Paperdolls at the swing

This new blogger set up is freaking me out!!  Anybody else?!  I am so dang lost.   But, I am a student of positive thinking, so nevermind my mental breakdown in the blogging world... let's get right onto my darling children, shall we!?

(If anybody has figured out how to edit a previously saved post, please let me know.  Or, if they know how to just load pics and save, let me know that too!)  Now.. my kids! 

On this trip, I warned Ellie Sue that I would be packing her bag and she could have NO input into the clothes that would be in her suitcase.  Naturally, we get to the beach, and she only wants to wear the 3T things that I packed for Gabs.  She has a thing about her clothes (shorts/ skirts) not being "too long".  I know, I know.  I'd be worried too if it was someone else's kid.  But, I know that if this situation becomes a bigger issue, she'll be confined to the house throughout her teenage years, so I am just going with the flow for now, and hoping it's a phase!!

Ellie and Gabbi both had this polo sundress packed for this trip.  Ellie's had royal blue stripes.  Gabs's had the light pink.  So, of course, in true defiance style, Ellie had to wear Gabbi's.  So be it.  I was just excited it wasn't skinny jeans and a halter top!

So, I get them dressed and start dressing myself.  Minutes later, these two emerge with a total face of make up on... compliments of Ellie Sue Groves, certified esthetician/ make up expert!

Ellie had on a nice bright teal eyeshadow, and Gabs was in a bright green. 
I ignored that too, wiped a bit of the excess lipstick off, and tidied up the shadow, and away we went. 

This is one of my kids' favorite spots at the Beach Club... the swings! 

I keep a stash of toys that are easy to pack in a bag for poolside, side roadtrips, or even on under a cabana on the beach.

Some of these pictures on the swing just cracked me up.  Gabbi is so sweet and into the project at hand.  Ellie has to make these weird faces, and be all distracting and such.

(I have no idea what I did to make my pictures all jack up above.   I am telling you, I am NOT a fan of change... especially in the computer world.  I am NOT computer savvy, and I am lost if it is not the same time every time... so expect some weirdness in the coming weeks til I get it all figured out.)

One of my friends reminded me via Facebook that my girls playing together on the beach was one of the deciding factors for me to adopt Gabs.  At the time we got the call, Ellie Sue was 8 months old, and Todd was a bit shell shocked with that news!!  I was reminded that I gave him the option of having an only child that we would have to play in the sand with until we were 60 years old, or we could have a sibling and they could play with each other, while we admiringly watched them from under our umbrella with drinks in hand.  This was one of those times!

And for the most part, they really do like each other and like playing together.  IF there isn't another kid around.  If there is, Ellie totally monopolizes their attention and leaves little Miss Gabbi Girl out!

But, by the grace of God, her personality is such that she does NOT CARE!

She is happy to play with a pile of sticks.  And lately, I kid you not, that has been her "toy" of choice!!

She is sort of a loner.  She doesnt' mind playing alone at all.  She is just a joy!

Hey, look who came down to join us.

Hey, Todd.  Over here!!  He, too, can play all alone!

I'm more like Ellie.  I need a group setting.  I like action.  I like attention.  ANd I like to give my attention.

We are sort of social butterflies.  We like to get to know those around us.  We like to be in the know of what's going on. 

But, where would I be without my sweet little affectionate Gabs?! 

More beach pics coming soon.  It was a neat time for just the four of us to be alone and away from the daily grind. The girls got all my attention and we did lots of cuddling and shared lots of "I love yous".  It'll be a trip with special memories!!

MO

You might be a redneck if....

I'll tell you, I opened blogger today to see a totally new format I had never seen before.  I have absolutely no idea what's going on!!  I was not given any sort of warning that things would look different, so I am muddling through this on a trial and error type style.  Anybody else use blogspot?!  I am so lost! 

Ok, so anyhoo.... here's the deal. 

 This is a picture of Gabs standing in the rocks, peeing down her legs because I refused to walk her ONE MORE TIME to the bathroom waaaaaaaay away!  Remember, all the times she wants to go is always multiplied by two, since they never need to go at the same time!!  And when Ellie realized what was going on, this is what she did!!

I had been chilling on my lawnchair reading this John Maxwell classic.  I LOVES me some leadership books!!  ANd I am going to receive personal coaching from him in August (Happy Birthday to me!) where I will officially be a business coach/ leadership training specialist.  Certified by John Maxwell.  But I digress.

 My girls LOVE these Shirley Temples, and I had no idea the love they have of cherries.  Now I see!

 We have spent very limited time at the beach (although Gabs would stay there all day long!), and LOTS of time at this center pool.

 We met a couple of little girls, actually from Monroe, and they are 4 and 6 years old.  Then there were two others hanging on our end of the pool from Mobile, who were 2 and 4.  So, Ellie found herself in Nirvana.  That is, until she met her hottub crew.  More on that later, unless, of course, you follow me on facebook! And then, you already know!

 Gabbi Girl is so close to swimming.  But for whatever reason, she gets all scaredy in the big pool and won't try it.  This is the baby pool... 1' deep.  It's about like our bathtub.

 And this one... oh Lord.  She has kept me ROLLING on this trip.  She is just so dang funny.

Ok, bout to hit "publish", so let's see how this works out.  I hate change.  Especially when I am not given a heads up.  More beach pics tomorrow. 

MO