Florida 2008

We made it! Our first view from the condo! WOW!

MY FAVORITE PICTURE FROM THE WHOLE WEEK IS BELOW!!!!!!!!
OK, maybe this one too....

Now stop taking pictures and lets get going to the beach!

"The Beach Suite" that we set up every day. A God Send with the babies. And, I sold it on our last day there because I had done way too much shopping to make room for a sandy tent. I made half my money back :).

The only afternoon we had a "rain delay"

The boys wanting for the rain to stop- how sweet!!! Bowden is an amazing big brother!

Piercy Baby

The Walker Family headed to The Back Porch Restaurant

Pierce asleep under the tent. My toddler was WAY too high maintenance to do this, but it was very sweet the way he would pop up his little turtle head when nap time was over.

Oh, the "Sydney Suite" in Brent and I's walk-in closet.

One trick she learned on the trip, we say "Ready Set... " and she tries to say "GO!!!" and jumps in the water.

Crab hunting at night with Bowden (Hee Hee Jason was scared of the crabs :) )

"If your happy and you know clap your hands" used to make her smile for pictures, but now she just claps her hands like a big girl ;)

The Luce family eating at Rick's Crab Shack in the Ft. Walton Harbor

The Walker Family

Sydney loved watching the boats and waved like they were coming by just because they heard she was out to eat that night. If possible, please notice the curls that are really showing some days. Anyone ever seen the Friends when Monica's hair gets worse as the vacation goes on? Sydney seemed to have that some issue.

Well, we survived our first family beach trip! We had a wonderful time and I am so thankful for safe travel, great weather, wonderful friends, a beautiful condo, the amazing beach, and many other things. Seriously, my heart is full with gratitude over the trip. Sydney was really pretty great in the car (oh, and I am thankful for DVD players and a Barney's Highlight Song DVD). We stayed with the Luces in a 3 bedroom condo in Destin/Fort Walton, and couldn't have asked for better room mates. Sydney was a little off from her normal happy self on Tuesday (of course the day the boys played 36 holes of golf!) and her huge back molar came in on Thursday so I am sure that was part of it. We ate out a few nights, and managed to eat our way through $300 worth of food at the condo also. We declared it "Rock Star Week" which meant you could eat whatever you wanted and stay up as late as you wanted (OK the adults at least). The boys got a golf day and the girls got a shopping day, and pretty much the rest of the time we chilled on the beach and at the pool. The Boyds were about a mile down the beach and Sydney and I played with the girls a little one afternoon. Oh, we had beach pictures taken on Sunday night and I had MAJOR wardrobe malfunction! My zipper from my brand new dress broke 20 minutes before we needed to leave! And since we were all dressed in blue I needed to wear it. Scarlett worked some magic with safety pins from CVS and the photographer said he would edit it out. We should get to view the proofs in another week, so I'll keep you in the loop. I think he got some great ones. We ended the week with a Fourth of July celebration and a long but safe trip home!

Weekly Update

Weekly swim lessons with Greer. Sydney looks like she is drying herself off, but really she was being mischievous and pulling the towel off the chair while I was saying "no". :)

Pondering how cold the water is.

Water Park Fun! OK, so since the only new pictures I have of us at a "swimming hole" you know it is summer in Arkansas. We have played a ton outside with our new slide and car and desk (which I got all for $10! I love a bargain!) and packing for our family vacation. I can officially say that Sydney is walking almost everywhere- Praise The Lord!!!

The Birthday Twins at 15 months

We met Jackson and Melissa for cheeseburgers and milkshakes tonight for dinner. The "twins" were pretty great at dinner (except for all the food under our highchairs) and they were so cute together! Of course, we told them to kiss and give each other "lovin" and they did!

Fathers Day weekend with our little "Fish"

Posing before swim lessons. Then my camera died- so Merrit, please email me some pictures!
She is all ready to go on the boat! She LOVED every second on the lake!
Mommy, Sydney and Poppa Gene

Oh, and swimming in the pool Sunday morning.

Happy Fathers Day Poppa Gene, Granddaddy, Poppa, and of course, Brent!!!

The Tortoise Wins the Race, Right???

The tortoise wins the race, right??? Just in the last few days she has started taking more steps, but very slowly and with a motivating prize at the end. I know it is a start. We had our 15 month check up this afternoon, and to document for my memory:

Weight: 21 pounds 14 oz. (25-50%)

Height: 31 1/4 inches (75%)

Head: 17 1/2 inches (10%)

Shoe Size: 3

Diaper Size: 4 (as of this weekend when I tried one at Keri's and realized how much better they fit compared to 3s)

So, Sydney has grown in height for sure! She got 2 shots, but within a few minutes had recovered and was flirting with the nurses again. Her tubes looked good and we are going to hope we start walking in the next few weeks!

Bubble Lesson

I was blowing bubbles for Sydney this morning, and since we have the bazillion bubbles that blow lots in every dip, there were maybe 75 beautiful bubbles floating through the air at all times. But all Sydney wanted was to grab the bubble wand and pop the little bubbles around the rings. I tried and tried to divert her attention to the wonderful bubbles floating just inches above her head and behind her, but I could not get her to look up because she was so convinced that the little bubbles were better. I heard the Lord whisper to my heart "See child, how many times have you settled for what you have in mind instead of listening to my voice so I could show you something SO MUCH better."

Busy and very fun weekend!

What a fun weekend we had! We went to NW Arkansas on Friday and stayed until Monday night with my Mimi, so we had lots of time to spend with family and friends. Monday Keri and the girls came and got Sydney and I and we shopped, ate and played at Chuck E Cheese. Sydney was in overload with all the noise and action (and so was I!)

Look how sweet the kiddos are packed in. Ha Ha Ha. Sydney wasn't very good sitting between them like I thought she would be. I looked back several times and she had thrown her pacey, silkie or bow for attention, and once I think she pinched poor Carlee!

Getting into EVERYTHING at Mimi's! Thank you again for letting us take over your house!

Practicing taking steps with Daddy

Sydney, the Birthday Girl Carlee and Lilly

Caroline and the "big" girls loving on Sydney in the bounce house. They were all so sweet with her.

Happy Birthday Sweet Carlee!!!!

4 Generations of Fry women!

Getting some lovin' from Mimi and Gigi

Before we left town on Friday, we also started swim lessons with Greer. We had a great time in the water and Sydney is already a fish! We didn't take many great pictures but we will certainly try again during the next few weeks.

"Sydney, Mommy is off all summer!!!"

I swear that I took this today in the car on the way home!!!

Happy Birthday Emma!

Emma is in the middle. She was WAY to excited to pose for a picture for me :)

We helped the Eaton's celebrate Emma's 4th birthday at Jump Zone, which we all LOVED. It was very fun and Sydney had a blast trying to be a big girl. She took several steps during the party and I must say, Brent and I both jumped to. I highly recommend taking your kiddos there. And Happy Birthday sweet Emma!!!! I don't know how many of you know her amazing story, but several times during the party as I was watching her play, all I could do was praise God for His awesome plan. Basically, Scott and Ashley heard about a 5 month old baby that was living in a homeless shelter and in 2 days agreed to adopt her. Ashley says "that one decision can change a life" and that is certainly true. She has already overcome so much in her little life, and I stand in amazement at the wonderful and sweet girl she is growing to be.