My home away from Home.. THE BEACH

I absolutely LOVE the beach! I was so sad when I heard about the oil spill and how it "ruined" the Gulf Coast. I thought we would not be able to go this year. We skipped last year because Klaire was so small. Thankfully, we had a wonderful lady we rent from who encouraged us to come on. Two years ago my mom found this wonderful condo called Ocean House in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The complex has a zero entry pool and it sits ON the beach which is a must for us. The other thing that cinched it for us was the bathroom on the ground floor right by the pool. With two of three kids potty trained, it makes life a LOt easier at the pool. Here is the view from our condo.

We stayed on the second floor, which was actually the first floor of rooms. Far enough away from pool not to hear noise but close enough to enjoy the view of pool.

This was Klaire's first trip to the beach. She loved it. I didn't take my camera to the beach the days we played in the ocean but she loved the waves. She would wait for the water to come in and then run into the waves. She is so brave. Gransy and Popsy would hold onto her sometimes to keep her from falling. I am glad my kids love the beach as much as I do. She would also play in the sand until she saw the big kids get up and go to the ocean, then she would be right behind them.

Trying to get pics of all three was quite hard. No one would look at the camera at the same time. It really frustrated me at the time but now it is fun to look back and see all the chaos that happened in a matter of minutes. Scott pushed Kennedy into the sand and Klaire fell in the water. Ahh, the memories..
Kennedy, 6

Scott, almost 4

Klaire, 16 months

Love this shot. Hope they really feel this loving toward each other one day.

Another picture, notice Lightening McQueen made this shot.

We had a great time and enjoyed ourselves. We only had two days worth of oil and Gulf Shores did a great job of cleaning up the beaches. The media really hurt tourism in the area for no reason. Yes, there was oil but no, it shouldn't have kept people away from the beach. I am so thankful we went and enjoyed the sand, water, and waves.. to be continued

Birthday Boy part two

Scott's party was Monday at Flame Gymnastics Outback. He had several of his friends over and they played their little hearts out. Here is the Birthday boy with his crown, that didn't last long.






Here are the "little kids," Hudson, Ainsley, Camryn, Courtney, Brandon, Bethany and Scott. What a cute group of kids.



The big girls at their own table. Ellie, Lindsey, Abi, Emily, and Kennedy. Big sisters helping celebrate.

Surprise, Thomas the tank Engine was the theme of the party. Carla Gregory made teh cake and did a great job. We love Thomas at our house.

Here are the engineers getting ready to ride home. The only thing better would have been a real train. The kids had so much fun and enjoyed themselves.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my precious baby boy, Scott. He is four today. I am soo thankful for a healthy son to continue our family legacy, carry on the Holland name, the features and values of the Jacksons, and develop into his own person. I pray for Scott's

health
Spirituality
personality
nature
kindergarten teacher
high school teacher
wife, that we love her and she loves us(that might be hard), that she is a strong Christian woman, and fun loving.

Four years ago, I woke up at 3 in the morning wondering why I was awake. I thought I had to use the restroom and realized my water had broken. I woke Sean up and told him it was time to go to the hospital. He, of course, layed there and asked if I was sure. I said, emphatically, yes I am positive. I got a shower and did my hair and make up before we left. Sean ran to the car and kept coming back in to ask if I was ever going to get ready to go. I was in no hurry. I didn't begin to hurt with contraction until we got to the hospital. When we got there it was 6:30 and the night shift nurses checked me in and told me they thought I was mistaken about my water breaking. NOT TRUE! Soo, when the morning crew came on they confirmed what I already knew and began the potosin at 8ish. Dr. Rainwater came in and checked me and I had not dialated much. I took some IV drugs and Sean would watch the monitors. Each time the contractions would show he would squeeze a spot on my foot the reflexologist gave me in high school. It seemed to work keeping my contractions from being HORRIBLE. On this went until I felt like Scott was coming. The nurse checked me and I was dialated to an 8 and we did a "practice push." Sean got up and said he was going to the lobby to let everyone know I was beginning pushing but then nurse Hope grabbed his arm with wide eyes and said, " Don't leave, I might need you." WOW that made me feel better. Dr. Rainwater came in and caught the baby boy who had no name yet. We didn't see her long because Scott made such a timely exit.
His name was debated for several days. Mom and Dad could not agree. Fianlly, when it was time to go home we gave the boy his name. I am pleased with it and it fits him. I love you Scott!!

Today was a very tiring day. After spending the night at my parents house following an eleven day beach trip(more on that later), we began the trip back home. It went well and we were glad to be home for Scott's birthday. Daddy cooked burgers and hot dogs so we could spend time with family after being gone. Gransy and Popsy came over and we had cake and ice cream. Thomas and james the tank engines even made an appearance. Sean and I are waiting until his party Monday to give him his present. We had so much fun celebrating Scott's birthday. Good to be back home.

Fancy Nancy

As I looked through my memories aka pictures, I realized that I had not blogged about Kennedy's birthday party. She turned 6 and had a hard time deciding what she wanted to do forher party. We have done one, dora, horses, my little pony, and the horses again. Soo, she thought she wanted to do horses but when we talked about it several times, she finally came up with Fancy Nancy. Nancy is one of her favorite characters to read about. She wanted to play gams at her party. The kids had sack races,


stilt races (which the big kids did pretty good with but the little kids... not so much)

musical chairs and played with the parachute. How much fun was that for a bunch of 6 year old girls, oh and Pierce, the ONLY big boy. he is K's cousin and she HAS to invite him so we let him decide if he wanted to be the only boy and smart guy he said sure!

