We made it home safely today. We had the most amazing time ever this week. I think I can truly say for all of us that we were not ready to come home. AnnaClaire is quite the beach baby. She had the best time. I know I've already told about our first 2 days, but I am going to tell about the whole trip and I can't remember what I've written, so sorry if I repeat anything... and this will probably get long as I tend to ramble... I have tons and tons of pictures to post (we took over 1500) which we are uploading as I write. Here's one that I absolutely love of me and my Bu on the marina yesterday morning.
We worked out a very nice schedule while we were there. AC would awake fairly early and Dad and she would go on a nice, long bike ride. Sometimes a golf cart ride, as well. They would go to the marina and look at boats while Dad drank his "ha ju" (hot juice aka coffee). One of the days, we all went to the docks at the marina and AnnaClaire sat down and patted next to her and said "sit". She knew her routine! At 9:30, we would all get up and eat breakfast and head to the beach in the golf cart around 10. 12:30 or 1ish, we would come back for lunch, watch tv a little, and AnnaClaire would nap while we headed back to the beach. About 4:30, we'd go to the big pool a couple blocks down and come home whenever for dinner. It worked out just great. That was basically AnnaClaire's schedule and the rest of us would just go along with it or do something else instead. Oh and every night, Caroline, AnnaClaire, Dad, Mom, and I would go on a golf cart drive and Caroline and I would take turns driving- very fun.
AnnaClaire loved the beach. We got lots of comments about how sweet, happy, precious, cute she was. Most of the time we were on the golf carts, she would sit on my lap in the back. So she would see all the cars behind us. And to every single car she saw, she would wave and blow kisses. So cute! She loved the beach. She was so cute in her little water shoes and skirties, bows, and beach hat. She is a total beach baby. Her favorite thing was going out in the waves with Daddy. She was so happy out there in the ocean. She liked to be on Daddy's shoulders, best. She would also "surf". So funny. And we would ask if she was catchin' a wave, and she would start waving! haha! The tidal pools were also a big hit as they are a great size for her! And of course playing in the sand was big fun for Miss AC. One of the days when she and Dad went on a bike ride, they went to the little store and AnnaClaire got a sand truck. She loved that thing. She played it a lot in the sand, as well as her watering can and cups. She loved pulling my boogie board all over the beach, so we got her her own little $6 boogie board and the was the hit of the week. She woud pull it all around the beach and also she loved to sit on it while I pulled her. A few times, she would lay on it in the tidal pools while I pulled her, but she was a little scared to lay on it in the water. We went on quite a few seashell hunts and she would sit on her boogie board and I'd pull her and she would pick up the shells she wanted and put them in her little truck. It was so cute. One of the days we found a starfish!! AnnaClaire thought that was so cool! The pool starfish was dead :( and 2 of his legs fell off, so that was upsetting. On one of our seashell hunts, we saw someone flying a kite and AnnaClaire loved the kite. The whole week we saw lots of kites and AC would point and say "KII". It was adorable. Next time, we will have to bring a kite. AnnaClaire also loved jumping the waves in the ocean. And then when a big one came, she would run away from it with the biggest smile. She is a BEACH BABY, no doubt about it!!!
The pool was also a huge hit. Not only did AnnaClaire meet her one friend I talked about, she also met little Ellie, who just turned 2, adopted from Hunan in January!! So that was cool. They were so cute together splashing in the pool. The biggest hit of the pool was the little froggie slide. AnnaClaire went from needing someone to help her up the stairs, sit her down, and push her to the person waiting below to walking over, climbing the stairs, sitting down, and pushing herself. She would just need someone to get her at the bottom so that she wasn't in the next kid's way! I got a video of her doing the slide, that I will post at some point. Also at the pool every day, she would sit on the lounge chair with Daddy and Mommy and eat pretzels!
On Wednesday, Dad, Ben, and Will went deep sea fishing and Caroline, Mom, AC, and I went to the outlets near Hilton Head (an hour away). We had a yummy lunch at Moes and did lots of shopping. For the first time ever, we went shopping and managed to not buy AnnaClaire a thing. On the way back in, we stopped at this really cute store and Bu Baby obsessed over the little light up flamingo. Of course, we did not need a $48 flamingo, but the very nice store manager did see how much she loved it and gave her a little fluffy flamingo pen! We got the cutest oven mits ever at that store... pink with green frogs and green edged ruffle stuff!!!!
