Our trip to Florida!

All four of us are back from our trip to Florida, alive and in one piece!! Miracles *do* happen :-)

We had a fantastic time and really needed the break. We stayed with my mom and dad (Nana and Grandad) at a condo they had rented for the month of March. It was absolutely beautiful, RIGHT on the ocean on Redington Beach near St. Petersburg. It's so peaceful to wake up every morning to the lulling sounds of crashing waves and rippling water . . . and that salt sea air smells so good. It was just like being back home in Nova Scotia, except, much, much warmer and sunny every single day!

The weather was fab - 85 degrees or so literally every day. For a pathetic family from Ottawa, this is extremely warm weather for this time of year. When we left it was snowing and there was ice everywhere. Shorts and sandals were certainly what the doctor ordered!

The boys were excellent on our flights down (we transferred in Detroit). They were *active* on the plane although no screaming or anything unmanageable. They were thrilled when we arrived and were so excited to see the ocean and sand right outside our window.

Here is the condo we stayed at - it was huge and perfect for us. There were three bedrooms and our rooms were well away from my parents' so everyone had their own space. Pete was overwhelmed with glee when he found the kids' room had bunk beds and insisted he sleep on the top bunk b/c he is now "a big boy". So, although I was much more nervous than Paul, we let him and it was fine. He slept perfectly and the huge rail prevented him from even coming close to falling out.

Sunset was the best part of the day . . . simple beauty followed by the peace that would ensue after the boys were asleep :-)!

A view up the beach from our window. The waves were not too big so it was perfect for two toddlers. I had to laugh - we were often some of the only people in the water swimming some days . . . probably too cold for the locals but not for us northerners!!

Paul is the person on the right, flying a kite he and Pete bought. Of course I cut the kite out of the picture, but it was actually very high! Pete was excited, Paul let him hold it by himself a few times.
Here I am lounging on the front patio with David and Grandad. That sparkle in my eye is not the sunset, it was actually a couple Bloody Mary's my dad whipped up for me :-)!

A couple days into our trip we drove into nearby Tampa so I could meet a couple friends from one of my online message boards. Both girls have toddlers roughly the same age as David. On the left of me is G, and her daughter Eleanor and on the right is J and her son Quinn. It was a lot of fun and we all got along like we had know each other for a long time (wait - we have known each other for a long time!).

Eleanor the little cutie, looking gorgeous as usual.

In the children's play area David gives Quinn a big hug. "Heck, I don't care if our moms met on the Internet, I'm really having a blast here!"

Paul, my dad, and Peter took in a real baseball game at Dunedin to see Tampa Bay play the Toronto Blue Jays. Pete is typically good with hockey and other "active" sports, but I figured getting him to sit for a long time during a ball game would be an arduous task. He lasted 3 1/2 innings, urged to stay for that long by a box of popcorn and two ice slushies.

Meanwhile David and I headed to the outlets for an afternoon of hard core shopping. We did pretty well. I got some goodies for my new nephew Pierson and bought my first Coach bag. Yes, it was significantly marked down since I bought it at the outlet store but it's authentic nonetheless ;-)!
My sister and her husband Mark were visiting the same area and staying with her MIL Barb. They spent some time with us so I caught a cute shot of all three cousins enjoying some lunch while catching some Backyardigans.
Reese is such a big girl now . . . eight months old and happy and smiling all the time. She's a real cutie and was loving hanging out with her entertaining cousins. She laughed at David constantly.

We spent a day at the Florida Aquarium - it was totally cool! Pete and David loved all the fish and we saw a few minutes of a shark show. Before Pete had simply had enough and bolted away and ran to the next exhibit!

Lauren with Reese and David, and a scene from Finding Nemo behind her!

I really should have known there was an outdoor water park at the Aquarium, but that detail had escaped me. So here is Pete sans swimsuit, stripped down to his shorts and running around the park like a maniac. David was so fast I couldn't catch him on camera!

And if you're not gagging already at all the pictures, here are a few shots of the kids at the beach. I had over a hundred photos, but thought I'd spare you all, obviously!

Reese floating out to sea in her blow up lobster.
David happy as a clam with his beach toys.

Peter creating a sand castle masterpiece.

The ever-curious David scoping out the sand.

