Beach Fun!

-BEACH VACATION-

Our long awaited Douglas Florida beach trip finally came and all in the family were so excited and ready for a break. Back in the early days of our family, even back into the dating pre-marriage days, an almost yearly trip to the Florida beaches had been a Douglas family tradition. We did go down the first summer we moved to Georgia, but have not been back since (over three years). This year, Nikki was not going to let it pass again and decided early on that this was a return to the beach year! She rallied the family (now almost twice the size as previous trips) around a week and a beach house in June (best water conditions) and it was planned. Then the Oil Spill Fiasco in the Gulf threatened plans, but in the end the beaches could not have been any more beautiful and we all had a wonderful time in Paradise! This was our home away from home for the week- the Cracker Jack. It was big enough for the crew, and just a block from the beach! It really made the week enjoyable and so much fun!

Beach Party Central!

Colorful front room painted in fun beach colors.

Club Cracker on the third floor was the bunk spot for the kids and the Wii arcade and movie theater. The house was kinda themed around some old Cracker Jack paraphernalia- hence the cracker names. Very clever.
This was the pool from the balcony and where the kids spent all their "wet" time when not at the beach. The kids were addicted to the water.
One of the first home cooked meals- Fresh Gulf Shrimp!

First Day at Santa Rosa Beach. Although Daddy would tire of the beach over the next seven days, the kids would not! This day Mia attempted a "Sand Angel" that was very cute, but on second observation of the picture, it showed a bit to much for the blogging world and was deleted. =) Yikes! We will save that picture for her future husband!

Beach Sunset with Mimi and Granddaddy.

The next day, and the first of many sandcastles to come.

Brenner and Cayden with Sand Fins.

Beach Boys on their Bogey Boards! They would play in the surf for so long, that they would have sand and sea weed just about everywhere when they were through.

Grilled Cheese "Sand"wiches.

Beach Feet.

The first nights stroll along the beach we learned from some locals that with a net and a strong flashlight, crabs are only a few feet from the breaking surf at low tide. After a trip to Wal-mart, we were ready the next night and this became one of the kids (and adults) favorite activities.

The CLAW!

As you can only imagine from the above picture, Mermaid Mia stuck to finding sea shells with her flashlight. She wanted nothing to do with those crabbies!

Dinner is served!

Day three's Sandcastle, and I think the best!

Mia and Madelyn in their Watermelon swim suits. So sweet, could just eat em' up!

The Douglas kid Beach Crew!

This shark was line caught the night before by a guy on the beach and let go, but it washed up on the beach the next morning for a picture. Not slippery like a dolphin or ray, but very sandpaper course to the touch. Kinda sad it died, and kinda scary that they are out there in the water we played in all week!

Big brother's helping hand to the beach. Too cute!

Family pictures on the beach. Everyone else taking pictures were also in khaki and white, must be the uniform for 2010 family pictures!

The most Beautiful girls in the world!

Mommy and Mia.

Plastic Great White Attack!

Big Catches in Destin! Swordfish anyone? Or Mia is offering Dolphin!?!?! =)
On the pier with the fishing boats in Destin and a stop for some more seafood at AJ's. Great seafood but that close to the marina we learned that the water that goes with the syrup and carbonation can make a Coke taste like a mouth full of sea water- Nothing to drink please! We also ate at Landry's while in Florida, a place I had always wanted to try (one of McGrath's biggest competitors) and as all the reviews have said- it was wonderful!

This is the one day away from the beach, but not water! We went to Ponce De Leon Springs for a day and had a great, but cold time. 14 million balmy 68 degree gallons a day gush from this crystal clear spring. It was quite amazing to see and experience.

About half of the spring has been swimming poolalized by the forest service with concrete walls, dive platforms and steps and the rest was left all natural. In the picture below, you can see one of the very turquoise blue holes that feed the spring. They go down 25 to 30 feet into the limestone that you can see, and can feel the water current pushing past you. One of those things you have to see to believe.

Brenner jumps into a pool of "Aquafina"! =)

Jimmy Buffets Cheese Burger in Paradise!
This is one of the kids favorite Jimmy songs, so we just had to stop here and make up to them for all the Seafood restaurants that the adults stopped at.

I like mine with lettuce and tomato, Hinze 57 and french fried potatoes, big kosher pickle and a cold root bear, well good gosh almighty which way to I steer for my- CHEESE BURGER IN PARADISE!!!

