Vacation.... part deux

Amber made a princess sand village, complete with a mall with gowns for the ball, and houses for poor people....(her words)
Ahhh.. nothing like your toes in the sand!
I-10 was shut down for a few hours, so we stopped in Alabama at the Sam's Warehouse sized fireworks store.... $200 bucks later, Amber became the most popular kid on the beach when we were handing out fireworks to her new friends... we got tired of shooting them all! some were like the ones you see at the city fireworks show!
I had to take this picture, as we have a similar one from when Amber was about 4 years old...gamma has it hanging on her wall!





So we had to take another vacation... Amber didn't get to go on the first one, so we loaded up the car and took a trip with the whole family (even Thor got to go) down to Destin Florida for the 4th of July!


We got a condo on the golf course, across the street from the beach. Beautiful white sands and turquoise waters, similar to the view that our wedding beach had... but sunsets weren't on the water, and the beach was rather small, comparatively. Still a beautiful trip.

We had so much fun! Morgan bet Amber she couldn't remember everything she did, so she started listing it.... and five minutes later STILL had not named all of the activities! She really did turn into a fish while in Florida, boogie boarding, body surfing, wave jumping, snorkeling - even had a small run in with a jelly fish and some sting rays while in town. As soon as we got to the beach, she took off, running in circles, dancing around like a kite in the wind... that child is starting to get the same recharge from the ocean breeze that Morgan and I do!
yummy crablegs.. right on the beach on the 4th of july... after dinner, we walked down the stairs, and set up 'camp' for the sunset and upcoming fireworks display! we had two large shows going on (one on each end of the beach) as well as our own. As Amber declared: This was the BEST 4th OF JULY EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BFF

Amber has been gone for soooo long! She got to spend the night with me tonight, and we were two girls on the town!

First we went to the movies, since it started raining as we were planning an afternoon by the pool. Then we came home and changed, so we would be dressed for Laser Tag! Off to Playtime Pizza together! Amber wanted to play Deal or No Deal, and BOTH of us got the briefcase with 400 tickets in it!
We won so many tickets, and Amber got Best Friend Necklaces for us to share, so we're always together, even when she's away!
We wished Morgan was home to have had fun with us, but we had fun just being the girls! Thor was so excited to see Amber, he jumped in her chair and started licking her face! Next week, when Amber comes home for good, we will be off to the beach! I can't wait!

Blu

I just got the biggest contract one could ask for. I worked very hard on the proposal and beat out all other event planners in Little Rock... I am too excited to speak at the moment, but more to come!

Anniversary

This time last year, we were at the Courthouse in Florida getting our marriage license!

Today is our 1 year wedding anniversary, and after our wonderful trip to Atlantis a few weeks ago, Morgan has surprised me with a getaway to Tunica! So once I finish working on a few last minute things, I will head down there. Morgan is golfing this morning in Tunica with a few of our wedding guests, who happen to be in town, so that is going to be fun!

I can't wait to celebrate tonight! I have the top of our cake, a bottle of champagne and some other wonderful things to share with my amazing husband! I hope the cake is still as delicious! Morgan and I were talking about the cake the other day, and he actually asked if the baker could overnight a cake to us... it was that delicious!
Of course we'll have to save some for Amber when she comes home on Sunday, because she loved the cake soo much too!

Atlantis

We had a wedding trip last year, since we got married on the beach; but we were with our families, so we never counted it as our "honeymoon". So for our 1 year anniversary, my 30th birthday and our delayed honeymoon we headed down to Atlantis over Memorial Day weekend.

Of course, travel in the Pile household is never without chaos... Originally, Amber was going to go with us but due to some issues with passports and borders, we had to schedule the trip around when she would be gone, which she was NOT happy about... as we had been planning the trip with her for a while. Of course, our 5:55 am flight, we missed... as my plan to stay up all night cleaning the house and packing was thwarted by falling asleep around 2 am, and the alarm not going off at 330.... so we woke up at 5:05... got to the airport at 5:40 (THANK GOODNESS we'd packed and put all luggage by the door) and were told there were no more flights going out with seats available. "you aren't going there TODAY" is what they actually said to me.... bed head and no make up and all.... but after some sweet talking, we found out that there was a flight leaving out of memphis in about 3.5 hours, and the sweet guy upgraded us to First Class, all for no charge, not even a change fee! so Morgan had to go get the car out of long term parking, and off we go! Get to Memphis, and realize that our return flights are still coming into Little Rock, but there is no time to do anything about it, as we only had about 30 minutes till departure. Luckily the guy in Little Rock changed everything for us, but we had no way of knowing that till it was time to leave... only to find out that instead of arriving in Little Rock at 5 pm, we were now supposed to land in Memphis at 7 pm. (still with a 3 hour drive to go)..... except due to wonderful weather delays, we sat in the plane, on the tarmac for about 2 hours, waiting for the rain to pass so we could take off, landing us in Memphis around 9 pm! wow..... so that was the chaos sandwhich around serenity.