Here are my three guys having fun on the beach and enjoying the sunshine!

Pete turns three, and other shots

Here are some random-ish shots of the boys. Yesterday was Peter's THIRD birthday. I can't believe it. Where have the past three years gone? Where is my *baby* boy? He has so quickly grown into a big boy who is becoming more and more independent every day. And a bit defiant too . . . this week anyway. I thought for sure the "terrible twos" were behind us, lol. We had a fun birthday party on Sunday at our local gymnastics club with some of Pete's friends. It was complete chaos but a total blast for all the kids. We had a (as requested for months) Buzz Lightyear birthday cake that was a big hit. In the frenzy of party planning I forgot my camera but hope to have some pictures shortly from some friends.

In the meantime . . . here is Pete being silly on his birthday!

David in a new outfit that my online friend Missy sent him - it's SO CUTE in real life and fits him to a T!!!!
Pete sucking ketchup off his hands . . . ewwww gross.

That blur is Pete sliding by on his new scooter - thanks Granny!!!

We had spiderman cupcakes on Pete's actual birthday. Since Paul is away for work this week, I wanted to do something a little special for his big day. The BLUE icing was a hit to say the least.


Yup, David *really* got into the icing.

Enough so that we really couldn't clean him so we through him in the bath!!

And these are the cutest pictures ever. Karla sent them to me. They were taken a few weeks ago at her house. Here is Taylor feeding David from her fruit cup!!!!!! Hmmmm, a match made in heaven!

Been up to some beading!!

Well, I have not been into beading too much for a couple years but I am slowly getting back on the bead bandwagon! I had some time over the weekend when Paul was home to throw a couple creations together.

I don't like this one very much, but I was trying to use up a bunch of red beads I had in my box:

I do like this one, the blues are muted and really complimentary, the picture's not great and it looks fantastic IRL.Another one I quite like . . . it looks great on, is sort of short and hangs nicely aorund the clavicle bones:

Very cute in person but you really need to be a *pink* person to pull it off:

I made this bracelet for a friend's birthday. It's onyx beads with Swarovski crystals . . . it's stunning and looks fabulous on the wrist:

Another cute bracelet with Swarovski crystals in it:

Purple is my favourite colour!!!

A visit from cousin Reese

A couple weeks ago we were lucky enough to have a visit from my sister Lauren and her daughter Reese. The boys were so excited to have a visit from their little (ok, who are we kidding, *not* so little) cousin! And she seemed to enjoy watching the boys at their crazy antics. She laughed at them all week long and nearly died laughing at Rudy, our cocker spaniel.

It was awesome to spend time with my sister, even though it was hectic at times (like, when we were awake!). We did get a couple opportunities to get out and go shopping . . . ah, retail therapy. Nothing beats that really!! Lauren looks fabulous for having a 7-month old baby . . . clearly all her "baby weight" has indeed been transferred to the "baby". I'd guess Reese weighs pretty close to what her big cousin David weighs at nine months older than her ;-)

David and Reese share a bath:

S'up girlfriend? You got more hair than me!!!!!

See that mark on my eye???? I used to be really pretty until my cousin Peter chucked a plastic zamboni at my face . . .

Chillin' in the high chair . . .

David was so kind to share *all* his food with Reese. Even foods she is not supposed to eat at 7 months old!!!
Reese the little diva in her cutie yoga pants posing with mommy:

David showing off for his cousin - hey, look at me in here. I think I'm Lunar Jim.

"Mommy, would it be ok if Reese plays hockey with me for a while?".

We all went out for dinner for my birthday. Pete sips his hot chocolate while Liam looks at something . . .
Pete shows his friend Liam some love!

And the theme continues, Liam plants a big wet one on Reese:
Liam's little sis (aka David's future wife) Taylor hanging out on her daddy's lap.

Me being completely embarrased with this set of birthday antlers on me . . .

Lauren and Reese all ready for dinner!

David checks out the menu . . . hmmmmm, what to eat, what to eat???

Karla (fellow Nova Scotian extraordinaire) and Doug (all around great guy) with their daughter Taylor.
Reese gets attacked by Pete's toy dinosaur . . . and shows it who's boss!


Lauren scoops Pete up for a good night hug!