Beach bound...Fort Morgan, AL was our destination! Logan had a very generous customer at the dealership who offered their beach house to us for the week & all we had to pay was the cleaning fee!!! This trip could not have come at a more perfect time. Logan & I found out 2 days before leaving that we had another miscarriage. This time we were around 6 weeks pregnant. After having 2 miscarriages & the upcoming holidays, this trip allowed us to escape reality for a short time. So enough about sad times, on to the wonderful family vacation that was provided for us...
We left for the beach early Thursday (November 17th) morning to beat the rush hour traffic in both Birmingham & Montgomery. We had originally invited Coco, Fletch, grandmomma, & Big Daddy (grandmomma's husband) but Coco was the only one who was able to go. But we still had a great time! This was Stryker's first beach experience so we were excited to see what his reaction was to all of the new things.
Above is a picture of the beach house. It was a 2 bedroom, 2 bath house that slept about 6-8 people. Each house had a golf cart (unfortunately, ours was broke down) to drive around the neighborhood. The neighborhood had a private beach, gym, outside & inside pool. The weather was perfect while we were there only requiring jackets at night.
We left Stryker in his pj's for the ride. As Logan got us registered & the keys to the beach house, Stryker wanted to take over the driving duties!
Stryker racked up with this huge bucket of toys that were in a closet! This was a life saver allowing us to not unpack all of the toys we had brought from home. Traveling with a hyper, young child is definitely different.
This was the view from the outside pool. Nothing better than a beautiful pool & workout gym overlooking the beach! Pure paradise! Now, you can see how we were able to forget about reality for 4 days.
My boys running down the pier to the beach!
Yay! He loves the sand! We may have a beach buddy on our hands.
My guys enjoying the sand.
This is one of my favorite pics. He loves running in the sand & chasing after the sea gulls.
I sure do love my guys! Daddy teaching Stryker about the ocean.
My guys relaxing...this is a rare occasion for Stryker to be still.
We went shopping at the Foley Tanger Outlets Saturday. Stryker enjoyed running around the nearly empty mall (we basically had the place to ourselves). He found some mulch to play in while we were buying his Christmas present.
The Tanger Outlets had a big play area that Stryker enjoyed for at least an hour. This was him after going down the slide too many times. Can we say static?!
Adventure Island was on our agenda Saturday. We played putt putt golf, rode on a paddle boat, & a mini roller coaster. Above is all of us on the paddle boat. Logan & I got our workout paddling the family around the lake. Stryker did great! This little boy loves water.
mom, Stryker, & daddy on the paddle boat
my little golfer
I think he's going to be left handed with sports & right handed with everything else.
Stryker loved to hit the ball hard & then throw it in the cup! This was him trying to figure out how the ball came out of the hole from the cup above.
Let's go fishing!
The Gulf Shores Pier!
looking out over the pier at the waves crashing
Friday night, Coco & I introduced Logan & Stryker to our favorite beach place...The Oyster Bar. It's a hidden place before you get to Florida. Not many visitors know about it. It's more of a locals place. They have the best seafood. You're looking out over the bay while you eat & can walk around the piers to see the massive yatchs & the fisherman cleaning fish afterwards. The picture above is Stryker wiping daddy's mouth after he took a bite! Such a mannerly boy!
Saturday morning, we went walking all through the neighborhood. We found some interesting places!
my precious little boy
Saturday we took Stryker to build-a-bear. Logan & I have been wanting him to build one & thought this was a perfect time. He chose a puppy as his bear. Stryker named him "Woof." This lady helped Stryker stuff his puppy. She let him pick out a little heart to put inside but Stryker insisted on putting 2 hearts in Woof. We thought that symbolized the 2 siblings that he has in Heaven (our 2 miscarriages). The lady wanted Stryker to kiss the hearts but Stryker held them to my lips for me to kiss them. It's the little things that can mean so much.
Stryker brushing Woof.
Saturday afternoon we ate at the best Bar-B-Que place...Down South Bar-B-Que. This is a picture of Stryker with the owner (Kenny). He is like family to Logan. Kenny worked with Logan's dad & was a friend of his. Kenny was the one who held Logan's dad immediately after the car wreck that took his life. He holds a special place in Logan's heart. Can't wait for Stryker to get old enough to hear stories from Kenny & Logan about his grand-dad.
Logan, Kenny, & Stryker
playing in the sand
starting to build a sand castle
loved to flick the sand around with both shovels!
As you can see, Stryker had a blast being covered in sand.
Mom & Coco playing with Stryker at sunset.
walking with my favorite buddy
he's getting so tall!
Another one of my favorites! Love the waves crashing behind him!
Isn't God's creation magnificent?!
this is a look of "what can I do next?!"
riding the mini roller coaster at Adventure Island
When we got home, Stryker kept jumping in his suitcase. Guess, he had a fantastic time & wanted to go back! I agree buddy!
Stryker flicking sand with shovels on the beach.
Stryker first mini roller coaster ride!
Coco gave us an early (well, very early) Christmas present. This is the new mirror for our dining room. Logan & Fletch hung it immediately. It looks great! Thank you, Coco for such a wonderful present!
We will have a total of 3 Christmas trees this year! We have a pre-lit (white lights) white Christmas tree upstairs overlooking the living room, a pre-lit (multi-colored lights) green Christmas tree downstairs in the kitchen, & a real Christmas tree (white lights) in the living room. Stryker was able to help decorate the trees this year. The white tree has all of his sports, Sesame Street, & other various ornaments. The real tree is our main Christmas tree with our navy & silver color theme. I know, I'm very OCD! We haven't been able to get the tree yet due to rainy weather. So, maybe we can go tomorrow night & pick it out.
making memories with my little guy
I have a collection of nutcrackers that are throughout the living room. As of now, I have 11. Coco gives me one each year. We still need to get Stryker a stocking holder as you can tell in the picture above.
A couple more nutcrackers beside Stryker's Santa picture from last year.
This year, I added pre-lit garland to the staircase! I love the way it lights up the room. You can see the Christmas calendar on the hallway closet door. It's another tradition from my childhood.
An overview of our living room. What a wonderful way to walk into the house! I'll post another picture when we get the real Christmas tree put by the fireplace.
Front door wreath. The theme for outside is green & red. I told you, I love having different themes in each room of the house. Crazy?! That's the type of person I am.
We sat on the stairs for a long time watching "ho ho".
