I Don't Know Where to Begin...Pelican Inn, We're Out...

Our vacation this year could easily be called the best and worst vacation we have ever been on. The first few days started out a little rough. We went to Dog Island, and the accommodations were less than adequate. The pictures on the Internet do not look like the actual rooms on the island. I think photoshop may have had something to do with it.

Anyway, the water was not potable, so bottled water had to be used for everything. Cooking. Brushing teeth. Washing hands. Etc. Not exactly the ideal situation for three children to be in. And, we had to take all of our food and water to the island by water taxi. No joke. There isn't a store or anything on the island. I could deal just fine with the isolation and whatnot, but not being able to properly feed and nourish my children because I was unprepared for the indoor camping....well, that was not cool.

The room was about as nasty as you could imagine. The only place I have ever stayed that was even close to this gross was Pete's Motel in Panama City circa 1985. We called it Pete's Roach Motel. Well, the Pelican Inn was just as gross. The refrigerator was rusted. All OVER! The bathroom faucet didn't turn on because it had so much calcium and lime on the knob that it wouldn't turn. By the way, the sign saying DO NOT DRINK THE WATER wasn't even in our room. We happened to notice it on a door to another room. No joke. They weren't even going to warn us that the water was BROWN! Hadley called it...Junkity. Yes, even my child knew that it was nasty and that our tent provides better shelter.

The island was marvelous though. I've never seen so many creatures or so much beauty in one spot. We were 5 of the 17 people on the 7 mile island, so we had the beach pretty much all to ourselves.

We caught crabs.

Ewww. Don't be pervy. Of course they were the sand and sea crabs! Gees! Get your mind out of the gutter!

We had a strange encounter with a raccoon that nearly attacked me on the porch. Hmmm. I should probably leave this one at that. I don't want any trouble with the law!! HA!

We saw tons of those little white sand crabs that normally only come out at night. There were out during the day and would get crazy close to people!!

Overall, I would say it was an interesting experience. If I could have better accommodations, I would go back to the island in a heart beat. The sand and isolation (translated:being able to wear any swimsuit I want without worrying about how much cellulite and how many stretch marks were hanging out for the world to be grossed out by) were both wonderful. The Pelican Inn is a big, fat DON'T.

Them or Me...Take Your Pick...

Our house has two pink crape myrtles beside the garage. Normally, they don't bother me.

About three weeks ago, I was having a really bad day. When I got home, the children had tracked the pink bloomy things that fall off the trees all over the house. This was not the first time I had to sweep up 14 metric tons of bloomy things. I'd been sweeping them up twice a day for weeks. Even Roomba can't keep up with all that gets tracked in.

So in a fit of frustration, I looked over at my husband and shouted, "Either the crape myrtles die or I die. Take your pick!"

No less than 30 seconds later, my poor husband was out in the extreme heat with a saw. No less than 5 minutes later, the trees were cut down and in the bed of his truck out of my sight.

Maybe I over reacted....

Our Vacation...The Preface...

This year we went to Dog Island for our family vacation. It is off the coast of Florida and is a unique island. The only way to get there is by water taxi or water ferry. The majority of the island is considered a nature preserve, so there is very little on the island in terms of technology and convenience.You can see the island in the distance.

The children were ridiculously excited about going on vacation this year. I can't say I blame them. I was super excited about having a few days off myself.

We didn't stay long on Dog Island. We had to hit the eject button after two nights and seek shelter somewhere on the mainland. I'm just gonna have to break this into a series of posts. It was too nuts for words.

Sanuk...

I realize that I have done an inordinately large number of posts about Layton's shoes and feet. So, just to keep it going....

These are his awesome Sanuk shoes that came from Bennett's. He loves them and says they are ultra comfortable. This pair is actually a little too big. I bought them for Fall/Winter, but he just had to go ahead and start wearing them.

Just Cause...

Every time I look at this picture of Layton diving in the waves at Point Mallard, I crack up.

Because No One Can Eat Just One...

Do you remember when that was the slogan for a certain brand of chips?

Clearly, it is remarkably similar to Layton's slogan regarding silly bands. One just isn't enough!

Exercise is Good...Layton Says So...

You could say that I am completely obsessed with my weight. OK. Fine. I'll go ahead and admit it. I have a totally unrealistic and unhealthy obsession with my weight. I believe that part of it stems from too much pressure to be thin when I was younger. That's a post I'll save for later though. Way more baggage than you would expect! :) This post is more about exercise anyway. I like to exercise. I feel better when I take the time out of my day to feel the burn. HA! Layton has taken notice of this and made a whole set of cards for me to use. According to him, this is how you need to "exercise your body."

The warm up is apparently running as fast as you can three times around the den and kitchen.

He even drew little weights for some of the moves. These are pieces of paper that he designed just for me. It was absolutely precious!!

Little Layton and His Ears...

Layton has had two sets of tubes in his ears. The second set just fell out about six weeks ago or so. He's had three ear infections since then. Ugh. I'm hoping it will get better, but I am fearful that he will need another set this winter. :(

The morning we left for vacation I took Layton to a friend's birthday party. He had been talking about it non-stop since he got the invitation, so this was a big morning for him. Sadly, his ears didn't want to play. He was only on day three of his antibiotic for this most recent ear infection. He got in the kiddie pool one time, got a little wet, and decided to sit on his towel the rest of the day.

He loved the Scooby Doo decorations though!! He's all about some Scooby, and apparently so is every other male on the planet less than 6 years old! Ha!

