Florida 2.0: Da Beach

One of the days we were there, we took a field trip to the beach.  It was still quite warm, so we didn't end up staying for very long.

We also didn't go to the typical sandy beach part.  I don't love sitting on the beach, and again, it was hot.  But we did want to do some exploring.

And maybe take a postcard picture or too.  Wish you were here! :)

It had a small peninsula/island feel, and the kids enjoyed going "exploring".

Of course, the grownups weren't too far behind.

I asked all the kids to pose in this cool tree, but not all of them heard.  Thankfully Dyl did.

As did Kaitlyn.

We saw a few interesting things too.  Like this drift wood with, we think, some barnacles.

Group shot!  It was quite sunny and warm, but I'm glad we could be together.

We also kept seeing tons of holes.  And we couldn't figure out why.  Once we stayed still long enough, we started to notice some small crabs.  They built the holes and lived in them.  And would only come out when they felt safe.  They walked sideways and were fun to watch if we could get the kids to sit still long enough.  Can you spot the crab?  Approximately in the middle, against the backdrop of the sand formation.

And, on the way back, we had to climb the same way we came in.  And Kelsey followed Grandpa.

And I loved to see them together.

The end.

Florida 2.0: Homemade Fruit Basket

Grandma and Grandpa had recently returned from a trip where their neighbor had been watching their house.  Grandma had the great idea to give them a fruit basket/edible arrangement as a thank you.  She involved the kids, which they loved, but it was a serious undertaking.

The kids loved picking out the cookie cutters and helping with the shapes.

Then we dipped some in chocolate to make them extra special.

Then I asked the kids to pick their favorite, and let me take a picture.  The mustache with a grape was probably my favorite.  Its very muppet-esque to me :)

My princess (of course).

Kelsey loves to give kisses!

You know the book "Men are from Mars"?  This is just proof :)

Then it was time to put everything together.

And grandma let them walk next door with her to deliver it.

It was quite a lot of work.  I have a better understanding of why they cost so much now!

Florida 2.0: Toothless Edition

The first day we were in Florida, we convinced Dylan to pull out a tooth.  It was super loose, and wasn't difficult for him to pull (after the mental anguish and build up of course).

Since then, we have been to the orthodontist.  I think I have mentioned that Kari will probably end up having 4 permanent teeth pulled to make room for all the teeth in her mouth.  Turns out, Dylan has crowding issues similar to his sister...  But probably worse.  Stay tuned for pictures of braces for him in the future (though not for a few years at least).

Our toothfairy's new motto should be "Have dollar.  Will travel."

Florida 2.0: Pool

Grandma and Grandpa were super smart.  They set up the small pool on their back porch (which is screened in) so we wouldn't have to deal with bugs or sun screen all the time.  Look at Kaitlyn's face.  They said it was chilly :)

Or course it wasn't as big as the pool at the Y, but it was still big enough to have a jolly good time.  (No, I have no recollection of what Kelsey was doing/dancing to)

We made them line up and wait for a picture before they got it.

And then they kinda turned it into a whirlpool, by walking in circles and getting a good current going.

And every time they were done we had to fill it back up.  

Because kids aren't very good at keeping water INSIDE the pool for some reason.  By this time, I had adjourned inside, to take pictures through the glass door.

Seriously, fun was had by all!

Right Kari?

These pictures are all from the same day, but the kids got in and swam in the pool every day we were there!  Point for Grandma and Grandpa!

Florida 2.0: Cotton Candy!

We arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's in the early afternoon.  The first thing we did was help Grandma set up the pool, so it could start filling up with water.  But of course we had to do something while we waited.  And why not break out the cotton candy machine?

This particular machine takes hard candy (in our case, Jolly Ranchers), and turns it into the spun sugar-y stuff that everyone knows and loves.

It was fun to watch.

But more fun to eat!

And who doesn't love children hopped up on sugar?

Um... their mother!  But, thankfully, grandma and grandpa were around.

So it wasn't that bad ;)

Summer Florida Trip 2.0

Why not make this blog a travelogue?  Makes sense, right?  So we went to Florida for bidness.  Then we went up to Virginia for pleasure.  Then we went back to Florida a few weeks later.  This time, sans daddy, but to the grandparents house.  It is so nice to have them close enough to visit!!!

It takes 6 solid hours of driving, plus gas, food, and pit stops to get down there.  I'm glad Kelsey was able to find ways to entertain herself.

