All good things must come to an end.

I don't know why, but they do.  Saturday morning, Millie Janalee woke us up in true early bird fashion.  So we began the challenging job of getting ready and packing up.  We loaded a few things the night before, and that made our morning much more organized.  It was organized chaos in our room.  But we made it.

When I came out of the room, three or four of my family members were sporting their Not So Plain Jayne t-shirts, so I grabbed mine and we headed out to the balcony for a group picture.

It has become tradition that "on our way out of town" we stop by Destin for shopping and lunch.  I use "on our way out of town" loosely, because it's not actually on our way out of town.  But, no one wants to waste a sunny beach day on shopping.  So we use our travel day as a shopping day.  We all split up (which was nice) to expedite the shopping excursion.  Then, we met back up for lunch at Buster's.  Let's just say that Millie Janalee has an entire closet full of new summer clothes from Susu.  I think we can make some last on into fall.  I would hate to think what her preferred status is at Janie and Jack now.  Me?  Oh, I spent all of Millie Janalee's spending money from her Daddy at Carter's for new pajamas in 12-18 month sizes.  Annnnnd, I may have used the leftover (and some of my own) on an Ariel doll and Disney figurines at the Disney Outlet.  Don't judge.  You didn't see her face light up when she saw the wall full of Disney princesses.  It was priceless, and I just melted!  If she could use her words, I'm sure I would have bought whatever I could afford. 

Actually, that's pretty much what I did.

After lunch, we all said our goodbyes while Dustin, Sheila, Daddy, and Mama left for home.  The rest of us finished up our shopping before leaving Destin near 5:00.  Yep.  That made for a 1:30 am arrival at home.  And a very sleepy Mama, Daddy, and baby.

Worth. Every. Mile!

Gettin' Serious About our Beach Time {Last Day}

Millie Janalee is gettin' serous about her beach style!

Everyone knows that the dreaded "last beach day" always comes way too soon.  And, when the dreaded last day does come...it's serious!  Like, get down to the beach as soon as the sun comes up and don't leave til the sun goes down and bring all the fun leftover from the week and eat all the leftover food and groceries and have the most fun you possibly can.

You got all that?

Gettin' serious about the fun...

...and serious about the sun!

We all gathered our belongings for the day and headed down.  Susu tagged along early with me, because...well...Russ was rarely ready to head down when I was.  I may or may not have been guilty of rushing him a day or two...or all five.  It was good to have a second person to hold Millie Janalee while I set up her official area. 

Susu and Millie Janalee

Once she was set up, even Millie Janalee got serious about her "last beach day."  I'm telling you.  The girl is made after my own heart!  God knew we needed each other.  She's my bestest friend for real!  I have two.  Russ is the other one.  But, since Millie Janalee is often cuter than him...she wins.

"Bring on the last day, Mama!  I'm ready!"

Millie Janalee's new beach buddy came by to visit her...and brought her the cutest gift!  A monogrammed pocket tee!  It's the cutest little thing ever!  How did she know what size we wore?  Emma Kate and Millie Janalee posed in their matching shirts for the photo-crazed mother and grandmother.  Ha!  I have visions of these pictures year after year.  They are just the cutest little beach buddies ever!

Millie Janalee was chewing on Emma Kate's toy.  We obviously need to work on sharing.

I love this picture!  Emma Kate was using Millie Janalee as a prop to stand up.  Ha!

Lucky for Emma Kate, she's able to walk away when things get a little too crazy.  Poor Millie Janalee didn't have a choice.  And since her big girl friend wasn't there to warn her, she ended up eating sand for the first time.  Ha!

She was not a fan!

"Oh. My. Word!  What have I done?!"

Mama talked with the hotel administration (as she does every year) to make sure our rooms are booked for the following year...on the correct week.  She learned that customers staying at the Landmark are second and third generation families who come year after year.  If you have never experienced a summer vacation like this, I hope you are able to soon.  It makes our summer beach trips a home away from home.  When our family goes to the beach, we feel like we're coming "home."  Seeing friends summer after summer, and watching families grow.  Creating memories that become a part of us as we grow.  The roles are changing, but the memories keep coming!  I'm so thankful Millie Janalee will get to experience the same summer fun that we did as children!

"The kids" all grown up: Clancy, Dustin, me, Kristin, and Kadie (Emma Kate's mama)

Dustin and Russ began discussing their next sand sculpture adventure as soon as they got down to the beach.  Friday was the big sand sculpture contest for The Landmark.  Russ had apparently been doing research since the day before.  [Imagine that.]  He decided he wanted to create another sea turtle.  But, he wanted it to look more realistic.  He and Dustin looked over some Google images before beginning on their SERIOUS mission.

Setting the foundation...watering the sand with Millie Janalee's little watering can.

