And so it WASNT stomach virus...

After our last post, I felt I needed to update and tell everyone what the verdict was on Annie. I took her to the Doctor on Monday morning, thank goodness, where the diagnosis was tonsilitis. Poor baby had a really bad case, and all the fever and throwing up was caused by the infection. She is well on her way to her regular happy, sassy self and is even going to school tomorrow. I hate when she is sick--I always tell her that we're like E.T. and Elliott. When she is sick, it makes me feel sick, too.

Sweetest girl...

in the world.

A day of fun at the zoo with the stomach virus...

Yesterday we were invited to the zoo by the Rutledges (thanks for inviting us or did we invite ourselves?). Anyway we were so pumped to go in this GORGEOUS weather! Upon arrival at the parking lot, Annie threw up her lunch of blue kool-aid and hot dog (all in her lap and car seat thankfully since we had no back up clothes). Writing it off to car sickness, who is a friend of hers, we went on into the zoo and had a fun filled day of smelly animals, train rides, and cotton candy. After the zoo we went out for pizza. Little did we know....that Annie later would throw up her pizza (complete with LOTS and LOTS of parmesan cheese) ALL OVER THE CAR even reaching the front seat and her daddy! We spent at least 15 -20 ninutes on the side of the highway trying to clean up the disaster as best we could before forging on to Newport. I was never so ready to get home, especially since Rhett cried all the way home after the incident.

Zoo entrance...I can just smell the fun in the air! Wait a minute, I don't think that's fun we're smelling.

Who doesn't have a pic like this? OK yes I look crazy.

Petting farm...we think Claire actually got bitten by one of these guys! Not shown...Rhett LOVING this part!

TOO CUTE together!

They let us take one of the animals home.... just kidding! That was the animal we BROUGHT from home. Before having children, I thought this was the most terrible thing. After having children, I think this is the most wonderful thing! (especially after having Rhett!)

The definition of...

CHILLAXIN'

Backyard Bible Hour

Our church did not have Bible Hour this summer, so as you've seen from an earlier post, we've been doing our own Sunday night fellowship. This was maybe the last one, so I decided to do a post about it. It was also the last ride down the water slide until next summer. Ok I'm crying. I LOVE SUMMER!! Coming soon: THE BEST OF SUMMER. (maybe if I get around to it)

Rhett in his beloved swing...Jeff was giving him a wild ride on it actually!

Annie in a mood...

Splish

Splash

Baby Rhett and Claire (that's what she calls him; isn't that sweet?)

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Well, we knew it would come and it did--and too fast! Annie started school last Monday, and it was her first time to be at school all day. She said she really liked it, but wasn't ready to go back! She comes by it honestly; I'd rather be home than anywhere else, too. I feel really good about her being there, though. She gets to hear Bible stories and sing church songs every day (which she loves). Doesn't she look like a big girl? Sarah, we are getting a lot of use out of the dress you gave her for her birthday--you can see she has it on in about 3 posts!

First day of school pose...

First day of school pose #2...

All buckled in for the 40 minute drive...(she hates this part, even if equipped with Hannah Montanna cd and dvd)

In her classroom working a puzzle...

In line for chapel...

I'm sorry...

but these kids are so beautiful! I'm their mom and I can say that if I want to.

Livin' the Life at Lu-Lu's

Tuesday night we went to Lu-Lu's (Jimmy Buffet's sister's restaurant). If you haven't been, you should. It's a really fun place to eat if you don't mind the loooong wait. But see, to pass the time you can purchase Lu-Lu's items at the gift shop, eat snow cones, or play in the sand. Here are a few shots of our loooong wait.

Rhett eating a rock, I think. But he sure looks cute doing it (thanks for the adorable outfit Kristie and Aunt Karen!)

Annie on big-sis duty. "Please feed your brother some of your sno-cone--it will keep him in one spot longer." (notice her open mouth--just like a momma feeding her baby!)

Guess who was in Gulf Shores at the same time we were? BEN! Along with mom, dad, and little sis. How AWESOME! We should plan that every year.

Not off the clock yet...

Annie is off the clock..where shall I go next?

Alligator Artists

Nate, Ann, and I sculpted what we believed to be a blue-ribbon-worthy sand alligator. Check it out! If you think we win, leave a comment! Ha!

Beach Babies!

Has everyone missed us? We've been, as you guessed by the title, to the beach! It was the BEST vacation! Maybe it was because we haven't been in two years, or because it was Rhett's first experience on the beach, or because I had the greatest ice cream of my life (thank you Bruster's!). Whatever it was, we had a fabulous time. Of course this is the first of many posts--I have too many cute pics, as usual.

Cutest kids on the beach...

Loving the "foam"... new vocabulary word

What are these little things all over the sand?

Cutest kids on the beach continued...

"Dig, dig, dig," he would actually say!