Destin 2013

Dear Kate,

What a vacation, what a vacation!  Let me be very clear on this - you LOVE the beach.  More than I have ever seen a kid love the beach.  And I was skeptical at first, hence the reason I suggested Mimi tag along with us this year (for that extra hand), but man alive, you wanted to stay longer than anyone on that beach!  And would have if I would have let you! 

We headed down on Saturday with a pretty uneventful drive.  We toured our new house and loved every bit of it and Mommy and Aunt Steph headed to the grocery store while the daddies went to a couple other stores and Mimi watched you kiddos.  When we returned, she said she had already taken all four of you to the beach, just to look!  Ha!  I don't think I would have taken you and Abs by myself much less Ellie and Kipper, but she said everyone did great!

So, on Sunday, we woke up, packed our coolers, gathered our towels and headed that way to see what it was all about.  Immediately I knew this beach trip was going to be a true vacation for me.  You played by yourself, with the girls, with Mimi, in the pool, in the sand, in the ocean, just having a good ole time, letting Mommy and Daddy relax on the beach!  And, I have the pictures to prove it!  Here goes... First day on the beach...

First dip in the ocean (it was SOOO calm the first 2 days then got crazy wavy!)...

Dipping you (in the background)

You loved the boat too.  Loved waving at Mimi while sitting in the boat.  Sadly, we couldn't take the boat out the rest of the week because of the crazy waves.  Not for lack of trying though!

And, you immediately proved to be related to your sister with the whole side cheek show!

You also loved the pool, did I mention that?!  Here you were chilling in the float, having a tea party with Daddy...

And we liked to strip you kiddos down to nothing then throw you in the pool to rinse off all that sand.  You LOVED this, and we loved looking at that little booty just floating in the water!

PS - these pics are a little out of whack, but it's all I can do to get 200+ pics on here!!!

On Thursday night, we headed to our annual Baytown Wharf night.  We love some Wharf and this night was no exception.  And, as we annually do, we dressed you kiddos all alike!  Man alive were you four not the most precious cuties I have ever seen!

They had a kids ropes course and you insisted on doing it, and doing it by yourself!

And you watched some boats with Kipper...

And, of course, there was some dancing while we ate at Hammerheads.  You found something to climb on while others danced...

And we walked out on the pier to watch the sunset (and scare Mommy to death by leaning over the rail a little too much with your sister)...

This was about as good as we could get with pictures of all 4 of you.  Still cuties!

And Aunt Steph (and Mommy and Aunt Meg) had to do a few chasing down of you!

Loving this facial expression!

Dancing the night away!

After dinner, we watched Sister do the Euro bounce and ate cotton candy.  We were all exhausted after that great fun (and late) night!!

Here's day 2 (???) on the beach... You loved playing with your babies in the baby pool. 

And jumping up and down on the side on the pool!

And, another shocker, you LOVED being buried!  Aunt Steph buried you all up and you were all grins...

Then you hopped up...

Got your shoes...

And insisted to be buried again, with your shoes this time!

Happy as a clam!  We also ate some fresh pomegranate (thanks to Aunt Meg).  You were the only one that really loved it, but Ellie and Abs were happy to share with you!

More fun running in and out of the ocean.   You would do this over and over and over again!

All in your own little world.  I tried to get a picture of you and Sister at one point together playing but somehow you two hit heads or something and both of you started crying right when I tried to take the picture, so that was an epic fail!

But we were able to catch a few more pics while building a sand castle or two!

Sister was trying to dig a whole to bury herself and you kept puttin your feet in her way and she'd scoop out your foot and you'd just giggle and laugh!  I think she was getting frustrated with you, though...

But she finally got that whole dug!

Another day (maybe day 3, or 4??)

One morning we went with Mimi and Sister and Ellie to visit an old friend of Mimi's who happened to be in Destin at the same time.  Her family was staying right down the road so we went to see them.  We didn't take any pictures, but it didn't really matter because you fell asleep after Mimi got sunscreen in your eyes (or well, I think she says you did it).  You slept for an hour and 1/2 on the beach - you beach bum!!!!
So, as I said, you LOVED the beach, every bit of it, with one minor exception - Thursday morning when we decided to get cleaned up and take pictures (rather than waiting at night when it's so hot and we're rushing to get to dinner).  I'm not sure what triggered it, we're thinking it's when I tried to take your shoes off at the beach, but you did NOT want to be there, at all.  And I tried everything.  So, after lots of pictures with Daddy and Sister, we decided just to take our family pic with you holding your cup of milk and the random goldfish that I'm still not sure where they came from....

Here's what happened when I tried to take them away...

And then, when I gave them back you were one mad (but cute!) little girl...

