Gulf Shores 2011

This year we went to the beach with the whole family, and I mean all of them!  It was nice to have everyone together, it only happens at Christmas.  Paw Paw and Maw Maw were so kind to rent another condo so it was much more comfortable for everyone to sleep.  It would have been so nice if they could have been there too!  Chase, Molly, Grant, Nathan, Mr. Jebby, Mrs. Ann and my sister and our family were there.  We had a small birthday party for Rylan who turned 7 while we were there.  She was SO ecstatic to celebrate her birthday at the beach.  It was her birthday the WHOLE week!  She ordered an Ariel cake which fit the beach theme nicely.  We had homemade spaghetti and then cake and ice cream for her birthday with the entire family!  It really was great to have everyone together, having a wonderful time.  Family is what it’s all about.  I’m happy the girls were able to spend this quality time with Mr. Jebby and Grant and their uncles who they don’t see that often.  I’m truly blessed to have such a beautiful family.

 

How cute is this?!!  They had a sand snail in the bucket!

Nay Nay and Rylan

Grant LOVES the beach!  He sat and dug for hours!

Hailey had such a great time “babysitting” her cousin!

Molly and Grant and the goober in the background, Garrett.

We were so lucky the weather stayed gorgeous the entire week.  The first day is was actually a bit chilly but the water was crystal clear!  It warmed up towards the end of the week but not a cloud in the sky.

 

Not that you can’t tell but Rylan LOVES her Grant!

Rylan holding “Clifford” her hermit crab pawpaw Jebby bought for her.  She was scared it was going to pinch her!  That little sucker got lost for a few hours one day but was luckily recovered.

My loves…

Hailey and Uncle Chase.  We all hung out till really late each night.  This never happens so it was great!!

Fishing…so you know Garrett and Hailey were happy!

The ONLY fish caught…by HAILEY!!  A flounder!

Rylan hunted for hermit crabs, they were very easy to find!

All those shells on the rocks are ALL hermit crabs!!  I’ve never seen that many in my life!

Poor little hermit crab.  This is what one looks like shell-less.  Rylan really wanted to keep the fabulous shells she found but they were occupied already.  Those little guys are difficult to evict from their homes.

But look how awesome some of the shells are!