Independence Day Pictures

Ben and I were blessed with some time off for the holiday and we got to make the trip up to Florence for the weekend.  So, we loaded up the little man and the doggies and headed North on Saturday morning.  On Saturday night, Mason got to go to his very first shrimp boil. I wish I had gotten some pictures of that but I tend to get stressed out when I take him in public places or outdoors, afraid that he is getting too hot or uncomfortable or worried about him being passed around a lot.  Thus, I am too distracted to take pictures. The food was amazing and there was a TON of it!  They did it Low Country Boil style where they dumped bucket after bucket of shrimp, crawfish, corn, potatoes, and onions into a huge homemade trough.  It was amazing! 

We spent all of Sunday and Monday hanging out at my parent's house playing in the pool, eating, and just relaxing.  Mom made chocolate covered oreo balls (holy moly), pasta salad, a cheese ball, and lots of other goodies that we snacked on all day.  The 4th was complete with grilled steaks marinated in Dale's sauce, my favorite!! 

Here are some of my favorite photos from the weekend....

I tried to relax on the float while Ben tried to make me miserable.

Sweet Pea and Daddy hanging out by the pool

Not So Sure About This Chilly Water  

Big Feet, Little Feet

My Daddy and His Boys

Berkley and Pete Having Fun 

The 4th Wouldn't Be Complete Without Fireworks. It Helps to Have Neighbors Who Own Fireworks Stands!

Notice Anything Odd About This One? I Was Practicing Photographing Fireworks and My Sister Thought She'd Add Her Special Touch 

The Neighbor's Could've Shot These Fireworks After a Baseball Game or Something. They Were Huge!

Mason and His Great Grandmother

Mason Sound Asleep in Nana's Arms

Local Celebrity Gets a Bath

Mason Loves Bath Time

So Relaxing

Poodles Like to Relax Too
(my wide angle lens distorted him a bit)

Disclaimer: This is a normal picture of my sister, unlike the one that follows.....

We Had Fun Taking Pictures Off the Diving Board

It Provided Lots of Laughs... then again, my sister usually does.

My Brother Makes It Look Easy

Love the Elbow Dimple

While we were in Florence, Mason started smiling and cooing a lot! It is amazing how fast babies change and learn new things.  I was getting my feelings hurt because he kept smiling at the ceiling fan but wouldn't smile at me. (I know, he is just a baby.) Now, he is all about smiling at me and everyone else and talking to us too! I love it!! He also wants to sit up or stand all the time and keeps trying to pull himself up into the sitting position.  It is so funny because he strains his head forward like he is trying to get up.  I start back to work next week but more on that later... it is ok to go ahead and start praying for me though. :)