Stallings-Gaston Family Trip to Orange Beach

I've FINALLY found the energy to post about our trip to Orange Beach!! When we got home Sunday afternoon, we felt like we needed to take another vacation to recuperate. Then it was back to "The Grind" Monday for me...UUUGGGGHHH!!!!

So here's the break down:

We went to Orange Beach with my parents, Breisch and Angie (brother and sister-in-law for those who don't know who they are) last week. We left Wednesday after work and drove, in the rain, until midnight...we thought it would be easier to drive at night with 2 kids because they'd sleep most of the way. Once we got to the beach house, the kids were WIDE awake!! I think Lily finally went to sleep around 3am and was back up at 6am.

Thursday it rained so we went to Foley for lunch and shopping. We ate at Lambert's Cafe which was AWESOME. We all ate entirely too much but were able to walk it off at the Outlet Mall. Once Hamp & I got back to the beach house, we went to the beach and took pictures of the kids.

Friday it rained ALL day and I felt crummy because of sinus problems. Hamp just recently bought a Nintendo Wii and brought it with him (a very good thing since it rained 2 out of 4 days). Mom & Day went back to Foley, so I laid around and watched Hamp, Breisch and Angie play the Wii and napped here and there. It was so hilarious to watch them playing each other!! There was so much competition & trash talking (mainly from my husband) that we were hurting from laughing SO much.

Saturday was GORGEOUS and it was my Dad's birthday!! We headed to the beach at 10am and had a BLAST!! Needless to say, that afternoon we were regretting not wearing SPF 40 sunscreen! We all got sunburned except for Lily. That will teach us not to cram 3 days of "fun in the sun" into 1. That night, we met up with my best friend Shana and her family, who were in Orange Beach also, and took pictures on the beach. They turned out beautiful even though it turned cloudy at sunset.

Sunday, after washing sheets and towels and cleaning for 3 hours, we headed back home. It was the LONGEST 4 hours of my life. Reid fell asleep twice only for about 5 minutes before getting his second wind. Lily slept until we were just north of Foley then she played and cried until we got to Mendenhall. I was driving 80 the whole way trying to get home as fast as I could before I pulled all of my hair out....I guess it will be a few more years before traveling with kids will become easier!!!

Aside from the drive back, I had the BEST time!! I was so glad to be able to spend some quality time with Angie, since we don't see each other too often. She is so funny and down to earth and has a heart of gold! My brother is SO blessed to have such a wonderful wife and I am equally blessed to have her as my sister-in-law.

So, that was the short version of the 1st annual Stallings-Gaston family Orange Beach trip. Hopefully, the next one won't be too far away. Here are a few pics from the weekend:

Reid & Hamp

Sweet Lily

Mommy & Me

Reid playing in the sand

Brother & sister

Me & my man

Me & Angie

Angie, Breisch, Nana, Pop Pop, Me, Lily, Reid and Hamp

Our precious FAMILY

Me & Shana

Happy Mother's Day

This has been a wonderful weekend for me (it actually started on Thursday). I was able to spend Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday with my mom, shopping and just hanging out.

Thursday we went to the Canton Flea Market and shopped ALL day. We were both so exhausted from all the dust, wind and walking, but it was SO worth it!!!

Friday night we cooked out at my parent's house with my brother and sister-in-law and gave my mom her Mother's Day gift: a new garden tote with 3 new tools, 2 pair of pruners, gloves, a kneeling pad and a gift card to Lakeland Garden Center. She LOVES working in her yard and was needing new tools and a place to keep them all together.

Saturday, Mom, Lily and I rode down Hwy. 49 to Old Mexico Imports and Deck the Yard in search for iron plant containers. They both have an EXCELLENT selection and I found the hanging container I was looking for. Mom even bought a couple of gorgeous ferns.

Today, I slept in while Hamp took care of both kids. They gave me the sweetest card and a gift card to Pier 1 that I've been wanting (I want to put 2 chairs from there in the kitchen in front of the window for a sitting area). We went to church and then ate Mexican afterwards. YUM! Tonight, we invited my mom and dad over for supper so we could treat them for a change. We always have a wonderful time with them and enjoy their company so much.

What better way to spend Mother's Day and weekend than with my mom and my children!!! I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day.






"She speakes with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her..." Proverbs 31:26 & 28

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30