Pics as promised

Here are just a few pics of second beach trip.  I completely forgot my camera on Monday, so today's will have to do!  I didn't catch many good ones because she and her friend were constantly running back and forth from the water to their sand "castles".  Anyway, we just LOVE the beach!!

Madelyn and her best friend :)

LOVE my little girl!

Seriously favorite pic of the day! They thought pretending to

take a nap was HILARIOUS!

Many, many more beach trips/pics to come I'm sure :)

In a dream world

   Sometimes, when things get absolutely hectic and seem to be going every way except the way I wish for them to, I dream of running away.  Okay, not really running away.  Just maybe taking a week to myself in a very tropical setting with a non stop flow of fruity drinks!  A place where the only clothes I need are a bathing suit and a very fluffy white robe.  Where I can catch up with the latest Hollywood gossip via one of those silly magazines or read a book without being interrupted.  Or, where I can lay in bed ALL DAY LONG and not have a husband who can't sit still and a daughter who wants to go play begging me to get up.

   Okay, yes, I do live very close to the beach and can visit any time I wish.  But I want to wake up to the ocean!  See the dolphins swimming from my bedroom window and hear the waves crashing onto the sand (without one of those silly noise machines)! 

Something like this.....

That hammock....reserved especially for ME!

Isn't this absolutely beautiful? 

I constantly say I need time to myself.  I need to get away.  Not just a night out with the girls.  (That usually ends up with me being more responsible and only having a couple of drinks so that I can drive myself home.) Also, not a night where Madelyn stays with her grandparents because we have some event we have to attend.  Those are obligations that, although I may have fun, are not necessarily what I'd rather be doing.    I know, I'm sounding absolutely 100% selfish and yes, I do feel very guilty about it.  Does it help if I say I'd be willing to bring a girl friend with me as long as she had the same things in mind?    

Now, let me be realistic.  I highly doubt I'd be able to go to someplace like this without wanting to share it with my family.  I know me and know I'd be thinking about how much Jeremy would LOVE the pretty water and Madelyn would adore being able to play in the sand all day every day.  Just think of the family pictures you could get in a place like this!  And well, I don't think I could go a whole week without a pair of sweet little arms wrapping around my neck followed by a set of the most irresistable lips kissing my cheek after night night prayers (Madelyn's).   So, once again, my dream of going away to a secluded place in paradise, is slowly trampled by two of my greatest roles in life: Wife and Mom.

 

Ahh vitamin D

Finally!! I am LOVING this beautiful weather we've had the past few days.  It's been so sunny and even a little warm ~ Madelyn got to wear one of her cute new outfits yesterday :)  We spent the entire weekend outside and it was wonderful.  Saturday, we took Madelyn to Universal with my brother and nephew, Asher.  They had a great time- as they always do with each other- and we had some fun too! 
Yesterday was the real fun, for me atleast.  As we walked out of church, I begged Jeremy to take me to the beach!  I knew it'd be cooler there, and I'd have to wear normal clothes, but I NEEDED the beach.  It is my own personal drug I guess you could say.  It's been way too long since we've seen each other (the weekend at Jessica's doesn't count...It was just a little too cold).  We swung by to pick up my brother and nephew again, and off we went.
The kids had a great time playing and laughing and running.   I, on the other hand, sat my hiney on a towel and took in all the fun around me (which was my very own playtime).  I watched my beautiful little girl concentrating so hard in order to fill her huge bucket up with sand.  Asher and the guys ran around in front of me playing a little football.  There were people who would occasionally walk past us at the oceans fingertips and EVERYONE seemed so pleased to have this time.  I found myself drawn in by the ocean and the seagulls quite a few times.  There couldn't possibly be anything more relaxing that this God given oasis.  As the evening brought cooler weather, and we began to pack up, we were blessed with the presence of a special guest or two-- or MORE.  We saw anywhere from ten to fifteen dolphins swimming near the beach line.  I tried so hard to get a good picture of them, but what can I say, my camera is TERRIBLE and SLOW.   We couldn't have asked for a better end to our visit although the kids really could have cared less about the dolphins.  We finished up our day with a little Bubba Gump and waved good bye to another great weekend.

Love these little shoes.  So cute.

Here she is...Working so hard :)

Cute little fishy.

Looking out into the ocean. So beatiful.

So peaceful and relaxing.

 

Best pic of the day. Those are Jeremy's hands Madelyn is running to.