boys were standing. But Elle had a burst of bravery and started calling Phil's name and waving and she caught his eye and he turned towards her and handed her a ball! Half an hour after being there! Their day was already totally made!  The phone call I got shortly after all that had a very excited Elle and a very excited Elle!

Beaming with her ball from Phil.

Kenny being the wonderful father that he is really thought his day out with Elle and purchased clubhouse passes so that they would have a place to sit and watch golf, cool off, get a snack and drinks and this turned out to be perfect and Elle got spoiled by all the people working there.  Kenny loved it because he got to hang with all the players.  His Disney as he put it!

Daddy and Elle hanging out at the clubhouse

Walker cheesing for a picture to send Daddy. He was happy to stay 

home with Mommy.  One day he will get to go too!

Watching Phil play some more up close!

Really pumped because Daddy was letting her drink 

coke for energy and we don't allow her to drink coke...unless she needs energy.

Popsicle break!

Kenny's so excited about his popsicle that was Arnold Palmer flavored.

After Phil was done with his round Kenny and Elle went to see if he would sign the ball he gave them.  It had his markings on it but they wanted to ask. He told them he does not sign balls but signed Kenny's program for them.  Phil thanked Kenny for bringing Elle to the tournament and asked Elle if she has started playing yet.  Elle got a little shy and Phil said he understood that.  He asked Kenny how her swing was and Kenny said it was pretty good! They told him good job and good luck! They were so happy to have gotten to speak to him and they definitely made some memories!

After all their face time with Phil they were totally relaxed and spent the rest of the day around the clubhouse.  She had lots of fun on the jumpys that she had to 

herself for most of the time. It was really hot!

So they would pop into the clubhouse for more cooling off time!

They were sitting watching golf and one person working the clubhouse came and asked Elle if she wanted an ice sugar cookie with the tournaments logo on it.  Then another person came up and asked if she wanted to hold up the famous Hush Y'all signs.  At first she was shy but the person could tell she wanted to so they said they would just leave it right there next to her.  Of course she totally got into it!  She absolutely loved it. She got super spoiled the entire day!

After their dream of a day they went back to the hotel for a rest before going to have some mexican food or chips and dip as we like to call it and then went to see Angry Birds together.  I think they fell into bed and went straight to sleep! It was a fantastic day!