Vacation Day 1

the beautiful beach view from our 2nd floor balcony
one of the two pools that we could swim in

Rachel loved swimming with papa

sweet little water bug

Uh! I don't want to be in the pool!

I'm so excited!

I really LOVE the sand!!

It feels so good!

I love the beach and the ocean!

Whoohoo!!

gorgeous sunset

having fun playing

Footprints in the sand...

We left last Saturday morning and had a very uneventful drive down! However, it seemed to be the LONGEST drive ever to the beach! The kids did pretty well until the last part, and frankly, Nick and I weren't doing so well either. We were all very tired of being in the car and couldn't wait to just get there and walk around. We had to stop about 4 times between lunch and potty breaks, and that always breaks the momentum...but what are you going to do?!?

Once we finally arrived, it was great checking out the condo...a huge 4 bedroom with kitchen, sitting area and 3 bathrooms. This is definitely one of the nicest condos I've ever stayed in. We ordered pizza from Joey's Pizza, which is one of our favorite pizza joints in PCB. After that, we decided to check out the beach. We just couldn't stay away any longer! Even though everyone was tired and neither Bradley or Rachel had slept ONE minute the entire way down, we all headed to the beach. It was absolutely beautiful and since it was about 8:00, the sand was very cool. Bradley LOVED it and just crawled around in it. I'm sure it was like a huge sandbox to him. Rachel loved it all...the pool, the sand, the very tip of the ocean, where the waves have already broken and it's just a little splash of water.

After enjoying the beach for an hour or so, we came inside, got baths and got ready for bed. The first night, Bradley slept on a twin mattress on the floor in our room. He loved it with all the pillows around him and his blankets. He slept great. Rachel slept with Gege and Papa.

We're BAACCKKK!!

We got home from the beach yesterday evening and were SO glad to be home! We had a wonderful time and did so many things that we were all exhausted at the end of the day! Everything went very smoothly...even the sleeping arrangements, much to our surprise. As usual, Nick and Rachel are a lovely shade of dark brown and I'm a pinky-brown. Bradley's still the lightest golden white and most of that was obtained from the glow of the tv. He wanted to stay inside most of the time and watch movies instead of going to the beach or pool. He did like the pool and beach, but only before the sand got too hot and the sun got too high. He mostly pushed around his various little dump trucks in the sand. He was really good, though, and really prefers marching to the beat of his own drum. We tried to let him do that as much as possible. It was much easier with Gege and Papa, who never mind following Bradley around while he does what he wants to do. (Thanks Gege and Papa!)

I'm going to try to split the vacation into several posts so there isn't just one LONG one.

Also, thankfully, we had no car troubles at all! But, when I looked out in the garage this morning, our right rear tire was FLAT as a pancake! I'm so glad we made it home and it went flat in the garage! Nick took the tire to be patched this morning and we're good as new now! Who knows where we picked up the screw that was in it...all the Interstate driving? or small road construction? could have been anywhere!

Off to the beach!

We're off to the beach tomorrow and VERY excited! I'm sure I'll take a million pictures and post many when we return! Please pray for safe travels and fun and relaxation! I don't know how relaxing it will be...that depends on how well everyone sleeps at night!

See you soon!

Love to all!!
Ang

Duke Time

Gram and Rach
Peek a boo!

Here I am!

"SQUAWK!!!!!!"

(poor bird didn't know what to think!)

Today was so much fun! We spent the majority of the day at Nana and Pop's house and had a really good time! The kids played in the basement for the first time ever! Bradley's never even been down there and Rachel doesn't remember because it's been so long. The basement is cleaned out now because of the yard sale, so it was nice sitting at the old kitchen table and chairs and eating popsicles. We also discovered some great toys for the grandkids to play with once they are cleaned off. We played in the den, upstairs, at the piano, in the dining room, in the kitchen and even in the office with the fish tank. The kids ran all over the house and just had a great time exploring! Rachel always loves the old Strawberry Shortcake collection and barbies that used to be mine and Wendy's. Bradley had lots of fun playing on the daybed that's in my room. He's all about laying in a bed with pillows and blankets and getting snuggly.

