2nd Grade Graduate!

I am so proud of this boy!

Florida

We just got back from Florida

It was our first-non-parent-renting-a-car-airplane-trip

(we are old now!)

We stayed in Siesta Key, and visited Sarasota and Orlando.

This is our 2nd visit to Florida, ever, and we just love it there!

The ocean is like bath water. 

It is so clear, and was about 88 degrees.

The air is thick and moist (sorry Whit) and my hair especially loved it!

Sorry for the photo-bomb, but it was an amazing week!

DAY ONE: Traveling. 2 plane rides and 1 long car ride later.......

We made it to our house!

Our very own house with it's very own pool.

I am so glad we chose this place, it was perfect.

And only 2 blocks from the beach.

We spent all night unpacking, eating, and resting in our pool.

DAY TWO: Beach Day!

The kids woke up and BEGGED to get straight into the pool.

How could we say no?

The fishy we found by the canal behind our house. 

We tried to fish for more, but no luck

We took our first walk down to the beach, and saw this delicious beast cooking

THE OCEAN!

We had never felt the gulf waters, and they felt oh so good...

End of Day 2: Burned victims!!

(note to self: check expiration date on sunscreen!)

Walking on the beach at night, 

not sure if there's anything better than that....

DAY THREE: Traveling to the Point of Rocks beach

Jack found a hole, had to pee in it

The Point of Rocks

Max doing what he loves most, 

crashing in the waves!

NOTHING felt better than jumping in our pool after a HOT day on the beach!

All dressed up in new shirts for dinner

Lobster Pot?

Yes, please!

We surprised Max and got him his very own LOBSTAH!

("You guys always know how to surprise me!") 

DAY FOUR: Big kid day at Universal Islands of Adventure!

*GULP*

It's Hogwarts!

My true dreams have come true!!

Yeah, I cried. 

It was the pregnancy hormones, I swear....
(prepare for Harry Potter overload)

Hogwart's Express!

Oh Hogsmeade, you didn't disappoint 

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey- amazing ride!!

My FAVORITE part. Three Broomsticks.

Butter Beer for the kids and momma, and home-brewed red ale for daddy

It was just like I imagined it in the books,

I want to work there!!

ANSWER: YES. Butter Beer is as amazing as it sounds!

Max bought a Voldemort wand

(my son is so cool)

Even though it was raining all day long, it was an AWESOME day

This place was so incredible.

Everything had so much detail!!

Welcome to Jurassic Park.

(Jacky's favorite)

The boys were so freaked out by this cave! ha ha

Toon Lagoon

Dudley Do Right (log flume)

Popeye's boat ride

MARVEL Island

The Spiderman Ride was totally the best

(sorry Harry)

But WOW! 

It mixed 3D with real life, fire, water, YIPES!

AWESOME!

HULK!

(Max's favorite)

Dr. Seuss Land- so adorable

Yup, time to go home........

DAY FIVE: Beach day! Starting with fresh mini donuts....

Our beautiful walk to the beach:

We decided to swim to the sand bar

(later realizing that there is such a thing called a Sand Bar Shark, YIPES)

LIVE Sand Dollars everywhere!

Hermit crabs!

Matt and JM found a basketball sized Conch shell that was still ALIVE

Our loot!

Momma's and their baby girls:

Another sweet dip in our pool

Linds can still take Max down..... barely:

My little BFF

DAY SIX: Breakfast at the Sun Garden and Mote Aquarium in Sarasota

GIANT Squid!

Hurricane simulator 

Sea cucumber

Manta rays!

Everyone's favorite- the Manatees

Or "Hairless Norm" as we liked to call them

Do you remember these at Hogle Zoo?

Those wax toys smell sooooo goooooood

Dolphins- so cool to see them being trained

Lunch at our favorite place: The Old Salty Dog

Beer-battered hot dogs, oh lordy!

Walking to see the sunset

We thought this is beautiful, 

Look at the sky.....

We even saw a rainbow.....

We were about to walk home, 

then a lady said "Um, you are missing the best part!"

We turned around and BAM!

WOW!!!!

We all went running back to the water

My boys:

My girls:

My Lucy bear 

My crazily handsome boys!

DAY SEVEN: MONSOON!

That doesn't stop us from enjoying the pool!

Lizards were everywhere.....

(no alligators though, damn!)

Oh, just a crane chilling in our backyard

Ice cream in the rain at Big Olaf's

Last dinner together at The Hub

Max and Momma's virgin Pina Coladas

Max vs. Ribs
Guess who won?

Last night on the beach :(

My sweetest loves

Doll-face Evie

(the noisiest baby. ever. oh how I miss her)

Max made Sand-Batman!

My sweetie

Bestest friends

My little love, Norah

DAY EIGHT: Home again

Thanks for an amazing trip my friends!

It went by so fast, 

I miss waking up to see all of you everyday,

 and the smell of the salty ocean,

 so much!!!

Until next time, beautiful Florida.......