Anna Sees the Atlantic...

What a funny site we must have been...three boys, one man and one woman, walking onto the beach with all our attention directed at one little girl. Taking pictures and video while we oooohhhh and ahhhhh at every little bit of excitement Anna displayed.

She liked the water, but not in her face. She likes the sand, as long as you get it washed off quickly, but her favorite....chasing the birds! There were sea gulls walking on the beach and Anna would squeal and take off. I think she would have ran all the way down the beach after a couple of birds if I would have let her. They were flying low and she just knew she could get them....I don't know what she thought she was going to do with them, but she wanted to do something.

The little pools of water that catch when the tide goes out are great "kiddie pools" for the little ones. Anna stood for a long time trying to get her footing on the sand. She walked so stiff legged, it was funny. She finally gained some confidence and starting walking "normal".

Even though it wasn't their first trip to the ocean, I don't know that the boys could have been more excited. We had to pick up somethings this morning and it was pure torture for Carter & Jacob knowing that Grandma & Pa were at the beach and they were at TJ Maxx!!

Finally!!!

Before we got to the beach, we stopped off at Metcalf Bottoms around Townsend, TN in the Smokey Mountains to meet up with a couple of families from our adoption agency. The kids had tons of fun playing in a mountain stream. It was great to finally see people that I have read soooo much about! We had a great time with the families. They were all just beautiful children. Savannah, Jack, Will, Thomas, Leah & Alanna (forgive me if I misspelled names)....such sweet kids. All the kids played good together and Jack - you can baby sit my boys ANYTIME! Carter and Jacob thought Jack was soooo cool.

Anna trying to get "kisses" from Alanna

Anna had a ball jumping with Leah

Water, rocks, critters - perfection!

Can we arrange a marriage between Anna & Thomas? He stole my heart!

Perfectly content just standing in the water watching the boys

We have really ran full speed for the last 2 days. Got to Gatlinburg around 1:00 am on Saturday morning. Anna did not go to sleep until after 5:00 am. Therefore, I did not go to sleep until after 5:00 am. We got up early Saturday morning, went to the picnic and the kids played hard the entire time we were there. They slept a little yesterday in the car, but they were awake for the majority of the 7 hour drive yesterday. They stayed up late last night, Anna crawled all over me all night last night, busy, busy all day today and after we got back from the beach, went to the pool, got baths, they literally passed out! Hopefully Anna will sleep good tonight - Momma needs it!

Anna fell asleep on Grandma's lap

I don't know how or why he was in this position, but Parker fell asleep watching cartoons

Jacob falls out before dinner is finished

Yeah, I know one day Carter will not like me posting a picture with his mouth wide open...at least he isn't drooling!

Having a great family vacation, but wishing there was one more here...

Sending love and hugs to Elli,

Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna Mei