And so it begins....

Audra my love....2nd grade

Sweet as pie Ellie Marie...kindergarten

Foggy...

Even when it's a misty, foggy day at the beach it is beautiful...

Finn and his dad...one was digging a hole in the sand...the other was filling a hole up with sand.

If you wondering...yes...she had sand EVERYWHERE.

Beach house secret room...

The house we stayed at this year had a secret room...

the attic floor was painted like a road and there were two tricycles and other toys up there. 

All the kiddos LOVED the secret!

Big girl hair cut...

All of the girls have had their first hair cuts by their Auntie Carlie...

Amelia had her's at the beach house.

Thank you Auntie Carlie for caring on the tradition.

Bestest cousin friend....

Amelia: Hey Finnegan...do you think we could get into some trouble together?
Finnegan:  Ya, pretty sure we could

Finnegan: Hey Amelia...will you be my best friend?
Amelia: Ya.

Finnegan: Right on.
Amelia: *giggles*

8...

Our girl went and did it...

she said that she would...

and she did. 

She is now 8 years old.

I'm a little confused as to how this has happened since I'm absolutely positive I'm still 27 years old.

Now if I can just convince her to stop growing so she won't get taller than me...

wish me luck.

beach bums...

Let them eat pie....

So it just so happened that the weekend we were at the beach....

they had a PIE BAKING CONTEST!

We of course had to participate.

Mom made an apple pie.

I made a chocolate cream pie.

Carlie made a coconut cream berry pie.

There was a grand total of thirteen pies entered.

There was a prize for the best pie made by a kid.

One grand prize winner and a prize for the runner up.

The judges hard at work...

And what do ya know....my MOM won the grand prize for her apple pie!!!!!!!

Now, if you know my mom's cooking...if you have tasted her apple pie...this is no surprise to you.

After the pie contest everyone got to sample the pies...

And my chocolate cream pie was the runner up!!!

It disappeared in no time flat.

I won this swanky new apron and oven mit as my prize.

Who knew the beach could taste SO good!

Beach baby...

Last year when we were at the beach this little thing fell asleep every time we got near the water.

This year she has things to do...

like eating sand...

I mean...

 you at least have to try a taste..right?

There is so much to do it wears a girl out.

She can't even make it back to the house for lunch without passing out she's so tired in the back pack.

Sweet baby girl is a beach baby girl this week...