Jack spent a few days on the beach taking Photography 101 from Dr. Russ.  He practiced his new skills as the guys worked hard on their masterpiece.

Jack getting ready to take pics of that little girl when she arrives!

I was able to spend some time with my eyes closed enjoying the sun.  Millie Janalee must've been napping with Susu, and I knew Russ was gonna be busy until the judging at 2:00.  Next thing I know...I open my eyes to see this...

Everyone chipping in!

There were always distractions.  Some welcome and some not.  The unwelcome distraction came in the form of a baseball to the mouth.  A father and son were throwing the ball back and forth very close to the sand project.  Dustin had already been watching them and wondering why they didn't choose to throw the ball behind the chairs where there were fewer people.  It wasn't long until that ball hit Russ right in the mouth.  We all just breathed a sigh of relief that it didn't hit the sea turtle!  Ha!  Russ was okay, by the way.  Just a little flustered as his concentration was broken no doubt.

Kadie and her husband stopped by to visit while Emma Kate played with Millie Janalee.

The finished product was quite pristine.  It was an accurate portrayal of a sea turtle who had laid eggs.  By the way, the eggs were created using Millie Janalee's Easter egg that Uncie Bucket may have taken directly from her little hands.  He's teaching her how to share I think.  The next challenge was waiting until judging.  And making sure no child came running through the work of art. 

And so they named guards for the sand sculpture.

The proud creators of "Crabby Tortoise" (named by Jack)

Jack and Dustin guarding the "Crabby Tortoise"

Millie Janalee even took a turn!

While we waited on the judging to commence, we kept a lookout for the official judges.  Sheila and I went on a little walk checking out the competition.  There were some pretty impressive sand sculputres: alligators, aquariums, sharks, castles, and more.  The family next to us used popcorn to decorate their starfish sculpture.  We laughed.  Wanna know why?  Because it only took a few minutes for the seagulls to find it!  And dive into the starfish grabbing popcorn every few minutes.  Seeing those women jump up running and spraying the birds with water was hilarious!

Susu, Pawpaw, and Millie Janalee

I am so happy that Millie Janalee had such a fun time on the beach!  She was just the happiest little thing.  Of course, she crashed at night (and woke up at the crack of dawn each morning), but she had a ball during her waking hours.  Splashing in clean water, playing with toys, jumping waves with Mama and Daddy, getting spoiled by grandparents and aunts and uncles, being the center of attention, and napping as long and as often as she wanted.

What could be better?

"I'm a happy girl!"

Millie Janalee loves She She

Bringing Millie Janalee to the beach was everything I hoped it would be and more!  My little family.  A new generation of families beginning.  New memories created and more to come! 

My little Party of Three with the winning sand sculpture!

Did I mention that the "Crabby Tortoise" won FIRST PLACE in the adult division!?  They did!  The prize was two free smoothies in a souvenir cup.  I know.  You're so jealous!  Now that I think about it, I don't even think Russ and Dustin ever redeemed their prize.

As the sun set on our "last beach day", Russ pulled our two ton wagon up to the condo one last time.  The heavy loads, meticulous packing, and time spent getting ready each morning was well worth the memories made.

Until next year...

Sunny Relaxation {Day 4}

By Wednesday, everyone had gotten the thrill of the first day out of our systems.  Everyone had a day to recover from the sunburn from said excitement and lack of sunscreen in hopes of getting a level five tan on day 1.  So by Wednesday, we were ready to relax!  Millie Janalee donned her latest in baby fashion-forward swimwear for her morning photo shoot.

It may or may not have worn her out...

Daddy studying under his umbrella on the beach

Now, he is not blood.  You can tell this because of his umbrella usage.  There have been several years that my dear, sweet husband never came out from under the umbrella.  This year was not one of them.  Unless he was relaxing while Millie Janalee napped.  As for the rest of our family...no umbrellas.  Soak in the sun!

Unless of course, I happen to bring umbrella headgear.  Now that's an umbrella worth using!

Dustin and Sheila

Like I said, everyone took this day to relax and enjoy the Vitamin D provided by the great PCB sun!  Most of us fell asleep at one point or another.  Some sang.  Some visited.  By the way, look at that water!  Did I mention how crystal clear it was?!  Even on into day 4!

Daddy asleep, no doubt

Kristin getting her tan on...with SPF 30-60!

Let me make this clear.  SOME of us relaxed.  Then, there were the ones who played.  Millie Janalee splished and splashed around in her pool while pulling up on the umbrella pole.  I'm quite sure that wasn't the safest move.  Refer back to the day Dustin may or may not have broken one of those umbrellas.

