We went down to Mom's beach condo for Elle's birthday weekend. The weather was amazing. The water was crystal clear. And the kids had a blast! Elle requested blueberry muffins for birthday breakfast Saturday morning. We spent most of the day at the beach and pool, taking breaks back at the condo. Birthday dinner was at Margaritaville with Kilwin's ice cream for dessert! I had also gotten a Key Lime cake from Our House and brought it down with us. We never hurt for dessert at the beach:).
She got a couple books (Island of the Blue Dolphins, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), a swim shirt and shorts, and a four day pottery camp in Dothan. Mom gave her a week at theater camp (that should be interesting!). She got money from Grammy and GranGran, Dad and Sandi, Aunt Helen, Uncle Jim and Grandma Ruby. She bought some roller blades--or "inline skates" in her words--with some of the money.
Sunday morning, we went to Gulf World for her to "Swim with the Dolphins". It was such a great experience! First, an instructor took the group to a classroom and taught everyone a little about dolphins. Then they watched a short video on being in the water with the dolphins. Elle was in a group of six kids, a couple were older and a couple younger. They got in the water with the trainer and dolphin. Elle's dolphin was named Cajun, and he was a rescue. He actually had a scar from a shark bite! Elle shook his fins, got a cheek kiss, held him on her knee (all 300+ pounds!), rode around on his dorsal fin, and took a belly ride holding on to his pectoral fins while he swam upside down! She also got him to do his "alligator impression". 
We spent the morning there, watching the shows and seeing all the other animals. The beach was great again for the afternoon. I bought three inner tubes and they loved playing in the waves with them. We met Aunt Tammy, Sandi and Patti for dinner at Sandbar and then headed home late Sunday night. It was such a great weekend celebrating our 10 YEAR OLD! Elle is such a precious gift. She loves to read, to play outside, to direct her brothers in play:), and is usually eager to help out around the house. We are so thankful to be her parents! These next years will be new waters as we begin to navigate the tween and teen years. Lots of reading and prayer to come!
