a friendly visit

My friend Jo and her baby boy, Brant, came in town this week to see Kristi off, and hang out for a couple days. Wednesday, we took the babies to the beach and it was gorgeous! The perfect beach day in my mind. Good waves to play in, no clouds, nice breeze...but oh wait, we had small children to take care of! I couldnt swim bc Kennedy wanted in, and well, she would drown in the gulf with all those waves. I couldnt lay out bc she wanted to run around for FORTY FIVE minutes...Jo and I couldnt even enjoy our strawberry slushi bc someone drank just about all of it. It was madness. Dont get me wrong, we still had fun. 

We got in the water a little bit, but my fearless child wanted to leap out of my arms, so I decided to just get out. When we started walking to shore, a crab pinched me on the foot. It scared the dickens out of me, considering a few years ago I was STABBED in the foot by a stingray. I thought history was repeating itself...no worries, a little crab pinch, and we were on our way out of the water bc I could no longer handle kamikaze Kennedy. Then she wanted to walk around the entire beach. I suppose I was still able to get a little sun. I realize I cant go to the beach and just lay there in silence, but instead I have a fun little playmate to make it interesting. I do love taking her to the beach and watching her have so much fun. She makes life so much sweeter...even if it is a little chaotic

how cute is this little love?!

She did this ALL on her own and I have NO idea what possessed her to do it, but I was laughing hysterically...my child is nuts...

After the beach, we came home and the kids took a nap. Later that night we met Rhett, Heather, and "Yyya" at Vallarta's for mexican.

All the babies

the momma's

our husbands...who is that hottie on the palm tree!?!??!

Jo and Brant had to go back on Wednesday morning, but not before some fun in K's crib! 

Go Reds!

I mean Pelicans! Well, I have been missing the Reds game this baseball season, and while the Pelicans are no MLB team, and the field at UWF is no Great American Ballpark, it was a fun family night for the Manny's at the Pensacola Pelicans opening baseball weekend! Sunday was AllPro Sound night, so the company had the party deck for their employees and families.

Kennedy was scared to death of Scoop, the team mascot (what else is new). She hates ANYTHING with a big head that looks larger than life. Or a beard...considering Santa is pretty normal so it must be the beard. We spent a lot the night trying to keep him out of her line of sight. I also spent a good portion of the night trying to get pizza sauce out of her white shirt bc her daddy thought it smart to hand her a piece of pizza and say, "go for it." That statement was immediately followed by, "Jill, I made a mistake." Which was immediately followed by me saying, "ya think?" I washed it twice with Tide stain release and it has not come out...Im purchasing some Oxiclean bc that stuff ALWAYS works.

Other highlights of the night include Justin and I winning a game. You know those games they play in the middle of innings? Well, my friend Carrie, works for the Pelicans and spotted us and got us to play one that involved me unrolling a roll of toilet paper that Justin was holding onto. Im pretty quick with the TP, so we won and left w a gift certificate to a restaurant in town. I'll take it!

I'm sorry, but this is just the sweetest face ever!

Standing on top of the dugout cheering on the team!

She caught is holding one up that I caught one of the shirts! ha! 

eating the rest of Papa's Lemon Chill

Girly Fun in the Sun

Last Saturday, Kristi, Heather and I went to Waterville USA for a girls day. I LOVE waterparks and have been wanting to go to one for a very long time. My favorite is the one outside of Austin, TX, Schlitterbahn. I went there with my brother, who lives in San Antonio, a few years back. It is seriously the best waterpark ever! While we arent too close to any waterparks of that caliber here in Pensacola, Waterville hit the spot. We went down all the slides, (except for the straight down one that leaves you w a wedgie) floated around the lazy river, enjoyed getting sun by the wave pool, and enjoyed hanging out w just the girls! It was a great way to spend our last weekend with Kristi before she left for Haiti!

We're Here!

I <3 Damians

Waiting for our table at Lamberts

Finally, ROLLS!

Happy after a fun day!

Hopefully I make it to Schlitterbahn before the summer's over. I just love playing in the water! Bubba, tell the kids their Auntie Jill is comin' soon!

Caleb turns 6!

My INSANELY fun and adorable nephew, Caleb, turned 6 last week. My sister had a fun little family party at their house, Transformer style. The kids jumped in the bounce house, Caleb's dad, Dick, made cotton candy, presents were opened, which I think was Caleb's favorite part of the party, cake was eaten, and it was a blast of a night!

Now, lets review how there was cotton candy, that was blue by the way, and cake and pizza, etc...I brought my child in a WHITE shirt...not smart...and whoever gave her three things of cotton candy...not smart either...

luckily it all washed out

This little boy is SUCH a blessing!

Happy Birthday sweet boy! or as your momma and dad call you, the Haitian Sensation! 

who loves Krispy Kreme?!?!

 WE DO!

"oooo..."

Fun at the Ballpark

Our Croley niece and nephews play church ball on Saturdays and we love going out to cheer them on!

Grace the superstar...