There was no use in trying with just Daddy and his girls...

And we just gave up for the Mimi pics!

Then we ventured to the water, thinking that may ease your irritableness... nah, it didn't...

This is my favorite...

So, back to the house, bathing suit on, and back to the beach - what a difference it makes...

You were getting very brave, running in the water and all, and got caught in the waves and dunked under.  We all just knew that was the end of the glory days with you and the beach...

But nope!  You just got right back out there!

Like I said, a world of difference from that morning...
One night we went to Harbor Walk for dinner. We walked around looking at boats and went to Harry T's for dinner where we sat right beside the band.

(I'm pretty sure Kipper touched your head...)

And, as you can imagine, the group photo was, yet again, unsuccessful...

After we ate dinner, Mimi took you and Kipper back to the house while the big girls stuck around for a little fun (i.e. ice cream).  You two had fun with the frisbees...

And our last day on the beach was bittersweet, so much fun, but so sad to leave...

You saw lots of planes and wind surfers and loved pointing at them, making everyone else point at every one of them!

And my favorite part of the whole trip was when you looked over and saw Sister making 'sand angels'...

You immediately had to do it yourself.

Ahhhhh, my little beach angels! And look at you, just loving every minute of it!

What a great family vacation we had Sweet Kate! Love you!

Mother's Day

Dear Kate,

We had a very special Mother's Day on Sunday.  We were in Cookeville on Saturday night for Aunt Jill's graduation (she got her Master's!!!) and stayed with Aunt Amy, so Sunday morning we woke up and just headed home.  We decided to put you down for an early nap so we could enjoy the beautiful afternoon together.  Once you woke up, we got geared up to go on a hike at Radnor Lake.  Now, I use the work 'hike' loosely because A) it wasn't that LONG of a hike, although it did take awhile, and B) you hardly hiked, but instead preferred being held by Daddy or Mommy, or just running the opposite way that we went.  All that said, it was a fun, fun 'hike' where we saw ducks and squirrels and lots of people saying how precious you were :)

By the end of the hike, you were exhausted (as we all were)...

Once we got home, Daddy grilled the best tasting fish so far, Mahi Mahi, and we all ate it up while sitting outside by the fire.  It was a lovely Mother's Day.  Nothing makes me happier than getting to be your Mommy.  Each morning I feel like the luckiest person in the world when I see your beautiful face.     I love you so much little bug...

(Daddy got on Pinterest and found a project for you and Sister for Mommy!  Isn't it the cutest!!)

Love you!

So Far in May

Dear Kate,

We are wrapping up spring and gearing up for summer.  We've had lots of rainy weather, then a random hot day, then a couple cold days, so we are making the most of it, and, as usual, staying busy.  You are busy as a bee with doing whatever it is your sister is doing.  She can be swinging on a cabinet door (which she gets in trouble for) and low and behold, you go an pull a cabinet door out and swing, too.  Keeping up with two of you this summer is going to wear a momma out, but it sure will be fun.  

Know what else is fun?  Dressing you two alike.  I can't even remember where we were going, maybe just school for Sister, but nonetheless, I had to take a picture of the two of you.  Maybe next time I'll try not to take it in the direct sunlight...

We've also had some fun drawing on the sidewalk.  We don't have too much traffic at all on our street (since we are at a dead end), so it's nice to sit on the front porch while you two draw in the front yard.

You also got to spend a weekend at Mimi's house, without Mommy - that's when it's extra fun or so I hear.  Mommy and Daddy had a costume party to go to on Saturday so Mimi said she would take you for the weekend vs. us paying a baby sitter two million dollars for the long night that we would have needed her.  And, to top it off, she kept you until Monday!  Here's Mommy and Daddy dressed up.  The theme was "Futuristic" (your Aunt Amy's crazy idea) and so we tried to be as simple as possible (read = cheap and normal as possible), so we went for the Hunger Games charactors Peeta and Katniss.  And no, Daddy is not trying to stab me.  That's just part of his costume...

Here's your even crazier Aunt Steph dressed up and apparently playing the role of some alien from some movie called Fifth Element.  I let her be in her own world...

You got to tag along with Mommy for Sister's Mother's Day tea at her school and all the little girls loved playing with you.  You are SOOO ready to start school next year.  Also, you are ready to surf, apparently.  This is your new way of riding "in" the shopping cart.  What's crazy is my choice is either strap you in teh correct (and safe) way and let you scream the whole time or let you ride like this and be in and out in no time.  So far, I'm with choice #2, but don't tell anyone.

Sister had a loose tooth and had to go to the dentist.  Because she did such a great job there, we went to Sweet Cece's.  Girly, you LOVE you some sweets.  I mean, like crazy love.

