Bermuda: Day 3, Kensington swims with the dolphins

Day 3 was the day we have been talking about for 3 months.  One day, about 3 months ago, we told Kensington that we were going to the beach for vacation.  She immediately said "I get to swim with the dolphins".  Andrew and I were like "uh, no".  Where did she get that idea?  Beach equals you get to swim with the dolphins??  However, for 4 days after that conversation, she talked non-stop about how she got to swim with the dolphins.  So, her sweet daddy called around on Bermuda and found a place for them to swim with the dolphins.  She was so excited...we were so nervous.  She's not even three...my mom and I just knew the hissy fit would start when they put the life jacket on and then continue until her 20 minutes were up.  Because swimmin' with the dolphins ain't cheap, we were going to make her stay in the water the entire 20 minutes regardless of the fit.  So, here we go...

 We showed up a little early so that K could watch the dolphins swim and get acquainted with the situation.  She looks ready...

 Me and my mama making bets on how this would go down.

 Smith was super excited not to be swimming with the dolphins.

 Well...they put the life jacket and little booties on her feet without a fight.  She was determined and ready to swim with the 6 dolphins.  This is her and her daddy waiting their turn.

 Getting in the water.  She was by far the youngest in her group.  By far.

 And she LOVED it!  She LOVED it!  We were blown away!  She did such a great job!! 

 This chick might have a future as a marine biologist.  She totally dug the dolphins!  When it was over, we let her pick out any toy in the gift shop.  Of course, she picked the biggest stuffed dolphin they had.



 We finished the day with lots of shopping and then went out to dinner.  Bermuda has great shopping and great food, so we were all happy campers.

Bermuda also has Shirley Temples on every single kids menu...so my kids became quite spoiled.  Here they are sharing one.

Kensington Kate, you did so great swimming with the dolphins!  Mommy and Daddy will never forget that experience.  We love you!!

Stay tuned for more on Day 4!

Read More

Bermuda: Days 1 and 2

The Shull four along with Lovie and Papa Jay just spent an AMAZING week on the island of Bermuda.  It was fabulous!!  Several people have asked me where Bermuda is exactly...it's an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean about halfway between the US and Great Britain.  It's a British territory, so as you might imagine, it's super clean, the people are very friendly and they drive on the wrong side of the road :).  We had the best, best time.  I am so proud of my little travelers.  They did such a great job and were on their best behavior.

 We left our house at 2:30 AM to get to the airport.  Yes.  2:30 AM.  This is sweet Kensington in the car on the way.  We said a prayer and then woke her up at 2.  She was a dream.  She never once complained, she got dressed, drank some milk and hopped right in the car.  Thank you Jesus!

 This little guy was a champ too.  They were wide awake the entire 40 minute trip to the airport just chatting with us about getting on the airplane.  We were so excited!

 Running around the airport before we boarded.  Don't your kids look this excited at 4:30 AM?

 We arrived at the beautiful Fairmont Southhampton Resort.  Exactly 10 years ago, 19 year old Shay, her parents and brother Sean stayed at this same resort.  If you would have asked me then what I wanted in life 10 years later, I would have said, "a great husband who loves me to pieces, a son and a daughter, loving girlfriends and lots of traveling".  God is just so good.  After we arrived, Andrew and Kensington hit the pool while Smith and I napped.  Then, everyone cleaned up for dinner at a yummy Italian restaurant over-looking the ocean and the golf course.

 So excited to finally be on vacation!

Day 2

 After some much needed sleep, we hit the beach bright and early on Day 2.  This is me and my little man riding the shuttle from the hotel lobby to the beach.  The ride was only a minute but my kids LOVED riding the "school bus".

 Checking out our digs for the day.

 I am a blessed girl.  I have been to many beaches on many continents and I can say without a shadow of a doubt, Bermuda is the prettiest.  The water is so crystal clear that you can always see the bottom.  The sand is so white that it looks like grains of sugar.  Honestly, this is the prettiest beach God created :).

 This picture is for my girlfriends.  See...Smith was FINALLY allowed to play in the sand.  (For those of you that don't know...I am THAT mom who doesn't allow her kids to play in the dirty sandboxes at home.  But on vacation...on the real sand...this boy was allowed to dig right in.)

 I just love this little pony tail girl!

 Kensington is our beach babe.  She had no fear and couldn't get enough of the sand and sea.  I picture her and her Daddy sitting on many beaches together in the future.

 And then there's Smith...he loves the beach but he doesn't love hugging on his mama all the time.  What a stinker!

 The 4 Shulls

The 6 of us

 Smith sleeping at the beach

 After a fun day at the beach, we got all cleaned up and headed out to dinner in a lighthouse.  Super cool!

 However, 3 minutes into dinner, Smith fell asleep on the table.  And then this happened...

...Kensington was out too.  I guess a full day at the beach will cause you to sleep right through dinner.  The grown-ups ate dinner and dessert while the little ones slept. 

Next up...Day 3...Kensington swims with the dolphins... 

Read More

Goodnight!

Well, we have been having sooooo much fun this summer that I'm forgetting to snap pictures and blog!  Today, we left the house at 8:40, went to boot camp, then headed to the pool with some friends for swimming and lunch.  After that, we napped, ate dinner and then the four of us went back to the pool for more swimming tonight.  Now, we're all home, bathed and ready for bed.  I figure my Grandmother will be mad if I don't post something soon, so here are two pictures of them right before bed tonight.



The little stinker wouldn't put his cup down.

I hope everyone else is having a fantastic summer too!

Read More

If you're looking for us...

...we're at the pool.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week, we went swimming twice in one day.  First we swam in the morning before naps, then, we swam after dinner.  On Monday night, just the 4 of us went to the local pool, Tuesday night, we had our church small group at the pool with friends, Wednesday night, we went to dinner and the splash park with our friends the Coxs, and then last night, we went to Hawaiian Falls.  We are having so much fun this summer!!



 Kensington and Snow White making their way to the slides.

 My girl is doing a FANTASTIC job swimming!  I was nervous that after her swim lessons, she would digress a bit but nooooo...she's only excelling.  She loves to "get her eyes wet".  I'm so proud!

 This is how Smith eats dinner...food in one hand, car in the other.  After we go to Hawaiian Falls, we always stop at one of our favorite places and eat dinner before heading home.

What are we doing today you ask???  Going swimming of course!

Read More

Sunshine and bridal stuff

What a fun weekend we had!  On Friday, Daddy came home early and we went to Hawaiian Falls for the first time this season.  We are so glad we have season passes because these kiddos ate it up!  Smith couldn't slide enough down the water slides and Kensington was obsessed with the wave pool.  We had so much fun that I forgot to take pictures until right before we left.  Here they are enjoying their "end of day" Capri Sun Waters.



 Then on Saturday morning, I went wedding dress shopping with my sweet cousin Brooke.  It's hard to believe that it was 8 years ago when we went shopping for my dress.  I am so honored to be a bridesmaid in her wedding.  I just love this girl to pieces.  (By the way, it would be so much simpler wedding dress shopping with her if she didn't look so fabulous in EVERY SINGLE THING!)

 Three out of the eight bridesmaids, the bride and the bride's mama.  Such a special time for us!

Saturday night, Andrew and I took the kids to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, did a little mall shopping, road on the carousel, and then indulged in some iced sugar cookies.  These are the little memories that I will recall the most as the years go by.

 

 And then this morning, we went to church.  Such a blessed little weekend!

Read More