Drew's Boo Boo

I am having troubles syncing up my phone and getting pictures to load to the computer. So I will add a picture at another time. But we / I have had a busy few weeks. Vacation,  then the week after vacation Drew managed to go on a head on head collision on the playground with his little buddy Marshall and lets just say neither of them came out ahead. I got a call from school and Drew had a golf ball size lump on his eyebrow/ eye lid. Once I saw him, I think I broke out in a bit of a sweat. We went straight to the Dr, and Marshall and his mom were already in the waiting room with his little injuries. We actually kind of laughed out about. Dr check him out and thought he would be ok. 24 hrs later, of course at 10pm at night, nothing ever happens convienantly in the day, Drew started throwing up. We brought him to children's hospital and sure enough he had a little concussion.  I ended up staying home with him the rest of the week making sure my little guy was going to be ok. He got lots of cuddles, and I am pretty sure I enjoyed them more than he did.

Drew is all better now, after having the blackest eye I have even seen that was swollen shut for 3 days straight, I am actually shocked on how quickly it is getting better already.

This week, just when I thought I was going to get caught up at work, a virus hit my computer at work and starting deleting all my files, and posting files to external sites. Lets just say it wasn't pretty and my computer and user id were taken away and out of the system for most of the week. So, 3 weeks with not getting a lot of work done, and traveling the next 2 weeks for work = no stress , right?  One day I will get caught up right? Wish me luck.

Siesta Key Part 4

I have never been so behind before. Never. Still updating vacation blog posts, what is wrong with me? Finally breaking out the computer and getting back into the swing of things. Our last few days in Siesta Key were just as wonderful as the first part, and even better with good friends. The Renicks made their yearly visit to Siesta Key to enjoy vacation time together. You can see the excitement with the kids upon Gracie and Lauren's arrival. Next year we will remember to have them visit the first part of the trip vs the latter so we don't have to listen to the kids beg to see them for 5 days straight!

The kids had lots of pool time together, and plenty to beach time too, although it seems the pool is always the kids preference.

Drew was loving his Scottie as always. The boys watched the girls put on performances and dances for us on the beach.

Also our yearly tradition, tattoos and hair wraps. Biggest rip off in the state of FL, but somehow year after year we agree to letting the kids do this. I have to admit though, Drew looked like quite the rock star with his lion tattoo. Hannah has some great helicopter moves with her hair wrap.

A very windy night, out last nigh. We BBQ-ed holding down everything on the table hoping our food wouldn't blow away!    Always so fun to hang out with the Renicks, and we are looking forward to planning our next trip together! So happy we leave so much closer now, and yes we consider 8 hours better than 20 hours away! :)

Siesta Key Part 3 - Favorite Pictures!

Here are some of my favorite photos from the trip. Love these two little kids.

This picture exemplifies Drew's robust personality so well. Never a dull moment with him.

I think this is the only picture of me with the kids from the trip. It is either Todd and I always taking the pictures, we are rarely in them. This one is one of my favorites.

Hannah is my sweet little angel ( most of the time) I love her sweetness in this photo, it was captured so perfectly.

Drew spent a lot of time checking things out, and always holding onto his little ATV truck toy, which is called a "5". Makes perfect sense, 4 wheels, and one seat makes five, he explained it with such seriousness.

I can't leave siesta key without our yearly photo in the same spot, same time of year, in the same white and khaki. I love to look back and see how much they have change in just one years time. Amazes me each time. Think they will still let me do this when they are teenagers? Hope so :)

Father daughter time. Hannah tells me her and daddy are a "team" and I am not invited. So nice of them huh?

Two peas in a pod, in so many ways. My boys.

Each night they wanted to "feet warm" as they call it. Just sit on the edge of the pool and put their feet in. I personally thought the water was colder than the air, but whatever works.

Never to be missed when you are there, the perfect sunsets of the gulf coast. Nothing more peaceful and serene than a beautfiul sunset, the perfect ending to many perfect days there.

