Mackenzie and Daddy's Beach Birthdays!

What 3 year old gets to celebrate her birthday at the beach?  Mackenzie does!  Daddy decided long before your birthdays that he wanted to spend his birthday at the beach.  Well, because your birthday is the day before his, you got a beach birthday also!  We left for Panama City late Thursday night, September 1, 2011.  Daddy and I are big fans of driving long distances during the night because you two will sleep almost the entire way.  We found out a few days before our trip that a hurricane was a brewing down in the Gulf and there was a good possibility that it would rain most of our trip.  Well, it did, but we didn't let that stop us from having some much needed family time and fun, fun, fun.  

Rick and Trish were down in the area during the same weekend and came over for 2 days to hang out with us.  Between the rain storms, we would go down to the beach and play our little hearts out.  Nolan, you again thought sand was food and consumed mass amounts of it.  Mackenzie, you've been terrified of the ocean since the day you saw it for the first time.  Every time we've taken you in, you've climbed up us like a cat.  Now, remember, there was a storm coming in.  The Gulf was rather choppy and there were double red flags flying the entire weekend.  Double red flags means that the water is closed to the public and it's against the law to enter.  Well, no double red flags were stopping you from playing in the water.  We couldn't keep you out of the ocean!  Several times, the beach patrol had to stop and tell you to get out and as soon as he would drive off, you would run right back.  This terrified me, because all I thought, was one wave could take you right out and that would be it.  I know that sounds crazy, but I was so nervous all weekend.  We would have rather taken the nice sunshine and calm waters over the tropical depression Lee that came ashore, however, a rainy day at the beach is nicer than a rainy day at home!

Some fun facts about you right now:

*You love to press buttons, no really.  Whenever we get to go cups, the first thing you do is press all the buttons in.  It's so hard not to laugh at you when you say, "Can I press your buttons?"

*You've learned your phone number along with Daddy's.  One day you were walking around with a toy phone.  You asked me what your phone number was, so I told you.  You got annoyed because I said it too fast.  I said it 3 more times much slower.  The next day you spewed out the numbers and my jaw hit the floor.  

*Directions and places are pretty important to you.  You want to know where we're going all the time.  You specifically are asking what town we're going to or in.  You know you live in "Dowis", Granma lives is "Fwowery Branch" and works in "Lawrrrrencebille".  

*You have a new found love for banana peppers.  We ordered them on a pizza at Mellow Mushroom and you devoured them minus the pizza.  We have to be careful when ordering them when we're out, sometimes they're hot and not mild.

*Ms. In-de-pend-ent is your name!  You want to pick out your clothes (which sometimes causes a riff in our day), dress yourself and put on your shoes.  Because of this, we have to start getting ready much earlier than we have to be anywhere on time.  You did go to "Puglix" wearing hot pink shorts, an orange and black leopard print tu-tu, and a black and pink zebra print tank top not too long ago.  I had to let you wear it.  You came out of your room and said, "Mommy, don't I look gorgeous?"

*You're new favorite cereal is "Po-bo Pebbles"

*There's a giant billboard for a car dealership on 85N on the way to Granma's.  On it, it a huge clock, you refer to it as "The Tick-Tock Sign".

*Daddy taught you a new trick when playing with Nolan's tools.  That trick is, "Righty, tighty, lefty, woosy."  And that's only when you're using a "ranch".

*You're starting to broaden your food groups.  You'll eat spaghetti o's now and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!  You love all types of olives, even the greek green and purple ones.  Tortillini is a new favorite with butter and garlic.  

Mack, you're getting funnier and funnier with each passing day.  We love you so much it hurts sometimes. You give the best, tightest hugs and perfect little puckered up kisses.

September 4, 2011