August Birthdays

Avaree would like to say a VERY SPECIAL Happy Birthday to three more of her favorite people!!!

Happy Birthday to Niecey tomorrow!

Happy Birthday to Granmama (aka mom mom) on the 17th!

Happy Birthday to Uncle Darrin on the 19th!

We hope you each have a wonderful day! Wish we could be with you! :)

2011 Beach Trip with Granmama and Pop Pop

I. love. the. beach.

I grew up going to the beach at least twice every summer, and I want to cultivate that love for the waves in my baby girl too! Due to some logistical timing with some appointments that I had, we thought we weren't going to get to go this year. But, my mom decided to fly Avaree and I down early Monday morning and fly us back Wednesday evening, and it was perfect! The flight was only 45 minutes (and to my little traveler that was nothing!!), and it certainly beat a 5-6 hour drive! We had an beachfront cabin just west of Galveston, AND there was no seawood, no hard shells to walk on, no sand dunes with potential rattle snakes in them...just sand and ifinite ocean! Perfection! I LOVED it (and so did Ave--well, minus the sand!).

When we took Ave to the beach last year, she was only 10 months old and very fretful of the water. This time she was hilarious. She LOVED the water, but she did NOT like the sand. She wanted her shoes on at all times, and did not even want the sand to touch her fingers. :) My mom had gotten her all kinds of sand castle stuff and she wouldn't touch it! ha! My little girly girl LOVES the beach, but only if you carry her through the sand! :) The pictures are from my mom's camera, as I didn't want to have to keep up with mine (along with my daughter, our luggage, and the car seat on an airplane--ha!), so unfortunately my mom isn't in many pictures, but she had a WONDERFUL time. She has been promoted to principal this year, so she really needed a few days of relaxation before diving into the new school year! Enjoy the pictures!

 We went for a sunset walk along the beach our first night there. It was just at the time where the tide has turned the sand crinkle-y. LOVE!

 Avaree and Pop Pop!

 Granmama and Ave watching Pop Pop fish!

 Silly girl!

 :)

 Avaree took a nap on the beach every day. Mom and Ken brought an awesome canopy, and it was wonderful to just put a clean diaper and t-shirt on her and let her sleep! :) The wind was blowing, and it never even felt hot! :)

  :)

The above picture was taken about three minutes before the picture below. :) She has become so good at getting off her schedule, but still taking great naps. She never slept less than two hours on the beach! Therefore, I read The Help in three days! (The best book I've read in a LONG time. You MUST read it. It is historical fiction at its finest!!!)

My preicous angel.

 And just a couple of minutes later... :)

 ha!

 "bye bye, beach." (Avaree said this over and over again at the airport.) Until next time... :)

Thank you, Mom and Ken!!! We had a GREAT time! Those three days will have to last me until I can hear those waves again. :)

Coming up: August Birthdays :)

Barton Family Vacay 2011--Part Three

The Barton Family 2011

 Avaree riding the BUS (she loved to call for it!) with GiGi and G-Pops!

 Gigi turned 29 on our trip, so we treated her to a special dinner at The Worman House. YUMM-Y! :)

 Aunt Jamie, Uncle Darrin and Avaree!

 This is when GiGi realized that we DID have something planned for her birthday! Our waiter was awesome! :)

 Her zebra cake! :) We hope you had a memorable birthday, GiGi! :)

 Kisses for G-Pops! He was so sweet to plan everything for Gigi's birthday! :) He even told the staff before we got there and they had a gift and balloons waiting for her!

Eskimo kisses from Avaree!

 My little lovey...
 Peek-a-boo!

 Pops and Avaree

 love.

 Martha and her boys!

Eric, Martha, and their boys!

 all of us

 my little lovey girl

playing with her daddy! :)

Family picture :)

 GiGi, G-Pops and Avaree Grace Barton

The Barton ladies

 The Barton men preparing... :)

 :)

 My sweet sister-in-law! :) Love her!

 Uncle D and Avaree...

 Our little swimming diva! :)

 The beautiful pool and view :)

 BEAU-TI-FUL!

 G-Pops and Avaree "wimmin" :)

We clearly had a great time!! :) Thanks again to GiGi and G-Pops for a fun vacation!!! We loved spending time with each of you!

And thanks to YOU for keeping up with our little family! Beach pictures are up next! I can't believe I only have two weeks left with my precious baby girl. We have had a whirlwind of a summer, but we have made lots of memories. Here's to enjoying every second of the next two weeks: I hear somebody waking up!!! Stay tuned. :)

Barton Family Vacay 2011--Part Two (lots of pictures!!!)

 Checking out the boat with Uncle Darrin! :)

 Family pic on the water! :)

 Swimmin' with Pops (during the trip Avaree called him everything from i-pops to b-pops and finally ended on Pops) :)

 Uncle D's first catch in Tablerock Lake!

 Daddy getting ready to tube! :) He was excited!

Ave watching Daddy in the tube! At first she did NOT like this at all, but then she decided it was funny! :)

 Avaree, GiGi, and Daddy in the tube...

 G-Pops and Avaree driving the boat!

 Daddy and Avaree driving the boat... :)

 GiGi tubing for the first time! She did great! :)

This child has a hard life. :)

 Avaree, GiGi, and Aunt Jamie! We had a fun day on the water before checking into our condo at the Wilderness Club!

 Avaree and Aunt Jamie singing on the balcony!

 Avaree swimming with G-Pops and Gigi! Avaree got accustomed to swimming multiple times per day (and having a pool right outside her "house"), so since we've been home she wakes up saying "swim, swim, peeeze!" :)

Avaree LOVED being thrown back and forth between her Daddy and Uncle Darrin!

 :)

 She would count 1, 2, 3... go! :)

 :) Her expressions are priceless!

GiGi, Daddy, and Ave before GiGi's birthday dinner!

Coming Up: Barton Family Vacay Part III & Beach Trip 2011!! :) There will never be a shortage of pictures at our house! :)