Tats and Tans- Beach Vacation 2014

We just got back from our beach vacation- tried out a new spot this year, down in Rosemary Beach, Florida. Everyone had a great time. We had a cute little house right on the beach with a pool. Most of our day was spent at the beach because Christopher loved every second of it. The first day we were down there at 8:30.... Matt was up at 5:30 riding his bike around trying to locate the Donut Truck and other places for us to venture off to.

We rented a bike with a kids seat on the back of it and Christopher LOVED it. A bike is definitely coming in the near future! They had kids bikes there so Anthony's girlfriend, Sara, put Christopher on it and wheeled him around. He thought it was awesome!

Everyday we would take Christopher out into the water and he would float around and we would jump over waves and sometimes we would get knocked in the head with waves when we weren't paying attention. Christopher also did a lot of running into the water. He would grab someone and say "come run with me!"

Matt and Anthony were his people of choice this day. I love this picture!

He may have been trying to convince Aunt Nancy to run with him here.

Christopher also got his first tattoo. (Hence the blog post title) Not by choice of course. Some of us decided to get a little henna tattoo- no big deal. The girl tells us we have to wait 2 hours before we can wash off the gel. Kinda a big deal when you have a 2 year old. But Matt had Christopher out on the bike so I thought it would be okay..... until Matt comes in to the store and says he almost got hit by a car and has a huge gash on his foot and hands me Christopher, who of course would go to no one else... so he rubbed my gel a little. I wiped it off and thought that was it... until we woke up the next morning and his finger was black. It only lasted 4 days on him but he was very proud of his tattoo and loved to show it off.

Christopher came back from the beach with a great tan... I am almost slightly positive that his feet might be tanner than mine. I can only wonder what the rest of his body would look like if I didn't keep sunscreening him every hour.

So much happened on our trip but I will tell the rest through the pictures! And I am sure there will be another post coming because I haven't upload any videos or gotten together all the pictures!



This rake and solo cup were unbelievable. Busy for hours.

We went to get homemade ice cream pops and chocolate covered bananas the last day. I loved that there was so much to do within walking distance.

Cousin Kate came to visit. We went out for a little bit one night to celebrate her finally being 21!

Photobombed.... thanks Dad.

Cornhole 2014. Matt, me and dad... or white, tan, and tanner.

My little cousin wants to be a cosmetologist and she did my hair EVERY DAY. I got braids, messy buns and she gave me beach waves whenever I wanted!

Our family from West Virginia (and dad).

Lunchtime with Francesca. I love hearing him say her name. It does it pretty well.

Raquel made us pepperoni rolls!! The first batch didn't turn out so hot because the deli left the wrapper on and every time we bit pepperoni we would pull out the plastic wrapper. We took the evidence back and they gave us more and they were awesome. Of course we ate the plastic filled ones too. :) Christopher had them for breakfast the nxt morning. In fact, one morning Christopher had Oreos for breakfast. Everytime he got to do or eat something he normally wouldn't be allowed to do, we said... Happy Vacation! :) 

This is probably our only family photo.

Tickle time with Uncle Anthony.

Pool time with daddy in the middle of his pool beer pong game.

The younger adults all went out to dinner one night. We went to a very fancy-pants restaurant and drank martinis and bottles of wine.

Of course Matt ordered the whole freaking fish. Isn't that creepy?

I know it's not the best picture but it's the only one we got!

This was the first morning we were there.

Trying to find the perfect car/plane/bus/truck to run around the store with.

They had reggae music on the square one night. Christopher wouldn't go to the front to dance, which surprised me, but he did dance behind everyone.

If Christopher saw these goggles, they were on his face. He got to the point where he could lift them up to the top of his head and then pull them down when he wanted to use them.

Dunking his head in the bucket. Not sure how this game developed, but he loved it!

Yes, Nana. I know how cute I am!



And that's all I got right now! More pictures and videos to come! :)

Father's Day Weekend

Christopher and Matt spent the entire weekend together. Not that they normally spend it apart... but I was not with them, so it was solely just the two of them. I don't think I have ever gone anywhere without Matt since Christopher has been born so it was super weird to be away from both of them! Matt had a full weekend planned for them- cooking out with Aunt Cindy, the aquarium, the pool, the zoo and a Braves game. Plans got shuffled around but they managed to do it all, including lunch out twice and dinner out. Of course, Matt and Anthony would take Christopher to Tilted Kilt for lunch. Boys.

Here are some of the pics from the weekend.

Heading to the aquarium! Looks like Buzz and Woody made the trip!

WOW. Matt said he heard that a million times.

Awesome picture! Christopher looks so small.

Daddy took Christopher to lunch at Miss L's afterwards. Miss L moved Christopher's picnic table to the front so she could talk to him while he ate. He is so spoiled there.

After naps, they went to the pool!

Christopher and his cranberries.

Matt asked Christopher if he wanted to go home and eat pizza or go out to dinner with Richard, which of course he replied "Pher pher eat with Richard" so off they went. I would say the boys certainly whooped it up while mommy was gone!

Riding the carousel with Daddy and Uncle on Father's Day. I wonder how many people thought Christopher was there with his two dads! :)

What exactly is that?