Atlantis was a blast, I think the best thing about it was that Morgan and I got to turn off our phones, no email access, no interruptions from work, and just have fun together! I think I will implement a no phone policy on all vacations!
we played, ate and generally relaxed and had a great time! I didn't get burned, actually got a pretty decent start to a tan... we went on some great excursions AND - I got to swim with dolphins! for those who know about my obsession with these animals... you know I was in HEAVEN!

a few photos:


The view from our balcony of the grounds and the ocean



Blue Lagoon - where we laid on Hammocks and sipped frozen drinks... great afternoon of fun!



We just arrived at Atlantis - walking on the beach by the Grand Towers

Morgan even got to get in a full 18 holes! This golf course was on the very TIP of paradise island, so we were surrounded by the beautiful ocean the whole time!

Amber's Birthday

Wow. What a mess! Amber had a pool party, and invited 50 of her friends from school, camp, and even friends from when she was only a year old (we still get together from time to time). We closed the pool for a private party, which Amber was VERY into... (I think we are turning her into a VIP monster.) At a few points in the party, we had some crashers, unknowing neighbors who didn't realize it was a party...(really? you didn't notice the tower of cupcakes, the decorations or the table full of gifts when you walked in?) but Amber was QUICK to point out to me that she didn't know the kids, and asked me to have them leave.... yeah, she's not spoiled.

I think we had about 40 or more kids, plus their parents... Amber made out like a bandit, and I truly believe that pool parties just might be more exhausting than weddings!

Before the party started, I picked up a selected group of girls from school. The car was decorated, we had Amber's Ipod hooked up to the stereo, and each girl got a lei. Amber loves being a car rider, and showing off the new car, so I think she was super excited to see it said "AMBER"S POOL PARTY" and all that jazz in front of the entire school!

The girls had to walk to the pool, as we had 2 large beach balls that would not fit in my car (4 foot!), but they had a blast walking alongside the car, and striking a pose now and then:

Dirty Thirty!

Well, the Dirty Thirty came and hit me! Along with it is a month's worth of rain, apparently... it rained NON STOP all day on my birthday, but it was still a great day, even if I kept getting soaked every time we moved on to the next surprise.

Day started with a trip to the spa... Mo set up a facial and massage for me...which I fell asleep and had to be woken from a drool enhanced snooze 20 minutes after the massage was over! Must have been all that rain.... then we went on to Copelands for lunch, and throughout the day I got sweet, funny and loving cards from my sweet husband and daughter at every stop. After lunch, on to the golf store... thinking we are picking up balls for Morgan... he's playing in a tournament next week.... NOPE! I get fitted for my very first set of clubs! Taylor Made R7 Draw Iron Set, a Ping 12 degree Rhapsody driver and a pretty nice 5 iron too! And shoes that look a lot like Morgans Golf shoes, but match my clubs! Woo hoo. He promises that we'll go golfing soon... but I swear the rain is NEVER going to stop!

We came home and I took a nap... a much needed nap, as the first one wasn't long enough... yes, I'm old... and rain means nap time!

Then we got dressed and went to dinner.... surprise! there's my friends! Morgan gave me this silly hospital IV cane thing with a lot of funny old lady stuff on it... and a birthday princess hat, my friend's mother made a delicious cake, and we all had a fabulous time!

Turning 30 wasn't that bad... but Elena brought her baby.... and warned me that she was fussy around other people.... it wouldn't be my fault if she freaked out.... but she didn't.... bc I'm Supposed to hold a baby! I'm a mommy... and I'm really really ready for the next one! COME ON NOVEMBER!


I'm ready for the next leg of the celebration! Atlantis at the end of the month! SOOO excited about some beach time with my baby!