Dauphin Island Beach

Oct. 11, 2014

We decided to take advantage of the good weather and went to check out Dauphin Beach just over the boarder in Alabama.  It was a great day at the beach.  

Daniel and Bradley testing out the boogie boards.

Nathan really wanted to try a boogie board too.  He just wasn't too sure about the water.

This was our camp set up.  The beach umbrella is so handy!

I love all the little things you can find on the beach.  They make for fun pictures.

Daniel was super excited about riding the waves in.

Bradley got to work on a sand castle right away.

Eliza is a great helper when it comes to building sand castles.

All the kids got into building the sand castle.

Dad catching a wave in.

He saw several jelly fish out in the water.  Fortunately they were not the stinging kind!

Dad and Daniel riding the waves.

Dad took Eliza out.  She was a little bit nervous about the water, but Dad had her back...

or she had his.  :0)

Bradley and Daniel fighting the waves out.

After lunch we took a walk on the beach.  We decided to look for trash and pick it up.

Everyone looking for trash.

Dad carried the trash bag.

Bradley found some.

Foot prints in the sand.

Dad and Daniel decided to walk to the other side of the island.  It isn't too far and they saw several sand crabs.  Dad even caught one of the sand crabs.  He tried to bring it back to our seats, but it kept pinching him.  The last time he dropped it it got away.

Eliza, Nathan and Bradley walked back with me.  We had to stop and play in the water about every 15 feet.  Eliza and Nathan loved this part of the beach because it is more shallow here than where we set up camp.

Eliza enjoying the waves.

This one was a little bit bigger!

This is one of the little hermit crabs Dad and Daniel found.

This little hermit crab headed back to the water as quickly as he could.

Dad helped the  kids work on a "pool".  We did have to go before the tide came in so we never did see it get filled up.  I guess we will have to go back again.

Nathan is a great helper!

Cheese!

Eliza made her own castle.

We had to get a picture before the water washed it away.

Splashing at the pool

Oct. 9, 2014

We have been to the pool several times, but I didn't take my camera until our last trip.  The pool was only going to be open for another week or so.  We had to make our last trip count.

Daniel waiting to catch Nathan.

Notice that Nathan is sporting the life jacket he got from his Grandma.

Daniel of the shaft!

This little splash pad is next to the pool.  It is super fun.

Nathan ran over there to trick Daniel out.  Then he came running back!

And you can see why he wears the jacket!

The boy is crazy!  He does have a lot of fun though.

Nathan and Daniel

Eliza is getting more and more comfortable in the water.

Bradley 

Daniel and Bradley have learned a lot during their swim lessons.  

They do great in the water now and I don't have to worry about them.

Nathan trying to run on water.

Wow! Not quite fast enough yet.

You see that Mom?!

It was a great afternoon.  We can't wait until the pool opens again in the spring.

Decorating for Halloween

Oct. 8, 2014

We have had such nice weather recently.  It was perfect for decorating our house for the first of the holiday season decorating.  I know Halloween isn't really part of the "holiday season" but a lot of people decorate for Halloween, and it continues into the new year.  

I had to document how pretty my flowers are.  They make me happy.

This is a ground cover kind.  The blossoms just keep blooming!

This is our spider in her web.  Nathan is a little bit nervous about her.  

He doesn't like her or her web.

(I purposely got one that didn't look real for that very reason!)

Our "snowman" pumpkins and girl scarecrow.

We had such a beautiful blue sky that made the perfect back drop of Ole Glory!

This garland of bats went above the garage door.

It was just the right length!

Nathan was a very good supervisor.  I had a hard time keeping him off the latter!

This is our boy scarecrow.

The garland on the pole had ghosts on it.  We also made ghosts out of small garbage bags and hung them from the front porch.  I just don't have a picture. ;)

As I watched the kids play outside I noticed a sun spot in the sky.

My camera did a pretty good job of capturing it.

Nathan is such a cutie.  He keeps me on my toes and may cause a little stress, but he is super cute.

Of course I might be a little bias.

"Cheese!"

Eliza couldn't be left out.

She borrowed our neighbors balance bike for a few minutes earlier in the day and decided she didn't want her training wheels on anymore.

When Andy got home from work she talked him into taking the training wheels off.

He ran up and down the road with her for about twenty minutes.

After that she could do it alone as long as she has someone to get her started.

Getting ready to take off!

Side Note:  A few days later Bradley worked with her for about 20 min and taught her how start on her own.  She hasn't slowed down since!