we got our toes in the water...

the price family could not get to destin fast enough on tuesday...and we were so excited to meet up with the tucker family, along with "aunt cookie" and ben! as soon as we arrived at our condo...the kiddos started asking to head to the beach...and i'll have to say that the adults were ready as well!

the emerald water and white sands of destin don't ever disappoint...and even though we battled gobs of seaweed this time...it was still fantastic!

ava had never been to the beach (other than in mommy's tummy!), so i was excited to see how she would do...of course, she l.o.V.e.D every second and even enjoyed riding the waves! she is such a fearless little girl!

the "bigs" had a ball and couldn't get enough of the waves and water either!

after an amazing first afternoon...and almost outlasting the sunset...we all headed out to a yummy dinner at the original dewey destins! such a fun place to eat! our children soon learned to keep up a "vacation pace"...and even ava rallied with the rest of us adopting "teenager" hours of sleep - you only live once, right!?!?!

our trip was off a wonderful start...and it felt soooo good to know that we had three more FULL days of sun and sand...which of course, is never long enough!!! i think i would always want "one more day" no matter how long i was visiting the beach...it is truly just what the doctor ordered for me!

after getting everyone tucked in...we anxiously awaited morning...so we could sink our toes in the sand again!!!!

testing out this thing called "the beach" for the first time...gosh i love this baby!!!

at least someone could make good use of the seaweed!!

"mere mere" loves this fella...such a cutie!

diggin'...

every girl loves a castle! getting started on their masterpiece!

cutie patootie!

sweet, sandy maddie boo boo!

adorable "k-love" searching for "she shells"

just can't get enough of this baby...

sweet lukey...whom ava just couldn't get enough of!!!

besties!

oh. my. word. how did my "baby" get so big...love her so...

such sweet friends...

our fun family of five

precious tucker fam...

beloved "aunt cookie" & ben...aren't they "pertty"?!?!

friends turned family...

"mere mere" with my latest hunk of burning love...doesn't get any sweeter!!!!

beach bums at dolphin view...

i'm completely overwhelmed...how do you possibly blog about a fabulous beach vacation...and choose pics to illustrate the fun...

when you took 1,449 photographs...

and you like just about every single one of them!!!!

i wish i were exaggerating...but i'm not!!!

i think i'm going to have to break it down by days...and try to just choose my absolute favs!!!

we had such an amazing time with our family and extended family and the days flew by - isn't that the way it always goes when you're having fun - time just flies!!!

i can't think of many more places on earth that i would rather spend my time...or leave my footprints. hearing the sound of the waves and the sound of the little's giggles warms my heart like the florida sun!

it just makes my soul say "aaaahhhhh"...

'til next year, destin...i'll just browse through my many pics...and smile at all of them!

the weirdest, yummiest recipe...

the following recipe is going to knock your socks off for several reasons...

1. it sounds positively dreadful

2. it is absolutely delicious!!!

jeffrey has been doing this serious diet...which means meredith has been doing it somewhat...so when he asked me to buy kale at the store, i have to admit...there was a teensy bit of eye rolling...and gagging!!!!!! HA!

while i watched him fixing this, i thought to myself "ain't no way i'm trying that!"...but when he came in grinning from ear to ear and exclaiming that i would love them...i had to try!

OMG...oh. my. gosh.

they are actually edible...and tasty. it's hard to admit!!!! it seems that ava is addicted!!!! score one for the home team!!! without further delay...here is the incredibly simple recipe. i dare you to try it...and let me know what you think!!!!

kale crisps (kale chips)

wash your bunch of kale. tear into small pieces being sure to remove the hard, woody stem from the leaves.

mix 1T of olive oil & 1/2T of balsamic vinegar and pour over the kale pieces. mix thoroughly making sure all pieces are coated. place small pieces on cookie sheet (we lined ours with parchment paper) and sprinkle with sea salt to taste. bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes until the pieces appear crispy. ***this is super important...because if they're not crispy...they're not tasty!!!***

go ahead...be skeptical! i sure was! i can assure you that in all my 34+ years...kale has never touched my lips...but folks, these are like lays potato chips. seriously.

if i'm lying...i'm dying. :)

please try this & let me know how you like 'em...truly one of the craziest things ever!!!

my how you've grown...

look how much these two have grown...

you may have forgotten...but at one point in their lives...they were tiny enough to fit into one isolet.

now they can play together...occasionally push each other's buttons (ava ashley...mmmhmm)...and grow together as friends...

that have literally grown up together since birth!!!!

"baking" memories...

i was in charge of making desserts and appetizers for our lake weekend...and i was very happy when i discovered that one of my little "pretties" wanted to help me! it is always more fun to have company in the kitchen! we waited until the little littles went to sleep and then ella & i got busy!!!! here is what we made all in one night...

white cupcakes with white icing

"everything but the kitchen sink" bars (to die for...!!!)

rice crispy treats

chocolate chip pie (thanks, mandy...it was delish!!!)

black bean hummus (definitely a price family favorite...so, so yummy!!!)

pepper jack salsa

i can assure you...we were not going to go hungry...in the dessert department at least!!!!

ella was sooo precious...and it just made my heart want to burst! we talked and laughed together...and it just made me look forward to the day when she is older (ok...that part i don't really look forward to)...and we talk and laugh...and she shares with me. i desperately want my children to want me to know them...to truly know their heart. and i want them to know that no matter...they can tell me anything...good or bad.

for now, i'll enjoy my beautiful 7 year old...and the memories we made while licking the beaters!!!!

i love you, ella elise! i'll "bake memories" with you anytime!!!!

camp "fun in the sun"

this past weekend, my little family was graciously invited down to lake bisteneau to spend some fun filled time with the varnadore family, kat & josh...and soon to be "baby august", along with aunt cookie & ben! we had a blast!

we started off the weekend with a yummy hamburger dinner and the kiddos enjoyed being chauffeured by "aunt jen" on the golf cart!

on saturday, we attempted to take the barge out for a spin and let the kids play in the lake...totally unaware that there was a "lake wind advisory"!!! even though we didn't learn of this until sunday evening...it didn't take us long to realize it once we got out there! we let the kids jump in, after we were anchored (or so we thought)...and the next thing we knew...the current was pulling them (along with mr. rodney!) one way and the boat the other! ella went into panic mode...which i can't say i blame her for at all...and "uncle ben" had to jump in for a rescue mission!!!!! whew!

once all of our crew were safely aboard, we made the executive decision to head back in for some pool/slip & slide fun!!!

during "quiet time", most of the adults played a devastating game (due to MY score) of mexican train...and then we decided to brave the lake again! ella, maddie, aunt cookie, ben, & i joined the roberts family on their barge for an evening swim! this time the conditions were perfect! mr. david took ella & maddie on their very first jet ski rides and i believe that ella is hooked! she said "let's go 70"!!!! heaven help me...this child is going to give me fits as she gets older...and her daddy just smiles from ear to ear!!!!

we had a delicious supper...and then enjoyed some of the BEST...i mean truly the BEST...homemade cookies and cream ice cream! perfection on a spoon!

after another fun morning on the lake sunday (celebrating all the daddies)...we cleaned up and headed home!

thanks varnadore family for including us this weekend! having grown up going to "camp fun in the sun"...it is so special to be able to share these same memories with my own family. if only those walls could talk...they would have some tales to tell!!!!

we can't wait to make more memories with you!