Wednesday, August 17, 2011

My dad, Pop-pop to my kids, sent a package through the post office to my dear #2 daughter.

The conversation that I had with her this morning went something like this...

Maddie - "I can't wait for the mail to come today!"

Me - "Well, sweetie, Pop-pop said that he mailed it just yesterday, so it might come tomorrow."

Maddie - "Why? Pop-pop said I should get it today!"

Me - "Well, sometimes you can't count on the post office."

Maddie - "I'm counting on Pop-pop, not the post office."


Isn't it great when you have someone in your life that you can really count on!!!
Someone you believe is even more reliable than the post office.  It just feels so good.




Wednesday, August 10, 2011

I am choking the summer life out of the days.  I am not ready to give in to the school schedule yet.  I want to hold on to late nights, late mornings, pool days,  relaxed lunches and even mosquito nights.  I'm just not READY yet!!!  School starts in 11 days.  ELEVEN days to continue our memories, enjoy the relaxed pace that summer allows.  We've finished shopping for pencils, cute skirts and awesome jeans (that honestly we won't wear until later September.).  We have labeled lunch boxes and backpacks, dated new planners and mentally set out our first day of school outfits.  BUT....

The towels are still begging to be wet,
the bikes still wanting to be ridden.
Pillows wanting our soft heads to rest longer and
summer jammies wanting to keep us cool. 

Please don't end too quickly, sweet Summer.
There's still more fun to have!!!
You are my favorite time of year and I just
can't say goodbye. 

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Florida Summer Vacation



It felt a little bit like coming home.  The palm trees welcomed us and waved to us from
 the hot Florida sky. We were familiar with the landscape and temperature.  The humid air didn't take us by surprise this time.  We knew our way around and in no time at all, we bound ourselves to the reason
for our travels - VACATION!! 

Unhurried, unplanned, numerous hours with no agenda.  Our plans were simply to relax and make memories.  This was our fifth visit to this vacation spot.  With no hesitation, we proclaim it as one of our family favorites. Braided in with our very familiar spots were a few new places. 

Anna Maria Island was a new, wondrous location to bask in the warm gulf water, play volleyball on the soft sand, and be awed by the beauty of the setting sun over the ocean. 


We plaited our old favorites with new favorites, resulting in a perfect combination.  We fished, we ate good food, we drank yummy tropical drinks, we searched the shore for perfect shells. 
Each of us tried to capture as much as we could from every
sun-soaked hour. We woke up expectant and went to bed happy and tired out.








 Six days didn't feel like enough, but we enjoyed
every moment of sandy feet under tables, wet towels littering the floors,  sweaty sunscreened faces,
dripping bathing suits exchanged for sundresses and tank tops, empty tummies topped off with
delicious Gumbo Limbo fare.  

After a day of smooth travel back home (and one lost camera), we have all declared
that we cannot wait until we get to go back...
once again.  

We love you Florida!