When we left nana and pop's, we went to visit Gramma. It was great to see her and she looked great. She was very happy to see us and the kids resumed their normal activities: playing in the closet, climbing on the walker and then foraging for food. (Gramma was kind enough to offer us some of her candy and peanut butter crackers.) It had been a very long day for the kids and no nap for Bradley, so we didn't stay very long. On our way out, Gramma wanted to show us the cute little bird that's in a cage upstairs for the residents to enjoy. Rach and Bradley loved it, and were squawking at it rather loudly. The bird would chirp back, very quietly. The kids loved this, but they were very loud and excited and I'm sure they are very different from the visitors that this bird is used to seeing. We left as soon as I could tear them away. But, we had a nice visit and it's always good to see Gramma. I got a picture of her and Rachel, but Bradley wouldn't cooperate. Oh well!!

Bradley's 2-Year Check-up

Sweet, precious big boy asleep in his crib with his many blankies!

We're using the crib until we HAVE to move him to a big boy bed!

Monday was Bradley's 2 year check-up and I was very excited about taking him even though I wasn't sure if he was going to have to get any shots. The kids have always loved our Pediatrician, so the visits usually go very well. First, Bradley had to stand up on the big kid scale. He loved doing this. He weighed 29 lbs. and was in the 61%. Next, he had to stand against a painted height chart on the wall to see what how tall he is. He measured 33 1/2 in. tall and in the 24%, but that may be slightly off since it was hard to explain to Bradley that he needed to stand up very straight and put his heels against the wall. We went to the room next and answered a series of questions from the nurse about eating and sleeping habits and whether we've introduced potty training or not. Next we had to wait for Dr. McCorkle to come in. We only had to wait about 15 minutes and then he came in to do his exam. He did the standard stuff: listening to his heartbeat and lungs, looking in his ears and at his eyes and down his throat. I actually got Bradley to open his mouth in the "AAHHH" position. During the examination, Bradley sat perfectly still and cut his eyes up at Dr. McCorkle. He was very cute. Rachel was, as always, my big helper and the social bug. She loves seeing all the nurses and Dr. M and chatting with them. Since Bradley is up to date on his immunizations, we didn't have to get one at this visit, which made for a very positive ending!

By the way, Bradley went pee-pee on the potty for the first time last night. We have talked about the potty, watched everyone in the family use the potty, flushed diaper poo down the potty and sat on the potty, but never used it. So, last night right before bath, I sat Bradley on the potty on the Elmo seat that he loves and he pee-peed. He was very excited and was so proud of himself. We all clapped and made a huge deal out of it. It was quite adorable seeing him sitting there using the potty!! We'll see if he gets the whole potty trainign thing quickly or not! :)