That was Tuesday.  On Wednesday we had to eat dinner out and we (the 3 girlies!) chose our favorite, Mexican!

Sister had her last soccer game and you were spreading the love to Daddy.  He was super excited to get hugs all morning from you.

And after the game we took a quick trip to Target.  Daddy thought it was all fun and games until he had to push the big boat around Target with 2 kiddos in tow.  I think he got a little feel for Mommy's trips with both of you :)

We took our first trip to the zoo this year with Anna and Jacob.  It was your first time to really walk around and enjoy those animals and man alive, do you love animals!!  And climb like a monkey!

 You loved petting all the goats in the petting zoo...

 And we even made it over to the farm animals where you got to see cows!  We opted for a photo right outside the farm, where it was strangely quiet.  Apparently this was the "let's go to the zoo on a field trip" day because SOOO many schools were there!

 Silly faces!!

 We had so much fun with the Porter's and know we will be back there with them sooner than later (the baby camels are coming!!)

We also have a zoo in our backyard, or at least a farm, or at least cows.  And you LOVE said cows.  Every time the door opens, you say "Moo?" and 90% of the time I have to say "No Moo's today Kate" but this one day, there were moo's!!! We were all super excited, even if it meant Sister was a bit late for school :)

 We also went to story time this past week.  It was supposed to be "If you give a mouse a cookie" but for some reason they switched it up on us and read a book about a puppy.  Either way, you were more interested in the surrounding toys :)

 That same day, you found a blue marker...

 And decided to eat it...

 Not cool Kate, not cool at all.  What is cool is your Aunt Carly (Daddy's little sister) graduated from high school.  What's NOT cool is your other aunt, Aunt Amy, and her decision to get t-shirts printed with Carly's face on them.  Or at least in my opinion...

Thankfully we did not wear them the entire time, well, most of us did not.  And Carly LOVED everyone in their shirt.  Here's all your Clark aunts and uncles in the infamous shirts.  What's funny, or rather sad, actually, is 3 people asked Papa Larry how she died...

You did not go to the graduation though.  It was late AND in White Bluff, so Miss Lauren watched you and Sister.  Then the next day we rolled out to Mimi's house where Mommy went to another graduation - your cuz Kateland...

Again, you and Sister did not go and instead got to stay and play with the greatest babysitter in the world, Bebe.  She really is awesome.  She even brings a 'project' to play with.  This time, edible play-doh!  She reminds me of Kristy from the Babysitter's Club.  Don't worry, you will know those books eventually :)
On Saturday, we went to John Michael's soccer game that morning and then to Emily's HOT softball game later that day.  It was our first dose of summertime hotness and I was not prepared.  I did put sunscreen on, but clearly not enough, nor did we drink enough water!  You however, ate 2 whole hotdogs at the ball field!  AND, I looked down and saw Mimi was just holding her cup of diet coke and you were just drinking away.  I screamed "MOM!" and she realized what she was doing and yanked it away from you, claiming she just thought it was water (even though we didn't have water in cups!).  We laughed (sort of) and then 5 minutes later I look down and Mimi is holding the cup of coke AGAIN for you!  I really screamed at her this time, and took it far away.  She just has this instinct to give you whatever you want.  I can't believe you were actually drinking it.  Sister hates the taste of anything carbonated, but apparently you are going to be the kid who will drink anything!  Good news is you didn't get enough to keep you up, or maybe you were just that tired, because we went straight home to take a nap and let Sister stay with Mimi.  At least I know Abs won't be drinking Diet Coke!

I eventually had to wake you up and throw you in the bath because we were meeting Papa Rob and Gramma for dinner at the wildest, craziest place I have ever been - Incredible Pizza.  It was insane.  People everywhere.  Video games everywhere.  Go Carts, Bumper Cars and even miniature golf!  Oh, and a huge pizza/whatever else you can throw on there buffet.  Mimi warned me about it, but man alive, this place was huge.  Thankfully Gramma took you under her wing, and by that I mean she followed you around while Mommy and Sister and Papa Rob played games :)  She said you just wondered from one thing to another to another to another, never looking back.  When I left there, which was WAY later than I assumed, I felt like I had been in a casino for 8 hours.  I am convinced they pump oxygen in that place...  

It ended up being a VERY late night for us all but we made it home and into bed eventually.  Sunday morning came and we headed out the door by 9.  Daddy grilled yummy hamburgers for us on Sunday and we enjoyed the afternoon/evening.  This week - we prepare for the beach!  And then there we have it, May will be gone.  

Summer is going to be so much fun little bit!  Can't wait for the beach.

Loves you!