Gulf Shores: beach time

The weather could not have been more perfect for our weekend in Gulf Shores.

And while our 3 little girls loved the beach, they each had their own preferences as to what was enjoyable.

This big girl loved building sandcastles and playing in the sand, but she refused to be anywhere near the ocean unless she was in someone's arms. Because, being the animal enthusiast that she is, she was well aware of all the creatures who call their home the ocean. You know, jellyfish, stingrays, and sharks!!!

Oh, and how could i forget the {dead} crabs! My brother picked up one to share with her.

Her reaction?

And when on the earth did she get so big! I looked up and saw her standing facing the water (bottom left picture below) and all I could think was just that...when did her legs get so long and how did she get so tall? Wasn't she the babies age just yesterday?

And while this little girl let herself enjoy the water, she was absolutely under no circumstances a fan of the sand! She sat in the baby pool, in the little chair Mama Pat found for Addie, in Papa Ray's lap, or in someone's arms!

Apparently all that sand avoidance wore her out!

Which was all fine by me, because I was trying to keep up with this little ball of rolling-in-the-sand-beelining-it-to-the water-lover-of-all-things-beach!

You'll just have to take my word for her loving the water. There was no way i was 1.) letting go of her long enough to take a picture or 2.) dragging my camera that close to the water while attempting to keep the above said child from diving right in! But before you jump to conclusions that this is our cranky-mean-antisocial-crier, she simply did not want to leave the beach here!!! And I can't blame her! Don't you want to cry when you have to leave?

But all three of them were quite content in the baby pool sitting on the beach!

There was lots of playing in the sand.

And oh my word, soaking up the sun on some sweet baby cheeks!

But I think one of my favorite pictures is this one where Audrey Kate had her feet up in the chair attempting to avoid the sand; and as she started brushing the sand off her tiny feet, she got a little help from Papa Ray. Love!

A perfect day in a little slice of paradise.