"Annual Family Trip 2013".....

Each summer, our family attends the Alabama State Bar Convention with my parents due to my Dad's line of work. It is a trip that we look forward to each year and is the highlight of our summer together as a family. The Convention alternates between 2 locations each summer (sometimes a 3rd is added), but this year it was back at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, AL.  We love this place, and are always so excited when it is held here.  I love it's casual elegance, it's history, it's family friendly environment, it's simple beauty, and it's famous sunsets! We play and we play hard when we go, and we are all exhausted by the end of each day, but it's such a good kind of exhausted. The kids did exceptionally well this trip, and far exceeded my expectations - and every fear and anxiety I had about certain things turned out to be useless worry. They were over the moon excited to be there, and were so laid back about everything the entire week. I was actually able to relax this trip and simply "be present" in each moment and just enjoy it. Really, couldn't have been a better week and we thanked Jesus over and over for gracing us in such a way. Chris brought Wyatt and Bradford down for the last 2 days and we were thrilled they could be with us too. This is a family tradition, and we were so thankful that he was able to come and bring them.

Pictures from Day 1:

Anxiously waiting to feed the ducks  

I loved that she would wiggle her little self into the bushes so that she could get a better look at the ducks, and would then toss food to them

This is "Bucky", for whom the casual restaurant, "Bucky's" is named for.  EB really likes this statue and wants a picture by it every year. 

Just taking it all in. He was thrilled to be here, and asked 27,000 times on the drive if we were there yet! 

Bebe, E-Daddy and EB at the Grand, 2013 

being silly in the hotel hallway 

He wanted to wear E-daddy's nametag

Looking at the moon at sunset 

Now I am the one who was taking it all in.  Truly trying to be 100% present in the moment.  Moments are fleeting, and if you aren't paying attention, you will miss them. 

I love this

She would follow him right off the edge of a cliff.  I remind him daily of that!  But I do love that they were wading in the bay in their clothes, having already taken a bath!  That's the stuff memories are made of. 

And now, it's Ellison's turn to take it all in!  I guess Jay was taking it all in through the camera lense - didn't get a picture of him! 

After the evening reception and playing in the sand/water, the kids were taken to a table where they could decorate their own mini cupcakes 

Meet, "Mr. DooDoo".  I kid you not. This is what his nametag reads.  And, I believe this might have been one of the kindest, most gentle and servant-hearted men I have ever met. There was just something about him - his voice, his smile, the twinkle in his eye. Elijah Brooks met him 2 years ago the last time we were there, and he must have made quite an impression on him because EB has talked about this man for 2 years. We used to have to play imaginary games involving him and this went on for at least a year.  But even after the games ceased, he continued to talk about him. This trip, EB insisted that we try to find him so he could see him.  The 1st night we were there, after the dinner reception, we decided to stop by the parking desk and ask them if he still worked here.  The girl behind the desk started smiling herself and said, "oh yes, he still works here and he will be bringing a car around in just a minute if you would like to wait for him".  We were all thrilled to get to see Mr. DooDoo again. When he pulled up, we introduced him to EB again and EB said that he was so glad to see him and had been waiting 2 years to see him again.   We snapped a few pictures and then hopped on his golf cart and he drove us back to our room. EB sat up front with him and they talked with one another the entire drive back to the room!  I was so thankful to the Lord that He allowed this meeting to happen once again.  And as a sidenote, I did have to explain to EB about his name and why the people around the hotel called him, "Mr. Doo" instead!   :) 

Once Mr. DooDoo dropped us off at our room, we headed upstairs to get ready for bedtime. While I was getting EB ready for bed, this cute thing was found sitting in a chair unwrapping chocolates meticulously one by one, and popping them in her mouth!!!   These were our "turn down" chocolates, but hey, who doesn't like alittle chocolate right before bed?  She is such a stinker!!!  

And with a belly full of chocolate, and a heart full of love, that was the end of Day 1.