Yesterday we awoke early and headed out in the golf cart to the marina, golf course, and beach and got precious pictures of AnnaClaire in her white dress that we got with Keara and Maura in May. AnnaClaire looked darling in it and we got some amazing pictures. With dad and me taking pictures, we have tons of really good ones and it is going to be hard to narrow it down to the best (we are trying to pick a few for a collage picture frame). On top of that, there is a photo contest for the beach's calender and I want to enter one of the pictures for that. I can only enter 1 and that is going to be SOOO hard to choose. Anyway, AnnaClaire behaved so well for the hour and a half photo shoot and the pictures turned out great. You should've seen her at the beach! She did not care at all that she was wearing a dress. At first, she was pretty timid of the water, but after a bit she was standing in the water splashing and running around. Then she started throwing the sand (one of her other favorite things to do at the beach). She must've realized it was going to get on her dress, because she started "dusting off" after a minute. Anyway, that's okay about a wet and semi sandy dress, she is a tot after all :). We didn't to dune pictures because we figured we had done enough pics for one day, so we went back to the house and got ready for a fun day at the beach. This morning, Dad and I took AC back out and we took pics of AnnaClaire on the Fripp alligator and also quite a few on the dunes in her little sailboat dress. Also yesterday, we went in the beach store and got AnnaClaire the cutest little Fripp shirt. I have had my eye on it this whole time and yesterday Mom came with to the store and we got it. We also liked a little fish one and we tried them both on her and got the original one... guess what it says... "Peanut butter and jellyfish kiss! Fripp Island". It's so cute!!!! Everyone in the store was telling her how much they loved her little shirt! (and she made friends with all of them.. and was even playing ball with the cashier!)
We went back to the house and got the bike and took AnnaClaire on a bike ride to return it and then drove back in the golf cart (Dad drove the golf cart behind me and AC on the bike so we'd have it to go back). We packed all up and while the guys loaded the car, AC and I went on a walk and looked at the golf course. Then the guys took us on a golf cart ride to return it and we went to the docks and looked at all the boats. Mom and Dad picked us up and we stopped by the house for a quick picture and then checked out and headed home :(. I have to say that I don't think AnnaClaire was very happy to be leaving the beach, as she was not as good in the car as usual. She was still good though and loved showing off her hand motions to the Itsy Bitsy Spider, the Wheels on the Bus, and When you're Happy and you know it. We stopped at DQ on the way and we got blizzards and got AnnaClaire a little kiddy cup of vanilla which the guy gave us for free (I think all the free stuff is because they all think she is so cute ;)) We got home about 5 hours later and Will was already home unloading the car with Maggie by his side. AnnaClaire got out of the car yelling "MAHEY! MAHEY!" (she can't quite get her g's in Maggie down") We had a relaxing night although you could tell the Bu was very hungry and tired. She had yummy mac and cheese for dinner and is now sleeping soundly.
As you can tell, we had the best time ever. I cannot wait to go back to the beach next year. I wish we were able to go more often, as it was such a hit. We all had an awesome time.
I am working on pictures and it will probably be a few posts of them and maybe a few days before I have all the ones I want to post, posted. So stay tuned for those.
And also, I can't forget about... today is our 8 month gotcha anniversary. Not only that, but it is our 1 year LOI anniversary!!! I'll post a little 1 yr/8months post later tonight, although we don't have LumaPix on this computer and my computer is not working, so it will be simple.
Well it's Friday... and that means I have the whole weekend ahead of me that won't be so jam packed! And with Labor Day on Monday... that gives me an extra long weekend! I did finally get everything working on my computer, so I can post on here and add pictures. So here's a picture for now. This is AnnaClaire modeling her new jammies while walking down the stairs. I love this one! I have lots and lots of others to add, but those will have to come at another time because AnnaClaire is begging me to read to her and after that I'm going to a downtown labor day weekend event in our lttle town. So that will be fun! Just wanted to do a short post since I haven't done one in awhile. And finally... a picture! I'll try to post again tonight and if not, tomorrow! Tomorrow will be really fun as we are heading to the AWAA NC families reunion!!
Since Grandma is here, and Drew is leaving for college tomorrow, we thought today would be a good day to take family pictures (I'm sure you know why... have I given enough hints?) Not any GREAT ones, but the one I posted is the best. We also got a few of just us 4 kids. They turned out pretty good. Enjoy!
Today AnnaClaire discovered out Texas football and started playing with it. She loved it and kept throwing it back and forth to me. I can't wait until Texas football starts!! Soon!
Here's 2 from dinner last night. I love this dress on her! Isn't is so adorable?! On sale at PBKids!!!
