VPK Graduation

We had such an exciting night at Ethan's VPK graduation. It was so cute the songs the kids sang for us and we are so proud of the wonderful little man Ethan has become. We will greatly miss this group of children and parents as it's been such a fantastic experience with them all. Now we look forward to the fall and starting Kindergarten! There may be more photos/video on this to come from other parents, too!

 singing songs for us

 awesome song about leaving for kindergarten

 Aunt Debbie and Jillian proudly look on

 The Rhino class-3 classes graduated in all (this is just Ethan's class)

 receiving his diploma

 Ethan with his 2 best guy friends in class Jonathan and Jackson

 quick photos after b/c it was hot and he was dying to get out of cap and gown

 proud mama

happy dad



Alex and Justin's Birthday Party

Well we haven't been to Pump it Up since Ethan and Jillian's party in February-so they were so excited Alex and Justin chose the same place! They have become some of our very close friends and we love spending time with them on playdates and at karate class. Justin turned 4 and Alex 6-it was a great day!

 slides are J's favorite

 the wall is very challenging and slippery

 queen of bounce

 always racing

 king of the world

 Ethan and Justin hanging out

 we made new friends today

 Alex and Jillian being silly

the birthday boys



Memorial Day Weekend: Sunday Highlights

Sunday was our final full day at the beach and more friends came to visit! Deana brought Macie and Davis to play and Sam brought Marissa and a friend of hers too! Oh boy did we swim and run and wear ourselves out again. In the evening we had yummy ice cream, found a cool beach store and watched our final beautiful sunset on the beach. The kids were even willing to take a walk with me on the beach. So fun to hang outside in the evenings when it's a little cooler out too. Then Monday morning we leisurly checked out and headed home, but not without a final game of shuffleboard first! Then Ethan and Jillian got to spend a great Memorial Day with their dad and Aunt Shannon and Uncle Steve. They even went to a Rays game-what a terrific weekend for all!  

 Ethan and Macie trying to beat the waves in

 Jillian and Macie in the gulf

 Ethan discovered these flippers and now wants a pair for at home. he was fast in them

 hanging with Kendra's nephew Tyler

 Marissa making Jillian a cheerleader like her

 Deana, Jen and Kendra-so glad we've stayed close

 my beautiful princess at sunset

 The best of friends

 time for a treat

 spy kids with a huge slice of pizza on the beach

Kendra and Selah-hula baby

Memorial Day Weekend: Saturday Highlights

On Saturday our good friends came to visit and play with us at the beach! Ashley and Brian brought Abby and Allison and Lisa and Corey brought Hannah and Connor and we had such a fantastic day together. The kids exhausted us running and swimming and it was nice for the adults to meet my other friends and have time to relax and catch up. It made the vacation even more special and memorable!

 Abby and Allison got right in

 very into making faces at camera these days

 Ethan and Abby buddies

 Jillian and Allison call each other sisters

 making sand castles

 Ethan and mommy taking a swim-so glad he gets in the gulf now

 Jillian got adventurous with me too

 Ethan and Connor played some shuffleboard like the Chipmunks on  Chipwrecked

 moms and dads taking a dip-it was in the 90s folks

 The 6 amigos having fun in the surf

 so hard to get all looking-on a sunny day

 moms want to come back by ourselves another weekend too

 my clowns

 new diva pose

my spy kids

Memorial Day Weekend: Arrival Night

Memorial Day weekend was a hoot this year! On Friday after school the kids and I headed to Bellair Beach resort hotel (near Clearwater beach but so nice and quiet) to meet up with some great friends. My friend Kendra's family has been going here for years and I hadn't been since before Ethan was born in 2006. So glad we decided on the last minute beach getaway-we ALL had the time of our lives. The motel is right on the beach with heated pool and shuffleboard and we had a kitchen so only left in the car one time all weekend to get traditional beach vacation ice cream! So this first post of three is the night of our arrival. So many good pictures, make sure to look at them all!

The view from right outside our front door

 Jillian, Ethan and baby Selah (Kendra's daughter). Nicole and her kiddos on the background too

 They headed straight to shuffle board

 Winner!

 Ethan loving the warm gulf water

 Jillian is my beach baby for sure

 Me with Kendra-so happy we got to spend time together

 E footprint on left and J on right-priceless

 Beautiful sunset from our balcony

 In the morning we woke up and painted magnets while we waited for friends

Watching Saturday morning cartoons