The "Silly Shots"

While in Florida, I wanted to try and get a nice picture of the kids on the beach.  This takes a lot of planning ... you know, outfits have to be chosen, packed & saved specifically for that occasion.  Then you have to pick the day you'll attempt to do it.  And you have to hope the weather cooperates.  And the kids, too, for that matter.  Oh & you have to try and remember to take the camera battery out of the charger plugged into your 7th floor hotel bathroom wall BEFORE you get all the way down to the shore.  That's definitely a key element.

Finally ... it all came together for us.   I got a lot of cute shots, but in most of them 1 out of 3 was blinking.  So this is my favorite of the bunch.

Although I do love Libby's face in this one... How could you not love those sassafrass lips?

After what seemed like hours of trying to get a nice one [but in reality it was probably 5 minutes], we let them "loosen up" & do a crazy shot or two.  Or nine.  And they came out pretty cute, too! 

Then we walked down the beach to the Palm Pavilion Restaurant for dinner, where the kids got treated to Shirley Temples.  :) Ahhhh ... VACATION.  

I have someone I'd like you to meet...

Evan Michael

Born yesterday on 2-17-09.

Congrats to the proud parents, Karah & Doug.  :)

Love you all!

Thanks, SWA

I love Southwest Airlines.  I need to put a plug in for them.  They rock.  They took us on vacation again!  :)

We flew in to Tampa, FL late Tuesday night...

Rented a ... umm... car.

 

[This is what 9 bags, 5 people, 2 car seats & a stroller 

look like all packed into a PT Cruiser, in case you wanted to see.

I know you did.]

Then drove to Clearwater Beach.  We stayed at the Hilton for 5 nights, 5 days... & it was a dream.  My tastebuds are even spoiled.  They got to enjoy Starbucks coffee every morning.  I made 3 pots of coffee this morning [sooo not an exaggeration] & dumped all 3 out because they tasted bad.  

Here is a photo of our hotel...

And the view looking to the right off our balcony...

And the left off our balcony.  

Not bad.  We got to watch the sunrise over the bay & the sunsets over the gulf.

 

[Here we are watching the sunset pictured below...

doing it right with juice boxes & a couple of Coronas.]

We went shell hunting every morning, built sand castles and/or a sand sculpture everyday & watched a sunset every night.  We also enjoyed the pools & a day at Busch Gardens.  There are more photos coming soon!  But here are just a sampling of my faves.  :)

  

Waiting for Baby Evan...

My best friend Karah is about to become a mommy!  It should be any day now...

A few weeks ago another friend of Karah's {Nicholle} & I threw a Baby Shower for her.

Here are some photos from the big day!

Nicholle ordered this adorable cake.  It tasted as good as it looks!

Karah opening some gifts!

Me & Karah

Nicholle {such a great hostess} getting the table all set up.

I made some little nest cookies!  Saw the idea on Martha's website!

That's a little 4D pic of Baby Evan!  

I also made a Well-Wishes Tree with some tags where

people could write their thoughts, advice & well-wishes to Karah.

The party favors... 

We played a game where everyone took the amount of

ribbon that they thought would fit around Karah's belly!

I attached this little tag to the ribbon that she cut to fit perfectly around her.

 

Here is my sister Becky measuring hers against Karah's...

I had seen this done at one other Baby Shower & I thought it was a fabulous idea.  We gave Karah a keepsake box with some of the fun mementos from the shower!  I found a box that looked like a storybook, I just painted it & added some stickers.  We then included the ribbon with the tag, the invitation, a little photo album, the gift list & it's a great place to store the tags from the Well-Wishes Tree.

We are all so excited to meet this little guy.

[[[I would like to ask you all to say a prayer for Nicholle's mom, Susan,

who also attended this shower.  They got some devastating news

just a few days ago... and they need all the prayers we can give them.]]]  

Happy Birthday Little Sis!

I wanted to wish my little sister Leah 

a very Happy Birthday.  :)

I love you sis. 

The Blue Angels Flight Instructor

 

Brett & Kyle at a Blue Angels Air Show, NAS JAX - October 2004

Those of you that know Brett, this will be of no surprise.  He loves any opportunity to take center stage.  [that's a Twenter Trait]  Last Friday I got a call from school.  I dreaded answering it - hoping it wasn't the BAD kind.  It was Brett's Para & she assured me it was a GOOD call. 

She said she & Brett were standing out in the hallway & when the Spanish teacher walked by, she said "Oh my gosh... those Kindergartners wore me out, they were so wound up!  I don't know if I can go in & teach these 6th graders..."

Brett said "Well, I'LL DO IT!"  

They went into the classroom & Brett took over teaching.  He talked about the Blue Angels.  He drew pictures on the board - leaving certain things out & asking "Now, what's missing?"  He asked if there were questions, etc.  

His Para said any other 1st grader would be totally intimidated by a classroom full of 6th graders, but ... NOT BRETT.  She said it was the funniest thing she'd ever seen.  

That kid...