Anyone with children knows that anniversaries aren't really all about you anymore.  Ha!  Ours never really has been anyway since we spend it on our family vacation every year.  But each year our anniversaries get sweeter and sweeter with this little one.  It's the only gift I ever wanted!

She She and Millie Janalee matchy matchy!

Jack was able to make it down for part of our trip.  He is in paramedic school, so we were glad for any days he could share.  As soon as he stepped foot on the beach, we put him in charge of the babies.  I'm sure they were in good hands.  Ha!

Millie Janalee really enjoyed sitting in a beach chair next to me and snacking away under the umbrella.  As long as she had food, she was content.  I know I've said this before, but we do not go up for naps.  "Ain't nobody got time for that!"  We play on the beach, eat on the beach, and sleep on the beach.  Millie Janalee didn't go to sleep as easily this year as she did last year.  And I didn't push it either.  But eventually, she was tired enough to rest.  Most of the time I was the only one who could rock back and forth just right.  Ha!  The secret is...let her play out and put her in the ocean right before nap time.  Ocean play wears the girl out every time.  Then, we changed her diaper, wrapped her in a towel, and let her snack a second before giving her the paci.

Plenty of juice to stay hydrated

The only nutritious option on the beach.  LOL!

Clancy took her out for this day's ocean play.  She had a ball jumping in the waves and going further out in the water.  I love playing in the waves, but there's a limit.  I don't go too far out.  Thankfully, Clancy and Russ are much more fun than I am.

Since Millie Janalee's favorite thing was running into the waves, we decided to let her try it sitting down.  It helped contain the wild mermaid, and it was fun to actually see her face.  Oh. my. word!  Probably one of the highlights of my week.  Nothing sweeter than those squeals of joy as the waves crashed over her legs and body.  Sometimes even sweeping her over a few feet.  Oops.

It was at this point that my phone took a dive into the ocean.  I had to make a choice - save my baby or save my phone.  I think I made the right choice even though Clancy also went in to save her.  Ha!

Alas, my anniversary gift ended up being a new phone.  It was a pretty serious situation.  Not because I needed to call anyone, but because I felt naked without access to my phone camera.  Huge thanks to Russ and my dad for taking care of me!

Seriously.  The sweetness of the day was almost too much!  I love this girl.

Since Russ and I share our anniversary with my parents (and his parents actually), we always go out to eat as a family.  It's our one big restaurant trip for everyone.  Kristin and Lee's anniversary is the next day, so we celebrate all of us at Captain Anderson's each year.  And, of course, we took the opportunity for a family photo.

Happy anniversary to us all!  And many more to come!

Praying blessings on this next year of marriage and family.

Third Day's a Charm

This sweet girl makes our beach trips so much more fun!  Busier...absolutely.  But much more fun!  Adding to that fun was her newest cousin, Selah Grace.  Selah Grace is about 8 months old or so.  By the time Hughes is older next year, our trip will be crazy with all the little ones running wild!

And years down the road, we will cherish the pictures from this trip even more than we do now.  I mean how precious are these girls!?

That's why these beach trips feel like "home" to us.  Memories and pictures of all the cousins as children running around, hanging onto Nonnie and Pops as they carry all four of us out to the ocean, building sand castles, and making memories that last.  And run together year after year.  Tradition.  Lord willing, our children will look back with the same nostalgia.

Except they won't be kids anymore.  They'll be big kids in grown-up bodies...

Our big kids

Susu was able to make it down for awhile on our third day.  She sat with Millie Janalee during lunch and snack time.  Millie Janalee enjoyed sitting in the beach chairs like a big girl.  Ha!  Such a diva!  Susu and I stayed under the umbrella most of the time after the first or second day.  I got a little too much sun, and the shade was so relaxing.  That's how you know you're getting old, isn't it?  When I sit in the sun, I like to have my feet in the water.  Not convenient with an active toddler running around...and frequently running toward the water!

Susu and Millie Janalee

Our beach crew setup

Dustin and Sheila are living up the childless life in honor of us all.  Ha!  But they sure make good helpers and playmates!  Millie Janalee loves She She and Buck!  And I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual.

Sheila and Dustin

We are all a little more active this year, and we love it.  Back to our childhood...building sandcastles, playing in the ocean waves, cuddles, snuggles, and laughter.

