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?