Salt Life with the Grands

Love my boys together

one of Gigi's many faces

I still can't see him this size. He will always be my baby boy

Eva with Beau....A time machine of how Beau will look

Beau finds a dig site wherever she goes

Carlos is always up for some action

I love to see G and E in the back trying to tackle each other

Plans being laid

There is some serious love here

Blue Steel gaze

A perfect way to end the day

No words needed

Caught being twinsies

     I have had the worst Sunday to date since the trips were born. We started with Gigi rocking in her crib (bang, bang, bang) at 5:30. I found her soaked and had to run the laundry at that time because we need those sheets for nap time. All three triplets were in a bad mood from the beginning. Golden woke Beau up from her pre-church nap leaving me to get dressed and prepare their snacks with a whiny side kick. At Sacrament, Beau began what would end up being a 45 minute full volume tantrum of tears that I had the pleasure of watching in a 3 by 3 foot room in the church. Gigi pooped her pants and then (the irony) I had to give a talk on "The Blessings of the Sacrament" I could cry if I didn't laugh. When we got home I made lunch for today and lunches for the big kids for Monday, the trips took a nap but Beau decided to crawl out of her crib and pull the drawer and the snake tank down on herself. Luckily, the bed blocked it from landing on her. All the babies woke up upset, they pulled the dinner I made down onto the floor in the kitchen. As I bathed them all in the shower, Eva opened the shower door to ask me to help her find some canvases. I could barely hear her over the shrieking but all I could do was look at Eva and yell, "Really, does this look like the right time.I am trying to take a shower. Shut the door." As I sat down to try and put a bite of food in my mouth (skipped the lunch and dinner portions) Golden screams for me to bring him soap to his shower. I can see that he is also missing a towel and ask him if he has shampoo and rinse. My eleven year old responds by asking me, "What is rinse." I will save the hygiene lesson for another day. Finally, I am making three bottles of milk and Eva returns to ask me if she can paint a canvas. It took all I had not to shake her and ask if she didn't see what was happening around her today. Instead I asked her to find something else to do for today. 

    

 Mike just told me to leave the babies with him because I seem to bring out the worst in them. So I find myself going through my pictures trying to make myself relax and remembered I hadn't posted the last beach day we spent with the Grands here in Pensacola Beach. 

     My in laws, as I have said before, are amazing. They are hands on, soft spoken, hard working, kind, smart, funny and thoughtful. They will never be on a reality tv show because they have worked hard all their life in order not to be a burden on anyone, and are way to level headed to be picked for that kind of show anyway. Not poor enough to build a house for, not rich enough to be crazy neurotic with their own fragrance . No, they are Rockwellian and so, Hollywood will pass them by but not me. I will scoop them up because they are my kind of box office gold. I miss them. Especially on days like today when the sound of my FIL laughing at my expense or at the psychotic babies tirades makes me belly laugh. I miss my MIL who likes what I hate-clean up and laundry. I even have found myself enjoying crafting with her.

     Back to my talk today. I think I was reminded of the In laws because I had to talk on the blessings of the sacrament. If only for a millisecond during sacrament I am allowed time to reflect on the Savior's unconditional love for me. And he is grateful for that millisecond. It means more than if I had nothing else going on. I am humbled by how He was willing to die for me so that I can be saved. I have no right to complain about such a day when I put the the day in an eternal perspective. It seems so absolutely pointless and useless. Instead I will give thanks for all that I have been blessed with and what better place to start then with these fine folks and my obnoxious yet lovable children who I would sorely miss if Heavenly Father didn't bless me with them. 

Thirteen Years and Counting

     With a terribly busy schedule and five little rug rats to care for, our thirteenth anniversary had been put on hold for a couple of weeks. Luckily, we have the best MIL and FIL in the planet who volunteered to watch the kids while Mike and I escaped for a day to Point Clear, Alabama. Being a stay at home mom of 1 1/2 year old triplets plus two tweens, I can honestly say that to go anywhere, even the garage, for a day seemed enticing. But my husband came up with a grand plan. He had heard about the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama from office staff. A historic hotel that has been around since the 1800s....blah, blah, blah....it had a spa. I almost peeled out of the driveway without him after hearing that. On a regular day, I am a knot of muscle spasms after bending down, chasing and cleaning up after the children but this past week I also started Cross Fit which should be called...Cross your Fingers because that's what I do each class hoping I'll survive. I thought it would help me avoid osteoporosis but right now being a bit hunched over doesn't seem so bad.

    On Friday, Mike and I set out without the brood with nothing more than a suitcase and a smile. We had the windows down and stopped along the way for whatever sparked our fancy. All of our concerns over this unknown hotel vanished as we drove into the resort. It looked like something out of an F.Scott Fitzgerald novel. The Spanish moss covered oaks led us to the main lobby that was equally inviting, filled with fresh flowers and miles of timber. We really just did a whole lot of nothing until our massages which surpassed our expectations. We almost ordered room service but had reservations at a local restaurant and I am glad we went. The Wash House was just that, the old wash house of the Punta Clara Home. The food was delicious and did I mention how romantic with the fireplace and string lights criss crossing the ceiling.

Our room

The pool

The Wash House

The Chef's Garden was amazing

     The next day we had a delightful buffet breakfast and my favorite were the Alabama hickory smoked sausage and the homemade pecan chutney and whipped cream on my waffles. As I sat there I thought that Dirty Dancing could have been shot here and I wanted to yell, "No one backs Baby in a corner." After a walk around the resort with stunning views of Mobile Bay, we headed off to the downtown Fairhope area to see the shops. I bought some antique French wooden dough bowls to remember my trip by and Mike and I just strolled hand in hand like newly weds. There was even a moment when we had our hands in each other's back pocket like high schoolers. 

     What I enjoyed the most was just hanging out with my best friend. With five kids around, you barely get the chance to hold hands, tell jokes, whisper sweet nothings or even sit still and think. I love my husband, but given five minutes alone with him I am always reminded of just why I fell in love with him. And it was nice to have a moment to take inventory on our life and know that after thirteen years, I would not only do it again but that I love him more now then I could of ever imagined as I stood across from him at the Mormon temple years ago. 

Even up close, my husband is still flawless in my eyes.

I think this summed up our thirteen year anniversary.