Just a side note. On the way out of town we passed the Destin outlet stores and Nikki just had to stop and feed her latest addiction. I have always said that one (of the many) things that I loved about Nikki from the very beginning was that she never carried a purse full of junk around with her every place she went. Chap-stick and her I.D's in her pocket and she was off! Well, call it a mid-life crisis or whatever (I think a past friend at the hospital brain washed her), She has been buying purse after purse over the last 6 to 8 months and filling them with all kinds of crap! I am trying to be understanding and kind, and she has not asked me to carry it for her yet. So as you can see, she was very excited about her new find, and in no time flat, she had it so full, that she could barely fit her Nook in it! (I will admit that things like hand wipes and gum are very nice to have at an arms length, but I am not sure what else needs to be packed around like this! What ever makes her happy!

The kids all tan, water logged, souvenired and relaxed! What a trip! Thanks Florida- Hope to be back very soon!

Happy Birthday Mia!

Mia Turns Four!!!

Mia originally wanted a princess party for her 4th birthday, but soon as she realized all the boys that she wanted to invite would not be to crazy about a dress-up party, she changed her mind. So Mickey Mouse Club House it was as this is her favorite show on Playhouse Disney!!! All the Mouseketeeres had ears to wear, and ate hot dogs while listening to.... yep- the Hot Dog Hot Dog Hot Diggity Dog song. Daddy gets a kick out of the Mickey Mouse Club House songs and lyrics because if you did not know (Just listen to the voice), they are by the late 80's band They Might Be Giants! Too funny that our funky cool "Birdhouse in your soul" song writers would be making songs that our kids would love.

Mia had a large pile of friend presents and threw several fits (Ok- had several break-downs) before present opening time, the little squirt! I thought that by four, that kind of stuff was behind us, but we have only had boys, so I guess we are in for it, as she is going through a very spicy stage! It was her party and she did cry because she wanted too!

Mommy and Mia and her Minnie Cake. The Minnie dots were Almond Fondant and very tasty!

Our cute little squirt is four.....What happened to the time!

Happy Birthday Mia!!!

10 Mile Hike

Monroe Ward Boy Scouts

We have already had several Boy Scout activities, this is a picture of five of the boys (not counting the two big boys and the one taking the picture) in the troop before the second trip around the "rock" at Stone Mountain. We also have done some cooking, knot tieing, 22 shooting and a night learning all about rock climbing gear and safety for a trip planned later on.

We have a great bunch of boys and we are having fun....right Josh?

Happy Birthday Nikki!

-Happy Birthday Nikki-

Another year older and wiser for Nikki. All day Mia wanted to know when the party was going to start. She could not wrap her little mind around the idea that Mommy was not going to have what to her constituted a "Real Birthday Party"! Then when Mommy and Daddy left for birthday dinner she said: "I am not invited to your party? That's not fair!"

Even though Mia thinks Mommy got robbed, Nikki did get all she wanted for her birthday- a NOOK. Nikki has become a little book worm over the last several years, reading just about anything she can get her hands on. She decided several weeks back that she wanted to join the ranks of the e-book readers and set her eyes on a Barnes and Nobel NOOK. She shamelessly plugged friends and family for B&N gift cards as gifts this year so she can fill it with e-books. Thanks to all who contributed to her addiction!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOO FOO!!!

Brenner's soccer season came to a close on Saturday. The championship games were so intense that we did not seem pick up the camera to get a picture of him in action, but I love this picture of him and his teammates on the bench. In years past, the "Bench" was a place to go play and goof off until your name was called to go back in. Now it has become a place to rest-up, get a swig of Gatorade and attentively watch and cheer on the team. The boys are growing up! His goal in the second game which tied the game and sent them on to the third round sent shivers down my spine, and to see the look on his face as the other boys run to give celebration "slaps" makes a Daddy almost cry!

Brenner and Cayden also had their spring piano recital and each did a great job with the two songs that they have been practicing for six weeks now. Brenner played "Fire Ants" and "Just a Carefree Day" and Cayden played "In the Hall of the Mountain King" and "The Raven's Call". They did awesome, and Brenner even said how much fun he had playing. Wow, I will have to remind him of that the next time he complains about practicing!
Nikki took Mia and Cayden to the strawberry patch to pick strawberries one night while Brenner and I were at Scouts. These two kids would eat the whole gallon bucket they are holding if they had their choice. Brenner on the other hand has still not had any fruit since he was spoon fed it out of "Gerber" jars! He does get a banana every once in a while when Mommy makes "Nut Bread". If it were called by its full name, he would not touch it either.
Cayden and I worked on his end of school project, a reptile diorama. He loved making a lizard "buddy" out of clay. Nikki had some great ideas- Brown sugar dirt, and melted Jolly ranchers for the water. As you can see, it turned out great!

Cayden and his "Buddy".

Silly Bandz!!!

