Pensacola -- Pics of the Family

I realize now that I got almost no pictures of my parents, who were amazing. First of all, my dad set up the house. Secondly, my parents arranged everything else -- meals, the baby things necessary, etc. Thirdly, they made it possible for Mike and me to go out to dinner, spend time at the beach together and get lots of naps. And last, they took the least desirably room -- the loft. It was the noisiest place and required a hike down a circular staircase in the middle of the night if they had to go to the bathroom. No small sacrifice there. It wouldn't have been a vacation were it not for everything they did to make it so relaxing. I'm crazy lucky.

Here is Aunt Hollee snuggling with Anders. Allee hung out the whole time and looked on. She was very sweet with him and is a great big sister to Baylee.


This is Daniel, my cousin Laura's husband. Ellis loved Daniel and he definitely has a way with kids. He is sweet and very patient.


This is my Uncle Pat (Laura's dad), who has always been a Pied Piper with kids. He was my first babysitter ever and I have tons of stories of the fund games we played. My favorite was when he would build a fort with the sofa cushions at my grandparents' house. Uncle Pat says that Ellis' bossy streak reminds him of another 3.5-year old he once knew. Who could he be referring to?


Just cute. Mike looks good at the beach. He got a little sun, grew a bunch of facial hair and wore just the right garb to look stylish but relaxed. He could have been in a J Crew catalogue.


Uncle Jerry has always loved having tons of kids around. Where my parents wouldn't have dared ask me when the heck I was going to get to having kids, Jerry was all too happy to perform that job. He was in hog heaven this weekend. And Ellis was quite pleased to get the attention.


And another picture of sand castle building. There were motes and towers and all kids of things.