before we leave, libby needs one last rock on the horsey.

it's the third and final portion of our trip, our time visiting john mark and melissa and alex. they kindly invited us to join them at the beach in sandestin, florida. we had a really great time, and libby simply LOVED our first evening at the beach. if only we could take
this little cornhusker to the beach more often.

 

each night, daddy and mama count to three and libby "hops" into bed.
her training has really paid off - libby got some great air on this
hop over the crashing waves.

 

here is mama's newest favorite picture.
i hope it gives you a glimpse of how overjoyed libby was
to be playing in the water with her daddy.

 

how fun is this?

 

here are john mark and alex, who along with melissa, were our
lovely hosts for libby's first trip to the beach,
the third and final portion of family vacation 2006.

 

one way to have lots of fun at the beach is to throw sand into the water

libby's face says "salty water, up close and personal"

 

libby says "three cheers for the ocean!"

 

playing in the sand

 

libby's tempted by the sound of the crashing waves
and can't resist their pull

 

i think this picture really illustrates our fun at the beach.
it's a beautiful scene, a setting sun, vacationers enjoying the warm water,
and libby on the move, literally trying to outrun mama and dive into the gulf, and mama straining to keep a grip on her daughter,
yet managing to allow her to have a wonderful experience and tons of fun.
what an amazing woman.

 

libby loved strolling the shoreline.
the girl in the background told us she saw a mermaid in the water.

 

heading out to meet the waves

 

i'm game! bury me too!

 

you might want to click and blow this picture up to look closely
- this girl is completely covered in sand.

libby looks like it's time to call it a day at the beach

 

we head back to the house just as the sun sets on sandestin

 

we're covered in beautiful white sand,
but this libby-sized shower goes a long way to rinse her comfortable.

 

getting rinsed off under the big shower

 

i'm parched!

 

libby does some skinnydipping and enjoys daddy splashing the sand off her once we get back to the house. it was a great pre-shower rinse.

it's time to take a break and enjoy a cracker at the fountain.
(see the inscription between the daddies)

 

the ladies are real thrillseekers.
we take the risk and climb the big beach chair.

 

Libby takes a stroll through a little resort village.