Have these Silly Bnadz hit your school yet? Well if not- BEWARE, because they are coming. One day several weeks ago, Brenner came home from school with a colored elastic band on his wrist. I asked him about it and he said it was a silly band. I thought, that is silly, we at least had "Jelly Bracelets" that were more than a colored rubber band back in the day. Well turns out they turn into shapes when you take them off your wrist, some glow in the dark, some glitter, and the new ones are even tie-dyed!?!?! Brenner found another on the playground and started trading with his classmates. In no time he had turned those two into a wrist full and both boys are addicted!!! They are kinda cool (even the high school kids get into them, as Cayden made a trade with one of our priests at church last Sunday) Mia loves them too, but is having a hard time with the trading thing, she gave away her favorite (a pink glitter butterfly) the other day for something she later decided she did not really want and has cried about it ever since. Brenner, being the good big brother that he is, is on a mission to find her another one but Cayden on the other hand is just out for himself!!! He said: "trade one of my dinosaurs or sharks for a butterfly, are you crazy!"

We are sorry for the hiatus!

Wow! It has been over six weeks since our last update, and for our faithful followers- (we realize there are most likely not any, but we are hopeful!) we are sorry! Although it seems that we have been in Blog Hibernation, we have all been very busy and active, I promise! We just have not picked up the camera in a while I guess, and the one time we did, there was no memory card inserted- Crap! And as all who blog know that it is never any fun to post with out pictures- that is our excuse. I will try to reconstruct the last month and a half if I can. Here it goes-

The first week in April we had a ward talent show that several of the guys from elders quorum got together and formed a rock band. Talent or not it was lots of fun and we played Weezers Buddy Holly, complete with thick rimed glasses, black spaghetti ties, and cardboard box speakers for us to destroy and jump into at the end as all great rock stars do! I was asked to emcee the event a week or so before and it turned into quite the show, with wardrobe changes, cheesy jokes and lots of crazy fun. As this was the night that the memory card was absent in the camera, if anyone has a picture of me dressed as Carnack the Magnificent- I would love a copy! The above picture was pulled from another blog- Thanks Taylor's! Brenner and Cayden took the Georgia CRCT and both think they did well. Although we will not know the scores for sure for another several weeks, they are both excelling in school and Cayden has become quite the little reader and Brenner is our little Mathematician (did not get that from his Daddy). And for those who were wondering- Yes Cayden can now tell the difference between two dimes and a twenty dollar bill! =)
Nikki has been studying in her spare time as well and passed with flying colors another ARDMS Board the end of April. She is now certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology! Way to go Foo Foo!!!

Around the first week in May our Elders Quorum shook up a bit and I am no longer the EQP in The Monroe Ward. After almost three years in the presidency in one form or another, it was time for a "MOVE". And not the kind of "MOVE" that has dominated much of my time over the past several years! =) Looking back, it has been a lot of fun mingled with a lot of hard work, personal growth and lessons learned. If after three years I only take away the words and teaching of our extremely wise and wonderful Relief Society President, lesson and skill well learned.

"If you are going to error, error on the side of charity."

Hopefully many of those lessons learned I can pass along to the 12-14 year old "Boyz" of the ward as I am excited to be involved in the Boy Scout program. It will be lots of fun too, just of another type! Hiking, camping, canoeing, knot tying, tent sleeping, boy building and tinfoil dinner eating..... Sounds like a good time to me! We have great leaders and great boys to turn into Eagles! Let's go troop 793!!!
Brenner and Cayden's room received a bit of a makeover. It was a little unintended, but a trip to IKEA for some kitchen nick knacks, turned into new dressers, night stands, trophy shelves, and some really cool reading lamps. The boys did need them as they have been sharing a dresser, and their various trophies were piling up. But IKEA- shame on you!!!

Trip to Zoo Atlanta. That cute little baby Panda Bear is getting very big. It reminds me of our "cubs" getting to big. Stop growing kids!!!
We have decided that we are better pot and planter gardeners that entire scape ones, although our Gardenias do have flower buds on them for the first time since they were planted. Georgia is so great this time of year and although it has been a little unseasonably hot, the heat makes everything grow as if it is on steroids. This is one of our hanging baskets on our back porch- what some miracle grow won't do!

And Club FHE is steadily growing too. We see growth each month and last month it seemed to be in Washington State!?! Something happened in that corner of the country as five subscriptions came in form Washington in a week, it is funny as it is just about as far from Atlanta as one can get! Still waiting for that Alaska Subscription! =)

So other than a great Father and Son's camp out, and nice Mother's day weekend (surprise- no pictures), that just about catches us up to the current. The kids will be out of school soon and the summer will be in full swing. With all that comes along with busy summers, we will try to keep updated a little more often, and promise to take our camera with us more often!

