And the rest of the beach shots...
Josh and Coley left at about 4:00 a.m. to go fishing but us girls slept in till 8:00. (And since we were just staying for one night, we decided to get a hotel rather than pack up all our camping stuff.)
And then we headed over to Grandma Jo's camper for breakfast.
That's Grandma Jo and Brooke.
And then we headed to the beach.
Josh brought home matching hula outfits with grass skirts from Hawaii for the girls (He was there for a military exercise.) and Annie was all about wearing hers on the beach.
And then we headed over to the jetty to watch the boys come in on their fishing boat.
Josh Downs is the last guy in the back (wearing the same blue shirt he was wearing when me met eachother on a flight out of Atlanta, Georgia) and Coley is the first guy in the front (wearing a blue sweatshirt.)
I used to go fishing with them but after two years in a row of hanging over the side of the boat tossing my cookies, I decided to give it up.
Josh caught the biggest fish on the boat (and would be quite dismayed if I didn't share that little bit of trivia.)
And then Great Grandma & Great Grandpa showed up.
And then we headed back to the beach again. (That's the first time Annie has worn pants without crying in probably 4 months.)
From left to right; Courtney Lee, Tater Tot, Cassie (another cousin who doesn't live around here) and Brooke.
Some guy came by and handed him a sling-shot shaped stick. (And from the look on his face, he just realized he could torture his sisters with it.)
And then we headed back to Grandma Jo's camper for lunch. (That's Great-Grandma.)
And Grandma Jo with cranky-Tate.
And then Coley and I went crabbing with Josh Downs for awhile.
And then we headed back to the beach where Annie found a rock-baby that she named, Ballerina Cutie. (Ballerina Cutie went to dinner with us and nearly broke Annie's toes when she fell off the table.)
And we played a little football.
And let the girls play in the water one last time.
And then we packed up a truck-full of tired kiddos and Josh drove home while the rest of us slept. (He and I made a rule years ago that he never has to clean toilets if I never have to drive...and I definitely got the better end of the deal.)
Great pics- Love your commentaries you keep it real! Yes, you definately got the better end of the deal (I don't clean toilets either!) I guess we are both just lucky girls that way!!
Posted by: Kimberly | June 02, 2010 at 09:22 AM
oops re-read the "deal" - Got it all backwards!!!
Posted by: Kimberly | June 02, 2010 at 09:24 AM
Gorgeous pictures as always, Karen!
And am I the only one who thinks that those sweet girls sitting on that big rock waiting for the boat look a little like five little mermaids? So adorable! (:
Posted by: Sophie | June 02, 2010 at 09:50 AM
Love all the pics!
I take a Bonine pill before we go out in the ocean, no more sickness for me!
Way to go on catching the biggest fish Josh Downs!
I clean toilets and drive, something's wrong with this picture! Hubby will drive if we are going east, I drive if it's any other direction! Crazy, but he only looks forward to going east and sleeps when we go any other way! I think I should assign him one toilet!
Posted by: Addie | June 02, 2010 at 09:56 AM
That shot of Annie with your niece (the one with their arms around each other) might be my favorite shot of yours ever. It's so sweet and the colors are amazing. Love it.
Posted by: Jennifer M. | June 02, 2010 at 10:16 AM
I am LAUGHING at Annie not crying about wearing pants. Poor girl just doesn't like pants, but i can see how that could be a struggle! These pictures are great, I love how you captured how blue the sky and water are.
Posted by: Jaimie | June 02, 2010 at 10:33 AM
Seriously i love seeing these photos...they capture such great moments!
:)
you DID get the better end of the deal... i hate driving too!
:)
Posted by: anne | June 02, 2010 at 11:25 AM
I totally agree with the rest of the ladies, the pictures are great and the colors are so vivid!! I can almost hear the sqeals and giggles coming from that little bunch of girls running from the waves! Sitting in my office at work, I laughed out loud when I read about Annie's new rock baby, priceless!!!!
Posted by: jeanetteb | June 02, 2010 at 12:06 PM
Holy moly Karen!! The colors are amazing in your photos!! and I love love LOVE the skin tones!! So awesome!! Looks like everyone had a great time!!
Posted by: teresa b | June 02, 2010 at 01:18 PM
Beautiful photos as always! LOVE the ocean shots so much! *wish* I lived near the ocean!
Posted by: Cindy Johnston | June 02, 2010 at 01:19 PM
I don't drive either--the road is hypnotic to me. Glad our Superdads take the wheel while we sleep (makes us better moms...)
And I love the beach shots--that goes without saying. Awesome, the bright backgrounds and normal skintones. Just awesome... :)
Posted by: kat-in-texas | June 02, 2010 at 03:01 PM
Hey Karen, as usual your photos are fantastic. What actions did you use on them to look like that?
Posted by: Val from Down Under | June 02, 2010 at 03:58 PM
Great stuff, Karen!! Are you still shooting JPG or have you gone back to Raw? I love the space I save with JPG but there is just something about the raw conversion process that is easier and faster for me.
Posted by: Shari | June 02, 2010 at 04:59 PM
thanks for sharing...
i don't envy the "pant" fight on the little cutie. i have a 10 yr old, that still gives me heck about wearing pants. haha. i does get better, but still there's the stubborness that creeps through.
Posted by: lynda p | June 02, 2010 at 05:38 PM
Amazing snapshots you have got!
Plus amazing family!!
Posted by: Jennifer Camplin | June 02, 2010 at 06:20 PM
Gorgeous shots! I've got the toilet cleaning deal too :)
Posted by: Sarah | June 02, 2010 at 08:57 PM
you shot all of these with f2.8 and iso200? what lense did you use? i LOVE your pics!
Posted by: Nadine | June 03, 2010 at 12:29 AM
I love how light and colorful these pictures are!
Posted by: alicia | June 03, 2010 at 01:19 AM
Congrats to Josh Downs!
I want a hula skirt like Annie's. How adorable.
Wonderful shots in that harsh lighting. My fave shots are the ones with Grandma Jo in them. Love, love those black & whites.
Posted by: Kristal Jones | June 03, 2010 at 04:16 AM
Such great beach shots!
Posted by: Kelli | June 03, 2010 at 11:47 AM
I love the Grandma Jo Photo's. Very sweet and precious. (I'd blow them up as christmas presents!)
Posted by: Julia Spencer | June 03, 2010 at 01:11 PM
The colors are looking amazing on your photos!
Posted by: Ashley Newbert | June 05, 2010 at 09:09 AM
Is it just me or in that B&W pic does Grandma Jo look just like Annie in that picture plus 40 or so years? The look in her eye is just the same....
Posted by: Tammee Donaldson | June 06, 2010 at 11:44 AM
Your beach photos are amazing! Any way you would share your settings? Curious how much of the effect is coming from post processing, actions, etc. I've been working so hard this past year to improve my photography and am struggling to get the right effects. Would really appreciate any advice, as we are heading to Mexico for family vacation and I can't wait to shoot away (just hoping I don't come home too disappointed with the photos)... Your blog is amazing and I look forward to reading it daily. Thank you!
Posted by: Wendy | June 08, 2010 at 12:34 PM
Hi Karen, long time no see! I really miss the crew at No Bare Pages. I pop in here every once in a while when I get a spare minute (remember we are in the Nursery business and it is still our 'Season' not a great one but it is all we've got!) :) I just have to tell you that photo of Gramma Jo and Brooke is amazing, you know I love your skills but that is one of those 'Oh' photos that almost make you skip a breath. Fabulous!!
Posted by: Brooke - in Oregon | June 13, 2010 at 06:55 AM