Kennedy wants to play some ball too!

Where's Kennedy??

Here I am!

Claire and Kennedy w Nanny

I have loved living back at home and getting to go to all the family events! Tonight my nephew Caleb, the Haitian Sensation's 6th Birthday party! Have a great weekend everyone!

things on my mind...

Well, my camera is still broken, hence the lack of posts. If I have no pictures, why post? Does anyone actually read what I write anyway!?!? You do! Oh, what's that? you are waiting for my first book?

ha.

I have been told I write like I talk, so Im thinking the book wouldnt be very successful.

Here is the camera I want if I do indeed have to get a new one.

Isnt she a beaut!? 

Another thing I have been considering is painting the wood paneling in my house. It's weird though since this house is my grandma's. I feel weird changing anything, but I think an update is needed! My friend Jo sent me this link today and it made me really want to do it bc all these rooms look gorgeous. I fear all the white though. Should I do a light color, or just white? 

Wood Paneling 

Lastly, and most importantly...

I follow Samaritan's Purse on Twitter. Yesterday they tweeted this

3 Samaritan's Purse workers are still missing after being abducted in Sudan yesterday. Please continue to pray.http://bit.ly/bdWG03

Make sure to lift them up and pray for their safety and quick return. 

NOLA cont...

I was excited for Wednesday bc we had plans for the Zoo! We were supposed to go in the morning but somebody decided it would be great to wake up at 630 and need a nap at 11. Seeing as the zoo opened at 10, we didnt get to go in the morning. I was so excited to take Kennedy to the Zoo for Kennedy. I took her a few times in Cincy, but she didnt care last year. It was mostly for me and Jenny to just walk around and talk. K was too young to care or notice. She loves animals so this time I wanted her to be awake, not sleeping in her stroller, so she could see everything. Plus having a toddler out in the hot sun at naptime...who knows what tantrums she would throw! Do any other moms feel this way about their toddlers getting naps??? I feel like a crazy person sometimes, "well, thats Kennedy's naptime, so sorry, but we cant ___(you fill in the blank)___." I dont know, I just hate feeling like that, but at the same time I want her to be a good happy baby...For example, she takes a nap in the middle of the afternoon, and I always want to go to the beach, but she is definitely not going to take a nap there, so I always have to go in the morning and get home by noon, or just go after 4. Who goes to the beach at THAT time?!?! grrrr

Anyway, sorry about the sidenote, but Im just curious as to how other mom's handle all that. 

We did make it to the Zoo after her nap, and she LOVED it. She got out of her stroller and looked at all the animals and would say the names if I told her what they were, and make the noises. It was so cute and so fun watching her take it all in. She really does LOVE animals. and i love her...

"Alice the camel had 5 humps so go Alice go, boom boom boom..."

we love Jaguars!

A traumatic event happened somewhere between the giraffes and the elephants. Kennedy pulled my Canon off the stroller, and it will no longer take pictures. Luckily I still can turn in on and get the pictures off. We are getting it looked at now, so hopefully it will be a quick easy CHEAP fix...

this Zoo really was so gorgeous. I loved all these palm trees and the huge fountain w the elephants and hippos. Very nice joint...

We got home from the Zoo, and the babies played while Jo got dinner ready and I looked online trying to figure out what to do about the camera. Kennedy really likes getting in Brants crib with him...I dont know how I feel about her getting into bed with a boy...

Thursday was my last day there and we headed to the French Quarter for the morning. Our first stop was at Café Du Monde for café au laits and beignets. So delish. Kennedy was covered in powdered sugar, and so was I...

yummmm

Brant was wanting some too!

We left there and walked around the quarter and the market and then grabbed some lunch before we had to get on the road back to Pensacola. It was a great fun trip and I cant wait to go back soon and have some more fun!

It was so good to see Justin soon after getting back in town. We have a three day limit, three days is all we can take apart. After that we start going nuts and really missing each other and just want to get back home. This was only a two and half day trip, so we both did ok =)

NOLA day 1

Kennedy and I had a really great trip to New Orleans to visit the Varnum's. I have been to NOLA before, but havent gone over for a long visit since Jo moved there. This time she took me and K to all her faves, and it was great to explore and get out with one of my best gal pals.

We got in Tuesday afternoon after dropping off Kristi to her grandmama. It was great having Kristi ride over with us. I love having long talks with her and it sure did make the trip fly by. I got to Jo's house and we got ready to head to the Creole Creamery and the park.

so yum

The park we went to was BEAUTIFUL and ginormous. We took a nice walk around the loop and fed the ducks and then played on the playground.

is that not the cutest little tushy you've ever seen?!?!

talking on the phone with daddy. we missed him already

sweet little Brant w his big blue eyes

On the way home we drove by Sandra Bullocks new digs bc she lives only four blocks from Jo. I guess it's alright...it was gorgeous!

My camera broke on Wednesday so I'll post again tomorrow about the rest of our trip when I get the pictures from Jo. Have a Happy Friday!