Showing posts with label ocean. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ocean. Show all posts

October 24, 2009

For the fam...

A little turtle in my pocket you may say...

since the very first day we were there...Miss Madison wanted to sit on this stone turtle every time we walked by it...and that was many of times we walked by it! The time was right one evening {in the evening the stones wouldn't burn her hiney} we stopped and took some time for her to sit on this turtle...she loved it until the stones well just weren't comfortable to sit on because they were "bumpy"...hence her face:)

As we were walking ~ another consultant stopped us...and said she knew just the thing our girls would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to do...

Well we listened of course...and on the last evening we took a stroll to another resort within ours......and came to this spot where we could let little baby turtles go {just what she told us about}

Now my first thought...how neat...Madison will love it...next...Oh great...Hayley will try to grab every turtle there:)But this was Hayley...before we even arrived to the spot...gotta love umbrella strollers...this one is on its last leg though...she was out...completely out...Then I thought oh...GREAT...dinner's going to be fun tonight...you know the times where you KNOW it is coming...but nonetheless she looked adorable sleeping...we just let her be...so happy sleeping soundly:)
Anyhoo...we were waiting...and waiting....

So I got some sweet pics of Madison watching the waves our last evening there...she loved it...the sun was setting...the tide was changing...just perfect for the turtles...the little suckers were so cute ~ they had 4 small crates full~ ...pictures were difficult because they didn't allow us to use flash...and it quite dark during most...

Bobby was so sweet to let me do this with Madison...I know he wanted to...but like I said from my last post...really some bonding time with just Madison and I...I loved it...seeing her excited...seeing her smile...and seeing her hold that baby turtle...{that I had to explain to her...I asked her if she remembered how I picked up the toads to show her at home...she shook her head yes...well I said that is how you will need to hold this turtle...but very gently because it is a baby ~ her eyes just lit up...so excited}. She did great...she had to hold onto "MOON" for a good 20 minutes...pretty long time to explain that we couldn't let him go yet...but she did great!I got to tell you...what went through my head was...don't tell her that most and I mean MOST baby turtles will not survive due to predators...and will not be back in 20 years like they are telling us...{I was hopeful Madison didn't hear that part...because she remembers EVERYTHING literally...and I know if she heard that they were telling us they all will be back...I would have gotten "when" and "why" over and over and over again:)...for the next 20 years:)

I know...


That is pretty wrong, isn't it? {Couldn't help to think it though ~ just my realism...but I didn't want to ruin this sweet moment for Madison and myself together}...so I just joined in talking to her about the turtles and what they do...why they come back...

Personally...I love that she named him MOON...the actual moon was shining bright and just beautiful that evening...a perfect name...
And just before we let them go...those in charge...did a really silly dance to celebrate letting the turtles go...and off they went...Miss Madison looking down at Moon right before she let him go...one of my fav experiences with Madison that week.
And there he goes...right out to the water into the tide afterwards...and right when that happened...little Miss Hayley woke up screaming...oh I did predict this one...because she didn't know where in the heck she was...poor little thing...

Off to dinner we went...still with our little stinker...oh and dinner was FANTASTIC...yep...all Hayley wanted to eat was those stinkin' mini tubs of butter they bring out with bread...YEP...we really allowed {it was only one...I guess us justifying it in a way saying it was only one...we had to hide the rest}...we'll admit it...ever let your kiddos {well should I say the younger siblings get away with more than your 1st}...or maybe I just got more relaxed...hmmm....not proud of us doing that...just letting you know she did eat real food too...but all through us waiting for our meal...YEP she ate butter...and I'm okay with admitting it...because it kept her occupied since we forgot something to keep her occupied....because we were 30 minutes of walking from our room and a place just to grab food.

...honestly maybe not even 3/4 of a teaspoon of it she ate since we wiped it out as we snatched it away from her:)

The next day as we went through customs coming home into the US~ my oldest was asked questions from the customs agent...the same questions he just asked me...like 2 seconds before...YEP...and I prayed very hard...

that it wasn't going to be one of those times where Madison decides to make stuff up or say some untruths...among me thinking since when do 3 year olds get questioned...

