Sunday, September 28, 2014

Leaving...on a jet plane!





We travel - a lot. We fly - a lot. Airports get ready for the jet setters! We spent most of Saturday, September 27th at the Atlanta, and JFK airports, not scheduled to depart for Venice until 8:45pm that night with a Sunday morning arrival time of 11:10am. Luckily, my kids know the airport scene well, and we passed the time watching planes & ground crews, riding the train a few times around the airport in ATL, and riding back and forth on moving sidewalks. AND we met up with my parents in JFK, sometimes traveling takes a village!



Our last meal in the US was of course burgers and fries...delish, and the kids did really well on the plane, sleeping for the majority, whew! Ups and downs for sure, but all in all, I had the help I needed to make it through!

Goodbye New York, Italy bound!

Saturday, September 27, 2014

17 Months Old Luke!




This post is looooong overdue...but you know, things like trips to Italy have put me way behind on posts! (Hopefully I will get those posts up soon). Luke is one ball of energy, he likes his way and is not afraid to get it (he pulls hair and attempts to bite you - yikes!) and he wants everything everyone else has (including Hannah, Olivia, and me!) Sigh, I know this too shall pass, but this phase is a tough one! I believe Hannah skipped this one since she didn't have to share with anyone...he also for awhile became attached to either the lamb we take his pics with, or a Mickey Mouse stuffed animal, he wanted them in his crib for bedtime and naps, car trips or errands, which was strange since Hannah never had any attachments to stuffed anythings. Kind of phased out now but definitely something to note, maybe due to Mike's absence? perhaps some separation anxiety maybe? I am pleased it is about over, trying to keep up with those stuffed animals was tough!






Fast recap, Luke loves snacks, food, and more snacks, he would snack all day long if I let him. His newest words are "jewce" for juice, "sheese" for cheese, "a-mah" which is amen, "Ann-AH" for Hannah, BAAH for what a sheep says and sometimes for baby or Olivia since she is a baby, NAH for a horse, MOO for a cow, "rawf rawf" for a dog, and he still roars for lions and tigers, and growls for bears. Loves books and likes to choose his own stories, loves push the baby stroller around, likes to destroy towers built by Hannah with blocks, but can stack up to four high on his own, maybe more but I never seem to get there before he knocks them down! Loves wheels on the bus, Elmo's ducks, and the rendition of Feist's 1,2,3,4 on Sesame Street, along with pat-a-cake (he especially loves the rolling part when someone is holding his hands and rolling them into his belly. Speaking of bellies, he loves to show you his if you ask and pat it! We say "show us your pansa" (tummy in Spanish) and he is happy to pick up his shirt and pat away! Playing outside chasing birds, dogs, and any soccer/basket/kick balls that may be around is a favorite for sure, along with swinging and sliding. Teething has been difficult and he is cutting molars now...not a high tolerance for pain! He is miserable and so unhappy, poor little guy, hopefully the worst is over! Love you Lukey!

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Beach Photo Session

Keep smiling,
Because life is a beautiful thing
and there is so much to smile about...
-Marilyn Monroe



Could not be happier with our beach photo session - thanks to Carla for making it happen, and for letting us crash it! What an amazing moment in time for sisters, cousins, and a precious addition to the family! Love you little Olivia! Below are some of my own photos & outtakes during the session, not too bad if I do say so myself...could not have asked for a more stunning sunset!

Monday, September 1, 2014

End of Summer Beach...

"If there is a heaven for me, I am sure it has a beach attached to it."
Jimmy Buffet










Sigh...can we stay a little bit longer please? Enjoyed a wonderful long weekend at the beach over Labor Day, great weather, gorgeous beach, delicious food, and good company! We joined Carla, Daniel & Olivia (her very first beach trip!) and hope to have many more in the future! We stayed at a beautiful resort, The Portofino, which gave us access to both the gulf and sound sides of the ocean, and numerous pool options - thank goodness for our wagon! It was the perfect way to load up gear and kids every day to take them to the beach/pool - and thank goodness for Hannah - she was an amazing helper when it came to getting to and from anywhere...thankful for a four year old on this trip!








Highlights from the trip include delicious homemade shrimp pasta & wine, Carla's fish tacos, dinner at Peg Leg Pete's, watching the sunset from our balcony, snacks & drinks poolside, naps, walks on the beach and watching the little cousins play together!






Low's from the trip were sand, hauling everything (including children) to and from everywhere, more sand, hot/hungry/and tired whining (kids and adults!), wet sand, swim diapers, sand and sunscreen, and the biggest low was that Mike was not with us - missed him so much! Amazing trip - so blessed - thanks C&D! Until next time...