Our last night in Siesta Key....

And would could be better than ending vacation at sunset on siesta key beach with a little

O-H-I-O with old college friends. I know, shocking as it may ( cover your eyes Scott) even Todd held up his arms to an "O" with pride. I love that all the kids are in training. Even Audrey, at 5 months old made the "H". It was so fun seeing old friends, catching up, and having our kids play together. We are already planning for next year... and maybe even a fall trip back.

No trip to FL is complete without capturing a few favorites. We got a ton of great photos of the kids tonight, but the weight of the photos make it so I can only load 2 at a time. I will post more soon.. but thought I would share this one for now... I can't get enough of these two.

And tomorrow, we have a little surprise in store for Hannah. She doesn't know it, but we are going to Disney World for the day on the drive back to Atlanta. Today, we told her that we have a surprise for her and she needs to be on her best behavior. I asked what she thinks the surprise is and she said " I think you are getting me a popsicle". Always a reminder that the simple things in life go a long way. But, come on, a trip to Disney... I hope she will be as excited as well are.

Until next vacation...... ahhhh....... we enjoyed the sunsets, the sand, the sun, the time with the kids, the time with eachother. Now, we look forward to moving into our new house next week and finally adjust to the new "normal" of life.

siesta Key Day 6

Day 6 we were pretty light on pictures other than our morning walk on the beach with the kids. They had another great day playing at the pool and beach. They had a ton of little friends to play with today which made it fun.

We missed sunset all together last night, I was lucky enough to go out to dinner with one of my best friends from college while Todd took the kids out for pizza. It was great to get out and catch up with an old friend, listen to music and have a cold beer. A great evening!

Siesta Key Day 5 Sunset

Drew seems to love yoga on the beach, specifically the downward dog pose he does each evening, putting on a show for the crowd. He thinks it is hilarious, as he gets up and his hair is covered in sand. I have learned to wait until the very end of the night for baths rather than in the evening before sunset. Only took a few days to figure that out :)

Last night a bunch of BBQed outside and the kids had a great time running around the beach building sand castles while we ate. Drew was trying to get into the middle of it, covered in sand and all.

Siesta Key Day 5

And she swims.... Dad has been doing a great job of helping Hannah get over here fear of the water. She has gone through a little stage of not wanting to put her head under under the water. Dad has been promising lots of new water toys as she learns to swim. Today she got a water noodle and flippers. She is having a ton of fun at the pool each day. Unlike like year, the pool has been the place of choice over the beach. I think we could had gone to a Holiday Inn in Georgia and had just as much fun.

My favorite 3 people.... having a great time in the water!!!

Siesta Key Day 4

We had another great time at sunset running around with all the kids tonight. We were having so much fun during the day we forgot to take pictures. The kids were both loving playing int the pool today. Drew gave all he had and actually fell asleep in the pool when he was on my back playing around. We got inside and I got his wet clothes off and wrapped him in a towel, little fellow was back asleep in about 10 seconds. I think that just meant he had a great morning and enjoyed a nice almost 4 hour nap!

My Hannah and Drew.. I love sunset pictures if you can't tell?! :) It is near impossible to get these two to sit still and take a picture, but we try. Last year we could plop Drew in the sand, tickle his toes and make his laugh. This year we have to chase him down and wear him out while he is out of breath to make him sit for one second :)

Siesta Key Day 3 Sunset

I am telling you, Drew's favorite part of the day here at the beach is in the evening, running wild laughing, chasing the kids, trying to play "tag" with the older kids.

The girls... Me, Andrea, Hannah and Ashley... enjoying a relaxing sunset after a yummy day and fun afternoon.

Ashley and Hananh! At dinner Hannah liked asking Ashley if she had a price :)

Thanks Wikstroms for spending the day with us and entertaining the kids!!! We had a nice time!

Siesta Key Day 3

More sun and in the fun. Today Todd's family came to visit for the day, Andrea, Cash, Drake and Ashley. The kids and Andrea and Ashley played at the beach and pool while Drake and Cash played in the ocean then crashed back at the condo.

Mr giggles here had a great time in the pool, loves the water and splashing around. The first day we got here we walked to the pool and the ground was hot from the sun. Immediately when he ses the pool he says "hot, up". He won't walk on the pool area.. he learned real quick.

Siesta Key Day 2 Sunset - Happy Easter

And here is the trio again, having a great time playing tag on the beach with the Rudzinki family. Hannah already wearing Lauren's shark tooth necklace, and loving life having little friends to play with all day.

And finally, here is Mr Drew. He is too hard to capture a picture of these days, he loves to get into everything he can find on the beach, and nothing that is his. I have to stop this little guy from getting into everyone else's beach bags, swimming pool toys, and balls, and kind of ball he can find. Apparently everyone else's toys look cooler than ours. Drew loves the beach and pool in the morning and the evening, when he can run everyone with out the hot sun beating on him. By evening, he is generally in rare form putting on a show for the crowd being is funny little self.