While Millie Janalee did her own thing, I asked Russ to be in charge of keeping an eye on her while I closed mine.  Next thing I know Russ and Dustin are busily playing in the sand.  Taking Millie Janalee's toys and buckets from time to time.  They were busily building a sandcastle...a sea turtle.  I think the goal was for Russ and Millie Janalee to build a sandcastle.  Or as I suggested the night before, "Why don't you show Millie Janalee how to build things in the sand."  Which resulted in this...

Did you see Millie Janalee engaged in the sandcastle building process?  Yeah.  Me either.  I'm pretty sure if she crawled over there to get a closer look, the boys would have repositioned her back into her pool so as not to mess up their masterpiece.

Which actually turned out to be merely a practice piece.

What Russ did do was show Millie Janalee the finished product.  All the way down to the crabs crawling on the turtle's shell.  Or maybe they are catching a ride like Crush in Finding Nemo.  It's the least he could do, I suppose, since they used all Millie Janalee's toys.  I'm pretty sure I witnessed one of the boys take a toy directly from her hand.  Poor baby!

Daddy, Millie Janalee, and Crush

Mama and Millie Janalee checking out the waves

It was a full day of sunny relaxation on the beach.  Millie Janalee and I stayed out all day.  We brought lunch down that morning so we could take it in without interruption.  The sun was shining, and we still managed to keep our umbrellas down.

We don't use them, remember.

On principle.

Unless they come in some variety of fun headgear.  We're always up for good headgear!

June 5 is Kristin and Lee's wedding anniversary.  Yep.  Our beach vacations are filled with family romance.  Ha!  Kristin and Lee invited us to join them at Margaritaville for dinner and "whatever" afterward.  We decided to play it by ear and see what we felt up to after dinner.  While I finished getting ready, Millie Janalee hung out with Auntie Kristin watching Sprout and sucking her toes.  She was getting ready for a fun night "in" with Pawpaw, Susu, Uncie Bucket, and She She.

Once Russ and I were ready, everyone posed on the balcony for the traditional "going out to dinner" and "anniversary" shots.  I love our view at sunset.  The sun sets just to the right of these pictures.  We can sit out there and watch the sky change colors as the sun slowly lowers behind the horizon of the ocean.

Kristin and Lee

My sweet family!

After dinner, I suggested we all walk out on the pier.  I hadn't done this since I was a child, and I thought it would be a "romantic" thing to do.  That is until we learned it cost $3 each.  From that moment on, we tried to make sure we "got our $3 worth!"  Ha!  Nevermind that by the time we reached the end of the 1500 foot pier, it started pouring down rain.  Visualize us running as fast as we can back to the entrance while fishermen sling fishing poles and hooks over their shoulders nearly catching Kristin once.  Ha!

Yes.  So romantic.

A relaxing and romantic day of vacation.

Eight Years and a Mornin' With the Gals {Day 3}

Tuesday morning, Russ ran to Destin to take care of business for work.  Lee was borderline sun poison-ish, so he and Kristin went shopping.  And Daddy usually doesn't get out until later in the afternoon.  And if he does, he sits under an umbrella until near 4:00. 

He's always done that. 

Which brings me to the afternoon everyone was coming in from the beach and Dustin says, "Look at that guy."  Kristin says, "It looks like Daddy."  They look again.  It is him.  Sitting in his beach chair laid out right by the tiki hut at the beach entrance.  Random?  Absolutely!  You just never know with him.  Ha!  Once Kristin and Dustin confirmed that he was, in fact, breathing...they made their way to the elevator where the condominium worker asked, "Do you know that guy?"  To which Dustin answered, "Yeah.  That's my dad."  So proud.

I digress.

Soooo...since most of the men had other plans, it was just a mornin' with the girls.

Clancy and Millie Janalee

Millie Janalee didn't seem to mind.  Except for the tiny detail that no one was there to take her out into the ocean.  I'm a champ when it comes to helping her jump waves coming onto the beach.  But way out there?  No ma'am.  There's sharks and sea monsters and whales out there!

Susu, Millie Janalee, Carol, and Emma Kate

So, I got us all loaded up on the wagon and batted my eyelashes ever so politely until Uncie Bucket offered to take the wagon down.  Bless his soul!  He also got Millie Janalee's area all fixed up complete with two umbrellas (one that he may or may not have broken), two baby pools (one filled with water...using a teeny tiny bucket), and her little pink chair.  Let me highlight the fact that there was NO RAMP going from the boardwalk to the sand.  So whoever pulled the wagon downstairs had to lift the two ton thing to get it onto the beach.  Dustin is also Superman.  (My dad is too.  He did it later in the week too.)

Uncie Bucket throwing the girls a little swimming party by filling the pool with more water!

On this particular day, we decided to go up for lunch.  We went in various shifts, so no one had to carry their belongings up.

That was unplanned.

But very nice all the same.