Then as we walked through the last agent...we were asked if we still were glad we brought the kiddos...we were like ABSOLUTELY!!!! You know...this was our first vacation we didn't have to worry about a thing...it made me feel so proud to bring my entire family...because all of those late nights...my hard work {that I do love}...times of being away from them...it all become worth it when you see the results of your sweat equity and being rewarded with a trip for your family...{please know I am not doing a plug for what I do}

But honestly...the last day tears just welled up...at our last day at the beach...because I felt so blessed, grateful, thankful that I work for a company that not only loves on me with great people and all the other extras...but they also love on my family...and that is why we brought the kiddos...I wanted to show my girls just one thing...and yes even at their age...that whatever you are passionate about...go for it and do it well...the rewards are so worth it!
Blessings from us! ~ Oh and I have so many things to share very soon of recent projects too...so excited!

October 15, 2009

Dream a little dream....

Have you ever thought about if you are there yet?....I'm talking about are you still dreaming and making new dreams along the way?

...Or are you still waiting...to dream?...

Me...I think I'm pretty close to where I want to be in my big picture dream...and seeing them unfold right before my eyes...
Sure there are many things I still dream about...that I'm not close to being, having, or doing yet....

...Like refinshing my kitchen cabinets...or getting to where I want to be in my business...or already earning next year's trip again...

...But in the big scheme of things...I know my dreams have been unfolding right in front of me...my big picture dreams...
...Sure I dream hubby and I continue to get closer...

...I dream that my girls will always know what true faith is and have all they need right in front of them...
...I do dream for material things too...{lets be honest}...like decorating my home the way I see it in my head...

...and a home with a basement...we are definitely outgrowing our home...

...And when I think about the road that we have taken to get here...
...It has been rough at times...but that's a normality in life {for everyone}...our dreams have become...very, very happy times... They are reassuring...that I always have my handsome hubby with me...as we dream together.......Scary....when we didn't know what would result from our fertility issues...

....Breathtaking...like when I saw my girls for the very first time...

...And all those experiences worth every minute...
...Picking up the pieces after those hard times...
...Shoving them in your pocket...
...And smiling BIG to see you are past those times...and moving on with your new dreams......Just as the waves continue...up...and...down...so will my life be...a continual adjustment...

...But the downs get so much easier...I've always thought...
...The best part is....so many dreams are continually coming true...but my dream list continues to grow...there is so much I still dream about...
...with love, my family...and faith...
Dream a little dream...many little dreams...There's still so much more...I've always thought when you stop dreaming...you stop living...and I will never do that...
...I've become a great dreamer......that is my most favorite improvement about myself over these years...
I simply dream to just dream...

...I don't always think about the how's, when's, and plans every minute {well sometimes I still do}...
...But I've learned while dreaming...I will always dream until it's my time...

...When I pictured things 15 years ago with hubby...this is what I thought about...our life as we know it...right here...
with our girls...him and I together...

with lovelies in our life...
Dreaming a little dream....
because we didn't get to our family dream easily...not really at all...but it's all okay now...more than okay...your dreams always work out you know...at least faith + dreams has worked for me...but I wouldn't change it for the world...nope...

...I would keep it just the same...

...what I will do better...

...is my opinion of myself...
...I have some pain I carry with that...that eases up on me...when I least expect it...
...And tries to pull me down...

...But what I realized is that I have never been more prepared for those times...as I am now...

...That I now stand up for myself...sometimes not in the most perfect way...

...But I say what I feel when I feel it...

...and I feel good doing that...
...I've let go of people...
those that have intentionally tried to hurt our marriage this past year or so because of their issues...I've realized that their actions have nothing to do with us...it never did...they are not part of either one of our dreams...thankfully...

...I get less bothered when people judge me...when they think I look too young...and I now see how sad for them...they are missing out...
...So with the waves up and down...my dream a little dream is right here in front of me...I still have work to do in this life...
...lots and lots of it...

...I have more dreams...

...for hubby and I...oh do I love him...{sigh}
...for my girls...
...for our family...
...for my business...

...and even for my beachy vintage finds...{is that even a style...well if not, I'm making it up}

...BUT the most important BIG dream...the one I imagined 15 years ago with hubby...

we've gotten so much right...{and a lot wrong too...I think we all can say that don't you think?}

...the outcome...has been something marvelous for us these past 15 years...

{Because} our dreams ...have been ones we both can say...they have us right where we want to be...here
...they are near and dear to us...the things that make us tick...smile...laugh... appreciate...
...I'm learning to roll with it more as I dream my little dreams...that I don't always have to have a plan...

