Vacation!

We are just getting settled in after our trip to Florida. For the first time in a while this trip felt like a true vacation in every sense of the word. The kids slept great, ate great, got along beautifully and for the first time ever (we've been going for 10 years), we didn't have to pay a visit to the local Urgent Care or Emergency room! We stayed with my parents and Aunt so got spoiled not having to cook or do laundry and the weather couldn't have been better. It was sunny and 86 every. single. day. We couldn't have asked for a better vacation! We would be out of the house and at the beach or playground by 9 and stay there until the kids were ready to move onto the pool. The pool was kept at 90 degrees so we would all swim for hours. The girls got so comfortable swimming with their face in the water, blowing bubbles and jumping off the side. Addie was absolutely fearless in the water and would jump and dunk and come up with a huge smile! The boys had fun playing games, diving for toys and using their new squirt guns. After the morning activities the girls would all nap for a good three hours leaving us time to relax, play Boggle with the boys or go off fishing. I even made my way through a whole book (Sarah's Key, which I would recommend).The boys are quite the anglers and caught their share of the intracoastal's supply of catfish and yellow-tailed snapper. Jameson even managed to reel in a pelican,who was released unharmed! We got out for many great meals where the girls ordered their first "pina koalas" as Ella called them, visited the turtle marine life center, went out for boat ride, and the kids went on a Lion Safari with Nanny and Papa while Jim and I escaped for a mini vacation of our own. We drove down to Miami were we checked into a fabulous hotel, went out for a very nice dinner and relaxed on the beach and drank fruity cocktails. It was perfect!