Orange Beach...Again, Part 2

Saturday morning we got up bright and early for the Pirate and Princess Breakfast at The Hangout...

Cille enjoyed the beignets...

Okay, all the kids enjoyed the beignets...

Cille wasn't as sure about the princesses...

She was pumped about her wand, though...

And her pirate gear...

This is the dread Captain Obvious of world renown...

The pirates and princesses led the little swabs on a treasure hunt...

Watts and I tagged along for part of it...

After finishing our meal we played some games outside...

Getting strategy tips from the two guys who overthink everything...

Later it was time to lather on our sunscreen and hit the beach...

...I mean pool...

Orange Beach...Again, Part 1

Since Mawmaw and Pawpaw had a little time off for the 4th, we decided to go back to the beach.  Our first morning there, Daddy had the great idea that we should rent a jet ski.  I was not at all sure that this was a good idea, so I talked him into renting only one and letting each girl try it out.  The girls are not really what I would call thrill seekers, so it was a big possibility that they would both hate the jet ski.  We played on the veranda while Daddy and Pawpaw watched the mandatory instructional video...

I forgot my sunglasses in the room and had to borrow Damon's.  That is why I look like the Terminator in these pictures...

Mawmaw brought along a water gun for Watts from the dollar store.  Best dollar ever spent...

Stella has many precious swimsuits, some even monogrammed with her name or initials.  Unfortunately, the only ones that she is interested in wearing are her bikinis.  Gives me a lot more real estate to cover with sunblock, I can assure you...

Did I mention Mawmaw also gave them pink hair chalk?  Thanks so much...(she typed sarcastically)

The only problem we had with the water gun was that the kids kept fighting over it...

Finally all the paperwork and video watching was done and Stella took the first turn.  Daddy had the bright idea that Pawpaw should ride on the back so that Stella would feel more secure between the two of them.  This led to an overburdened and wobbly jet ski and eventually to Pawpaw being left on an island by himself...

This is the face Watts made when I told him he wasn't getting a turn.  Just kidding, this is his normal face.  He makes mean eyes at everybody...

Watching Stella embark...

And 40 minutes later they were back...sans Pawpaw...

Cille was not really sure she would like it...

But by the time they passed the last dock she had a huge smile on her face...

And when she came back she was driving...still no sign of Pawpaw, though...

More fun in the sun to come!

Swim Team Banquet

At the end of a fantastic swim season, Stella had an awards banquet with her team...

If you squint, you can see her receiving her third place ribbon with her freestyle relay team...

She also got a 5th place ribbon for the backstroke at City Meet.  She had the fastest backstroke time on her team that day...

Mawmaw and Pawpaw attended the banquet with us and Stella was eager to show off her awards...

She got a medal for being a member of the team and another one for perfect attendance at all the meets...

Stella was the only true 6-year old chosen to swim all three events at City Meet.

She also received a double personal best ribbon for improving her times in freestyle and backstroke at City Meet...

Stella loved swim team and can't wait to do it again next year!  We are so proud of how hard she worked all season and how well she handled the pressure of competition.