My 35th Birthday

Well it's that time of year again... we've celebrated Maddy's Birthday, Mother's Day, Mikayla's Birthday, Father's Day and now MY Birthday. This year I turned 35 and it's hard to believe that I am halfway through my 30s!  I still get carded so I guess I can't complain too much!  If I did no one would listen right? LoL

My Birthday fell on a Wednesday so I took the day off so I could spend the day with my Loves.  We started our afternoon off at GWiZ a small science museum in Sarasota. 

Downstairs is a children's exploration exhibit...

Upstairs in an exhibit of the Human Body.

I think Mikayla had the most fun of all of us. She danced with a skeleton & reassembled a brain!

After GWiZ we went to the Sarasota Brewing Co. for an early dinner. Chicago style pizza & cold restaurant micro brewed beer is where it's at for me!  I had a glass of Sarasota Gold which was free for my birthday!

After dinner we hopped over to Siesta Key Beach for a swim.

It was a beautiful evening, it would have been nice to stay till sunset but we were hungry for the ice cream turtle pie waiting at home!

Turning another year older isn't so bad when you have wonderful people to share your life with. I am so thankful for my husband and our daughters. They are the best gifts I have ever received. 

Father's Day Weekend

Another belated post... sorry folks I'll get caught up sometime!

The weekend of Mikayla's Birthday party was also Father's Day weekend!  We are really breaking in Mike's parents' new house because every holiday since they've moved in has been so memorable! We are so blessed!  Despite it's challenges, LIFE IS GOOD!

Happy Fathers' Day to all the Dad's in our family including mine, who lives in Atlanta!

What would a Summer family get together be without the pool?  The kids have so much fun!

Little Reese had her first swim! She loved her little boat!

Speaking of 'first swims' Dempsey had hers!  She fell in the pool twice while barking at the kids in the water, luckily we were there to rescue her. Pugs are sinkers, NOT swimmers. 

Mike's parents' new home is on a golf course and we love playing on it whenever the coast is clear! We've walked the cart paths, played the 17th Hole, played soft ball and now bocci ball!

We've also seen a bunch of wild animals; deer, turtles, sand hill cranes, hawks... and on Father's Day morning we saw a Momma bobcat and her 3 kittens!  I spotted them through the kitchen window and everyone came running.  Mike's Dad was able to get some good shots with his camera.  WOW!  I told you our family holidays are memorable!

Mikayla's 5th Birthday

This June our Mikayla turned 5! Mike & I were off of work the day of Mikayla's Birthday so we took her to one of her favorite summer hangouts, the YMCA Aquatics Center.

Mikayla is an excellent swimmer but has been leery of the diving boards. The day of her birthday she jumped in feet first! This girl has NO FEAR!

After a fun day in the sun, we took our party home for dinner, presents and cake that Mikayla helped me decorate.  For dinner we made her favorite, grilled hot dogs and mac n cheese.  (It's the little things that make birthdays extra special.) Her presents, she loved.  Anything Disney Princess is a hit with Mikayla so we got her this Merida costume, crown and archery set.  A week later when the Brave was released in theaters, Mikayla officially changed her name to Merida!

That following Saturday was Mikayla's Party Day.  We tossed around a lot of options but in the end Mikayla chose a Mc Donald's!  We have never hosted a Micky D's party before but was really happy with our decision. The party assistant was very helpful and the price was unbeatable. Mikayla & her guests had a great time!

Happy Party Day Mikayla! Make a wish!

My best friend's son Cameron & my niece Reese got acquainted!

After Mikayla's party we went back to Mike's parents' house to begin celebrate some more!

Yes, this was Mikayla's 3rd cake and 3rd round of 'Happy Birthday'... but this special day only comes once a year.  We're so grateful to being sharing it with our friends and family. 

Mikayla's 5th Birthday was a bittersweet milestone for us. Mike & I can hardly believe that we will have two children in elementary school this Fall. Mikayla completed VPK with flying colors and is ready for Kindergarten yesterday.  Unfortunately, being ready for Kindergarten included getting 4 shots but Mikayla was a trooper.  She also measured in at 42" tall and 41 lbs.  That's practically a pound per inch!

Our baby  girl!!  5 years old... WHERE has the time gone??

Momma's Day & May Happenings!

May is an eventful month! Mother's Day always falls within days of Maddy's Birthday so it's a lot of fun being able to celebrate these special days together.  Mother's Day is also falls close to two more special birthdays, Mike's Mom's & his sister Allison!  In our typical family fashion, we spent a fun weekend cooking, eating, drinking and lounging by the pool.

Cam & Mikayla are two peas in a pod, they have a ball in the pool and the only way we can get them out is by putting them into a bath!  Note that Mikayla is still wearing her bathing suit! Ha!

I'm not sure how much Mike's Mom enjoys celebrating some many events in one weekend... not only was it her Birthday and Mother's Day, but it was also hers & my Father-in-Law's 40th Anniversary!   My Mom who I love & miss very much lives in Chicago.  I sent her roses to let her know I was thinking of her.  It's hard being away from my Mom on holidays.

Maddy just loves spending time with her new cousin. Reese is such a happy baby!

Speaking of happy babies, my best friend's baby boy turned one in May!  We had a great time celebrating his birthday at Oscar Scherer State Park. It was fun hiking on the nature trails, something we don't get to do very often!

Then there was Memorial Day weekend. I was off for a blissful 3 days, Mike was off for 2.  That Saturday we met our besties at our favorite summer hangout, the YMCA Aquatics Center.

Sunday, Mike was off so we spent the day at another favorite place, Busch Gardens!

It was a hot day, so it was the perfect opportunity to see Busch Gardens indoor Iceploration show!  It was fantastic!

It was a hot day, so we took our time navigating the park. We saw favorite animals and rode our favorite rides.

On Memorial Day Monday we hit the beach!  It was beautiful day for it!  We were all so grateful for the extra day off from our usual hectic schedules.