Life's A Beach!

So, Spring Break...I've never really thought much of the week.  I mean, normally, it's just another week.  Well, this year was different.  You see, this year is the first year we've had a child in the "public school system".  All the kids are out, which means finding a babysitter, daycare, or begging & pleading w/ the grandparents to keep the kids for a week.

Let me just set this up a little.  This winter was one of the worst I've seen in awhile.  Not like we get BLIZZARDS or anything, but for this area, it was bad.  I was sick of it.  I'm sitting there praying for warmer weather (PS, I HATE being cold!).  Then, we get a call.  John's cousin asks if we want to go to Destin for Spring Break.  Let's see...stay in NWA w/ SNOW, FREEZING WEATHER, CLOUDY, KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL, FINDING A BABYSITTER, WORK.   Ummmm....YES, we would LOVE to go to Destin!  We had been a couple of years ago in the summer & fell it love w/ the place.  I was ready to escape & it couldn't have come at a better time.

So, we told the kids we were going on vacation since Tinsley was out of school (actually, because of all the snow days, school reinstated Monday & Tuesday of that week...HAHA...Suckers), but we didn't tell them where we were going.  Tinsley swore we were going to Branson & was all too excited.  Wow, we don't have to try hard w/ her!  Anyway, we packed up & headed to the airport & had the girls cover their eyes until we pulled up to the plane.  When they opened then, Tinsley was like, "Are we going to Branson on a plane?"  Too funny.  She finally guessed it & was STOKED!

Here's a few photos from the trip.  I didn't take my camera, so these were taken w/ my iPhone.  Not the best quality, but HEY, it'll do!

 This is how we ride.  Funny story.  We ordered a regular 4 door.  Something big enough for everyone to be comfortable, but not too expensive.  When they pull up w/ the car at the airport, I'm like, ummm, NO, we did not order that.  They had either made a mistake or felt very generous that week.  I didn't complain!

The kids LOVE the beach.  Weather was perfect.  Water was still too cold for my liking, but Tinsley wouldn't stay out of it.  I'm convinced Avery didn't get the slightest bit of sun because she was constantly covered in her own brand of sunscreen...SAND.  She was laying in it, rolling in it, digging in it.  It took a while to get all the sand out of her hair. 

 This is one of our favorite places to eat in Destin.  John's Aunt & Uncle introduced us to it last time we came.  Food is great & it's right on the beach.  It's totally casual.  You can walk through there barefoot in a bathing suit if you wish & plop down for some good grub.  I even tried my first Oyster here.  Or, they have a bar downstairs on the beach.  The Back Porch Punch was TASTY!

 Life at the beach was great.  All the kids played so well together.  They made sand castles, ate snow cones, & just chilled out.  We did see this really strange looking bluish jelly fish that had washed up on shore.

 Somebody's getting sleepy.  YES, well Avery took about a 2 hour nap EVERYDAY on the beach.  Life is good when the sound of the surf & the ocean breeze can lull you to sleep.

 Tinsley made friends easily on the beach.  This little girl was about her same age & had the exact same swimsuit.  They thought that was SOOO COOL!

Last day on the beach.  Tinsley looks seriously stylin'.  I loved walking hand in hand down the beach w/ my girls.  We had so much fun this trip.  We can't wait to come back again.  We even came home w/ a TURTLE!  Yes folks...a TURTLE.  They sell these tiny creatures at the beach shops there & the girls were not going home w/out a fight if they didn't get one.  I wasn't too excited about this one, but I'm happy to report that the turtle is in fact, STILL ALIVE!  Maybe next trip we'll get one more...HEY, everyone needs a buddy!

What's Old is New...

