Blogging with The Bentons: Beach Trip

Things have been crazy busy around here. I don't even have a good excuse as to why I haven't blogged in nearly 2 months. We have just been busy! Martin was baptized June 10 and I don't have any pictures that are very good from in the church, but we got some good ones at lunch. I always worry myself sick before any big event that I need Martin to behave for in front of a crowd....and I am just going to have to stop worrying. That boy always rises to the occasion and acts like a little angel. He was perfect! He made a funny face when Craig (pastor) was actually talking to us and putting the water on Martin. Such a funny face that we got a few giggles from the congregation....but at least he wasn't jumping off the top of the stairs (which I was completely expecting). He was on his very best behavior!!

Chicken is my favorite!

He is an absolute ham, and usually loves to cheese for the camera. He was particularly fresh at lunch afterwards. But, hey I didn't care, he behaved during the service. The waitress said, "Honey, his outfit is just beautiful, and he is so well behaved". I just smiled and said thank you....and kept to myself the fact that she just missed him throwing his plate up against the brick wall with several french fries. What's that saying "what they don't know won't hurt them"?? I think it applies here.

Who me????

I love this picture, it totally says "Mother, I did not throw my plate. I would never do such a thing. I am sitting here, enjoying my lunch talking to my Papa John".

Wanna get a picture of this mom?

At this point he has had enough of my pictures. The whole table started laughing at him showing me his food, which prompted the next picture of him laughing. What can I say....this boy knows how to have a good time.

Sweet boy

The group at Martin's baptism

The Benton Family

With Jeremy

With my family

With Bryan's family

Then we were headed to Fort Morgan, AL for a week at the beach with my family. We had a GREAT time, the only bad part was having to leave. The weather was good other than some wind and a few showers that blew in and blew right back out. Martin is a beach baby like his mama and dada. He loves being on the go. I think he had the most fun on the boardwalk. He loved the sand, ocean, and pool. All in all a great time. We fished, sunned, swam, collected shells, ate grapes, ate awesome seafood, visited with friends, visited with family, and played with grasshoppers on the beach. How could we not have had a good time?

Grasshopper fun on the beach

Be sure you rub your muscles after your morning run, don't want to get sore!

More massaging! He picked this up from watching Bryan.

The second day we were there, some guys fishing by us caught a shark, and when they released it, it was very slow to swim off but finally did. The next day it washed up in between the shore and the nearest sand bar. So, dad pulled it out of the water. Zach had gone to the bay to fish, so we didn't want to miss this photo opportunity! All the little boys up and down the beach thought my dad was a super hero or something.....it was too funny.

Dad's big catch. Haha!

Zach reeling in the sting ray

One of the coolest things about fishing on the beach is all of the different things you can see and catch. We saw tons of dolphins everyday, the shark, and Zach caught a bullnose sting ray and puffer fish. I had never seen a puffer fish in person, that was pretty cool. He also caught the usual suspects, lady fish, catfish, mullet, reds, pompano you get the picture. Fish should definitely fear Zach. He told us when he was about 6 that he wanted to be Bill Dance, I think he would make Bill proud!

Bull nose sting ray--we let him go

Beach Pool fun

What's a trip to the beach if you don't have your own personal swimming pool on the beach? It is especially fun if you can talk someone into putting minnows in there.

Chasing a minnow probably

Come on Papa, let's go in the ocean!

Martin was not even remotely afraid of the water, he would run straight out, and you would have to drag him out kicking and screaming when you got too tired of holding him. We had an infant survival vest that he HATED and refused to wear. It did seem like it was kind of choking him, in his defense. So, we were on double duty all trip....which was fine. I think you can never be too safe around water anyway. He was careful in that he knew he couldn't go down to the ocean or get in the pool by himself, and never even made a move to do either.

This is great!

Deeper, deeper

When Sam and Bella came, Martin was pretty excited to have another pool buddy. He even shared his tasty octopus with Bella. I was so glad to finally meet her! And, of course it was so nice to catch up with Sam. One night we all got together, and fried some of Zach's fish and boiled shrimp--and it was so good!