First of all, here is finally a picture of Will and I before the first day of school. I am sorry for my lack of posting lately. It has been so hectic. The retreat was awesome! We left on Wednesday and got home yesterday late afternoon. Besides the fact that I broke my big toe and it is swollen, purple, green, and black, it was so much fun. There was a blob, ziplines that went into the lake (that was my favorite), a big double swing that would like raise you to the top of a wire and then you'd pull a string and like fly. There was also a pool with a huge hot tub, a big metal waterslidei n the lake, sand volleyball courts, a soda shop with ice cream, slushies, milkshakes, etc, and more. Our family used to go to the camp every year with our friends but we haven't gone in ages. It's a Christian family camp which many Christian schools here go to soon after starting school. The speaker was really good, the food was amazing, and all the people were really nice. The bus ride was about 2.5 hours.. not bad. It was really fun just being with friends and such. We had an awesome time and we all wished that we could've stayed longer! When we got home AnnaClaire was still sleeping. I got to go get her up at 5 and she was so happy to see her sissy and gave me the biggest, sweetest hug. Grandma got here on Thursday so she's been here, too. So that's fun!
This morning we went to orientation at school. We were there for like 3 hours and AnnaClaire enjoyed every minute of it! It was fun. I met all my teachers and saw where all my classes are,etc. I've met a lot of friends and they were all there, so that was fun. Everyone loved AnnaClaire. I don't think anyone is used to see a stroller being pushed around the highschool! Si that was fun. Afterwards we went to Chickfila and ran into 3 families we knew (all coming from orientation). That's a place where you see someone you know every time you go there. We got home and AnnaClaire went down for an awesome nap. We had to wake her at 5! (although we didn't get home until after 2.) While she napped, Will stayed home with her while Mom and I ran out to see about stuff for my laptop. It came back today and it is a totally new one!!! I'm so happy! They put my hard drive in it so I didn't loose anything, but it is a totally new case. Scratch free and all! Well anyway, we took it in at orientation to get it booted with all the school software (we use laptops at school) and we realized it runs on the wrong xp. (because mine wasn't purchased through school since I already had it) So we had to take it to Curcuit City to see about getting xp pro installed. Well... they don't sell it anymore because it's outdated so they gave us all this info on ordering it. Well when Dad got home he found that we already had it! So that is good. We are trying to back everything up because I will loose it all when switching to pro. But anyway. AnnaClaire got up with the sweetest little smile! She played in the house and outside until dinner and I bathed her and got her ready for bed. She was so cute in the tub. The minute I put her in, she put her hands in the bubbles and put them on her face to make a bubble beard! So cute :)
Jumping
I was playing with my sunglasses and Sissy turned around and I had them like this! I was very happy that I figured out how to put my glasses on by myself... even if they are upside down!
Running to Sissy
I feel like I've been doing so much catching up from the beach and now very much posting about whats going on now! It's very low key... haven't taken very many pics because I have enough to add from the beach. But here's one I took yesterday of AnnaClaire in the shirt we got her at Fripp. She was wearing her adorable white dress w/ Robeez to Church and I forgot to get pics. But after Church we were just hanging around the house and she went to Marshalls with Mom, so I put her in her new little shirt and jean shorts. She looks so big!
I love this one... in the smack dab middle of all the stuff yet happy as could be
8 months ago, our sweet little Bu Bear was given to us. I cannot believe it has been 8 whole months... that's a long time! 8 months ago, AnnaClaire was a very unhappy baby, in Hunan China. Today she wrapping up her beach trip... a very happy time had! I really is hard to believe it has been 8 months. She has changed so much in those months... (I can't get powerpoint to work, so pictures will have to do..)
We made it home safely today. We had the most amazing time ever this week. I think I can truly say for all of us that we were not ready to come home. AnnaClaire is quite the beach baby. She had the best time. I know I've already told about our first 2 days, but I am going to tell about the whole trip and I can't remember what I've written, so sorry if I repeat anything... and this will probably get long as I tend to ramble... I have tons and tons of pictures to post (we took over 1500) which we are uploading as I write. Here's one that I absolutely love of me and my Bu on the marina yesterday morning.
She loved dipping her chicken in Mom's BBQ sauce! And then she decided it was better with no chicken!
This morning, AnnaClaire came upon my little Vera Bradley thing (that can be used in so many different ways and I love it!) and she insisted that she bring it on errands. It was just her size and she was so funny with it! Whenever she wears purses, she lifts her arm way up so it will stay on. It's so funny! (ex: 1st picture). We packed it all up with her cell phone, her keys, and she decided her turtle and brush should go in too. Then we ran a few errands. When we got home we ate and AC napped and I went to a pool party that someone threw for all the new girls and their host families. It was really fun. I went right to cross country after that and AnnaClaire was happily awaiting Will and I outside when we got home. I just love my Bu Baby!!