John headed out of town for the weekend, so that left me & the girls to hang out.  Tinsley had been wanting to re-do her bathroom for awhile now...So, I called up Mima & we decided to head to Fayetteville in pursuit of a few things to spruce up their bathroom.  First stop, of course was Krispy Kreme for donuts & chocolate milk (& of course, a little coffee for me!).  Then, it was off to Dillards.  I had been looking all over the internet for some cute shower curtains & wasn't having any such luck.  Tinsley wanted Pinks & bright colors & I wanted something that looked girly, but still not TOO childish (since it's our only guest bath).  We found something on Dillards.com, so decided to go check it out.  When we got there, Tinsley LOVED it!  I did too.  Next was to decide what to put with it.  We bought a few coral & yellow towels to coordinate & a bright yellow rug.  For decor...I had these great prints of bath tubs w/ animal prints on them.   I got them so long ago (like probably when John & I first moved in together).  I really liked them & hated to get rid of them.  That's when I had the idea!  Keep them, but update the frames!

Here was our inspiration.

 And the lovely detail on the towels & rugs.

Here are the original prints I had.

A little paint.  We mixed up two colors to match the curtain we bought.

 The MAGIC!  Just apply after the first coat of base paint is dry.

 Now to apply the second coat of "contrasting" color.  We decided to keep the two colors, but alternate them on each frame.  So 2 would be coral w/ teal undertones & 2 would be teal w/ coral undertones.

Can you see the crackle effect?  It looks a little antiqued.

We still have a ways to go w/ decorating.  Still need some stuff for the counters & another wall decor item, but it's much improved already!

 

Winter Wonderland

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...ok, well maybe NOT.  I think we've had our fair share now.  We have some pretty crazy weather here & this winter has not disappointed.  It's so beautiful, but I have to say, I'm ready for the snow to move out & the warm weather to move in.  The kids have already been out of school for 7 days.  We got the ususal for this area...ICE & then several inches of snow on top of that.  We woke up this morning to another foot of snow.  That's right, I said a FOOT & it's still coming down strong.  They are predicting close to 2ft before the day is over.  Wal-Mart Stores, Inc actually closed down (a first in history I think), which prompted several other businesses (including mine) to close for the day.  THANK GOODNESS!  I don't think I could have made it anyway.  I probably would have been lost just walking out to the driveway.  I don't think I've seen snow like this since I was a child.   Last week, when the kids were getting pretty restless, we took them down the road to the Bella Vista golf course & went sledding.  There's a great hill there that the locals go to.  It was so cold, so we didn't stay long.  In fact, I think we only made it down the hill a couple of times before the kids were DONE.  I must say, it was fun while it lasted.  We went back a couple of days later w/ our good friends/family.  By then the ice was so packed down, that you literally FLEW down the hill.  Well, Old Man Winter, thanks for the good ol' times, but it's now time for you to take a hike!

 

My Little Hobby on the Side

As most of you, I LOVE taking pictures.  With a full time job, two rambuncious kids, & a new puppy, I don't have a lot of time to devote to my hobby, but when I do, I have a blast.  From actually taking the pics, to editing, to delivering the final result to my "client", it's such a great escape for me.  I'm the first to admit that I'm no professional, but I love the feeling you get when you capture that "right moment" or take a beautiful portrait.  Recently, I was blessed w/ a few jobs all about the same time.  First, one of my best friends needed new family pics.  John's good friend had a baby actually on my Birthday & they wanted some newborn baby pics.  Then, an old collegue called me up about having some pics w/ her boys.  Here's a few of my favorites from those shoots.  I'm so thankful to each of them for allowing me to take their pics.  Some of these actually even made it into Christmas cards.  I felt very honored.

Santa Dropped By!!!

It's such an amazing sight to see your child's face just light up.  They did just that when some "special" guest dropped by Mima & Papa's Christmas party...  Mom & Dad invited a few close friends over & of course us & Melissa's family were there as well.  Shortly around 6:00, there was a knock on the door...Who could it be?  Everyone that had been invited was already there.  In walks Santa & Mrs. Claus.  You should have seen the looks of their faces. Tinsley & Trinity didn't spare anytime jumping up in to his lap to tell him what they've been up to & what they wanted.  It was a different story w/ Avery & Payton.  They weren't exactly crying, but they were very CAUTIOUS!  It was so much fun.  Even John got in on the action.