Spanish Beaches

I don't have a lot to say about the three weeks I spent on the coast of Spain. So I'll just give you the facts and let the pictures do the rest.

• I spent over two weeks in a small town (Conil) outside of Cadiz on the Atlantic Ocean
• The last few days were spent in Almeria on the Mediterranean Sea
• I wore no make-up the entire time (yay for looking like a teenager!)
• Random: All the beaches we went to were so crowded. I'd much rather go to Mexico Beach over these any day.

Glad to be done with Spain! Loving life in France so far!

Happy Fourth!!

While I'm stuck in Spain (bummer, right?!), my family is all in Florida.

We have a yearly tradition of going to the beach for two weeks right around this time of year.

Celebrating the Fourth of July on the ocean is the best way to do it.

Cal's girlfriend has been sending me pictures to help me share in their fun.

{really it's just making me jealous}

I'm extremely grateful for this experience I've been given, but it's hard not to miss my family on major holidays. I'm wishing I was parked in a chair in front of the ocean reading a book and soaking up the sun!

While I'm here watching after two crazy boys, I hope y'all are enjoying time with family and friends!

So thankful for the freedom we have in America and for the people who fight for us everyday!

13.1 Miles to the Beach

I stole this title from my friend's Facebook album. It's okay. She's not suing me.

This was the best Spring Break I've had in a while.

Maybe the best ever.

I went to Longboat Key Resort with my friend from my cohort and her mom. It was the most relaxing vacation ever. We spent every day by the pool and the ocean. Reading magazines, listening to music, sipping on icy drinks, getting tan, etc.

So. nice.

My friend ran the Sarasota Half Marathon on Sunday morning. She did so well! It was her first half so she was just happy to make it to the end. She even beat the pace she set for herself.

Excuse our ghost-like bodies.

Right after the race, we hit the beach. And we didn't leave until Thursday morning.

{except to sleep and eat...obvs}

We went out to dinner every night. I'm pretty sure I had chicken at every place. Oh except the Italian restaurant where I had margherita pizza. Yummmm.

And I went to Disney World for the first time!!! We went to Magic Kingdom on Tuesday. There were so.many.people. It was way too crowded. We only got to do about five things because the lines were just insane. We waited 2 hours for Space Mountain. Two Hours!! But it was so fun. Best ride ever.

We also did Mickey's PhilharMagic, the Swiss Family Treehouse, Liberty Square Riverboat, Haunted Mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean. We ate lunch at the Liberty Tree Tavern with one of our teachers. We got to meet her husband and had some great conversation.

{Sidenote: If you have not seen Swiss Family Robinson, please do so immediately. It was one of my favorites growing up. The Treehouse tour was amazing! I felt like I was in the movie. One of the highlights of my life. No joke.}

I can't wait to go back when it's less crowded. I think my small group is planning a trip in October. Woohoo!

Sadly I'm now back at school. Fortunately the week has flown by.

I'm about to go take a nap before the Hunger Games Midnight Premiere tonight!!! I'm going to be dead when I have to wake up at 5:30 tomorrow morning. My kindergarteners better behave themselves.

Catch ya on the flip side.

Summer Wrap-Up

So here's a little recap of my last week of summer.

I started off by going to Mobile, Alabama to see my best friend Kristal. I, along with Wes, Randall, and Melissa, stayed with Kristal's family for the weekend. Lots of good talks, food, and beach time. It was awesome. Too bad we didn't take any pictures. We did, however, manage to play around with Photo Booth before we left.

When I got home on Monday, I unpacked, did laundry, then packed again. I left Tuesday morning to go to Lake Jackson with my best friends from high school. Erica's family has a gorgeous house on the lake. Since it was too hot to spend all day on the lake, we occupied our time with movies on her back porch. Yes, they have a TV on their back porch. Best. experience. ever. We also rode the jet skis, had a picnic on the lake, and played on the rocks.

