Watch Out, Destin!

This past weekend five of us left behind ten children and five Daddies for a weekend at the beach! It was amazing! We had the best time, and it was surreal to be able to go out to the beach and read a book and nap all day! On Friday night when we got there, we were picking up a few items at a store when a man said, "Where are your boyfriends?" One of us replied that we were married and had left ten kids behind in Birmingham. Then the man said, "Watch out, Destin!" We thought that was pretty funny!
The picture above was taken Friday night at Rum Runners piano bar. We had no idea one of the pianists jumped in the back of the picture! What a great girls trip! I hope to be able to do it again one day! Thanks, Laura, for sharing your wonderful condo with us!

I also owe a huge thank you to super dad David, who took care of the kids, installed a garbage disposal to surprise me, and kept the house in perfect order while I was gone! Thanks to Mimi also for helping David at Jack's birthday Saturday and for taking Henry to spend the night! I really appreciate you guys making it possible for me to have a little break!

Fork & Spoon= No Less Mess!

Grant and Grace are so proud of their forks and spoons these days, and they try very hard to eat with them. However, I'm pretty sure they are messier now than they were before. I guess that is just part of learning! They are having fun, and I guess that is all that really matters!

The Beach (Days 7 & 8)

Grant had fun in the sand!

Mimi & Grant

Grant dunked his sandwich in the sand intentionally and then ate it! Delicious!

Michael & Lindsey at the Barbados Pool

Grace at Red Bar on Saturday night

Family pic at Grayton Beach after dinner :)


And 2 pics from earlier in the week I forgot to post:

Grace in the water with me (probably day 2)...before the water cleared up for the rest of the week!

And Tuesday Papa, Michael & I made a super quick trip to Montgomery for his swearing in to the Alabama State Bar, which is performed by the Alabama Supreme Court. Very cool. We are so proud of you, Michael!

The Beach (Days 4-6)

Wednesday morning at the beach. David found a tar ball. This is the closest thing to any oil we saw the entire trip. The water was perfect, and there was no smell at all!

Grant loved the water! Grace did too.

Grant and Grace fell asleep on the bike ride back from the beach on numerous occassions. It was about a two minute ride, but when you are little and tired....well, you just can't help it!

Dinner at Old Florida Fish House on Thursday night
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Mimi & Papa with the kids after dinner Thursday

Going for an after dinner stroll for ice cream at the Sugar Shack. We really fell in love with Rosemary. It is hard to beat a relaxing vacation like that!

Grace fell asleep on the beach. She needed a power nap before building her sand castle!

Papa & Grant

Mimi & Henry had fun watching the bulldozer on the beach build a berm on Thursday. We knew that must mean the oil was close. At least they are taking steps to protect those beautiful beaches.

Henry learned how to use floaties! Hooray!!

Uncle Michael, I don't think that is the intended use of the monkey bars :) (Friday night on the playground)

Henry was a sweet big brother this week!(Grace is in her swimsuit in case she decides to jump in a fountain!)

Sand castle building takes teamwork!

(One more post to come for days 7 & 8....)

The BEACH!!! (Days 1-3)

Grant and Grace had fun at the Sugar Shack on Sunday with Papa. Henry was too busy eating his ice cream to be photographed.

The kids loved playing in the sand at sunset on Sunday.

Grant & Mimi's dog, Honey, have been bonding this week. It has been fun having Honey here with us!

Uncle Michael, Henry & Papa biking back from the beach Sunday

Grant & Grace cooled off on the porch. They were a wet, sandy mess!

David & Henry lounging in the den Monday morning before we hit the beach.

Time for the beach!

Grant's a people watcher :)

Grace and Grant are in love with Honey's crate. They think it is the best thing ever.

The kids loved playing in the fountains and playing baseball in the park Monday afternoon. Uncle Michael even climbed a tree to retrieve a ball, despite Papa warning him he could be in a cast for his wedding if he fell! (Boys never listen.)

Grace was cracking me up in her tutu bathing suit running around the fountains with Henry's bike helmet on. She is a mess.

We have had the most WONDERFUL beach trip so far. It has been so fun for all of us. There is no shortage of fun activities, pools, fountains, beautiful scenery, great shops, restaurants, etc....oh, and the beach!! Grant and Grace have loved the sand this year. Henry has had a blast riding his bike everywhere with the boys. He even knows to stop when he reaches an intersection. That child is going to be disappointed when he gets bag home to our neighborhood of big hills with no flat streets in sight! Grant and Grace have also enjoyed having their pack & plays side by side. I wish I could get a video of them playing and talking and laughing at bedtime. It is precious.

VBS 2010!

Henry has had a BLAST at Vacation Bible School this week at our church. I had to work Monday, but have taught Kindergarten VBS and taken the kids Tuesday through Friday. They have loved every minute! The theme of the week is Heroes--both God as our hero and also biblical heroes. The challenge is to teach the kids how they can be heroes too. It has been a fun and tiring week. Henry made a super hero cape and mask on Tuesday. Wednesday he dressed up as a fireman for hero day. Thursday we stayed for our annual Sunday School luncheon after VBS, and Friday is our final day! Whew! It has truly been a great experience, and it is a blessing to watch God work in the lives of these sweet kids!

Untitled from Brooke Patterson on Vimeo.

This video is from Family Night at VBS. Henry was showcasing his dancing skills!

Maury & Henry enjoying a sucker during family night :)

Where I Find Henry

Henry can often be found sitting in our kitchen at the computer these days. He has really gotten into computer games. It keeps him quiet and entertained while the babies take an afternoon nap, and he's learning too. So I was happy this afternoon to find him sitting at the computer playing away! I feel like every day he gets a little more independent with it. I told David, "You do realize that one day he'll know more about technology than us and make fun of us?" David replied, "He will not!" Oh, dear, just wait :)

7 Years on the 7th!

It is hard to believe David and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary yesterday! Wow, how time flies! Two houses and three kids later.... it seems the picture of our family has changed so quickly! God has blessed our marriage abundantly, and we are so thankful. Life just gets better each year. Our cup overflows on a daily basis! God is good! Last night we had a great dinner with friends to celebrate. So fun!

And below are a few pics of the kids playing the last few days. On Sunday night we enjoyed playing on the neighbor's slip and slide. Yesterday afternoon before we left for dinner, we had fun in the yard with bubbles (and my new camera lense!) I love being able to get close ups of the kids from far away! It is great!!

This one was a little blurry, but too cute not to post!

The Pool, Of Course!

We spent this pretty summer day at the pool. Mimi came to help, and we somehow kept the babies up until 1:00! Wow! They may sleep until David gets home from work! Henry is even considering a nap himself. We had a fun pool picnic and enjoyed the summer weather. Thanks, Mimi, for coming to swim with us!

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a fun cookout with family on Saturday night as an early Memorial Day celebration. Grant and Grace had fun diving into their strawberry shortcake, and David and Grace gave us a concert afterwards!