Being Boys

While we are at the lake, the boys spend lots of time walking in and around the water looking for critters.  The last day we were there was quite a successful critter day... a worm, a frog, a lizard, a turtle, and the biggest preying mantis I've ever seen.

Lake Martin and more and more swimming

After the beach we went to Lake Martin.  We all enjoyed the boat, the water, and the slow pace of life.

Lake Martin, Birmingham, and Gulf Shores

Max and I visited Oma in Birmingham.  Craig arrived and we all spent one night at Lake Martin.  Then, we all headed back to Birmingham to visit Oma again.  It was fun, but I completely forgot to take any photos, or I just didn't have enough hands.

Then, we went to Fort Morgan/Gulf Shores with my whole family (22 folks, I think).  It was so, so, so, so much chaotic fun.  

An attempted cousin picture, Seth, Jase, Tyler, Vic, Lila, and Max

Our First Stop

Our vacation began on Seth's birthday, which with the time changes meant he got an extra 10 hours of birthday.  I flew with the boys to Atlanta all by myself.  A couple of hours in the first airport, a seven hour flight, a two hour layover (that required a terminal change, security, and new boarding passes), a ten hour flight, and then almost two hours with baggage and customs.  Aunt Jeannie, Gee, and Tyler were waiting for us on the other side and that made it all worth while.  Fortunately they were able to recognize me even with the inches of food and slobber that covered me from head to toe after feeding Max in my arms the whole way.  Honestly, it went unbelievably well, not fun, but no meltdowns, diaper blowouts, lost children, etc.  No one even used the extra outfits that I lugged across continents, three continents.  I did change into my extra outfit at the airport because I was, as I mentioned above, disgusting and perhaps stinky.

We started our visit in Elba at "The Gee House", as all the grands call it.

All the grands together, Batman style

Little Max and Big Max

Max and Uncle Rob

Solving the world's problems one popsicle at a time

Both of the big boys took swimming lessons while we were home.  This is Vic swimming for us on his last day.  He learned to swim but not to love swimming.  Before vacation was over, he was a water lover though.

  

Happy Birthday in Russian

Seth's school always celebrates birthdays, and he had been anxiously awaiting his turn as the birthday boy.

Here is Seth's class and his teacher singing the birthday song and walking around Seth.  (This was just before they headed out to play and swim.)  I have no idea what was being said, but it was really sweet.

Then, Seth blew out his candle and took a big, face first bite of his cake, per tradition, we suppose.  Then, the kids smeared the icing on his face.  I think this is a beautiful little cake.  I bought it from the grocery store where I normally shop.  I had asked at least three people if I needed to order ahead or just go get one when I was ready.  All assured me that I did not need to order.  So, on the day of, I went to the grocery store and asked for one of the ten or so cakes behind the glass.  The girls refused to give me one after they found out it was for children.  I stood and waited forever while they brought out one of the cakes made just that morning. I begged in my best Russian for one of the already prepared cakes sitting behind the counter.  They wouldn't budge and insisted that I could only have a "fresh" one.   I was then running stressfully late to Seth's school.  I suppose they waited patiently for us, but I'm certain we cut into their playtime.  At least they got a slice of cake.  

Vic was majorly distraught that he didn't get to eat the first cake, so we bought another exactly like the first and celebrated as a family in the evening. 

Water Lovers

We have a pool in our backyard here.  It is only a deep-end though, which seems a little dangerous for a group of three little ones.  So, we had the pipes rigged so we can only fill it up to Vic's shoulders.  It is hot!! here, but for some reason, the pool water never warms up.  It is too cold for me, and usually for Vic, even when he wears the wetsuit we bought in our freezing California Pacific Ocean days.  Seth swims almost everyday with zero concern for the teeth chattering and blue lips.

It is always more fun with Dad

Max loves, loves the water like Seth, my other SPF 70 kid.

Fourth of July

We celebrated the fourth American-style, hot dogs, hamburgers, and games for the kids.  It wasn't exactly like home but close enough to feel homey and be lots of fun.