Building sandcastles with Daddy

Mommy/daughter time

We missed baby Hughes while he had his own quiet playtime in the condo.  He likes his quiet time I think...which may prove troublesome around this crew!  We'll try to break him in gently.  I think he was a huge fan of the salty air though.

These cousins will soon give us all kinds of trouble.  Just like we did growing up.  Oh my!

Our third day at the beach was a charm!  Perfectly beachy!

Beachin' it with the Girls

Mornings at the beach are simply the best.  Breakfast on the balcony watching the early risers and fishermen fishing on the shore.  It really just makes me want to lay back and sip coffee and chat with my Father.  Except I don't drink coffee.

On our second day, the guys decided they would spend the day at the golf course.  So we made it a Girls Day!  My mom kept Hughes that morning, so Kristin was able to join us on the beach.  Millie Janalee was thrilled that "Kah Kayyyy" came down to play!  And blow bubbles.

This was the day my little socialite walked the beach and met all our fellow beach goers.  I just followed along to make sure she returned to me eventually.  She walked by people waving and telling them "Hey."  If they spoke back, she lingered awhile to chat (in whatever Chinese language she's speaking these days).  Eventually, we made our way back to our area where I was able to sit for a few seconds.

She sat too.  And we showed her how to "deh deh deh" (dig) in the sand and fill her little bucket.  She enjoyed this little activity in between tossing sand everywhere.  She She was the perfect digging partner!

Eventually every day, Clancy and Selah Grace would make their way down to the beach just in time to play in the pool before a bottle and nap in her little tent.  Millie Janalee loved when Selah Grace was there!  It's the only time, besides when we first got down to the beach each day, she would stay in the pool for extended periods of time...giving me time to relax or get some sun.

What this girl really loved to do more than anything else was playing in the "warsh."  This girl loved the water!  She loved the waves.  She loved the water on her feet.  And she loved running out to the ocean.  Seriously.  She would've been gone with a big wave in a heartbeat if I let go of her.  And did a few times.  Ha!  She just kept pulling and pulling us to go further out.  My little beach baby!

At the end of the day, when the chair cushions were taken up...we loaded our big wagon and headed back to the condo.  The guys had returned, and Millie Janalee ate up all her time with her daddy on the balcony.  These two are both wrapped around each other's fingers!

Russ and I enjoyed the late afternoon on the balcony with our girl.  Russ ran and got his camera while Millie Janalee was climbing on the chairs.  He was able to catch some phenomenal moments of our beach beauty!

Once we were all showered and refreshed, we gathered in Uncle Howard and Aunt Patsy's condo for a yummy dinner of sloppy joes.  We talked Kristin and Lee into getting a little closer to the balcony with the newborn to snap a cute picture of the babay!  The girls played and giggled the night away.  I can only imagine what next summer will look like for this crew!  So fun!!

New family of three

"Well, hello Selah Grace!" - Millie Janalee

Cousin love

Our second full day at the beach...a day full of memories for the girls.  And the guys too I suppose.  Although what happens on the golf course probably stays on the golf course.  Ha!

Home Sweet Home

I interrupt this stalled beach series to update you on our life for the past week.  

We are here!  Our new home.  Monday, the movers loaded us up, drove hours, and unloaded us into our new place all seconds before the raindrops began to fall.  My parents made the trip with us and were invaluable helping with Millie Janalee, Farley, and SO MUCH MORE!  Seriously.  I am foregoing the nomination and going straight to the award - Parents of the Year!  Since Monday we have spent the days into late nights unpacking boxes, hanging pictures, childproofing this three story town home, and slipping in some local fun here and there.  We enjoyed my parents' visit more than we can say!

But today they left.  [On my dad's birthday]  We are now officially in our new home sweet home.  On our own.

And  I think we're gonna like it here.

Russ and I are beginning to make our list of fun things around the St. Louis area so that we can mark them off as we go.  There is more than enough to do and see to fill every weekend and more during our year here.  We look forward to visits from friends and family, and I'm counting on them!  Our guest room bed is ready.  The room may not be pretty yet, but the bed is!  Ha!

So come on!  Follow us on this year full of adventure in a new state, new town, new home.  It is gonna be a fast and fun one!