...I'm not 100% at that yet...but I'm getting closer and closer...and I'm really okay with not ever being 100% but getting as close as I can...because when I do...the rewards are wonderful ...{I've found so far}...
I continue to enjoy the view of life as I dream a little dream...
Whether the waves are big with good times or small waves of difficult...the view I will continue to enjoy...with hubby and I as we dream the little dreams together...
{a little behind with my blogging here...pictures from Day 3 here and Day 4}

October 13, 2009

What I've learned...

What I've learned from one day at the beach with my family...

{a little sidetrack first though}

...I tell ya getting ready for breakfast this morning took forever...slow motion and feeling the vacation vibe that for once we really do not have to do anything by a certain time...hmmm....me...I still feel the need to schedule some things...because when you travel with kiddos...well...you have to plan some things so they are fed and happy for the day...hubby...well he finally realized that mid-day:)

What have I learned while on vacation today?

My oldest daughter thinks we have moved into a new home...for good...every time we walk up to the door...well... well she explains that "This is my new home..." Not only is it really cute...but just goes to show you my girls can be happy anywhere {for the most part until they start fighting over their toy again}...that makes me the happiest of all to know that...we don't have to have all the lovelies...even though we all love all the lovelies...but we do have to have a beach and pool according to her though:)...sounds good to me though...I love it here...wouldn't want to live here...I'm more of a Carolina loving beach girl...South Carolina to be exact...
I could definitely handle the beach...Rebekah commented yesterday that she hopes there is a beach in heaven as it is one of her favorite places here on earth....I couldn't have put it in better words myself....the beach is heaven to me...to my hubby...absolute heaven...and I have learned for our girls too...

I've learned that my camera fogs up almost everytime I turn it on here...
I've learned that with a bucket, sand, and water we have the most fabulous days....{by the way...Madison is patting the sand down to make her castle...}I've learned that my heart has melted when Madison has told me as we are just walking places that "I love you Mommy" for no reason...just because we are at the beach is so fun...I've learned that vacationing with other consultants is always so fun because everyone always asks everyone if you need a picture taken...so we can get a family picture at the beach without even worrying about it...sorry folks...I feel kind of silly in my bathing suit on my blog...but it's a family pic...so I'll take it!
I've learned that the beach is so much funner than the pool...just letting you know...the beach they pre-occupy themselves a bit more so Bobby and I could just sit there for a couple minutes at a time...notice there are NO pool pics...so we decided to convince the kiddos back to the beach...much easier and funner...actually for all!
I've learned that your children can help you get over your fears...
{you see my first beach trip when I was a kiddo...my dad scared the wits out of me so bad I climbed up his back about sharks and stuff being in the water...he was just trying to be funny...but it still scared me...seriously I am a realist so I know nothing will be there to "get me"...I typically WILL NOT get in water I cannot see all the way down because of it...}

BUT I DID IT! {these are pictures of Daddy with Madison out in the water }... I walked right out there when Madison asked me to do it with her...I just couldn't say no...my fears or not...I didn't want to make her scared...just because it freaks me out a bit...and I loved every minute with Miss Madison in the ocean...ocean that I cannot see in...
...hearing my youngest...Miss Hayley say "The Beach! The Beach!" is really pretty wonderful!
I've learned that our mini sand castle is also a Kingdom that "King Mermaid" lives at...and the kingdom is worth building...especially with chairs for King Mermaid...
I've learned that...{we've learned that}...we may try another beach within Moon Palace resort...a little mossy today...We've learned to use as many barettes, clips, sunglasses, whatever, to keep their hair from blowing in ther face...otherwise they rub sand in their eyes...and that's not fun to deal with...
I've learned that my handsome husband has a very prominent farmer's tan line from his job...hee...hee... really a cute pic though
I've learned that Madison and Hayley are already so much alike with both of them constantly being on a mission...{well I already knew that...just point proven again I guess}...Ice cream breaks at the beach are the best...and a drink for mommy and daddy too...cheers! I've learned that if my hubby doesn't knock it off taking pics of me...I'll embarrass him right back...
I've learned that hearing Madison say "Hola" and "Gracious" to the staff and other people is sooo stinkin' cute...especially when they push her chair in at restaurants for her...
I've learned Madison is a very obvious people watcher too...she must get that from Daddy...
I've learned that my daughters love to dance to every kind of music...and when you catch them doing it you get the best smiles...{dinner the girls were going crazy dancing to the lovely music:)}
We've learned that sometimes using " if you want to go back to the beach" during moments of them not listening is a pretty good bribe...yes...it is...got us all the way through the welcome dinner tonight...and a sleeping baby out of it too:)
Blessings from us!