Independence Day-Trip

The 4th of July is always one of our highlights of Summer, normally we like to cook out with friends or visit Mike's parents at their beachfront condo but this year Mother Nature wasn't cooperating.  Good thing we had a 'Plan B'.  The Florida Aquarium was on my 'summer to-do list', when I heard that they were celebrating Independence Day with discounted admission prices & extended hours, I jumped at the idea!  Have fun, escape the rain AND save money?  SOLD!  We packed up a few things and left for Tampa!

From left to right: the Tampa Teco Streetcar, the Aquarium, a Carnival cruise ship getting ready to set sail & the East edge of Channelside.

Checking out some stingrays.

Mike is eying the snook!

We LOVE mermaids!

Overlooking the Eel Splash Pad towards downtown Tampa.  We brought the girls their swim suits in hope that the weather would clear up... but no such luck.

The jellies...

The biggest stingray I ever saw!  Swimming with the sharks of course.  I couldn't get any good pictures of the sharks because it was really crowded and they were way TOO fast... we didn't get to see the divers in the tank either.  Right before the 6pm Shark Encounter show another storm rolled in. If there's lighting in the area the divers can't get into the water with metal tanks on their backs.  Bummer.

Nemo!

ICK!  Octopus!

Having some fun in the gift shop while Daddy checks the radar, since another stormed rolled in, the aquarium was extremely crowded.  Everyone who was OUTside on the splash pads or at the Cantina had to come INside.  We still had two more hours to wait to 'possibly' see the Channelside fireworks.  It was a hard call to make.  We deliberated for about another 1/2 hour and then decided to head for home.

When we got back to our neck of the woods, the skies were clearing just in time for sunset.  YAY!!  Mike hates traffic but loves blowing things up so he talked me into stopping by the fireworks store.  4th of July is definitely my neighbors' favorite holiday because every year my neighborhood sounds and looks like a war zone. Mike was thrilled to contribute!  The girls had fun popping snaps & lighting sparklers.  After we were done, we came in and watched our local news channel to see the fireworks display in downtown SRQ.  All in all the day & night worked out great.  We had a great afternoon at the Florida Aquarium, we got to set off and enjoy our neighborhood fireworks and the girls were in bed by 10:30!    

Mommy's Turn

The birthday celebrations never end around here, first Maddy, then Mikayla, then me!  All of our birthdays fall in a 7 week period.  This year I turned 33!  WoW!  I am getting OLD!  Well... not really.  I'd like to think 33 is the new 23!  I still get carded when I buy alcohol so 33 isn't too bad so far! :)

Anyway, Mike, the girls & I had a busy June.  When my Birth-Day rolled around the only thing I wanted to do was something fun AND relaxing.  It was going to be a HOT day, about *107 with the heat index, one of the first places that popped in my mind was the YMCA Water Park in Sarasota.  We don't go very often, so it was a treat for the whole family.

My girls... I love this picture, it totally captures Maddy & Mikayla's personalties!

Mikayla enjoys having buckets of water dumped on her head!  Look at the timing of this shot, the water is just about to hit her!

Later when we got home, Mike ran to the grocery store with a shopping list AND grilled us ny strip steaks, I made some yummy garlic mashed potatoes, sauteed onions & roasted broccoli.  It was the only meal we had cooked all week and it was delicious.  After dinner Mike & the girls sang me Happy Birthday and I blew out the candles on another one of my favorite treats... a Tortuga Rum Cake!  We washed it down with some bubbly and I was one happy birthday girl!  

Mike even brought me roses!  I love all kinds of flowers but roses are and always be my favorites, this time Mike picked out red tipped white roses, they were soooo pretty and they smelled divine!

Jumpin' For Mikayla

It has been a busy summer and we have fallen way behind with our blog updates!  Our last family post was about Miss Mikayla's 3rd Birthday, although her birth-day was lots of fun, her gymnastics party at the YMCA the following weekend was an absolute blast!  Let's catch up!  I took a ton of pictures so get prepared to scroll!

Mikayla waiting for her guests to arrive!  

Mikayla picked out her own party theme!  Tinkerbell!

The kids warmed up with a stretch or two!

Next was climbing, rolling & balancing through the obstacle course!

Where's Mikayla?

Oh YEAH! It's my birthday!

The YMCA gym has all kinds of fun stuff for the kids to play on or in, besides the obstacle course, there's a big trampoline with a big foam pit to jump into!  Woo Hoo!

Auntie Allison & Cam had lots of fun playing the foam cubes!

The foam cube pit is easy to jump into... but not quite so easy to climb out of!

There's also a bounce house!

And that's not all... there's also a rope swing!  Gosh the YMCA gym is SOOO much fun!

BIG GIRL!!  

Maddy was having a blast too!  She had her 5th birthday party here at the Y!  Ah the memories!

Even Auntie Lauren, Grandma & Daddy couldn't resist the urge to bounce on the trampoline and jump into the foam cubes!

Our STAR! 

After an hour of stretching, climbing, bouncing, swinging & jumping everyone was ready for pizza!

Maddy & Cousin Cam 

Mmmm, the Birthday Girl was soooo thirsty!

Mikayla absolutely loved her Tinkerbell cake!

Cousins Jake & Aaron

Ben & Collin

Jackie & Conner

Mikayla, Shay & Maddy

Cousin Chloe

Present time!

Mikayla got all kinds of good stuff!  We can't thank everyone enough for their generosity and for sharing Mikayla's special day!  

I also want to thank the 2 ymca employees who lead our party, in the gym and the party room.  They are extremely hands on for every party that's booked.  Not only do they help keep the kids organized and safe while using the gym equipment but they also help serve pizza, drinks, cake... they help clean up, provide balloons, they even record the presents as they are opened AND help load it all up before the next party rolls in.  What more could a party planning parent ask for!?    

After we the party wrapped at the Y, we invited the family back to the house for a little 'after party'!  Here's Cam checking out our fishies!  He just loves fishies!

Mikayla opened all of her presents from her Aunties, Uncles, Grandma & Grandpa Schuth.

Mikayla got lots of new clothes and fun new toys from her family & friends.  She is such a lucky girl to have such wonderful people in her life!  She was so happy to be the center of attention and have a whole day devoted to her!

We had a great day, Mikayla's party & 'after party' at home were a huge success!  Thanks again to everyone who celebrated with us!