Time at the beach is always good for your soul...

Erin & Andy getting married at the beach also allowed us to take a family vacation at the same time.  Erin's parents were sweet enough to invite us to stay at the beach house that they got for their family.  It was Lyla's first time in a car that long and her first time at the beach.  Let me just say that I have never been prouder of her!  It was a 12 hour car ride each way.  She only took one nap the whole time we were there.  Her schedule was completely thrown.... BUT she was the best behaved little girl you have ever seen!  The three of us had SO MUCH FUN together!

Lyla loved playing in the sand at the beach, but was terrified of the ocean.  She loved swimming in the pool at the house.  She got to play mini golf for the first time and actually did pretty good!  We went for ice cream and she had "Purple Cow" which we all just found totally hilarious! 

By staying at the house it allowed Gary and I to put Lyla to bed at night and then still get to hang out with everyone without having to find somebody to stay with Lyla.  We had parties on the porch and live music.  I got to catch up with old friends while Gary made some new ones. 

I really forgot how great it is to just get away and forget about everything for a couple of days!  I hope we get to go away again next summer!

Always a Bridesmaid - FINALLY a Bride

My Little Erin Ree finally got married!  I couldn't be any happier for her!  She has loved Andy since middle school (I really wish we still had the diary to prove it!).  It was a beautiful wedding!  Lyla was  her flower girl and I was a bridesmaid.  

They got married at the beach.  There were lots of complications including a location change the night before, travel arrangements getting messed up, the bar closing an hour before it was supposed to...  but really, years from now those are not what anyone will remember. 

Everyone will remember that it was a beautiful summer day on the beach.  We will remember that Erin not only had her dad walk her down the aisle, but Kozmo was there too!  We will remember how proud we were of the kids for walking down the steps together and holding up that sign!  We will laugh about how Jamie forgot the ring and how Andy couldn't stop laughing during his vows.  We will never forget how amazing Jesse was playing on the beach for 20 minutes nonstop.. just waiting for the girls to get down there or how awesome he did playing Erin & Andy's first song to dance to.  

We will remember the joy.  We will remember that it was the day that Erin officially became a Jinkens!

Heard Around the House #25

Lyla was playing in the bath tub and she asked me if I could get some of her little people to play with.  I  brought her in the princess and a pony.

Lyla:  I need more people.  I need a Mommy.

Me:  Just use the Princess as the Mommy.

Lyla:  NO.  A Princess can't be a Mommy.

Me:  Well why not?  I can be a princess and a mommy.

Lyla:  No you can't.  A Princess carries a wand and a Mommy carries a purse.  You have a purse so you are a Mommy and NOT a Princess.

I laughed SO hard and she was SO serious.... really popped my bubble and any princess fantasy I ever had!

Oh What a Busy & Fun Filled Life I Lead! ;)

Let's see here... It's been about a month since my last post...  Let me try and give a little recap of what all has been happening!

Erin's Bachelorette Party

For Erin's Bachelorette Party we started out with a painting class which was so much fun!  Plus you got to bring your own wine!  After that we did the normal bar crawls, good time had by all!

Bruno Mars Concert

Ashley & I went to the Bruno Mars Concert.  By far THE BEST concert I have ever seen!  I loved him before and now I'm totally obsessed!

 

 

4th of July at Em & G's

The Saturday after the 4th of July we went to Em & Gerald's house to cookout and swim then we went to see fireworks at the park by their house.  This is the first year that we took Lyla to see fireworks and she loved them!  Pappy even bought her a glow stick necklace so she was a very happy little girl!

Pig Roast

Ashley's parents have a big party / pig roast every summer.  Its always a good time. 

I had gone in to the house to use the bathroom and came back out to Lyla doing a full on show for everyone!  I grabbed my camera, but I missed the good stuff.  The most I could get was some spins!

Daycare Spirit Days

Daycare keeps sending home these calendars with different "Spirit Days".  A couple recent ones were dress up (well they called it "Business Casual"?  Amanda and I took that to mean dress up) and Crazy Hair day.  Well Lyla's hair is always crazy so we had that in the bag!  lol

 

 

Wings for Cassie Walk
Today we participated in the Cribs for Kids - Breath of Life Stroll in honor of Cassie.  It breaks your heart to look around at all the groups there and realize that they have all lost somebody so young and so special to each of them.  I was happy to participate and try to raise more awareness.  And Amanda did great and bypassed her goal by raising over $2,000!

Next up in this crazy life of mine - We leave EARLY Saturday to drive to the beach.  Erin & Andy's wedding is a week from today, then a week at the beach, followed by Ashley's Bridal Shower the Sunday we get back.  Thing are for sure CRAZY but I wouldn't have it any other way!