some random things.....

I thought this picture was fun....this HUGE log washed up at our beach and Reagan thought is was fantastic!!!

Kaitlyn and I went down to the beach to take pictures...Autumn and Reagan came along and while Reagan was playing at her log, Autumn crawled in my lap....she is so fun!!!  Right now, she counts how many kisses she gets each day and takes every opportunity to increase it before bed time.

We stopped at the Back Porch for hushpuppies and french fries on the way to the airport on Britton's last day....it is so much fun....it is open to the beach, and there is a playground, volleyball, a trampoline out in the water and lots of people watching.  I went there the other day for an amberjack sandwich..while I was there a shark went swimming by...it was fun watching the people panic :)...kinda like Jaws--which by the way, this week is Shark Week on Discovery AND there was a Jaws marathon yesterday...can you IMAGINE watching that at the ocean?????  My kids did...

photo op

Here are some pictures I took of the two big girls....no one else is up for dressing up and getting them done...

My favorite so far.....

This is such a great picture of Britton and Kaitlyn's relationship to each other.  They have so much love and understanding between them...it is so sweet and special.  Makes this mother's heart sing!!!!

Skim Boarding

Here is the brave half of our group...trying to skim board....actually, Christian isn't trying...he's doing it...and Autumn is surprising us all with her natural ability to do this....I will try to post some more of her moves....we are taking Britton to the airport today :(  We have had a WONDERFUL time with her here!!!!   God knew what we needed.  We will be on our own tomorrow and then Lindsay comes in on Thursday....Friday-last day at the beach before we head home....we are having a wonderful time, but getting ready to sleep in our own beds.

Girls' Night Out....

We went to the Whale's Tail just down the beach from our house...we had so much fun and took some pics on our way....

Our abode

This is our back patio..it looks over a grassy courtyard (where the kids play kick ball with whatever other kids will join them)....it just looks like our house :)

When we come here, I let the kids choose 1 each of: cereal, soda, chips and popcicles.....this is the cereal for, hopefully, both weeks....they are all on a sugar high and saying the stomachs hurt....ah, maybe I have a great place to start a SUGAR FAST!!!  Can you IMAGINE the headaches??????

A beautiful sunset........

I am in awe at every sunrise and sunset I see....God in His creativity and beauty.....

Reagan and her friends....

We have decided Reagan is the social one of all of us....here she is with some of her friends...

This is Taylor

This is Jimmy....you have to hear it said with a severe southern accent...Reagan said "Mom, this is Jimmy...like Jimmy Neutron!!!!"

I don't remember this little girl's name, but the kids came rushing in to tell me there was a little girl here with the same suit and same floaties and she EVEN LOOKS like Reagan...well, they were right...isn't that fun!?!?!?

Them all jumping in the pool......more to come....we went crabbing last night...it was a bust...no crabs (other than my kids), but we got some pics that are fun...

getting caught up....

I know I have gotten behind....with GOOD reason, I might say...Britton surprised us and came in on Thursday night...we are all SOOOO excited to have her here.  I will make a few entries today with some random pics we have so far....

Kaitlyn decided to get a pic of me in my glasses that everyone says I look like a bug in...

Reagan admiring her catch.....jelly fish!!!

The perpetrator!!!  The water is beautiful!!! It is cool and clear, but there are a MILLION jelly fish!!!  I got stung on Sunday and it hurts pretty badly....the kids decided they would try to take them all out so they could swim...whatever!!!  Here is a picture of one they had just caught....

The Ferguson's

This is walking from the 'little house' to the big house...we stay in the little house when we go.

Here is a little further on...getting to the big house..

There are several missing from each family...there is Gail, Luke, Dallas and Daria...then there are the Dodsons!!!!

Here are some pics of the Ferguson's land, house and family....well, we are the biggest part of the picture....so you ought to be able to figure out which ones are the Fergusons....

Real Simple--Dodson Style

You know how Real Simple has those aha! uses for things???  Well, this is one for the files....

Shower Caddy

Original Purpose:  To keep things neat and tidy in the shower.

AHA! Use:  Stick on the window of the car to keep kids things neatly organized on a trip....

Reward:  Not sure there is one, but it feels better to see things organized at the beginning of a trip :)

Happy Birthday--a day late

Our electricity and internet service went out for a while yesterday evening, so I didn't get to post.  Here are some pictures of my 16 yo birthday boy!!!  Christian is SUCH a blessing...he is rising up to take the lead as oldest man in the house..I am so incredibly proud of him!!  Here he is with Luke Ferguson..they have known each other since birth...and showing his big brother side with Reagan....gotta love him!!!!

Florida...here we ARE!!!

Well, we made it!!!  It was such an amazing trip!!!  Great time, the car worked and everyone got along!!!!  YEA!!!  

Meet our new friends

Meet Johnette, Morgan and Zachary.  They are friends of the Fergusons and wanted pics done while I was here.  Morgan and Zachary are PRECIOUS and Johnette, Gail and I can talk till the cows come home....it has been fun.  We hit the road EARLY in the morning to try to make it to the beach before dark....Will post some more fun stuff coming up!!!

more pics

When Perch drove up in his boat and asked if anyone wanted a ride on the tube, Reagan said, "I never seen a boat before."  Perch said "You never seen a BOAT before?"....She said, "well, never one in water before..I only seen them at Bass Pro Shop."....You should have seen the look on his face......I had to admit to him that we are pretty much city-fied people....

What a day!!!

We went down to the lake-a small walk-to play in the water.   Perch showed up with his boat (ok..remember, we are in DEEP central Louisiana....not sure where his name came from :))...He is THE law enforcement here in Saline.  Not sure who was in charge while he was giving all the kids a ride, but he was so gracious to give everyone at least 2 rides on the boat or on the tube.  I got to ride in the boat with him and take these fun pictures....we had a blast!!!  We are all so tired and worn out....