Well, reality is settling back in. We're not in Florida anymore and I'm currently sitting at work, which can only mean one thing....vacation is OVER! :( I always hate to see a good vacation go...but we had a great time while we were there, and that's what counts.
When I typically think of Florida/Spring break, I fondly look back and remember sunburns, kids peeling skin (LEAH) and stories of days spent lazing on the beach. For one, none of that happens on a vacation with kids and for two, it can't happen with the lovely state of Florida only reaches a high of 64 on your hottest day there! The kids were so bummed the weather didn't cooperate for them to play in the water, but like I said, we made the most of Florida without the beach!
We left Indiana on Friday the 22nd and arrived at our "Yellow House" (Emmy's coined term for our vacation bungalow) on Saturday evening about 5:30. We moved in, the guys took the kids and Jacki, Jess and I escaped to get groceries. We crashed hard that night after two long, stressful days of traveling.
Sunday our little family hit church for Palm Sunday services, then returned to the house to find it empty! :) Brad, Jacki, Jacob, Jess and the girls had ventured out to the beach, despite the thick fog. We quickly changed and went out to find/join them. This would be the only afternoon the kids played in the water. It was probably upper 60's this afternoon, but misty/foggy. And, once Emmalyn got her little tushy wet, she was DONE. We returned to the house for naptime, and cleaned up to go out to supper that evening. We drove down to John's Pass, which was just across the drawbridge from our house. What a neat area -- we ate at a place called Scully's on the Boardwalk, watched dolphin's in the bay and even saw the drawbridge open up wide so a boat could pass through. The kids were in awe! Once back to the house, we walked about a block and a half to the Shake Shack for some Ice cream!
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| Beach Babies Madi (3) and Emmalyn (2.5) |
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| Colton & Meredith (both 5) LOVED the water! |
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| John's Pass Boardwalk |
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| All four kiddos on the boardwalk! |
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| Love of my life! |
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| Exploring the coast! |
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| Late Night Ice Cream + Bedtime = Sleepy Strawberry Milkshake |
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| Big kids got chocolate cones... |
Monday was a chillier day -- Jacob had baseball practice with his team from 8-11, so we hung around the house and let the kids play in the backyard while Brad/Jacob were gone. I took Colton, Emmalyn and Meredith over to the beach, and the kids wrote their names in the sand! So cute! Between walks on the beach, playing in the backyard and naptime -- we pretty well relaxed away Monday!
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| Colton & Madi made a fort! |
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| This is how a preggo does paradise... |
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| Tastefully Simple Electric Lemonade Frozen Drinks! |
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| Emmalyn |
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| Colton - so proud he wrote his name all by himself! |
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| Meredith Gretencord - 5 yrs old! :) She was so cute to keep adding stuff to her first name! |
Tuesday we piddled the morning away while Jacob was at practice and let the kids dye some Easter Eggs!
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| Florida Easter Eggs! |
Once Jacob returned, we loaded up and headed up to Clearwater to see the Clearwater Marine Aquarium....home of Winter! If you've never seen the movie Dolphin Tale, you should. Such a great movie -- one of FEW movies Colton will actually sit through. Anyway -- at CMA you get to actually meet Winter. (Winter is dolphin who lost her tail, and has since had a prothstetic tale made for her). Anyway -- GREAT afternoon. It was a bit hectic at first -- lots of people and it was COLD outside...but once we got in, saw the movie props, learned more about Winter and then took the trolley to the marine aquarium...it was wonderful. I loved watching both kids eyes light up when they saw Winter. "Mom, that's actually Winter...see her tail?" -- Such a great memory!
