Hotel Gour: Part III

In which I drag the unsuspecting guests to historical sites....actually, they were pretty suspecting since most had been here before and knew the drill!  I made three visits to the downtown area this summer. That's three opportunities to find parking for a vehicle that dwarfs most SUVs and won't fit in a parking garage. Fun times, letmetellyou! This just happens to be the documentation of Brianna, Christian, Megan and Darling Daughter's {visiting from Not A Significant Source} turn.

Happy faces picnicking at The Battery. 

What you can't see in the background are the terrifying mutant squirrels, no longer afraid of humans. They don't appreciate their station in the food chain and they stalk you as you picnic at The Battery and pelt you with acorns to manipulate you into throwing your picnic at them!  Don't believe me?  Just you try to have a picnic down there.  Watch your back.....that's all I'm sayin'.    

Small children disobeying signs that say "don't climb on cannons".

His defense? 

His aunt told him to. 

Do you believe that? 

What aunt would tell her nephew to climb aboard a cannon, I ask you? 

Pfffft. 

Did not.

Okay, so someone's got the right idea. 

Stroll and let others work up a sweat!

Well, at least sweat looks good on her!

Best buds walking at Water Front Park

Isabel is always prepared for the possibility of a quick dip.  I swear she's part mermaid!

Who needs a swimsuit?  It's to hot to care!

I'm just gonna get a little sprinkle, just to help me cool off. 

That's all. 

Just a little wet?

Annual trip to Kilwins

You could gain 10lbs just smelling that place! 

Beautiful Girls!

Uh oh!  DD found an ally and needed a photo shoot!

She's a little goofy!

But, she's a lot pretty!

And it was such fun to have someone to photography that wasn't running for cover or fussing at me to step away from the camera!

Thanks for spicing up the downtown area for the day!

No Vacancy!

  Hotel Gour

Breakfast served.... whenever {you people get out of bed}

Picnic lunches available {or optional, starve if you like}

2 course dinners most evenings {if I feel like cooking}

Popcorn and a movie possible

Close to the beach and shopping

Mere miles from Historic areas

{I will drag you to all these places if you come here}

Rooms, suites and mattresses on the floor are all options for your get away

{suite is just a word that means you get the bedroom with my husband's office in it...he'll be in there in the morning! And by rooms available....I probably mean that you get a mattress on the floor}

Semi-private baths available

{The word "private" is more of a suggestion here}

Book Early!

Because regardless of how unappealing this stay should sound.....we are over booked every summer!

And we wouldn't have it any other way.

I am sitting in a very quiet house.  Very quiet.  After spending the entire month of July booked to maximum capacity, it is a nice and welcome break before school starts.  Actually school will be a nice and welcome break from our crazy summer! 

From the beginning of July to the end of July Hotel Gour saw a total of 14 guests come and go!  We accommodated one sister and brother-in-law for 3 nights, another sister for 1 night, one niece and nephew for 4 weeks, another niece for 4 days and yet another niece for two weeks and 4 days, one friend and her daughter for 4 nights, another friend and her daughter for 9 nights, the daughter of a friend for 6 nights and two young friends of the kids for 1 night each!

You keeping up?

That means my Monster Van was put to good use this summer.  And that is dream come true!  Everyone in one vehicle while I drag them to beaches and historic places! 

Exhibit A:  Happy campers in my Monster Van! 

So, what did we do all summer with all this company? 

We spent a lot of time at the beach!

Because the beach is FREE!

Remember?  I like free!

Even the beach could not get Brooke off her phone.

But Brianna could.....for a moment at least!

We collected Sand dollars and shark's teeth.

And shells!

Casey had fun!

This is probably why Michelle and I get along so well.....we both love the beach!

Boogie girl!

Loves the beach like her mama!

We also played with starfish

And crabs!

It's always fun....if a little dangerous when we are around!

Owie!

Busy

Busy

Busy

Life Lovin' Mia!

Lazy beach days are my favorite!

Stay tuned for more about our summer at Hotel Gour

Coming Soon:  Adoption update!

A Weekender

Because I know you never tire of seeing pictures of my cute kids, I thought I'd share a few shots from our recent weekend away. Paul and I have been blessed to have close relations with some of his extended family. You know, aunts, uncles and cousins. So our children have Great Aunts and Great Uncles and loads of extra cousins to love up on them! The weekend away was to honor Paul's cousin, Shawn. She recently ran off to went to Hawaii and got married! Not that any of us were sore about being denied the opportunity to witness this union or anything. *sigh*

All kidding aside, we were very happy get the chance to meet the newest member of the family a few weekends ago when they came to Florida. Aunts, Uncles and cousins came from miles away to wish the happy couple well.....and to, you know, get a look at the new guy! Who, incidentally is named.....Shaun. Shawn and Shaun. What are the chances? Now they need to have a son and name him Sean! Okay, that is not really funny. Anyway...

The happy couple on the beach.

Well, I guess this is a better shot!

And we enjoyed hanging out. I love to travel with my family!

Goofball here thinks she needs goggles to hang out at the beach!

The boys had a blast with a little cousin

They really love to run!

But, I did manage to get them to sit still for a minute.

Emma and Claire are the same age, but Claire doesn't really understand how to play with kids her age so they just kinda played near each other....and sometimes, not near each other!

Isabel loves sand! Has always loved sand. When I would take her to the beach as a baby, she would lay in the sand and roll until it was stuck to every inch of her. And, by the time I got her home, it was in every crack and crevice! I'm not a sand phobic, like Paul, but she's extreme when it comes to sand, even for me!

A cutie cousin, Jacob

I didn't take nearly enough pictures. And many of the ones I took didn't come out well. I'm still trying to figure this camera out. In many ways, it is much better than my last point-and-shoot and in other ways it doesn't do as well. I don't know what to think.

I guess I'll just have to sweet talk Paul into that digital SLR I have my eye on. *wink, wink*