Grandma and Grandpa's House

Brady's on Uncle Bryan's boat

Ashlyn and Grandpa

Hula-hoop contest

Boxing Champion

Zapping the geckos

Ashlyn's new pool house

My new friend, Paco

The kids with Aunt Maria

Next stop in our 9 day vacation...Grandma and Grandpa's house in Cape Coral. Their house is amazing. It is like staying at a beautiful resort for free. The kids loved having a pool in the backyard along with Uncle Bryan's boat docked right behind the house too. The only problem...we didn't want to leave. We ate, drank, swam, danced, played dominoes, took boat rides...did I mention ate and drank? The kids played in the lanai most of the days...Ashlyn was a little mermaid swimming any chance she had, and Brady walked around the pool throwing rockets and rings in for sissy. They both loved the jacuzzi. It was like a little baby pool for Brady when it wasn't heated. It was probably the most relaxing part of our whole trip. We can't wait to revisit really soon.

Gator Game Day

The back of Tebow's head

We finally made it to a Florida Gator game...Tommy's life long dream to see Tim Tebow in person (he almost got a picture of him walking into the stadium but some security guard got his big head in the way, so I posted the one of his back). It was opening day against Charleston Southern and boy was it fun. The energy is amazing...a lot different from an NFL game, or should I say Panther game. The kids had a blast cheering and dancing to the band's music. We did leave at half time because the kids were tired and the Gators were up by so much that they put their second string in. Tommy is now trying to plan for our visit next year.

Brady Goes to Preschool

Working hard on a puzzle

Brady and Addy

Brady and Mrs. Heins

First Day of School

So can you believe it? Brady is starting preschool. He is so excited to be in Addy's class (his best friend in the neighborhood). That is going to make it so easy on me dropping him off. He has always been Mommy's little boy, a little more clingy than Ashlyn has ever been. He loves it and is such a chatterbox when I pick him up and so far there has been no tears. I will keep my fingers crossed that it will continue.

Kindergarten Girl

I can't believe that my baby girl is off to kindergarten already. It seems like just yesterday she was throwing all her stuffed animals in her crib so she could be "covered up with all animals". Sometimes I think that she would still sleep in her crib if Brady didn't come along. She loved that thing.

Tommy, Brady, and I walked Ashlyn into school to her classroom...or should I say...Tommy, Brady, and I followed and tried to keep up with Ashlyn sprinting down the hall to her classroom. She is obviously so ready for "big kid" school. By the time we caught up with her, she was in the room making herself at home...like she does anywhere she goes. Her teacher, Mrs. Bensch, gave her a big hug and welcomed her to her class. I know I'm going to love her. Ashlyn took off to explore, and you know the first thing she wanted to play with? The overhead projector...of course the one thing she is not suppose to touch. Good thing I caught her before Mrs. Bensch saw her...otherwise, great first impression. So after everything was in order and Mrs. Bensch went over the chores with Ashlyn (this is when I realized I forgot to pack her a snack...great first impression), we left our little girl to enjoy her first big day without us. She made it easy to hold back the tears because she was so comfortable...I wouldn't expect anything less from Miss Independent.

2:30 came around, so I went outside to wait for Ashlyn's bus. She looked so cute sitting in the front seat when I stepped on to greet her. When I asked her how the ride was, she said "Mommy, it was just too long"...this is probably because we live about 2 minutes from the school, but it took about 20 minutes for her to get home..."We had to go in two other neighborhoods before ours. One little one and one BIG one." She was so excited to show me everything in her book bag...especially the candy kiss and hug from her teachers. I'm sure that she is going to love school just like her Mommy.

Last Beach Trip of the Summer

We are so lucky to have such great friends. We got invited to come spend some time at a North Myrtle beach house with The Schmitt's for free. Ashlyn and Brady were so excited to have three nights of sleepovers with their friends Kayley and Mackenzie. Tommy wasn't able to come with us because he was off having fun with his high school buddies in Myrtle Beach. He did stop by on Sunday before he took off home for a long needed rest. The kids and I were lucky enough to stay until Tuesday. We would have liked to stay longer, but I don't think Daddy would have been able to cope at home alone without his kids and me.

At first I was a little nervous that the kids would get bored just having the beach and no pool, since usually we stay in a hotel that has a pool and even a water park along with the beach. But as you can see from the pictures, they didn't miss the pool a bit. They were constantly coming up with new games to play in the sand and the water...they even made their own restaurant (see the pictures with Mark digging a canal...that became the restaurant). We also were fortunate that the beach had a sand bar to play on most of the day and the waves weren't too rough.

Ashlyn became a star boogie boarder right away. She was not afraid to venture out pretty far to catch the perfect wave. I kept having to call here back in...she made me a little nervous. She did go under a couple times and get tossed about, but it didn't seem to bother her...she got right back in to surf the next wave. It reminded me a lot of myself when I was her age...no fear.

Brady didn't do much swimming. Instead he had fun playing ball...not really surprising from our little athlete. He also made sand castles and played with his big trucks hauling sand and shells...he also enjoyed walking back and forth to the house to clean the sand off his hands and feet in the outdoor showers...he didn't like using the water from the ocean no matter how many times I told him how much easier it was.

At night, after dinner, we would walk to get ice cream and then the kids would have movie night in their room. There was enough space for the little ones to have their own room and the big kids have their own room, but they all wanted to be together. Fine with me...they would fall asleep watching a movie each night. Thank goodness it didn't spoil them for when we got home. Sorry Ashlyn, still no TV in your room.

Tomorrow school starts, just not for Ashlyn and Brady. Ashlyn only goes on Friday this week, the schools do this staggered day thing with the Kindergartners. Brady doesn't start until after Labor Day. Big changes for both...new school for Ashlyn and school in general for Brady.