HELLLLLLOOOO!!!! We R Beachin'!

So sorry to keep you waiting! First, we travelled all day Friday and second, we are having internet troubles in the condo! Staci and Don are renting one down a few floors from us, so finally, I have uploaded new pics and am ready to rock!
What a difference a few months can make! Ellie can now operate the "Elliegator" virtually all by herself. That is great and oh so, NOT great all at once!
We were heading down to see what treasures we could find at the beach, so we stopped on the way down to grab our favorite cousin, Maddi Boo. Jin Jin was there and filled them a couple of cups full of apple slices. As is typically the case...
Ellie said, "I got it" and handled Maddi's for her too. If she tries to change her cousin's diaper one more time, I swear....
She also designates herself as the leader and caretaker often!
Is this cute or what?! Our little Gabbi Girl is upstairs taking a nap, so she didn't make this trip down.

And I am certainly not complaining. There is a BIG difference between two and three! Two... manageable. Three.... not so much!
These two just have PURE BLISS being free to run around the resort without crowds or too many strict rules. I kinda feel the same way!
Here is Ellie about to give Maddi a big ol' hug.
and Maddi simply accepting it!
Heading down to the beach. Have I cracked my head?!
Denara, Do you read my blog? Looks like those gymnastics lessons are coming in very handy!
Ta Da!!
This little missy is just so independent! She would gladly have just hung out down on that beach all alone!
We had a really good time finding shells! Or as Ellie calls them now, "Shelbys". I know our Shelby is loving that one!
That is the "clubhouse" behind Ellie. That is where we have decided to have Thanskgiving dinner, in the way of buffet! Oh yeah! More on that later!
When it is warm here, we just don't seem to have this many shelbies on the beach! But lucky for us, now that it is too cold to swim, there is something to preoccupy these two busy bodies!
And look at that beach behind them... empty!
Maddi was not quite as fired up about finding shelbies as Ellie Sue was. But she was a trooper.
Ellie STUFFED her pockets full! I will know for SHO that tomorrow we will be taking a little bag of some sort with us!
We passed a couple of joggers on the beach, and Ellie said, "What are they doing?"

I said, "Running on the beach." And like that.....
we had a couple 0f runners too!!

I LOVED seeing this! I have never been down to the coast this time of year, so I wondered how people celebrated here. So cool. Makes me wish we would be there for the holidays and could also celebrate with garland! orrrrrrrr, we could just do it at home! Which we most certainly will!
Time to take a little apple snackin' break!
and then ol' looney toon ran over to the grassy area and started being uber silly.
and just yelling out at the top of her lungs! I know the "snowbirds" down here are loving the little kids around the grounds. they come here to get AWAY from all the cold and busy-ness. Well, say HELLO to BUSY-NESS!! All kinds of Busy-ness!
I love this picture of my big girl. She has so much liveliness in her little face. Mischievous? Yes! Am I secretly happy about her curiosity and spunk? Yes!
So, Day one (of ten) of our Thanksgiving vacay! Hey, you south Alabama readers. (Foley, Hello? Hello?) We are looking for a babysitter! Any takers!? Where are you Holley girls when I really need you!?

Mo