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| Feeling around in the waters at the Dolphin Tale Exhibit |
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| Not scared at all to put their hands in! |
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| Learning about how Winter's tail was made... |
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| Checking out some sharks! |
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| Dolphin Tale! |
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| This is Winter -- see how she doesn't have a tail? |
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| Trolley Ride! |
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| Nicholas - another rescued dolphin! |
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| Winter's Education room |
We returned home on Tuesday evening to rest for a short bit before heading out to John's Pass again for dinner. This time - our stop was Bubba Gumps! While Gram & Gramps waited for our names to be called (it was quite the wait) we took off down the boardwalk again. We were able to see MORE dolphins, catch a beautiful sunset picture, pick up some fresh boardwalk taffy, and enjoy a scrumptious dinner! Unfortunately, Madi & Mer were up all night puking after this fun day...but luckily, no one else has caught the bug....so far, anyway! :)
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| Colton at Bubba Gumps! |
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| Weird photo Jacob made me send his girlfriend...with Em's bow! :) |
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| Our family of four...soon to be 5! |
Wednesday we lazed around again in the morning, taking our time getting the day going. We finally decided since the sun was shining, we were heading to the beach. Who CARES if it's only 58 degrees and windy -- this is our last day here, we WILL spend time on the beach! We were out from probably 11-2, and that was plenty long enough to get good and ... sunkissed! :)
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| Seaching for seashells! |
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| Toes in the sand! |
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| Love this little beach baby! |
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| Watching Grandpa fly his kite! |
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| Beach combers! |
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| Shell finds! |
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| What, doesn't everyone layout on the beach in a fleece sweatshirt? |
Wednesday afternoon was NAPTIME for the kiddos while Aunt Jess and I went on a grocery run for Grandpa Brad's birthday dinner. Jason and his parents sunned in the back yard and crisped up their heads/legs while we were gone. Unfortunately, I think my damage was already done! We hid Easter Eggs while the kids napped, then did our egg hunt, then took the kids on the promised walk across the draw bridge to John's pass. For two 5 year olds and 2 toddlers, they all did GREAT! We had a fun afternoon walking the shops, seeing more dolphins and walking the big bridge!
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| Let the Egg hunt begin! |
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| Found one! |
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| A top the John's Pass bridge that connects Mediera & Treasure Island! |
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| Daddy's Girl! |
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| Playing some games! :) |
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| Daddy liked that he could have an "adult beverage" on our walk! :) |
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| Photo Opp! |
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| One last sunset photo opp while the guys cooked dinner! |
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| My babies! |
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| This deck was right outside their room on the top story of the "yellow house"! |
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| Colton showing Grandpa the birthday card he picked out for him! |
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| Em & Uncle Jacob snuggling on our last evening! |
Thursday we pretty well got up, ate a quick breakfast of whatever was leftover and then started the packing game. Once packed, cleaned and loaded up, we took one last walk to the beach before jumping into the vans to head north!
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| Goodbye Beach! :( |
While Brad & Jacki's van made the long trek home to Indiana, we made a quick detour after 2 hours to Tavares Florida. That detour was WELL worth it. We got to spend some really quality time with my cousin Neil and his family. LOVE them! The kids all played well and we had a great visit. We went to a local park, then adorable little pizza place where we sat outside. Kids to bed, adults kept visiting and after breakfast out the next morning, we hit the long, LONG road home to Indiana.
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| Neil, Jason and Colton shooting hoops in the back yard! |
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| Too bad these two don't live closer -- such fun together! |
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| Playing at the park! Emmalyn (2.5) and Sydney (3) |
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| Photo opp at the lighthouse near the water at the park! Our almost family of 5! |
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| Poor Wes didn't get ANY attention! ;) |
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| Emmalyn NEVER wins in the battle against keeping a white shirt clean! :( |
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| Bedtime stories! |
Friday and Saturday were spent on the road. We made such great time, until that stupid city of Atlanta! :( We timed it just right, that we hit Friday Rush Hour on Easter Weekend! :( We finally got through and spent the night in Chattanooga. The kids enjoyed the late night swim and even later night pizza delivery! We slept in, then trucked on home Saturday.
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| Someone named Colton, IDOLIZES his Dad! :) Adorable. |
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| Daddy & his fish! |
We had an amazing time -- not only with Brad & Jacki, Jessica, Meredith, Madilyn and Jacob, but also just being together as a family of four. It's amazing what so much time together in the van will do for a family! :) We shared so many laughs and fun stories, and made some really great memories at the little yellow house on the beach! Brad & Jacki, thank you for a wonderful trip! We were so glad we got the opportunity to go with you!
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