August

Mikayla kicked off the month of August by taking a tumble off the top bunk of her bed. She gave herself a black eye, a rug burn and a headache that lasted for two days.  It happened over the weekend and I was seriously conflicted over taking her to the ER but when we saw our pediatrician on Monday he said she was just fine. We always knew Mikayla had a hard head!

We also made a trip to Mike & Allison's for little Reese's Dedication at their church.

Cam & Mikayla had fun playing in the playrooms during service.

Mike is Reese's GodFather!

After Church, we went back to Mike & Allison's for the afternoon, we watched the Olympics, ate pulled pork and just relaxed. 

We also had some beach days. The beach seriously has magical healing powers. If there is ever a bad mood in our family the salty sea air & rolling surf takes care of it.  The beach is ever changing, but always relaxing.

It's sea turtle nesting season. Buried eggs have been hatching up and down Florida beaches for the last month or so. I hope they all make it to the Gulf and reach full maturity. A female sea turtle comes back to the same beach she hatched on to lay HER eggs, but she won't do it until she is 30 yrs old!  Sea turtles are amazing creatures. 

July Happenings!

July was a fun month!  Let's catch up!

First, my Dad-in-Law finally cashed in his Christmas/Birthday present. A gift certificate to skydive!

Skydiving was a lifelong dream for Mike's Dad, so we're proud of him for going through with it and very glad he made to the ground safely!

We also celebrated the 4th of July. Nothing fancy but we had our best friends over for a cookout and together we blew up a mess of fireworks!

What is it about blowing stuff up that makes guys so happy?  Mike & Brad were having a blast...  Haha get it?

The girls also had a few sleepovers with their besties.  Popsicles on my bed? Not one of my brighter ideas.

Of course we had a few visits to the YMCA waterpark AND the bowling alley which I have no pictures of!

But we also tried something new.... Roller skating! When I was a kid, I spent every winter Sunday ice skating with my Dad and loved it. It's great exercise and it's something I've always wanted the girls to experience. We had a great time and to my surprise it was affordable. We're looking forward to Fall, because a group skating lesson in included with Stardust's Saturday skate time which we definitely want to take advantage of. :)

So in a nut shell, that was our July. Check back for our August and Back to School posts!  Time just flies these days!

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!