Getting a good look at the flamingos.

Climbing his first tree. Gosh he was dirty when we got ready to go into the game. He was covered in dirt and watermelon.

Picture time with Delaney!

Waiting for the game to start! Family selfie. The Braves game was supposed to be a 1:00 game so I thought I would just see them at home after the game when I got back from VA. But nope. Game moved to 8:00 so after a 10 and a half hour drive... the three of us went to the Braves game.

We went up to let Christopher "run the bases" and he was so excited! He waited in line and when he got up to home plate he said.. ready, set, GO and took off running!

There he goes! He said "mommy run with me?"

Eating a pretzel before we left. Mommy was soooooo tired. Christopher however was not. He would not stop talking the whole way home. We thought he would fall asleep, but Christopher had a lot to say!  

A few videos...
never should have let Christopher stay with Daddy after this...
running the bases
and again...
Thank you, Jesus, Christopher can finally say his name! We were asking Christopher the "What's daddy's name, what's mommy's name" questions (which he just loves saying Matt, Angie not so much- He just laughs and says MOMMY- but today at dinner he did finally say Angie). A little later- he said "Mommy... what's Pher Pher's name?" I'm like- that is your name!!!! Christopher! And since then he says it. We still hear Pher Pher but now its mixed with Christopher! what's pher pher's name

And that was Christopher and Daddy's Father's Day weekend! I would certainly say they both had a blast! Matt is so brave doing all of that with him. I would NEVER have taken him to the aquarium by myself... well, I never would have driven down there by myself in the first place! :)

Hope everyone else had a great Father's Day as well!

The Past Few Days

Here is what we have been up to the last few days. Lots of family time! Christopher had to stay with Granddaddy Saturday for about 4 hours while Matt and I went somewhere and he had a ball! We snuck out and dad's handyman had his 6 year old son there so that worked out awesome! The boys played and when they left, Christopher dumped out every basket and drawer they had. Granddaddy said Nana is going to have to childproof the place when she gets there- which we go and get her on Friday! :)

Here are some pics!

While the cat's (Matt) away... the mice (me and Christopher) will play!

Matt would die if he knew I let Christopher eat waffles in bed. (It was our first official day of break- come on!) He hates when I eat in bed, let alone a messy 2 year old. But Christopher is sitting on my side of the bed and he was super neat. Chocolate chip waffles and Sofia are a great way to start the day! 

Third haircut. Such a little man. I thought I cut all the curls away... but they are back!

At VBS with his lizard that he made in arts and crafts.

Christopher also made a picture frame while there. It has his picture in it with his 2 "tour guides" through the VBS Jungle Safari and a stuffed monkey. He looks terrified in the picture.  Christopher did get lots of compliments from the volunteers there. He knew how to get in a line (thank you, Ms. Jeanne), he said please and thank you, sat and listened at storytime, and participated in all of the activities! I was so proud of him. I did not stay with him any of the nights except for the first night. When we were getting ready for bed Tuesday night, I asked him if he was a good boy and he said uh huh. And then I asked him if he followed directions... and he got a really sad look on his face and said "I sorry, mommy... I sorry." I'm sure he did based on what the people told me, but the guilt was hilarious! :) Wednesday when I dropped him off we had a little talk about following directions and when I picked him up this time he said "I follow directions!"

I think this was at the storytime center. I am not sure what he is doing but I love that you can see the little Batman figure in the picture. Christopher carried around Sully and Batman all week. When we got there on Monday he immediately ran to the toy section, opened the cabinet and took both of them out. I guess he loves on them alot on Sundays because he knew exactly where they would be.

This was the final night of VBS. The kids performed 5 songs. Christopher jumped around alot and did his best.... I think Matt and I should have watched through the window because he kept running over to sit with us instead of dancing. He certainly loved it when Te-te (Ms. Tiffany) was talking because he sat down real nice to listen.

He was slightly scared of the tour guide with the fake beard... 

Christopher got to meet Baby Garrett last week. He was all about holding the baby... and not letting him go!

Heather and I were sitting and talking when we heard the boys just babbling away... found them sitting at the table with their drinks and raisins.

Breakfast at IHOP with Granddaddy one morning. Not a pancake eater! Give him some yogurt, fruit and sausage and he is a happy boy.

We went to the pool with Granddaddy yesterday. This is after we got back. Christopher and Granddaddy shared an apple.

And this was before bedtime last night. Christopher was in quite a silly mood... at least he wasn't crying! When he woke up from his nap, he cried and cried and cried. The first thing he asked me was "Where daddy go?" I'm like work Christopher.. same place he has been all day for the 100th time. And then the tears came and they wouldn't stop. I want daaaaadddddy... I offered to show him videos of daddy, pictures of daddy, calling daddy. Nothing worked. Finally I asked if he wanted to take a shower. He perked right up. I lathered him up in daddy's body wash and shampoo, bundled him up in daddy's towel and let him lay down on daddy's side of the bed. Seemed to work! :)

Special thanks to the McLeod family for sending Christopher his first WVU jersey!! :)

Have a great rest of the week!

Be kind.