We went to Stone Mountain early (as in 4:30 a.m. early) Wednesday morning to see the sunrise. We booked it up the mountain and made it to the top just in time. These pictures don't even begin to do it justice. Sunrises are just gorgeous. It's like God gets to paint a new picture every morning. He's just so talented.

That night, we went to Chipotle for dinner. Oh.my.word. So delicious! This was my first time and I am officially hooked. I'm just waiting for the next opportunity I have to go. My mouth is watering just thinking about that burrito bowl.

On our way home on Thursday, we went to a cute cafe in Covington. I had some fabulous margharita pizza. I also ordered a coffee for the drive home. It was french vanilla with a shot of chocolate. So perfect.

Friday was spent packing up all of my belongings to move to Athens. On Saturday, I took Cal to the Apple Store to get my new laptop!! I still can't believe this sucker is mine. So exciting!!

And that's what I did the last week of summer! I think it was my busiest week of the whole break. But now I'm definitely missing the freedom and the beach. Anyone else having the summer blues with me??

I'm Baaaacckkk

Sadly, vacation is over. Ten days may seem like a long vacation, but it goes by WAY too fast.

While at the beach, I discovered one of my flaws: I don't take enough pictures. Maybe I should rephrase that. I don't take hardly any pictures. I have a camera so I can't even use that as an excuse. I guess I just get so caught up in having fun that I don't want to stop to document it.

So that is my new year's resolution: to take more pictures.

Here are some of the few I took this past week:

Copper REALLY loved the sand

Zeb, Cal, and Will

Zeb gave Cal a new look this past week. He now has a frat-boy haircut and it makes him look five years older. My parents aren't huge fans, but we (meaning Zeb, his friend Will, and me) think it is awesome.

{Sidenote: Callaway is going into high school this year. Seriously?! He is growing up way too fast. And I don't just mean age-wise. He is 6'2.5" and still growing. I swear he is going to be a giant.}

Obviously Zeb wasn't very gentle

In case you couldn't tell from the last two pictures, my family likes to read. I read eight books on this trip, my favorite being "The Help". Fortunately, this book is being made into a movie. I definitely recommend it.

I know I just got back from the beach, but I cannot wait to go back. Fortunately for me, I have another trip planned August 5-8. I'm going to see my best friend in Alabama. Road trip!

And the countdown begins.

Today is the day!!

It's finally vacation time!!

We're leaving this morning to head to Mexico Beach. I have been looking forward to this since Christmas. Yeah...you read that right. Since Christmas. I don't think I can fully describe to you my love of the beach. So just take my word for it when I say I love it.

My plan for vacation:

-get tan

-read a book a day (yes, I can do it)

-eat lots of fruit

-watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S. (new tradition I started last year)

Sounds like a great vacay, right? Be jealous.

Sadly, we have no internet access at the beach house. So while I will love being technology free (no sarcasm), I won't be posting for about two weeks.

This is where we say goodbye! Temporarily of course.

Happy (early) Fourth of July!!

Life's a Beach

Happy first day of summer!

Reasons I love summer:

-no school

-the beach

-complete free time

-the beach

-watermelon

-the beach

-tanning

-oh did I mention the beach??

We are leaving next Thursday for our annual family vacay to Mexico Beach and it could not come fast enough. I would so live at the beach if I could. Especially at Mexico Beach. Haven't heard of it? That's the point. It is never crowded, even on major holidays. There are no high rises and no traffic lights. Sounds like a perfect place to me.

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Best souvenir store ever.

This year, we'll be gone June 30-July 10, meaning we'll be there on July 4th. Yay for fireworks on the beach! Because I am so excited for the trip, I have already started making my packing list. (Yes, I do make packing lists. It's totally normal.) I have also changed the background for every electronic device I own to a beach picture. To say I am excited would be an understatement.


If I haven't convinced you of the greatness of Mexico Beach, check out this article from Yahoo news. Apparently they thought it was great, too.

Anyone else have any fun beach plans?