Gulf Shores :: Thursday

Arden was cranky this morning so she and Jarrod stayed in the condo while Stratton and I went to the beach and pool for a couple of hours.

We came back to the condo, had lunch and everybody but me took a nap. Then it was time for what Stratton has been looking forward to all week. . .the dolphin cruise!

The Cold Mil Fleet is such a great dolphin site-seeing cruise! I would definetly recommend it to anyone coming here. We've done it a couple times before and its great. They run two boats at the same time and cruise side by side which makes a huge wave that the dolphins catch a ride on to get from one side of the bay to the other. They jump and play and it's really incredible to watch! Stratton thought it was awesome! He was so excited and talked the whole time. It was worth it just seeing his reaction! Which was a good thing he loved it so much because Arden was fussy and cried just about the whole time. She just didn't have a great day today.

Before the cruise

Getting ready to see the dolphins!

It was pretty warm and still really sunny at 4pm so we tried to keep Arden in the shade!

Dolphins! (I'm not zoomed in, they were SO close!)

After the cruise we had dinner at Flippers, which is right there at the marina. Stratton must have been starving because he ate three big pieces of fish and a ton of fries! We got to eat outside again, it's so nice to dine outside without bugs bothering you!

Gulf Shores :: Wednesday

Today was another gorgeous beach day!

We got out about 9am came back in to the condo for lunch and a nap and went back out till after 6pm! Jarrod went and picked up pizza at our favorite pizza place here, Rotolos! Then we watched a movie that was on the Disney channel. It was such a easy, laid back day. . .

Gulf Shores :: Tuesday

It was a beautiful day today! I love starting out the day with breakfast on our balcony. Even though enjoying a cup of coffee while listening to the waves is just not happening anymore! With two kids there is something or someone that always needs attention!

Stratton caught a lady bug and didn't want to put it down. We he finally did, he "let it go" by tossing it over the rail! Poor bug!

We had fun on the beach this morning!

Arden stayed in the shade most of the time.

And then she fell asleep. I can't say that I blame her, it was so nice and breezy and perfect napping conditions!

After lunch in the condo we all took a nap. Stratton slept for over 3 hours and Jarrod had to wake him up! We had dinner at The Hangout per Stratton's request (the place with the big fan, as he called it)

Hanging out at the Hangout while Stratton played.

Listening to the live band.

Gulf Shores :: Monday

When we got up this morning (bright and TOO early again, I might add) it was really cool outside and after a look at the forecast we decided since today was going to be the coolest and cloudiest day this week we would do our Foley trip. The high today was just 70, so really nice but it was windy too and not too great for the beach. It's supposed to get warmer everyday- in the high 70's and they also took out any major chance for rain later in the week!

Jarrod did take Stratton down to play in the sand for awhile while Arden was napping and I took a shower. They came in and we all got dressed and headed to Foley around 11:30.

We had lunch at a little local place called, The Fish River Grill 2, in Foley and it was SO good. I had a seafood BLT: fried shrimp, bacon, fried green tomato, provolone cheese, lettuce and this amazing crawfish sauce. It was amazing. I also had their "sweet thang" for dessert which was basically a beniet filled with peach and apple pie filling. . . Heaven. I about died after eating all of this! Whew! Good thing we went to the outlet mall and walked the whole thing!

The kids were so good while we shopped. Stratton took a little nap in the stroller and then he walked for a while and Arden napped in it for awhile. too. The rest of the time they took turns in it. I keep thinking Stratton is going to get tired of the stroller and refuse to ride in it, but he still seems to be ok with it, so next time we will bring another one OR rent one that is a two seater, we should have done this from the start but didn't think about it till halfway through. On a side note, Jarrod left his phone at the condo. So we got seperated once and spent about 45 mins looking for each other. Not fun. What did people do before cell phones?! It was awful! we were both so frustrated!

Stratton rode the carosel for the first time.

We had dinner at Lulu's. Stratton got to play for a few minutes, but it was really chilly! I'm bummed that I have these cute outfits for the kids and its too cold for them to wear! We're sporting hoodies and jeans so far!

After dinner we went to The Track across from the port and Jarrod and Stratton rode the go-carts. I feel this is going to become a tradition!

It was freezing! Arden and I huddled together as we watched the boys race!

We got back, bathed the kids and they were in bed by 9ish. Whew! Busy but fun day. We've had some moments, don't get me wrong, but so far the kids have been pretty good. Shopping with Stratton was fun today. He kept picking out ugly flowery shirts and asking if Jarrod liked them. And the when we'd leave a store without buying anything, he'd say "Well, we just can't find ANYTHING!" Funny.

