5th Annual Beach-Pa-Looza

I left town Thursday to go on the 5th Annual Beach-Pa-Looza trip with my girls. I was worried about the trip this year because I felt like Maison was really going to grasp the fact that I was gone. I dropped her off at school that morning and headed east to the gorgeous white beaches of Orange Beach, Alabama (white beaches in "Orange" Beach... that is kind of funny!). That evening, Trey asked if I wanted to talk to her on the phone. After I said, "Hey, punkin'!" She shouted, "Mommy come home!" and started crying. Ugh. That tore at my heartstrings big time and I thought "This may be my last beach trip because if she acts like this for 3 more days, Daddy won't make it!" Thankfully, though, that was her only crying spell. The next afternoon, I talked to her and she was having an ice cream party at Maw Maw's and the day after that, Daddy took her to work with him. She was so excited about the dirt pit, track hoes and bulldozers that she did not have time to realize I was even on the planet!

The beach trip was awesome. Good times with great friends. Relaxing on the beach... I even read an entire book (Marley & Me... fabulous read for a dog lover!). I can't remember the last time I read an entire book in two days. I ate dinner in a restaurant without a little spider monkey clinging to my neck. I slept at night without having to get up to adjust blankets or fetch more cold water. I slept one morning until 9:30! I took a shower without having a rubber duck shoved in unmentionable places. I actually sat on the beach and did not spend my time chasing, watching, wiping or cleaning anyone or anything. And you know what? I missed all those things so much! I missed the butterfly kisses and nightly prayers. The chocolate pudding face and even the trips to the potty. I guess the whole trip was bittersweet for me. There was nothing like the smile that spread across her face when I walked in the door.

Thanks to my girls... Christie, Kelli, Clara, Jen L, Sissy, Mary, Kelly and even Ash was there in spirit... for an awesome weekend. I'm already counting down the days to the 6th annual trip! Thanks to BeBe, Maw Maw and Miss Paula for helping entertain her while I was gone. And a very special thanks to Daddy for being so great that she did not even miss me!