Psalm Sunday in Gulf Shores

 Breakfast was really nice this morning. Sarah made it down around 2:30 am and we are all here now but Mark who is flying in on Tuesday. After breakfast Stephanie and I walked over to mom's condo to check Aunt Jinnie's sore leg then back over here to celebrate Psalm Sunday. David had the grandkids put on the play of the disciples (Berlica) going to get the donkey from the owners (Jack and Jace) then the procession to Jerusalem with the children waving palm leaves and putting down towels for the donkey (Israel), Jesus riding the donkey (Kensley). 

We heard a short message then sang Sunday school songs and hymns. After that was over we headed over to mom's condo to listen to Peoria church. Tim Roecker had the Psalm Sunday message. As soon as church was over I headed out to the beach and found the adults parked in front of Island Royale and the kids playing in the surf.

At lunch time we went back to Beth's condo for lunch and while that was being made the kids all climbed in the hot tub.

Rhoda and Addison moved the kayaks to the dock. Rhoda took all of Ben and Taunya's kids out and David took Israel on the first trip.

The kayaks were well used today. So was the gaga ball court, basket ball court, hot tub and pool. David mentioned the only thing wrong with this place is that the kids don't want to spend time at the beach. Everyone played and played today. Ben and David grilled steak for our supper tonight and after supper they were back out playing again. Below are a couple of the 2 on 2 volley ball games Stephanie took.

Later lots of visitors came over and both courts were well used.

IF you would like to see the rest of the pictures from today click HERE. News from home: Karin called to report that Galena is now out of season and will be taken out to Middle Grove and big Rosalie brought in. Galena was bred to Evan this time. If she settles this is going to be one big hairy foal!  We really had a wonderful day.

Saturday Move In

I set my brain alarm clock for 4:30 am and it worked. The coffee was made and the blog from yesterday updated before anyone else awoke. Saturday is the move out move in day for most renters. After breakfast Diane, Beth and I went over to check Diane's condo and were pleased that the cleaner had already been there and her apartment. Mom's apartment had not yet been cleaned but we met the cleaner and she told us she would do that one next. By 10:00 am mom and Aunt Jinnie were able to move out of Island Royale and into Lani Kai. The morning was warm so all of my family other than the people working on Nolan's condo left for the beach. Below are a few pictures from Stephanie. 

I drove to Sam's Club which was about 50 minutes away and with GPS found the place with no problem. I took my time at Sam's and filled the car with groceries. It took about an hour and ten minutes to come back as there was a bad accident and that closed down the road for about 15 minutes. The cleaner's at Beth's place were just finishing up so I drove straight there to put away the food.  Joan drove all night and made it here around 3:00 pm so we invited their entire condo over for dinner. Haystacks were on the menu tonight and there was plenty for all. Joan brought dessert, home baked monster cookies. 

The kids ate out on the balconies. At this table were Kensley, Braelyn, Addyson, Berlica, Taegan and Elisabet. 

On the other table were Iris, Zion, Abe, Jack, Jace and Israel.

Eden ate inside at the adult table. After supper some of the kids walked to the ice cream shop and some swam. Mom, Beth, Aunt Jinnie, Joan, Faith and I went to the exercise room at Island Royale then enjoyed the hot tub. When I got back the kids were all enjoying the pool.

Mark sent news from home. He moved in bales this morning, one is Ripper paddocks and one in Valiant's paddock. He sent the picture below: 

Later he sent 3 more pictures of Jay's work. Mark was worried that some of these trees would fall on the new barn and wanted them taken down before the barn goes up. 

There will be plenty of wood for our wood burners in the entire neighborhood but it won't be good for 2021, hopefully it will dry out and be used in 2022.   Another 5 star review came in from our last airbnb renter: “This was a very nice getaway for our family. Judy was welcoming and allowed us to wander around the farm as we liked. Our kids (1-10) really enjoyed the horses and the playground. The amenities were as described, and pretty much anything you'll need it in there. If you want a place that it a bit out of the way and very relaxed, this place is perfect.” He sent the message below privately: “Thanks so much for allowing us to stay with you. Letting the kids to play in the barn was particularly helpful with the rainy weather - they really enjoyed that. Thank you for giving some tips with the houses on how to feed them. We all enjoyed feeding and petting them. The amenities in the apartment are nice. Our kids are still talking about the horses.”              Since this is a horse blog and we haven't had any pictures of horses for a while I was thrilled when Zalena's owner sent the picture below of their Zalena x Evan filly. 

She is such a pretty filly.

Sunny Friday

 It started very foggy this Friday morning. On mom's balcony it was like we were in the middle of a cloud. As I didn't bring any coffee again I headed back over to Nolan and Sarah's condo for coffee and breakfast around 7:00 am and was pleased to see everyone up and already working.  Below Anna is busy home schooling the girls.

