Well, we actually did it! We're on our first family vacation in nearly 8 years. We're having so much fun we can hardly believe that we're here. We drove down Friday evening, leaving a full 3 hours earlier than planned AND a full 3 days later than what the girls could bear! We drove through Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee in pitch black night, sometimes rain and ending in a fog that sent us to a McDonald's parking lot where we all caught some needed rest. We drove a short stint in Tennessee and made our way through Alabama, finally arriving to Gulf Shores, Alabama around 2:30 pm on Saturday. We unpacked, checked out our house, made spaghetti for dinner and drove into town for a trip to the local Wal-Mart for some groceries. Then we went to Scoops for some ice-cream. I don't even remember my head hitting the pillow, and awoke around 8:00 am feeling wonderful. Matt made us his famous Co-Co Wheats for breakfast and we just tooled around the house until lunch. Then we went to The Beach Club, this fabulous resort across the street, where we swam in the indoor pool. While Matt was outside with the 3 big girls playing, "Polar Bear Club" (a turn in the hot tub, then running and jumping into the cold pool) I was inside with Matheson and Lindy. We went home shortly after Lindy decided that #1 she didn't have to obey me and #2 she could swim all by herself. That was frightening - she just jumped right into the deep end, and all I could do was watch. Thank God some people who were much closer than me grabbed her and saved her from drowning. She wasn't even phased, and still wanted to swim after the whole affair! What a booger. We made pizzas for dinner and I took the big girls back to the pool while Matt stayed with Matheson and Lindy Mae. It was a great day!