INDIAN LANES BOWLING

We bought a Groupon for bowling a long while back, never got around to using it before it expired, and finally decided to just head out on a Friday evening after work with our buddies the Hancocks to show the kids what it's all about. They loved it, and James especially (along with Coltin) stayed focused and never missed a turn, while Cora (and Emma) often had to be fetched from the snack table. We got two lanes (one for the kids and one for the adults), and threw up the bumpers for the kids, along with this crazy metal contraption that the kids were able to just set their ball onto and push. As the night progressed, we'd catch James and Coltin (and eventually Cora too) positioning the rolling rack to aim at specific pins they'd missed on their first turn, so we were pretty impressed by that (since they did it of their own accord and nobody showed them that trick). There was some between-the-legs/underhand bowling too, but they mostly stuck to the rack. Jay and Stirlin kicked our booties (score-wise), and the only person I beat was Dawn (even the kids all beat me, what with their bumper advantage). We had a lot of fun and will definitely be going back sometime!

Cora had the best victory dances

Spot on after an underhand roll

Emma and Dawn looking surprised after she earned a STRIKE!

Superman definitely had some skills

The girls helped each other out a few times, and I caught both James and Coltin assisting the girls with carrying their bowling ball up to the line - so very sweet!

He cracked me up every time he squatted off to the side to look around the metal rack and watch his bowling ball inch down the lane...

Teamwork makes the game more fun

Thanks for a fun evening you guys! And next time we'll be sure to get food Stirlin can eat :-)

LICENSED BOOK LOVERS

So, I know we're a little slow to get this started (in our defense, the last time I took the kids to the library, Cora was still more interested in eating the books and James was more interested in climbing up and down the staircase and running around yelling), but the kids are now the proud owners of their very first library cards. Jay took them this afternoon to get acquainted with our local library, learn the process of borrowing and taking good care of books that belong to others, and apply for their cards. As you can see from the photos, they were very excited by all this. They picked 4 books each this trip, and are SUPER proud of their cards. Our little book lovers now have another great indoor activity to do during the afternoon heat (or thunderstorms) this summer

GRANDMAS HAVE A THING FOR GREEN AND WHITE POLKA DOTS...

For two years in a row, Gramma has purchased Cora a green swimsuit with white polka dots and pink trim. And she also made her a green dress with white polka dots almost three years ago, which she is now wearing for the third summer (though it's just about too tight to get on these days). I guess we know which colors Gramma likes to see her little girl in.

And you know who else likes green with white polka dots with pink trim? Grambot.

Cora is lucky that her grandmas have such awesome style! And we're lucky that they enjoy purchasing cute outfits for our kiddos year-round! Thanks you guys!

(And can we all just say "Awww!" for a second, looking at those photos of her from last summer? Little 2-year-old Cora and her lack of hair... She's almost 3 now folks. Baby doll is growing up fast - just look how long and lean she's gotten over the past few months...)

WHAT'S UP HOLLYWOOD?

JUMP RIGHT IN!

First pool day of summer 2013? Check!

SPINNING AND SPLASHING

Before climbing back into the car for another 3.5 hour drive home, we took the kids to a park near the hotel to run and play (almost every toy at the playground spun in circles or zoomed like a zipline!), which also happened to have a splash park attached to it. They were plenty happy to spend their morning getting out any remaining energy! Jay took a few spins as well...

SHIP ISLAND ADVENTURE

We drove down to the coast very early this morning (due to our race last night) to join the Kennedy and Sanchez families at the beach. We hadn't been to Ship Island since our first trip last year, so we were all pumped for some fun in the sun! We packed up the PuddleJumpers and sand toys, filled a cooler with a picnic lunch, and loaded everything onto our newly purchased beach cart (something we hope to use far more often than just once/year...) 

The kids all highly enjoyed the boat ride out to the island...

Once we docked, the guys waited in line for the coolers while the mamas high-tailed it to the other side of the island to claim 3 sets of beach chairs and umbrellas next to each other in the front row. With a quick stop for a photo op, of course.

The kids were all awesome at the beach. They listened, they stayed out of trouble (and danger), and were fully complacent about near-constant sunblock application and hat/hood-wearing.

This is one good lookin' group of kiddos!

(And it's so fun that Lauren is now old enough to sit in for group photos!)

Eventually the little ones faded into naps (along with their daddies and mommies), but the big boys held strong, so we did multiple adventures along the backwater, hunting crabs and pretending to be soldiers/fire-breathing dragons. And alligators. And sharks catching starfish...

After a while we decided to go check out the fort, since it was underwater when we were here last year and we were thus unable to visit. It was pretty cool! And the walk back across the boardwalk was interesting for the kids (though we didn't get to see the alligator that Jay had spotted when he had first walked across earlier in the day - bummer!)

 After the fort, our kids were DONE. Cora may have napped, but the sun/sand/sunblock/salt water had done a number on both kids' eyes, and James was beyond exhausted, so we opted to hang in the shade while Jay went back to pack up our stuff. James just kept crying "I want to get back on the boat!" Once there, I purchased some ice cream to cool everyone off and improve moods, then James promptly passed out while Jay and I took turns walking Cora in circles around the boat. She was so cute petting James' sleeping head and kissing his cheek...

When at the beach, we opt for seafood, so we stopped by a nearby oyster house to place an order on our way to the hotel, then Jay graciously went back out to pick up the dinner while the kids and I showered off the salt and sunblock. We enjoyed a hotel bed picnic while soaking my burnt shins in lotion (though luckily neither kid had any burn spots and Jay and I mostly escaped, unlike last year). The kids were further thrilled by watching a movie in bed, then it was an early bedtime for our sun-weary family. Wonderful day!