Tomorrow is going to be beach day, all day! Yay!

Gulf Shores :: Sunday

We started the day at 6:30am. . .our kids didn't get the memo about how it's customary to sleep late on vacations. . . We had breakfast and got ready for church then headed to Mobile to meet the Graham family at their church. After church services we went to eat lunch with them at The Complete Angler. It was very good, a little crazy with our four kiddos, Arden is developing quite the little temper and wasn't in a great mood at first. Stratton's favorite part was an aquarium of crabs.

Ian, Stratton and Kate. The best of about 15 pictures I took of them!

After lunch we made a quick stop at Krispy Kreme for doughnuts for breakfast and Jarrod and Stratton went to ColdStone for icecream and Arden and I found a cute boutique that had adorable girly clothes! We only bought hairbows this time but we might have to go back!

When we got back to the condo we all took naps then took the kids down to play in the sand. It's still pretty cool so we just threw on sweats to play in.

Arden really liked the sand. She just played in it and even tried to cover her feet up with sand. Hopefully it will warm up tomorrow and we can spend more time on the beach!

EAR-MAGGEDON

Last week Arden started running a fever on Monday. Doctor appointment followed on Tuesday confirmed she had an ear infection. They put her on omnicef.  Both kids went to my mom and dad’s house on Wednesday and Thursday since Jarrod and I are both really busy at work and couldn’t stay home. Friday she was still running a fever and so back to the doctor again. They gave her a shot of rocephin, since she wasn’t liking taking her antibiotic and spitting it out at us. Then she had to go back Saturday morning for another shot of it. For a baby with a really bad ear infection the usual procedure is for them to have a rocephin shot once a day for three days, but since the third day was on Sunday and the clinic was closed they told us just to give her the omnicef on Sunday and then bring her back in on Monday for the last shot. By Monday she was much better and they ended up not even giving her the shot and just telling us to give her the antibiotic for another 7 days. She’s been crankier than normal, but she’s on the mend.

Monday afternoon as soon as Stratton walks in the door from school he heads for the toilet and throw up. Great. I was busy hustling around trying to get our t-ball stuff together and wasn’t even paying attention till I heard him! I am thankful that he made it to the toilet!  He was running a fever too, so we stayed home from his ballgame (which is was devastated about) then Jarrod took him to the doc Tuesday morning and surprisingly he too had an ear infection! Weird since he was complaining about his stomach? So, antibiotics for him too now! He has been feeling some better but is still running a fever on and off. He has stayed home from school and got to go home with my mom last night so she could keep him today. Jarrod and I are both so busy trying to get caught up at work so we can be off next week!

NOW. . .I am starting to get the croup and cough and sore throat, I will probably try and get into the doc tomorrow! Maybe I will get a shot of rocephin and maybe they’ll throw in a B-12!! I need it, because. . . .

TOMORROW WE LEAVE FOR THE BEACH!!!

Please pray that everyone gets well and we can have a good vacation! It’s our first week long expedition with 2 kids, so it will be challenging without the added stress of sickness!

We will be heading out tomorrow afternoon and driving halfway and spending the night around Jackson, then driving in the rest of the way Saturday. We are staying for a FULL week and I am so excited! I’m sure by the end of it we will all be sick of each other, but that’s what vacations are for, right?!

Hopefully the next time you hear from us we will be beach-bound!!

First T-Ball Game!

I know why they don’t keep score. It’s not so that they won’t hurt feelings or cause lasting detrimental effects on their self esteem, nope. It’s because there is NO POSSIBLE WAY you can keep score. It’s complete chaos. Or in Jarrod’s words: “It was like herding cattle”. Yeah. Good times.

It was really funny. We were very entertained! Stratton had a crowd to watch him. Jarrod’s parents came, and my dad and Dillon and Brandye came, too.

There were as many adults on the field as there were kids, and they were all needed. Those kids are just oblivious! The best moment was when Stratton started off the field toward the dugout and Jarrod yelled at him to get back in his spot, but Stratton just looked at him and kept on going. He got to the dugout and found his water bottle and got a drink! I guess he was thirsty?! Jarrod was hot on his tail and made him get back on the field, though! Too funny.

He also ran from third base to the pitcher’s mound to the dugout on his second time at bat! Like I said it was really funny!

He made it to first on his first bat!

When it was their turn on the field all the kids ran after the ball at the same time it was too cute!

Stratton’s friend Carson (who is much older and not playing) was “helping” in the outfield and Stratton thought he needed company!

Lining up to shake hands with the other team

Arden had fun watching the game!