Siesta Key Part 2

 And we play, we play a lot. That is what vacation is for!  Drew and Todd had lots of fun walking to the sand bar and jumping waves, or as Drew takes it to the next level.. Drew does karate chops to the waves as he calls it.

I told them to hug so I could take a picture, little Drew went ganster style on me :)

In the evenings, Hannah likes taking walks down the beach to the life guard houses and playing on them, it is such a relaxing part of the day, my favorite part of the day in fact.

Drew was actually hiding in the life guard house playing around. Love this little guy.

On Tuesday, we got a visit from Cousin Ashley! She was off work for the day, and came and spent a short few hours with us on the beach to spend some time with the kids. The loved seeing her!!

These are my two tan, really tan little kids. Drew has the darkest back you have ever seen. I put sunscreen on them every hour, and they just keep getting darker and darker.

They loved playing "picnic" by the pool, and setting up the towels and chilling out, so cute to watch them play together. They have been awesome this trip, getting along so well with very few fights or meltdowns.

Todd was a good dad, as Drew and Hannah begged and begged to do night swimming with them, he agreed, even with the water was pretty darn chilly. I on the other hand sat on a chair with a light jacket with towels ready for them. As Todd says, this is what it is all about. Hannah says her favorite part of the trip is swimming " in the middle of the night" :)

Siesta Key 2013 - Part 1

Well, finally - our week at the beach arrived, spring break 2013.  Anyone who knows us knows we love a good, relaxing vacation. This year is no exception, and has truly been a perfect week so far in so many ways. Good friends, relaxing times, kids are more self sufficient, no spreadsheets and power points, no conference calls, just good ol'e family time, sunshine, the beach, and ice cream. What could be better?

Our week started on Saturday, we arrived around 3pm and the Palm family met us here and stayed with us on Sat and Sunday night. We had a great time. The kids loved playing on the beach and swimming. They dug holes, splashed, played and most of all, laughed a lot.

As always, we had some yummy ice cream, and Hannah went straight for the snow cone, it was a really big snow cone!!! No sugar there?

In the evenings, we enjoyed take out and going out to dinner. The kids had a great time on the beach in the evening playing soccer, tag and making up whatever game came to mind. I love all their creativity.

The kids, Drew, Hannah, Camden and Alexandra

Our only family picture of the trip so far ! It is hard when someone has to take the photo :)

Family photo of the Palms, and yes, the same people that dyed Murphy pink while were on vacation.

Sunset picture with the kids in their jammies before bed. The other night the kids were up late, really late, and luckily and smart of the Palms, they brought glow sticks for the kids to wear on the beach so we keep could track of them when it was dark, and they also brought sparklers which the kids had a blast with - once we convinced Drew the beach wouldn't catch up fire that is : 

More pictures coming soon, on part 2. I usually do daily updates, but took a lot less pictures this year and spent more time splashing with the kids in the pool instead, the older they get, the harder it is to capture some of the moments.   

Hannah Lost Her First Tooth!!

Well, as you can see, Hannah is missing her first tooth!! She has been waiting, and waiting for this, and been so excited for the tooth fairy to visit. She was at tennis practice yesterday and came home with out a tooth. She didn't know what happened, so she wanted to write the tooth fairy a letter to make sure she knows she lost it. The letter below is what she wrote, all by her little self. It was so cute to watch her write this, as she was so serious and particular about she wanted to say.

Deciphering kindergarten speak: "dear tooth fairy, I was playing on the tennis court. It fell out of my mouth  ( I love her spelling of mouth = "maf"). I was excited. I hope you are excited to come. Love, Hannah.

The tooth fairy did her job!! Hannah woke up to her own little certificate and a little baggie of change and it even included a $2 bill in there, special for her first lost tooth!

Everytime she smiles it catches me a little off guard, I need to get used to this :)