Beach Vacation

We were finally able to get to the beach for Labor Day! We weren't sure if it was going to work out but we were able to go for a LONG weekend and got to hang out with lots of our family. Gram Lene, Auntie Chrissy, Aunt Angela, Uncle Eric, Aunt Bubby and Uncle Ray were all able to join us for the holiday weekend. At first we thought the weather wasn't going to cooperate with us but it ended up being SO nice. I really don't think that we could have asked for any better weather. 
 
We arrived on Thursday which allowed us to go to the store and get settled. Elly was great in the car for the 4.5 hour car ride. You could tell she was getting a bit restless but she seemed to make her self at home. 

 
Since everyone else was arriving Friday or Saturday, we spent Friday morning hanging by the pool and Elly LOVED getting to play in the splash pad. 

Lounging in the pool!

Kicking with Dada

Showing Dada her swimming's skills that she learned at swimming lessons

She just LOVED the splash pad.

Friday afternoon we took a walk on the beach. At first Elly wasn't 100% sure about but once we started walking and seeing the birds, she was good. The water was really rough (red flag) so she really could only put her feet in (which is fine by me. I like the beach am not crazy about the ocean so I think I would have gotten majorly nervous for her). 

Walking down the pier with Dada. And yes his shirt says "Best friend and the stick man is holding a beer"

Pointing at the birds

Checking out those waves! But she is making sure that she had her daddy's hand.

Just LOVE those little feet in the sand

Leaving her mark.

 We were excited for everyone to get to Orange Beach so we could all swim and play in the sand. Elly really enjoyed getting to eat her breakfast on the balcony and even colored a few pictures outside. 

Elly had so much fun getting to swim with Aunt Lala, Aunt Bubby, Auntie Chrissy and Gram Lene. 

Elly loved getting to play with everyone in the pool!

She just kept wanting to move!

Having a little snack on the beach.

Cutie!

Enjoying watching the waves with Gram Lene and Auntie Chrissy

Selfie with mama

Diva sporting her yellow polka dot bikini and sunglasses

Selfie with Aunt Lala

While we were at the beach it was the first weekend of college football. Elly sported her Auburn t-shirt during the day and then of course had to put her cute LSU dress on. She decided she needed to lounge while Uncle Eric was finishing cooking dinner. 
 

While we were at the beach I finally got to meet sweet Lucy Babin as the Babin's were also at the beach. We met up with them at Lulu's and had a blast. Now the place was packed and it was interesting having 3 kids under 3 but it was so nice to see them, even if just for a short time. The food was great - even getting it to go! Looking forward to the next time that we can see them and hopefully we will have a little longer for everyone to play!
 

Hugs

Kisses

More Hugs

Fast friends and already sharing snacks

Friends for almost 20 years!

 We were sad for the trip to end and are looking forward to the next time we can all get together. 

 

Not the best family picture, but the only one we got :-(

Summer Fun!

This summer has been super busy for the Fingars. With visitors and swimming lessons and McWane Science Center and a new summer "school", time has definitely flown by for Elly!


So let's see if we can hit on the highlights of Elly's summer.

SWIMMING LESSONS

Elly has always loved the water and we knew that we wanted her to start swimming lessons. So we signed up at the YMCA for the parent and child class. Elly absolutely LOVED it! She had as much fun getting to play in the water - kick, jump and blow bubbles. We did learn one thing though, we will have to sign her up for private swim lessons moving forward as she kept paying attention to what everyone else was doing in the pool. And ask you know, there are LOTS of things going on in a swimming pool.

We joined the Y for the month of July and Elly and I went swimming a few times as well as she was able to go when Gram Lene and Auntie Chrissy were in town. I think we will have to look into joining for the entire summer next year or look into a big inflatable pool for the back yard.

NEW SUMMER "SCHOOL"

Elly's normal "school" at Meadow Brook Baptist Church doesn't do a summer program and we needed one for Elly. Not only for her to get to play and socialize, but so that I could get some work done during the day. Elly went for 6 weeks to Riverchase Methodist Church's Mother's Day Out program. and had so much fun. From the first day when we participated in car pool and she just let them take her out of her seat - no problem until the last day of school, she loved every minute with Ms Landi and Ms Zena. We are so lucky that Elly loves to go to school and that we have a great back up at Riverchase. 

FAMILY TIME AT THE MCWANE SCIENCE CENTER

We decided to go to the McWane Science Center one Saturday to let Elly play now that she is more interested in various things but especially seeing how things work and stacking blocks. When we got there the line was super long and come to find out, the internet had gone down so they were having to manually enter everyone's payments. Once we were finally able to get in, Elly had a blast. She loved checking things out with her daddy - especially anything with water. 

 

She went grocery shopping and got a carrot and bacon.

Oooh - sporting her McWane sticker

Family selfie in the elevator - Bad Dada making a face

Petting the baby shark with daddy.

 WORKING GIRL

Elly has now figured out how to climb into my office chair when we are in the basement - which is my office, her play space and Aaron's man cave. She even knows which button turns the computer on and off.

Working hard

Taking a break with mommy

Elly's infatuation with bracelets still continues and has added necklaces to that. She found a Saint's Mardi Gras bead and wore it for 2 days straight. She's just the cutest when she has bracelets up to her elbow and a purse on the other hand.
 

 VISITORS AND FUN

 We had quite a few visitors this summer. Gram Lene and Auntie Chrissy came to visit in June and a week in July while I attended Phi Mu's convention as well as Pops came in August. We had so much fun getting to visit with everyone and taking pictures.

Eating out with Pops

While Gram Lene and Auntie Chrissy were here in June, we celebrated Gram Lene's birthday and in July they had fun swimming , swinging and shopping.

At the pool with Auntie Chrissy

Swinging with Auntie Chrissy

Celebrating Gram Lene's birthday

Elly also had Popsicles for the first time, an ICEE and we were able to put her hair in the ponytail.

Enjoying her first popscicle at the start of the summer. Now she's a pro at eating them.

We can make a ponytail. Though the front is still short, there is lots to work with in the back.

Yummy strawberry lemonade ICEE!

The summer has flown by and I am sure that there are things that we missed but overall it was a great three months. More to come on Elly's trip to the beach and 18 month update!