Innocence lost

Spring time photos

It is full blown spring in Georgia! With spring flowers everywhere, the dogwoods in bloom and also all the "popcorn" trees that Mia keeps trying to tell us are just flowers- what does she know!

Three cute little spring chicks!

The Easter Bunny came as you can see and the first thing out of Brenner's mouth after finding his basket was, "Thanks Mom and Dad"- Innocence Lost! I think it flew right over the heads of the other two, but Cayden has his doubts also. The only childlike innocence left around here anymore is in Little Mia.... LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY BOYS!!!

Cayden has become a Minute To Win It fan and thinks the new game show is the greatest thing ever! (His Mom and Dad like to watch too!)
The other morning we caught him stacking cups out of the pantry. Who knows, you just might see him on one of the upcoming shows.
Brenner's soccer pictures were last weekend and right after the pictures, they destroyed a team much to Brenner's excitement! Good luck this season Brenner!

Another "what is new" update!

March is almost over and here is what is new-

Caydens friend Birthday party was great fun. Each soldier was given camo head and arm bands for either platoon Brown or Green and their Dog Tags with their army names on them. Cayden's AKA was B-Day, I thought it was clever even if it did go over the heads of all the kids. AKA's like Bazooka and Grenade were more liked by the kids, go figure!

This is a picture of Human Battle Ship, they loved it!
Saint Patrick's Day also came and went and we had some friends over for the traditional Green Dinner. Celebrating the luck of the Irish is always a good time!

Brenner's 2ND pinewood derby was this week and he came in third after two other very fast cars. Daddy thought we might have had it this year... but there is always next year! Third is not bad I guess out of 12+ racers. Everyone loved Brenner's yellow wheels and beyond the 3rd place trophy, he was given the most "Cubtastic Car" award.

Thanks for those cool yellow wheels Grams!
The Winners podium, Good job Bart and Josh... Oh... I Mean J.J. and Brett on your first and second place wins! =)
Brenner and his blue and gold "Cub Racer" and trophy
There was also an elders Quorum derby for the "Big Boys" to show off their stuff.

It was crazy fun and after all the re-racing (Jeff is most likely still in doubt/denial of the outcome), almost disqualifying (Zach and his "Non-starting device" remote control motor and propeller) and extra weight removed (Chad and his car keys and wedding ring in the bed of his very cool derby truck) I was awarded first place. To make Jeff feel better about it all he was given the second place award with "first" written over second. There is always next year Jeff!

Some other happenings around here-

The boys helped me put up a basket ball pole and hoop and they are loving and learning how to shoot hoops.

And Mia and Morgan are "Best Friends" and play together all the time. Dolls, strawberry milk and the trampoline are some of their favorite things.

Easter will be here before we know it and on to Summer!

Happy Easter to all!

We love ya!

Seven on the Seventh

Can you believe it- Cayden is Seven!

Oh for this years party, as we all know, Cayden is very creative and had lots of great pie in the sky ideas (wow), but with a little help, direction, and several trips to Party City, he decided on having an Army themed party. As His "traditional" Birthday cake is actually a cookie, he asked if Mom could make him a "Tank". I suggested a big round cookie decorated with camo spots, but as you can see- Cayden got his wish. Mommy is great at that! Just look at those chocolate bar "Tank" treads, Oreo wheels and Tootsie Roll gun barrel- very cool! His family party was lots of fun and we had our first cook-out with hamburgers and hot dogs (but ate inside as it is still a bit cold, come on Spring!)
Two of the stand out gifts came from Mimi and Granddaddy and Grams and Pa, and the DS game From Mom and Dad ranked a close third. Mimi and Granddaddy heard that Cayden was recently learning (and struggling a bit with) counting money and the names and denominations of each coin. Granddaddy filled a "Bank Tray" with a full roll of each coin type and gave him a poster all about money. When he opened their card and a 20 dollar bill fell out, Cayden said "Wow, twenty cents!" As you can see, the teaching gift could not come any to soon!

From Grams and Pa, Cayden got the three disc set of all the Jurassic Park Movies. Ever since watching them with Uncle Justin, Cayden has been obsessed with them and dinosaurs in general(one of his other party theme ideas by the way). Grams noticed and the look on his face says it all! He just can't wait to see another innocent human be devoured by a spooky eyed velosa raptor. His "friend" party is next Friday and with some life-sized human battle ship planned it should be a great time, but..... Mommy..... I'll need another one of those cool "Tank" cookie cakes!!!