Here is the cake Kennedy picked out. She descibed it to me as a three layer cake that is pink and purple. I thought it would be iced that way but Carla knew better. Kennedy and I had a "girls day" one day and went to Hobby Lobby and she picked out these imbellishments. Pretty good Fancy Nancy cake. Way to go H1!! I can't believe she is six. I watch her grow up more every day and am thankful that I get to stay home and do that. I am also thankful this little girl has good friends to share her birthday and that she is healthy enough to celebrate.

Freedom Fest Fun

After living in Greenwood for almost 10 years I finally made it to the Freedom Fest hosted on the square each July 4th. I am told that there are things like a turtle race, bounce arounds, and other fun activites all day. Since the weather was wet and dreary most of the day, I kept the children home until "showtime." Daddy aka 10 spur was performing on the square as the headlining act. They followed Mr. CabbageHead and athe Screaming Radishes and Fordomatic. Great times had by all. Because of the rain I didn't take my camera but got a few shots on my phone. Great music was heard and the band did a great job making Freedom Fest a hometown success! SO proud ofmy husband. The kids had fun sitting and watching as well as dancing. Klaire just sat in the stroller(where she has spent most of her life up to this point) and clapped when daddy played.
We watched fireworks all together and then Ms. Monica took the little kids home for bed. Kennedy got to stay and watch the second half of the 10 Spur show. Fun times.
Looking forward to next year, maybe it will be sunny and we may even race a turtle.

Just keep swimming

Thanks so much to our sponsors for this year. Dan and Tonya at Eagle One Logisitcs!! They helped make us look so sharp on and off the field.You two are great. Glad we got to know you.

This is the cool slide every kid there went down at least a hundred times. Okay maybe a little exaggeration but those kids loved it! Who wouldn't?
here are two of the three girls on our team, Kennedy and LeahDunking each other is so fun, why? All in good fun I suppose.

Our tball party was last night and we had such a great time. Thanks to the Young Family for hosting such a good party. The kids had fun but it was a very enjoyable evening for the adults too.



Our team came in first place in the younger 5 and 6 year old league. Great way to finish the season, even though we didn't get to make up our two rainouts. I wish we played a little longer into the summer. It is so fun to be at the ballpark. Most of my summer memories begin and end with either watching or playing. I want my kids to experience that too. sorry, spiderwebbing.

Back to the party, it got stared off on the right foot. I had to go back to pick up something I forgot so the guys were in charge. Maybe not such a good choice around water. Example:bree's party from last year when Scott fell/jumped? in. Soo, when I arrive back at the party I am told that both of my children have been down the slide without floaties. That's okay because they are both excellent swimmers. Three years of lessons, they ought to be Olympians by now according to dad. The scary part is when my husband informs me that they were debating about who was going in after our children because Scott somehow ended up swimming over his sister in the water. Chris apparently didn't wait for the discussion, he went in fully clothed. Thanks Chris!!
The kids had a ball and got their trophies. After realizing they placed first the excitement was mounting. then more swimming. Hamburgers and hot dogs cooked by the grill master, aka Sean Holland, was the menu of choice. eating, swimming and ending the season on a good note was
awesome.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday cha cha cha... Kennedy turned six today. I was at St. Edwards on June 24 at midnight to get things rollin'. I took everything but the kitchen sink, had been packed for three weeks and was anxious for this to happen. With her being my first, I was apprehensive to say the least. I stayed the night (didn't sleep b/c of vitals check.) and then at 8:00 am Melissa Rainwater came in and started my petocin (sp?) and broke my water about an hour later. I wasn't in labor long but it was hard. I decided I wanted to "try" tohave the baby without epidural. I might change my mind later I thought. But I did want a little IV drugs to knock the edge off. I was in and out during contractions. Soo, sean would watch the monitor and when the contractions would start he would squeeze a spot on the side of my ankle and the contractions didn't seem as bad. This spot was suggested by a reflexologist so I think it worked physically but I know it worked mentally (3 times). The nurses let me "practice" push when I finally dialated to an 8. My nurse Hope told Sean that he might get to help deliver the baby. She kept telling me not to push but I couldn't help it. I didn't have that epidural so I could feel each time my body wanted to push. I tried not to. At this point, I had not seen the doctor very much. She rushes in and floats the baby because th cord is around her neck. All of this I find out later. She delivered the beautiful baby girl, sewed me up and said Congratulations, that will be $X. Thanks. See you later. I didn't see her again until next mornning. She did ask the baby's name and Sean looked at me and said "after that, you can name her anything you want." She became Kennedy Danette Holland at that moment. I am so thankful for my little girl.
She teaches me so much. I want to remember everything about her.

Random thoughts;
You slept on my chest for the first six weeks of your life.

You nursed for 14 months.

We read LOTS of books.

You LOVED baby einstein.

You nursed many times a day.

You learned and used sign language.

Fave words: please, thank you, eat, more, dad, mom

You talked early and in sentences.

You were so good, went anywhere without fussing.

you played with horses from the time you could hold anything.

Didn't like baby dolls, barbies, just horses.

All of that to say, tonight we took Kennedy out to dinner by herself for her birthday. We wanted it to be special for her. She chose to eat at Logan's. She loves their rolls. She ate steak tips and macaroni. I loved being there with her because it was like how it will be when she is a teenager. I saw glimpese of her personality that I can't wait to see blossom. We gave her a Nintendo DS. We had talked about gettting her one and were debating. At the Spring Fling at Westwood, I won the raffle for a DS and a Phineas and Ferb game. She loves that show. Only becasue she gets the humor that is intended for adults watching the show with their kids. She loved it. It made me kind of sad becasue she didn't get a "toy" or stuffed horse but she wasn't interesed in them. I am loving who she is becoming but am kind of sad to see her grow up.

Thank you Jesus, for a beautiful young lady I pray will follow you and be a special child of God.