Bama And Back in 48 Hours
This past weekend we went to Alabama to celebrate my Ma's 80th birthday. A fast weekend PACKED with tons of fun.
We left Houston on Friday morning. The boys are becoming quite the little travelers. They did great getting parked, put on the bus, to the airport, checked in, and through security. Sweet! Before they boarded they enjoyed a little snack.
And helped Daddy do some "work"
The flight was great. They both caught a nap and we were glad because when we got there and got the rental car, it was on! We headed straight over to my aunt and uncle's house in Mountain Brook to meet up with Ma & our favorite family, The Armstrong's.
We had a great afternoon enjoying the Alabama sunshine, swimming, and catching up.
After a full afternoon, we got ready to go meet my family for dinner. Justin gave the boys an Alabama outdoor bath. And one little boy got away!
Um.. do you love their resort? Oh.. I mean house :-) Amazing. You will see more of it when I posts the pics from Ma's party.
Dinner was crazy. We called to make reservations and I said "We need 10 chairs and 5 high chairs" Are we insane? Yes! But it was fun and a great dinner.
We stayed at Ross Bridge Resort and it was such a treat. It is an Alabama treasure for sure. If you have never been there, it is worth the trip. The boys were WILD when we got there. Running the halls, so excited, singing, crazy. Poppy asked me if they could go late night swimming. Now I must admit, the responsible mom in me immediately thought "no". It's way past bedtime, its been a long day, etc etc etc. But really? Its VACATION with the grandparents. Why not? Besides, the hot tub looked really good!
It was hard to get pictures at night. I tried my manual settings and finally got a few that captured what a beautiful evening if was. Ross Bridge looks like a castle and its set in the mountains with gorgeous trees. There are fire pits around for roasting marshmallows, beautiful rocks and waterfalls. Simply gorgeous and the weather was amazing. It was definitely the type of night that sweet little boy memories are made of.
Saturday morning we enjoyed a great breakfast at the hotel buffet courtesy of our sweet Poppy and then it was time to hit the water. We were all hard at it by 8:45am. The pool set up is incredible. Is graduated and never really gets too deep. There are splash pads and water sprays for the kids. A little tunnel underneath a bridge to play under. The boys have gotten so good with their swimmies that they just played and swam and were so independent in the water.
And were so in love with the slide. "one more time, one more time"
Snack break!
Nap time was a hilarious. We put all 5 babies down in one room to go night night together and they were so worn out from the pool that they all went to sleep. We actually had to wake them up after 2 hours because we needed to get going for the party!
While the boys were napping, the adults were able to have mature adult parent time. Ha! Whatever. The maturity level took a serious drop when the kids went to bed.
This was really the first time the boys had enjoyed a resort hotel vacation. We stayed in a beach house last time and they were really old enough to enjoy it. I mean, everyone loves to stay in super sweet hotels, right? They giggled, laughed, and played with everything. Sweethearts they were.
The party Saturday night was amazing. We hired a photographer so as soon as I get the pics, I will post all the details but it was FABULOUS! Ma was the most precious birthday girl and we loved celebrating her birthday together.
Sunday morning was one last hoorah before heading back to the airport. It was actually the morning of Ma's birthday so we took her to Another Broken Egg which really has to be the best breakfast food on earth. Really. No exaggeration. Table for 15 .. yes!
We got one last shot of the Riley/Armstrong cousins before heading home.
It was crazy crazy when we were leaving and it didn't really hit me about leaving until we got to the airport and I turned in the rental car. Beckett was just a little tired at the airport :-(
One thing Justin and I can be counted on is cramming and jamming as much love, friends, and family that we can in every moment that we get when we are home. This trip was no exception. We are beyond blessed by our time spent with so many friends, loved ones, and family. Counting down until our next visit!
We left Houston on Friday morning. The boys are becoming quite the little travelers. They did great getting parked, put on the bus, to the airport, checked in, and through security. Sweet! Before they boarded they enjoyed a little snack.
