Annie

 To My Little Dreamer Girl-

I don't know how you managed to do it, but somehow you got us on another beach vacation this year.  You lucky duck.  It seems like a cruel twist of fate that you were sent to live in Utah when your heart belongs somewhere along a warm and sunny coast, but we are certainly glad you were and we promise to take you to the beach as much as we can. 

It's quite a life to just wake up, put on a swimsuit, and head to the beach, isn't it?  I know I could get used to it and judging by the .07 seconds it took you to get a swimsuit on every morning, I think you could do.  Remember when LeAnn commented one day about how cute your suit was and you looked at her all depressed and said, "It's my last one.  Tomorrow, I have to rewind and start back at the beginning."  Lucky for you, we went shopping that day and LeAnn and I each picked you out a cute new one.  Whew!  It would have been such a crisis if you had to start over. 

It's funny, you usually hate having your picture taken and give me a look similar to this one:

but when you have a swimsuit on it's a different story.  You flash those pearly whites at me, kick out your hip, and do something sassy.  It's adorable...but if anyone from a little magazine called "Sports Illustrated" ever contacts you, the answer is an emphatic 'NO!'"  Practice it now just in case, Sweetie.

 

 Look, you even taught Baby Lawson one of your poses.  Looks like he nailed it!

 But it's not all about looking pretty at the beach for you.  No siree.  You played hard.  Swam.  Dug.  Molded.  Discovered.  Suntanned.  Snacked.  Everything good about the beach, you were a part of. 

 

 

 

 Almost as much as you love the beach, you love babies.  Now, "Baby" Lawson is not actually a baby.  He's three.  But since Daddy had called him Baby Lawson before the trip, you were determined to help take care of him.  He turned out to be more of a playmate than a baby, but it was so cute to see your friendship develop.  You started the morning every day running to each other for a big hug and finished the evening snuggled up watching a movie together every night.  By the end of the trip, he was calling you "Sissy," and hopping in our family pictures.  It's always great to have a friend.

You went fishing with Daddy, helped Mommy and LeAnn cook dinner, played with your brothers, swam with the fishies, went shopping with LeAnn, splashed in the waves, flew a kite above the sea, roasted marshmallows on the beach, collected shells for your friends back home, made sand castles daily, buried your toes in sand, and turned your skin a lovely shade of brown. 

 

I'm pretty sure you had a good time. 

Love,
Mom