As soon as the girls were done with their school work they came with me over to mom's condo and were put to work. Phil and Anna were helping Nolan this morning install the new furnace and were even able to get the old airconditioner off the 2nd story platform and somehow hauled up the new one. Nolan sent the video of them getting rid of the old unit.

We will be having an Easter egg hunt on this vacation and with the girls were put to work helping fill over 200 eggs with candy. 

When those were finished we headed down to the beach but the double red flags were still out. The waves were still too rough for swimming so we went to the pool and hot tubs. We  started in the indoor hot tub but the pool water was not as cold as other days and all of us ended up having fun swimming in the pool, even Eden who hates cold water.

After a few hours there Eden was so comfortable she was jumping in and floating and almost swimming back and forth by herself across the outdoor hot tub.

The fog lifted some so we headed out to the beach. Unfortunately we were still not allowed to play in the water and pretty quickly the beach patrol came and again told the girls they could not even wade. Eden was glad, she did not like that water coming up from the ocean while she was playing in the sand.

They still had fun but soon we got too hot and went back to the pool where the girls made new friends and played for a couple hours. In the afternoon the beach opened. Then came the real fun of the day, Ben and Taunya had made it down by then and all of them ended up playing in the waves, even Abe. 

We old folks headed in around 3:30 pm for showers and to get ready to head to Sea and Suds for dinner. Below we are waiting to be seated outside. 

The wait wasn't too long and we had a beautiful view both while waiting and while eating. Sea and Suds has a really unique site, with the restaurant built very close to the beach. We couldn't actually see the beach from where we were sitting just the huge waves rolling in. It was like we were on a boat but not moving so we didn't get seasick. Below is a picture of the royal reds mom ordered. These are shrimp caught very deep in the Gulf and dipped in butter taste like lobster. Aunt Jinnie had never had these and agreed they were delicious. This restaurant also has a salad bar and after eating our meals we decided we could highly recommend it. 

Diane dropped me off at Nolan's to watch the girls while Nolan ran to Lowes for more supplies. David and Stephanie made it down before supper and they had a full condo of people eating a take out meal from Bahama Bob's another restaurant we can highly recommend (mainly because it is walking distance to all of our condos AND has good food).

David, Israel and Taegan rode their bikes the 2.5 miles down to the lagoon and back so no pictures of them. Nolan was getting ready to leave for Lowes and by this time it was almost Eden's bedtime so Phil stayed home to keep and eye on her while the rest of the group walked to an icecream place near the Original Oyster House. Zion and Elisabet came with me back to mom's condo and we put them to work filling more eggs that Stephanie brought down.

After filling the eggs, the girls had a healthy snack of apple slices

Stephanie came to walk them back to Nolan's condo. That condo now is full sleeping Nolan, Zion, Eden, Phil, Anna, Braelyn, Taegan, Kensley, David, Stephanie, Israel and Elisabet. Who knew that condo would sleep 12. Ben and Taunya's renters moved out a day early unexpectedly so they were able to stay in their own condo which left a bedroom for me at mom's condo. Amazing we all had a place to sleep. IF you would like to see the rest of the pictures from today click HERE, I am very thankful we had such a beautiful day, no one got hurt and we are almost all here, just two more to make it down. Sarah is driving down and should be here by Sunday and Mark will be flying in on Tuesday.

Beach Day

 It was cloudy but warm this morning. I headed over to Nolan's for some real coffee as at mom's condo they only serve decaf. Anna was busy home schooling the girls.

Kensley read for me then played with Eden.

Eden found the hat that was left from the previous owner.

Braelyn was working on an art project.

When schooling was done Phil and Anna's family left for the lagoon. Eden and I went to mom's condo to get our swim suits on to first use the hot tub then head to the beach. 

When we got down to the pool Anna and the girls were coming in. We all played in the pool area for a while before heading out to the beach. The waves today were so huge that 2 red flags were flying which meant no swimming in the Gulf but the girls just couldn't resist.

The beach patrol caught them and called them out of the water.

Below they are getting escorted out of the water.

Eden enjoyed playing in the sand but the tide was coming up fast and soon her dry sand was wet.

About that time we decided she needed to head up to the condo for a nap.

Braelyn went to work digging a ditch around all of us that were sitting in chairs and that actually kept the water from reaching us but not by much.

Molly was up patiently waiting for mom to come up off the beach.

After Eden was given a bath and was sound asleep I went out on the balcony. Below are a few pictures taken from there.

If you would like to see the rest of the pictures from today click HERE. It was hard tocome off the beach for supper. Anna picked up dinner for us at Bahama Bob's. That is a favorite here and Phil and Anna hadn't had that yet. After supper I came back to  mom's condo where we played games until 10:30 pm. Aunt Jinny won, mom came in a close 2nd.