 Yes, that is a McDonalds Happy Meal carton on her head.  Aaaaaand, I had nothing to do with it.

 But she rode like this for quite some time.  Even watched her movie like this.

While we were in Florida, we had a few fun activities and adventures.  And, apparently, I ignored my children occasionally.  

 Don't worry though, whenever I did, they would find a way to let me know.

Subtle, dontcha think?

Because Why Not?

Originally, all 4 lovely ladies were going to spend Monday together as well.  Bumming around and doing fun stuff.  But two ladies had obligations at home and left Sunday night.  Mama D and I had arranged for our husbands to take the care of the kids, and we certainly weren't going to waste the effort and adult time by going home early!  So we drove about halfway home and spent the night in ATL.  We got dinner at a Chinese fast food chain, and settled in to watch some good old Harry Potter on the hotel cable.  We fell asleep around midnight.  And, somewhere, in the middle of the night, poor Mama D spent a few hours in the bathroom with food poisoning.  And, I slept through it.  Because that is the kind of friend I am :p

She said after she got it all out, she felt miraculously better and went back to sleep...  We slept in until 9 (again, one of the miracles of not having kids around) and feasted on breakfast at the hotel.  Then we drove a few minutes to meet one of Mama D's friends downtown.  After we ate lunch at Ted's Montana Grill (great bison nachos BTW), we walked around the mall and got some milkshakes to tide us over while we shopped in Charming Charlies.  Then we went to get some mani/pedis.  Because, what is more luxurious than having someone take care of you? 

This is the second time that I have done a gel manicure on my nails.  And I am super impressed with how well it holds up!  I go neutral so that I don't have to worry about what it matches because it lasts for 3-4 weeks.  And when you take it off it doesn't damage your nails.  I love that they look shiny for the whole time too.  Seriously, this stuff is amazing!

Same fingernails (obviously mine) almost 3 weeks later.  The tip of the middle finger has chipped off (but not broken the nail).  And you can clearly see that the nails have grown out.  But the still look pretty good from far away and I love that they are shiny still.  You can't tell from either picture, but there is glitter on the white tips, and that makes me happy :)

Aaaaand, because I have never been, we spent the latter half of Monday walking around IKEA.  Seriously, that place is amazing!!!  So much to look at!

We left IKEA to come home and hit traffic because we didn't plan very well.  But we made it home eventually and in one piece.  I asked Mama D to drop me off at the Y because that was where my family was while Dylan and Kari did Tae Kwon Do.  I tried to get in touch with my hubby several times as we got closer, so he could meet me outside, and I could leave various bags and pillows in the car.  He didn't answer.  So I brought it inside, and surrounded myself with it while I sat on the couch.  None of my family was there to greet me.  Eventually, Kelsey ran by on her way to the water fountain, and noticed me in the pile of stuff.  She said, and I quote "Oh, hi mom!" and kept right on going to get some water.  No "I'm so glad you're home!" No hug.  No nothing!  I got similar reactions from hubby and the other kids too.  Apparently, I wasn't gone long enough.  I'll try to extend it next time!  

Thanks Mandypants, Diamond, and Mama D for a wonderful, big girls only weekend!  I was refreshing, relaxing, uplifting, educational, entertaining, and great!  I hope we can do it again sometime!

Downtown Nashville

We interrupt this chronological story line for a few extra photos :)

The restaurant we ate at on Saturday night happened to be right across the street from the Grand Ole Opry.  So of course we had to take a picture or two of giant guitars.

And we may have stuck our head through random holes.

 Don't worry about Mandypants.  We got her straightened out :)

And here we are: Master of the Selfie.

Funny story.  The wonderful lady whose skin is darker came to pick me up from the house.  Her name is a jewel (as she is so wonderfully rare and valuable), so we will call her "Diamond".  The kids were awake and came out to give me hugs and say goodbye.  So they all saw Diamond.  At church the next day, cute Kelsey told Josephine that "A brown girl came to pick up mommy, and she didn't come back!"  It made me laugh :)

Momma D and Mandypants.

And this is our last group selfie.  After we watched the show, and took the wonderful golfcart back to the hotel we ate at the Row (behind us in the picture) for some local Nashville food.  And we learned from our previous experiences and only ordered appetizers :)  But after lunch, this is where we had to split up.  While the original plan/trip included Monday, Mandypants and Diamond had to go home that night for other obligations.  Such party poopers.

But Momma D and I journeyed back home as far as the A-T-L to spend the night.  We had another childless day planned, and we weren't going to waste it!