Gram's Rocker

Well, kudos to mom and dad for working their tails off to have the largest yard sale I've ever seen! I know it was a lot of work and I know they had some help, but they really did the majority of it themselves. I went over last night to see if there were any last minute things I could do to help. They were in great shape, so I was mostly there for moral support. But, I did have the opportunity to wipe down some furniture and feel like I contributed a little. I couldn't believe how emotional I got looking at all of Gramma's furniture sitting in my parent's driveway, waiting for someone to want or need. Her lovely old dining room set that we spent MANY Sunday afternoons using while we ate fried chicken, zipper peas, cornbread and other yummy veggies. I remember she always used a pretty table cloth...usually one she had cross-stitched herself. We always used the same plates, utensils and even cups at each meal. She also had the roughest, scratchiest, sand-paper-like dinner napkins that we used for dinner. They weren't very comfortable to use, but they were Gramma's and they were just part of the traditional meal, just like the fried chicken was. I also saw her bedroom suit, that was mostly in Papa's room, but the dresser was Gramma's, and I wish I had somewhere to put it, just for nostalgic purposes. I remember she had pictures on her dresser in her room, (I think) one of dad and Aunt Linda and one of us 3 grandchildren. Her room was always neat and tidy and simple. Then I saw her living room coffee table and end tables. We sat in that room probably more than any other since it had the couches in it. We would all sit around and talk after eating that delicious meal and enjoy the family time. Gramma took lots of pictures while we were young, always with the LOUDEST camera that you could hear a mile away, and so she had tons of albums of pictures of us. Of course, us grandkids loved looking at pictures of ourselves in all those albums. We would choose an album from underneath the coffee table and laugh and make fun of each other and just remember. I guess that's what all Gramma's furniture made me do...remember, sitting in mom and dad's driveway, waiting for the next family to make new memories with it. I just remembered how much time I spent with my gramma and papa and how much fun it was. Of course, it makes me sad that Gramma isn't in her house anymore and that she's not using that furniture anymore, but I know that's just the reality of life. So, all that brings me to the title of my post, Gram's Rocker. I remember that rocker sitting in the den next to the fireplace/furnace thing. I think it always sat there. I'm not sure how long Gramma had it or anything, but I do remember her sitting in it occasionally. I really remember my papa sitting in it. I think it was a nice upright seat for him to sit in with his oxygen tank. Anyway, I was very excited and nostalgic about bringing it home to my house for us to enjoy. I put in my den for us to all see and enjoy. I don't even want to change the chair cushions yet, because they smell like Gramma's house. There's something neat about smelling her house and remembering times over there. I thought it was really neat that as soon as Bradley saw it, he climbed up in it and said "rock". He has really taken a special interest in the new rocking chair and likes climbing into it. I'm sure it's mostly because it's "new" to us, but it's neat to think that he's enjoying a chair his great-grandparent's used to enjoy rocking in. There's something so soothing about a rocking chair and I'm sure we'll all enjoy rocking in this one.

Bradley's family birthday celebration

Cool!!! I LOVE moon sand!

I kinda like my new hotwheels

"Who needs NEW toys when you've got this

really cool bouncy ball?" -Bradley

I tried...

and tried, until...

Daddy and Sissy helped me blow out my candle!

(I loved it when they helped me!)

YUM! This cupcake's so good!

I sure do know how to make yummy cupcakes!!

I love my new baby Elmo!!

Bradley wanted to be "IN" the town with his cars

Rachel is "having" to open Bradley's presents

Look at my hair blowin' in the wind!

Bradley is workin' hard!

I know, it seems like I've posted MANY times about Bradley's birthday, but here's one more. On Tuesday, July 22nd, we celebrated at home...just me, Rach, Nick and Bradley. So, Rachel and I made cupcakes; yellow cake with white icing and LOTS of sprinkles. (Rachel was in charge of sprinkles, and she always thinks MORE is best, so somehow we go through an ENTIRE bottle of sprinkles each time we make cupcakes.) We had gotten Bradley a few presents from us and Rachel. She picked out a Lightning McQueen remote controlled car for Bradley. However, he is scared of it because it's really loud, so Rach just gets to play with it. It was funny because Bradley didn't want to open his presents and he hardly even wanted to play with them. He found an old bouncy ball in his room that probably only cost a quarter and was playing with that instead. Rachel had to open his presents, which she loved, and she started playing with all the toys. Bradley did become interested in some of the presents...mostly his new Elmo doll that says, "Ba, Ba, please" which means "bottle, please". He LOVES this toy. He also likes his new bubble mower and enjoyed pushing and pulling it all around in the grass. He also played with his new felt car mat that has streets and houses printed on it. He can push his little cars around on it. But, he could take or leave everything else we got him. Oh well! :) We could have saved some money! :) Anyway, we had a great time celebrating again with him and the cupcakes were really good...especially the extra sprinkles!