Orange Beach, AL Vacation

We had initially planned to head to Montreal and Maine this summer, but COVID changed our plans.  The Tilgers invited us along on their Orange Beach vacation, and we were excited to get out of town.

We got up super early and were on the road by 4am.  The kids set up with their devices.

All was going fine until about 5-6 hours in the car, when our car died on the side of the two lane highway about an hour outside of Baton Rouge.  After about a two hour wait, the tow truck arrived to take us to the Infiti dealership in Baton Rouge.  

After a few hours waiting for the car's diagnosis and futile attempts to get a rental car, we decided to just book a hotel in Baton Rouge for the night.  We finally located a rental car in New Orleans, so Laura took an uber to the New Orleans airport Saturday night.  Then after spending Saturday night in Baton Rouge, we drove on to Orange Beach and made it there about 20 hours later than planned.  A pic set up with their devices in the rental mini van.

The kids with their boogie boards in the water Sunday afternoon.

After an afternoon at the beach, the kids hopped in the hot tub.

Caden working hard on the sand castle.

Annabelle and Hadley digging with some other kids on the beach.

A picture one night on the balcony before heading to dinner.

The boys having a laser gun war in the condo.

We went parasailing one morning.

The girls having fun with Garrett.

The boys went fishing one morning.

We rented a pontoon boat one day.

We got a double decker boat this year with a slide.  The kids loved it.

Another Covenant family was staying in Gulf Shores, so they joined us on the boat.  The kids left to right: Sojo Thomas, Chloe Thomas, Annabelle, Emerson, Hadley, Garrett, and Caden.

The kids playing in some shallow water.

Back to the beach...Caden and Garrett digging.

The school had a ground breaking ceremony for the new high school building while we were there.  We recreated the pic with the kids. :)

July Activities

Sadly, DAC cancelled their 4th of July festivities.  The Tilgers invited Annabelle to go to their grandmother's house for the 4th.  Robyn sent this picture of them playing Family Feud.

We got the tv hung and the shelves decorated in the tv room.

One of my tennis friend's daughter graduated from high school, so Annabelle and I went to her open house.  

The kids racing during their July practice.

A handful of Covenant kids signed up for the same practice time.  One morning another mom brought doughnuts and kolaches to celebrate a birthday.  Left to right: Claire Kuhne, Alex Bryan, Jett Poorman, Hannah Ratliff, Johnathan Ratliff, Caden, Natalie Bryan, and Annabelle.

Another group pic on the last day of practice. 

Caden's 10 1/4 Birthday Party

 Since Caden's birthday fell during strict quarantine, he wanted to have a summer birthday party.  We decided to schedule it on his quarter b-day.  

Caden wanted a Nerf b-day party and cake.

Some balloons on the side gate.

We took some boxes and spray painted them...ready for a nerf war!

Caden and Mommy.

Caden and Daddy.

The kids strategizing before the war.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take any pictures of the kids together or eating cake.

Baseball Season has begun

 A shortened version of baseball season finally started.  Here's a pic of Caden pitching.

A pic of Caden at bat.

We went to the zoo one day.  The kids checking out the hippos.

The fridge and freezer and panels have finally been installed.  

The downstairs guest bath wallpaper was defective, so we had to order new rolls.  It was finally installed this past week, and I really love it!

The DAC swim team season wrapped up this week.  The kids aren't finished swimming yet, so we will be doing a practice team at T-Bar-M the month of July.  A pic of the kids with their ribbons from the last virtual meet.

Meredith, Jonah, and Asher came over from Fort Worth to visit one day.  It's always fun to see them.