Here he is taking a picture with my phone. I failed to get a picture of what he did next though. He turned around, turned the camera phone around, and took a self portrait in front of Velma and the gang! It was hysterical!

Someone is way to crafty for their own good....

 

It's entirely possible that I might hunt down the painters of the Mystery Machine to help out with Layton's party this year. He wants to have a pirate party of epic proportions!

Do You Work on Commission?....Big Mistake...

Have you ever wanted to pull a Pretty Woman on a clerk? I wanted to really, really badly the other night. I took Hadley and two of her friends out for a night of food and shopping to celebrate her birthday. While we were walking around the outdoor mall, I requested a stop in J. Jill to check out the clearance rack. The girls were happy to oblige. J. Jill has a nice seating area, and their feet needed a break. It was a win-win....until the clerk came over to me.

I was looking through the Medium and Large shirt section. The clerk came up and asked if I was shopping for a gift. That made me feel good for a minute. Then.....

She said, "Oh, you must be looking for yourself. You have shoulders as wide as the Tennessee River." She was grinning and trying to act like it was so funny. Then she made some remark about how striking knits would hang on me. Uh, too late lady. You already offended me.

Seriously, does this woman think I am not aware of the fact that my shoulders are disproportionately large for my frame?

Hello! Even when I weighed under 100lbs (obviously, that was before children), I still had to buy mediums because my dang shoulders would rip a small in half. Yes, I know that short sleeves look like capped sleeves on me.

That doesn't mean that I want sales people to try and joke about it with me. Come on! I had the urge to go next door to the Ann Taylor LOFT, drop a mint, and come back to rub it in her face!!!

Yummy Mexican Goodness...So Not PC...

After we picked up Hadley's flute one Saturday, we stopped to eat at a Mexican restaurant on the way home.

Oh my! It was the first time I had ever been there, and it was so yummy! The chips were paper thin, so the salsa and cheese practically melted in your mouth.

 My little superman loved it! I could hardly get him to hold still for a photo-op!

The best part is that after you finish stuffing yourself on the chips, salsa, and yummy food, they bring you free ice cream!! No joke!! It was one of the best lunches I have had in a while!

Bingo...

More of the Throwdown...

Ella's Birthday Party...Or Throwdown...

Ella had her birthday gathering right before we left for vacation. We had it at Onyx gym. It was so much fun!!

Here's the table...

Close up of the giant cupcake...

 

She was so busy running around that I barely got any pictures of her!

Hadley...Birthday Fun...

Hadley and Ella both had their birthdays while we were on vacation last week. Once we returned to North Alabama, Hadley got to have a little bit of a party. She couldn't decide which friends to invite because all of her friends don't get along with each other. Apparently, she and her friends have already started to become catty sixth graders! HA!

Anyway, we went to the outdoor mall in Huntsville, ate at P.F. Chang's, shopped, and bought a huge cookie cake.

All of her friends are obsessed with peace signs and so is Hadley. Don't you just love the cookie cake they designed? Yes, that was sarcasm you just read.

The next day we had to go to Huntsville to pick up Hadley's flute. We stopped for a bite to eat on the way home. It was yummy and fun! The girls stayed up way too late and ate way too much chocolate. I'm sure no one will ever be allowed to stay at our house again! HAAHAH!!

Peace...

Volvo...

I drive a Volvo. For the most part, I've been pleased with it. The thing that bothers me the most is having it serviced. You have to actually have Volvo parts and fluids and such. The dealership is about 45 minutes away from our house, so it is an ordeal to get over there, get serviced, and get home. It is normally an all day affair. No really, I once came in the morning, had Jay pick me up for lunch, and he still beat me home after he got off work that day!!! All day affair!!

About two weeks ago, the "Time for Regular Maintenance" emails started arriving. I made an appointment, and hustled the little ones with me over to Huntsville. They sat patiently in the waiting area.

We managed to get in and out in less than an hour!!! It was the first time in the four years that I have had the car that we were out in less than 3 hours. Seriously!!!! I couldn't believe it!!!

It Was the First Day of Second and Sixth Grade...

Veggie Tales. Get it. Ok, I know it was lame. :)

Today is the first day of school here!! I am so ready for school to be back in full swing!!! I function so much better with a routine!!!

Batman Wii...Save Me...

Layton is obsessed with a Wii game. It's some kind of Lego Batman game. I don't really know much about it because I don't really know anything about any games! I've never been a game kinda gal. :)

He sits on the sofa and plays this crazy game a lot! Do any of you have little boys who game too much?

Self Portrait...Layton Style...

Layton photographs himself almost as much as Ella photographs herself. He got this gem while we were eating lunch at Luvici's one day in downtown.

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Yes, that's part of my face in the picture. He was in my lap. :)

Dirty and On the Floor...

My job is an interesting one. I get to interact with lots of people on a daily basis, and I get to have my children around for the majority of my work hours. Layton went with me to do a payroll one day. It's for a cabinet shop in our community. I've been doing the payroll at this shop for years, so I have gotten really close to the owner and some of the employees.

Layton wasn't too thrilled about watching me install a QuickBooks update the last time we were there. He pulled out one of the owner's hunting catalogs and plopped down on the dirty floor.

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He sat like this for the better part of two hours...flipping through pictures of rifles, scopes, cross bows, etc. He loved every minute of it!!! And, the owner loves watching Layton enjoy the goodies at the shop!!