I had counted Millie Janalee's swimwear selection and knew we would not get close to wearing them all.  [This is my excuse for lots of trips to the swimming pool this summer.] So I opted for a wardrobe change.  She was pretty excited about the whole ordeal.  Can you tell?  Special thanks to the Easter Bunny for her cute sunhat and Auntie Kristin for her cover-up.

By the time we came back out, Millie Janalee was ready to relax.  So we did.  Oceanside.  I covered her lathered body with a towel, and we relaxed (while she napped) with the waves crashing at our feet.  She napped for-ev-er!  It was so lovely!  Holding that sweet sweaty head on my chest, looking out at the ocean (which NEVER ever gets old), and feeling the salt water on my feet.  All the while getting the best awkward tan line ever.  I'm calling it a badge of honor that says "I'M A MOTHER!"

By the time she woke up, I'm pretty sure I had worked up a sunburn on my shoulders from not reapplying.  Everyone knows that you never move when holding a sleeping angel.  She popped her little head straight up, as she always does, with those bright blue eyes and smiled at me.  Then she said, "Bwuuun."  We interpret that as "What?" or "One."

I love this girl!

I'm sure you can tell by the quality of the pictures that Russ had returned by this point.  He did not come down to swim or tan.  He was fully clothed.  But, he did take a few pictures.  Which I'm always appreciative of.  Because I have no idea how to work that piece of equipment!  Millie Janalee and I took some time to play in the waves once she woke up good.

The girl loves the water!

Such a beach babe!

It was a great mornin' with the girls!  More importantly, it was a wonderful day with my favorite girl!

Mommy and Millie Janalee

Millie Janalee played with Pawpaw a while, while I worked on evening out those awkward tan lines.  I sat with Dustin and Sheila in the sun for a while longer before we all went in for the day. 

Pawpaw and Millie Janalee

Dustin and Sheila

It has been eight years.  EIGHT YEARS! It has been eight years since I married my high school sweetheart.  Tuesday was our anniversary.  If you've read my blog long enough, you know that it was also my parents' anniversary.  It is tradition that we all go eat at Captain Anderson's for Mama and Daddy's (and now our) anniversary.  It was the only night Nonnie and Pops ate out during our trips.  It's the one night that everyone needs the showers, hair dryers, and mirrors all at the same time.  Ha! 

My sweet family!

Let me help you with that...there were eight adults and a baby using two bathrooms and limited mirrors.  Russ and I didn't have a bathroom or a mirror, so we used my parents' bathroom and the mirror in the living room.  The plugs stopped working because of all the hair dryers and straighteners I'm sure, and the maintenance guy was called.  It's not a beach trip without the maintenance man coming to our room.  We all got dressed and ready for our 8:00 dinner.  And I'm thinking everyone looked very worthy of a Captain Anderson's dinner.

We always know there will be a wait, so we put our name on the list and walk around to look at all the boats.  Deep sea fishing excursions also leave and dock here.  I remember taking many pictures on and near these boats.  I remember particularly a picture of all the grandchildren standing on the ladder of a boat.  That was the year I had a perm.  Maw Maw saw that picture when we got back and said, "I wish you had not done that to your hair."  Thank you, Maw Maw.  I appreciate that.  So that picture is engrained in my memory.

Millie Janalee and Pawpaw

So, Pawpaw took Millie Janalee to look at the boats.  And we all got our annual picture by the huge propeller at the front of the restaurant.  You don't mess with traditions in this family.  We don't like change. 

Have you not heard?

We enjoyed a delicious 8:30 dinner by the window overlooking the ocean and boat dock.  Millie Janalee's bedtime is 8:30 in case you didn't know.  So I did it.  I'm one of those moms.  I brought her iPad with Sesame Street in the restaurant and pulled it out the minute she got fussy.  Our neighboring patrons were thanking us.  Even if they didn't know it.  Because without it, it could've been ugly.

But it wasn't.  Because Millie Janalee is the bomb.com!  (I do realize that is not cool anymore.  But it seemed appropriate.)

Mama and baby girl

Eight years of marriage was celebrated.  And honored.  Russ and I didn't give gifts this year.  Well, he actually gave me extra spending money.  He's so sweet.  On the way down, I looked at him and said, "You didn't get me a gift, did you?"  He was quiet.  "Please tell me you didn't, because I didn't get you one." 

We're so romantic. 

Seriously though.  Gifts is one of my love languages, but I really feel like I have everything I've ever wanted right here.  One look at that smiling blue-eyed face, and I melt every time.  My heart overflows and nearly bursts!  Tears sometimes fill my eyes.  And when I see my little family together and watch her play with her Daddy...I am filled with joy.  I don't need a thing. 

But if someone gave me a gift, I would have to keep it. 

I mean, it'd be rude not to, right?