New!

I don't know why it took me so long to figure out how great Miromar Outlets is for an afternoon outing with Connor.  With fountains at every corner, ducks, fish, 2 playground areas in the shade, and great sales on kid clothes...we added this place to one of our new favorite ways to spend the afternoon.  We were gone four hours today hanging at Miromar.  I can't wait until we live closer soon and go there more often!

Since we were in the neck of the woods, we swung by the new house to say "Hey!"  

We're gearing up for a big move and it's exciting and overwhelming at the same time. I can't wait for a new start in a new city. We were hoping to coordinate our closing with my current house & the new house, but it looks like it will be off by just a few weeks. In two weeks, we will be moving into a temporary home (Matt's amazing Aunt Brenda & Uncle Tony are letting us stay in their 'snowbird' home while we're in transition to the new house). Connor will be beyond thrilled to have a pool for a few weeks AND be walking distance to Ki & Debbie's house :).  My biggest fear is that the transition will be hard on Connor. I hope he just enjoys the 'new changes' while we're moving and once we get settled.  We will find out soon enough! 

Emmy

Emma Gillette is the sweetest, most obedient, mellow dog you will ever meet.

You tell her to do something and she'll do it.  Maybe that's one of the reasons why Connor loves her so much! 

Back in January, we had the pleasure of keeping Emma at our house for about a month.  Connor wanted to walk her, feed her, play with her, sleep with her...she was his new bestfriend.

We grew very close to Emma that month and missed her dearly when she went back home.  I can only imagine the joy she has brought to her family over all these years.

  Connor will still refer to her as "My Emma." :)

Sweet Emma is not feeling well and our hearts are breaking for her & her family.

We ask that you please pray for Emmy.  Pray she's in as little pain as possible & that she rests easy knowing she's surrounded by so much love.

We love you, Emma!

Life is good.

This has been one.ridiculously.crazy.week.

Overwhelmed, emotional, and stressed are just a few ways I'd describe myself these days.

We have finally reached the end of this week and I am seeing signs of light at the end of the tunnel.

We have found that a short drive to "Nana & Papa's backyard" on the causeway is a great way to get away from the chaos of it all.

Sunsets, jellyfish, and soft sand have amazing healing power.

Here's to many, many more nights like tonight.

Party on!!

Boy, did we have a good time on Nana's birthday!

Connor insisted we supply the party go-ers with party hats!

Papa is so wise in his day.  If you have an endless supply of survey tape, you might want to try our new favorite game--ribbon tag.  It's pretty much flag football without the football. :)



The goofballs showing off their 'tails.'

After they were all sweated out from running in the yard, we decided it would be a good time to rest & devour some birthday cake.  Connor, like at any birthday party, had a front row seat to the cake.  Connor belted out his best rendition of "Happy Birthday" first, of course.



Then it was cake time!

"Cheese!"

 Later in the week after we finished all cake leftovers, Connor turned to me & asked, "So when's your birthday Mama?!"

No doubt our love for cake runs deep in our genes. :)



Dear Nana,

Happy Birthday!!!

I love you to infinity & beyond!!!

XoxoXoxoXoxoXoxoX,
Connor

The new casa

Introducing our new home!

Only about a few weeks remaining until it's done!

The inside is almost complete.

Light fixtures are up (see Vanna White modeling with them below)

Lights are up upstairs as well.  Staircase is almost complete.

We have to be out of our current house by August 15th, so hoping we time it just right & close on the new house before them!

For now, this is how we are living in our current house with some of our furniture already sold.

Can't wait to get fully packed/unpacked/settled!

Nana & Papa's backyard...

What's our favorite part of Nana & Papa's new house, you ask?!

Well, it's the fact that they are a leap, skip & a jump away from the beach at any given time of the day!

Connor loved going on a critter hunt.  Welk & jellyfish were some fun findings along our beach stroll.

After he got his nice, new outfit sprinkled with seaweed goo & salt water, we opted to do a wardrobe change while no one was looking...

Tiny (but still rather big for his age) footprints :)

The life in Florida...be jealous ;)

4th of July Family Vacay

We are home. Unpacked. Laundry piled up for days.  Shorts fit a little tighter.  All of us are due for a good nap.

All fully worth it!  We had a great vacation!

Enjoy our vacation pics...

This was our home away from home.  Between Nana & Papa having an "old house" and "new house"...and how we have a "new house" being built, Connor was thoroughly confused on what house we were staying in this time.  Connor called this house "the house with 3 floors."

We did some boating...

And beached it for awhile...

The fish were biting :)

We coordinated a family photo with the whole crew together.

The Whitaker girls

Beach day #2

The whole fam (minus Mom behind the camera)

We beat the rain on the boat ride in & headed to the pool.

The battle of the water blasters continued this year...

Connor learned the art of cornhole.

Connor was too adorable, jumping up & down when he'd make a shot!

When he was done, he plopped down next to me & said

"I'm a winner, Mama! Take my picture.  Cheese!"

Each year on our vacation, Connor gets a little easier.  This year I was able to relax a little more :)  Amen to some relaxation!

 Now its time to start packing.  Count down is on until we move.



Annual Grandma Beach Memorial Vacation!

We've been doing our "Annual Grandma Beach Memorial" vacation for quite a few years now!

Since we are gearing up for our 2012 trip, I thought it would be fun to look back on pictures from the last few years.  This will be Connor's 4th year in attendance!  I still think of Grandma Beach this time of year & our fond memories with her on Ft. Myers beach around the 4th of July.  Oh I can just see her smooching Connor's cheeks if she had the chance! :) Enjoy my little flashback and stay tuned for photos from this year's vacation!

2009

2010

2011



Happy 4th of July!

Our 4th of July included a little festive baking (patriotic cheesecake flag and red/white/blue cookies), two parties, sparklers, and just enough fireworks to keep a 3 year old thrilled beyond belief! :)

It was a roller coaster kinda day with my poor munchkin. To summarize for documenting reasons---Let's just say the first pool party was pretty rough.  It went a little like this:

Connor hopped in the pool for about 5 minutes-

Giant lightning stuck very close by-

Mean Mama made the munchkin take cover & hop out of the pool against his will-

 Connor was heart broken from not being able to swim-

The tears continued to flow when Connor noted he was hungry & didn't like the food at the party-

 Storm cleared enough to let Connor go back in the pool-

 My munchkin was happy as a clam in the pool for about 15 minutes before he slipped on the rainy deck & slammed the back of his head on the ground-

More tears & a heart broken Mama-

Connor dried his eyes & headed back in for a swim all for about another 5 minutes before the lightning stuck close by again...

So that was about it!  Mama was burnt out at that point, so we packed on up & headed to par-tay numero dos at Debbie's house!

Connor had moments of mini-emotional-speed bumps, but he was completely content once the sun went down & it was time for sparklers & fireworks!  Before we got started on the sparklers, Connor insisted on a picture with Lilly :).  Connor & Lil have a love-hate relationship...this was a love moment.

We moved the pups to safer grounds while the fire twirling toddler showed off his tricks!  Matt was giving Connor a one-on-one lesson on sparkler safety.

Connor requested Debbie's attendance at his sparkler party!

We decided to move the festivities outside, so we could light a few of our 'fancy fireworks.'  I was so proud of my last minute $2 Walmart special fireworks I picked up at the grocery story.  They shot off bright colors, made fun 'showering' noises, and lasted quite a while.  Connor got a kick out of them, so thats all that mattered!

We ended the night on a high note!  We were so happy to celebrate with the Gillette ladies :).

Happy birthday America!