And helped Daddy do some "work"
The flight was great. They both caught a nap and we were glad because when we got there and got the rental car, it was on! We headed straight over to my aunt and uncle's house in Mountain Brook to meet up with Ma & our favorite family, The Armstrong's.
We had a great afternoon enjoying the Alabama sunshine, swimming, and catching up.
 |
| Swimming with The Armstrong |
 |
| Eli and his Daddy |
 |
| Nikki and Baby Addy Kate |
 |
| Picking "apples" eek! Pulling Colby's tomato! |
 |
| Meeting our Uncle Colby for the first time |
 |
| Beckett showing us how he jumps |
 |
| Cousins have the MOST fun getting into things they should not. |
After a full afternoon, we got ready to go meet my family for dinner. Justin gave the boys an Alabama outdoor bath. And one little boy got away!
Um.. do you love their resort? Oh.. I mean house :-) Amazing. You will see more of it when I posts the pics from Ma's party.
Dinner was crazy. We called to make reservations and I said "We need 10 chairs and 5 high chairs" Are we insane? Yes! But it was fun and a great dinner.
 |
| Sleep boy loves his Uncle Bubba |
 |
| Madison, JB, and Eli |
 |
| Loving some family at Jim N Nicks |
 |
| Playing with trains with our Poppy while we wait |
 |
| Precious Armstrong girls |
 |
| Yes Aunt Lu. Cheese biscuits are the BEST! |
It was hard to get pictures at night. I tried my manual settings and finally got a few that captured what a beautiful evening if was. Ross Bridge looks like a castle and its set in the mountains with gorgeous trees. There are fire pits around for roasting marshmallows, beautiful rocks and waterfalls. Simply gorgeous and the weather was amazing. It was definitely the type of night that sweet little boy memories are made of.
Saturday morning we enjoyed a great breakfast at the hotel buffet courtesy of our sweet Poppy and then it was time to hit the water. We were all hard at it by 8:45am. The pool set up is incredible. Is graduated and never really gets too deep. There are splash pads and water sprays for the kids. A little tunnel underneath a bridge to play under. The boys have gotten so good with their swimmies that they just played and swam and were so independent in the water.
 |
| Playing with Aunt GG |
 |
| Playing together in the water so sweet |
 |
| Charis loved the pool |
 |
| Splash Pad |
 |
| Playing sharks with Dee Dee |
 |
| Eli playing sharks with Poppy |
And were so in love with the slide. "one more time, one more time"
 |
| Eli! |
 |
| Addy Kate! |
 |
| Beckett and Bubba |
Snack break!
 |
| Sharing snack with Daddy |
 |
| Addy Kate and Beckett enjoying snack |
While the boys were napping, the adults were able to have mature adult parent time. Ha! Whatever. The maturity level took a serious drop when the kids went to bed.
 |
| Loved seeing Adrian and Amy |
 |
| My sweet Uncle Bubba |
 |
| Add caption |
Justin and Woody decided to have a contest on swapping licks with towels. It was quite a process. And totally ridiculously immature!
This was really the first time the boys had enjoyed a resort hotel vacation. We stayed in a beach house last time and they were really old enough to enjoy it. I mean, everyone loves to stay in super sweet hotels, right? They giggled, laughed, and played with everything. Sweethearts they were.
The party Saturday night was amazing. We hired a photographer so as soon as I get the pics, I will post all the details but it was FABULOUS! Ma was the most precious birthday girl and we loved celebrating her birthday together.
Sunday morning was one last hoorah before heading back to the airport. It was actually the morning of Ma's birthday so we took her to Another Broken Egg which really has to be the best breakfast food on earth. Really. No exaggeration. Table for 15 .. yes!
We got one last shot of the Riley/Armstrong cousins before heading home.
It was crazy crazy when we were leaving and it didn't really hit me about leaving until we got to the airport and I turned in the rental car. Beckett was just a little tired at the airport :-(
One thing Justin and I can be counted on is cramming and jamming as much love, friends, and family that we can in every moment that we get when we are home. This trip was no exception. We are beyond blessed by our time spent with so many friends, loved ones, and family. Counting down until our next visit!