Florida Vacation 2011 - Part One

A couple of weeks ago, we made our annual trip to Okaloosa Island, Florida.  As always, it was a blast for us and the kiddos.  Since these tend to be long, picture heavy posts, I am breaking it into two parts.  This is a recap of Saturday through Tuesday. 

Saturday - Driving, driving and more driving.  Luckily we are blessed with two kids who are excellent travelers!  They hung out, napped a little, watched a movie or three and we were there.  We rented a ground floor condo to make pool and beach access easy.  We have done this for a couple of years and losing a bit of view to gain so much convenience is totally worth it. 

Our view from the patio was this...Love!


So, Sunday through Tuesday we...

 did a little swimming in the pools,

came up with a little vacation theme music,

wrote our names in the sand (and held hands, I die!),

and got a big girl hair wrap!

Where we stayed:
Summer Place on Okaloosa Island, Fort Walton Beach, FL rented through VRBO

Places we ate:
Saturday Dinner - Hungry Howie's Pizza - <3 the flavored crust! (and we don't have one at home)
Sunday Dinner - Grilled Burgers & Dogs courtesy of Tommy
Monday Dinner - Staff's in Fort Walton Beach
Tuesday Dinner - Hungry Howie's again (yep, it's good!)

Our good friends the Warren's came in on Tuesday and stayed the rest of the week.  All the fun from Wednesday  through Saturday will be in Part Two!

Daddy's Little Princess

Each year, a local women's group in our town hosts a Father/Daughter Ball to raise money for Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN.  It is a major event!  :)

This year we decided that AnnaLauren was old enough to completely drive her dad insane go.  So, we began looking for just the right dress and accessories.  AnnaLauren specifically requested "glass slippers".  So after much looking and even more unhappiness with what we were finding, we went with a tried and true approach - our Mamaw Betty.  My grandmother, A's great-grandmother, made her a dress based completely off a picture from the internet that was my inspiration and my sad little instructions.  It is GORGEOUS! 

Tommy and AnnaLauren had a fantastic time and made some really special memories!  I am a lucky girl to have these two plus the teenager!

Tommy and AnnaLauren ready to go!

Love this little face!

Modeling on the stage with her feather boa and "parasol".

Hot Weather and an Update

OK, so it's been over a month since I've posted about anything.  But, that isn't exactly atypical for me.  My excuses are:
1.  We went on vacation - and yes, at some point there will be a post or two about that
2.  I'm lazy
3.  It is so hot outside

So in honor of all this hot weather, I leave you with a picture of AnnaLauren in the snow. 
Happy Friday!

AnnaLauren - February 2011