Beach Vacation

Last week, my little family drove eight hours in the car to Dauphin Island, Alabama, to spend the week with my husband's family.

While the week was anything but relaxing (apparently my kids think "beach vacation" is code for "wake up two hours earlier than usual"), it was refreshing to have no responsibilities for a little while.

Wait, who am I kidding?? No responsibilities?? I took my two biggest responsibilities with me, haha! But I digress. It was, nevertheless, refreshing to spend time with family and read, and sit on the beach and read, and take pictures...

Yeah. I took pictures. Shocking, I know.

So here are some of the highlights from our first family vacation!

1. Cousins.  2. Beach baby.  3. Typical picture of my kids (Hallie loved the beach, if you can't tell).  4. Hallie kissing her cousin.  This happened all week.  

1. Daddy coaxing Gabriel into the surf.  2. Sand castle that hubby and I built together.  I call it Cair Paravel. -nerd-  3. Daddy bringing the sand to Gabriel who, up until this point, hated it.  Look at that smile!  Way to go, Dad!  4. Gabriel witnessed (and tasted) the huge speckled trout that Daddy caught.  It was delicious!

Monthly update... ha

Well, so much has been going on... I don't even know where to start!

I guess I'll start with the most exciting news... we found out a few weeks ago that we're having a baby girl!  I'm beyond excited.  We decided on the name Hallie Ruth.  It's hard to believe that I only have less than fifteen weeks to go.  I can't wait to meet my daughter!

To update from my last post (which was entirely too long ago), Drew ended up getting the job in Houston.  Praise the Lord!  He started on Monday, July 11th, so he just started his third week of work today.  So far, he loves it. :)

It's bittersweet, of course.  With the job comes the move.  Drew found a cute 3-bedroom apartment; we move in August 14th.  I dread leaving Dallas, but I have to admit that I'm excited for the blank canvas that a new house will provide.  I'm already dreaming about how I'm going to decorate my babies' rooms.  Hehe.

Currently, I'm in Calgary, Alberta, on vacation with most of my family.  I've been here since July 6th, enjoying the cool weather, Big Turk bars, Swiss Chalet, and extended family.

It's been amusing to watch my three-year-old brother and my one-year-old son interact.  They crack me up.  Anderson calls Gabriel "my wil nephew."  Anderson doesn't share his toys and kind of bullies him, but that's okay.  Gabriel gets him back in the bathtub by splashing up a storm and getting water in Anderson's eyes.  LOL.

Of course, I've been missing my beloved hubby something fierce!  I have another two weeks to go before I see him again, making it four weeks total.  I definitely don't want to do it again!  Anyway, I get back to Texas on August 7th... and then move on the 14th!  Busy, busy!

Well, I've been without internet for almost three weeks now... so I'm going to finish this up and go play. ;) Hopefully I'll get another update in before August.  Ha.