My little maniac, love this guy. This morning Drew and I were walking on the beach early before anyone was really up. He was holding just my pinkie finger. I am looking at him in awe... the sun shining, his little plaid shorts and shark tshirt, totally vacationesque... watching him just enjoy his morning, the beach, the sun, the waves, looking for shells... I look down at him and say " Drew, I love you my little man". He looks up at me and says" uv ewe mommeeee". I just about melted right there on the beach. Best part of my whole vacation so far. Happy Easter to mom :)

Siesta Key Day 2 - Happy Easter!

Little miss Hannah & Lauren

All the girls... Hannah, Gracie, Ellen, Marie, and Lauren

Today, Amanda Marcia and I took the girls to get hair bands and ice cream down the beach, and man... had I done it all over again, I would had skipped college and went right into hair banding at the beach for about $20 a person for 10 minutes of work and some thread. But, the girls loved it. Lauren chose the alternative, she went straight for a shark tooth necklace and tatoo instead of the hair band. I love ther angelic punk ambition :) She loved her shark tooth so much, later in the day she told Hannah she could have it instead, and in return, Hannah gave her her gymnastics medal to have.. now thats love.

Look at those sassy shades.... little models they are...

Fabuluous day on the beach and pool of building sand castles, splashing in the water and swimming in the pool.

Siesta Key Day 2011 - Day 1

Hannah & Laren

Gracie, Hannah and Lauren

On Saturday we arrived in Siesta Key, after a "short" 9 hour car ride from Atlanta. It was nice being able to drive this time rather than figuring out how to get through an airport with carseats, luggage, two kids etc... The car ride was uneventful, which is a good thing. We hope the return is just as easy.

After we arrived, The Renick family met us at the beach for some fun. The first night Scott, Todd and Drew went to see Dr because we thought maybe Drew had a little pink eye, and wasn't wanting to wait until Easter Sunday to decide when everything would be closed, so Scott was nice enough to make a boys trips to the dr. Amanda, and the girls and I had a nice time walking down the beach with the girls and swimming at the pool. The girls were having a great time, it was so fun to see them together again.

Uncle Jeff Visits Atlanta!

Last night we were lucky enough to spend time with Uncle Jeff as he was in Atlanta for work. He traveled a good ways to come see us as he worked throughout the area, we are so happy he took the time to see us, see our new work, and do a drive by of our new home. We can't wait until Jeff, Nikki, Jacob and Lucas can come visit us hopefully this summer or fall. Hannah is already talking about it.

We have a crazy busy week this week, and have a lot to look forward to. Friday we close on our new home, finally. And... later that night we start our 9 hr road trip to Siesta Key for vacation with many friends. We can't wait to both have a home again, but to spend time with friends, relax after a long stressful few months, and enjoy time in the sun and listen to the relaxing waves. Wish us good weather and good times. Stay tuned, as I love to take pictures of the kids on the beach.. but you can guarantee there will be less than last year as Drew is too busy for a picture these days :)

Future....

Football player... (we often call him Emmit with his agility and speed these days)

And soccer player ( as long as she gets over being scared of bugs and actually makes it on the field)

We had another beautiful weekend here, sunny skies and mid 80's. We spent a large majority of our weekend at parks getting the kids energy out and enjoying the sun. Hannah and Drew loved playing soccer at the park, Drew not surprisingly tackled Hannah a few times trying to get the ball away from her.

On Sunday we went back to the aquarium to see the dolphin exhibit and played at the park in centennial park downtown... then indulged in a yummy sunday brunch which made us all want to nap the rest of the day. Another fun weekend... and we are on the countdown, less then a month until we can finally move into our new home and get out of the apt!!

A perfect day..

Today was a great family day, and just the most perfect weather, not a cloud in the sky and 75 degrees. Doesn't get all that much better than that. We started the day with the kids haircuts, then lunch, then headed over the East Cobb Park for hours of fun at the park playing on the playground, and hiking on the trails, and splashing and playing in the creek. Drew loved playin in the sand and getting his toes wet. There was a dog named "sarah" swimming in the water chasing after sticks, Drew was yelling "sarah" wanting to play with the dog the whole time. Hannah loved the water too, and was making designs in the sand. I think they are going to have a good time in FL in a few weeks.

After the park, we headed to a cupcake cafe where Drew and Hannah shared a confetti, sprinkled cupcake... I say share, but honestly, I think Hannah ate most of that cupcake, Drew never stood a chance.

And in the evening, we headed to the tennis courts and swimming pool where Hannah tried out her new tennis racquet. She was a ways to go to learn to hit the ball right, but she loved trying it out. And Drew, well, it was too hard to get any pictures of him when is nothing but a flash just running by. It might be another year or so until we get a picture of that little guy.

All in all, a great day, we spent every minute outside we could... and soaked up the sunshine.

Drew's 1st Haircut

Today was the day, Drew got his first haircut. He was a trooper, sat there looking into the mirror holding on as tight as he could to a toy fire truck and motorcyle... he made it through his haircut with out a meltdown...mission accomplished.

I can't believe how much older he looks today ( at least to us) with his trimmed little hair. No more random curls that come out the side, no more shag. He now look like a perfect little toddler boy.