"Are we there yet?"

Not sure how many times I heard the phrase, "Are we there yet?" but I'm pretty sure it was in the thousands! ha! Actually, Braden was a really good traveler! As long as he had a movie going, he was good to go. He actually watched a movie we got at Redbox in FL (Gnomio and Juliet) 4 times on the way home!! I know, a little excesive but he loved it!! Ethan on the other hand, did a lot of high pitched, hurt your ears screaming and crying off and on. He was not a happy camper. But we made it...all in one piece. :) The boys were so excited when we pulled in. And even though it was 9:30 at night, I let them run wild and play with all their toys. They missed them. :) Braden even said on the trip, "I bet my toys miss me and are saying, Braden, where are you?" :)

Braden getting bored and "playing" A.K.A. bugging Ethan!

A happier moment....could he be any more chilled out. Do you need some popcorn buddy? :)

Friday in FL

Anyone who knows me knows I am obsessed with taking pictures. Normally on a trip like this I would take hundreds of pictures and annoy everyone with me!! Unfortunately my camera quit working with 2 days left on our trip. :( I called Murphy's and they tried to help me clean the lens etc..but it didn't work. SO...all of you moms out there that want things to go as planned can relate. I had planned out our little matching outfits for some beach shots and waited until Friday when my good camera bit the dust. I was bummed! But Chris reminded me I still had my point and shoot and really, I didn't even have a good camera on our last beach trip so anywoo, these turned out good enough and I'll quit complaining now. :) Thanks to Matt, our photographer who puts up with me asking him to take our picture. ha!

Of course we weren't going to be able to keep our dress clothes clean on the beach. It was playtime!

A little sand action for me

Braden and Jace were so funny pulling each other on the boogie boards! They were such good buddies on this trip :)

Check out the farmer's tan on his arms!

Ethan was a total daddy's boy this week!!!! :)

Looking like a surfer

Hang ten dude!

Love the sunset on a beach...ahhhhhh :)

The beach side of our condo. Our room was the very top floor, 22nd floor on the top left. We had an awesome wrap around balcony.

We never get our picture together, just the two of us so I bugged Matt for one more!

Thursday in FL

On Thursday we took a boat over to Shell Island. We had a lot of seaweed on our beach and heard Shell Island was beautiful and clear. We heard right! We got to enjoy playing in the big waves in the ocean, looking for shells and some calm areas where we could find sea creatures.

Chris and Ethan enjoying the sights on the boat ride over to the island.

Poor Matt always had Braden right on top of him the whole trip. :)

Checking out the island. The sky was getting dark and we were ready for a downpour and then it just passed.

Braden and Jace all ready to see something cool!

Looking way too old lately!

Ethan took a little rest on Daddy by the ocean

These rocks looked so neat in the water

Big boys with their shovels. This little area had lot so fish, shrimp and even stingrays to see! Yikes! They were dying to find something. I stayed on the sand and watched!

Ethan enjoying some snacks after a long day on the island. :)

Wednesday in FL

Now that I'm home from Florida it's hard to remember what we did each day but this is my best guess. ha! I'm pretty sure we did a lot of pool, beach, pool and more beach. :) The kids loved it!

So which picture is Ethan??? Hard to tell right? (especially from the back-ha!). This top one is Ethan and the bottom was is Braden in Destin in 2008. I remember loving Braden's picture so I tried to recreate it. I had the shorts and hat but different swim shirt-close enough. :)


Ethan was such a big boy swimming all over the pool by himself. Prior to this trip he only wanted to swim if he was holding onto us. Big, brave boy :)

Lexi was so cute floating on her back!

Ethan always makes a new friend wherever we go! He played ball with this little girl forever!

Serious cuteness!

Tuesday in FL

Today we got up, ate breakfast and headed to the beach. The big boys love swimming in the ocean and Ethan and Lexi are content on the beach watching. :)

Lexi loved having this crab in her little container. It was dead but they were all fascinated!

Run boys, run!

Ethan hung out with me in our new chairs. We bought these yesterday at a little surf store-a perfect investment for the beach. :)

Braden wasn't sure about the taste of the ocean!

Just chillin' with mom

He looks way too old in this picture!

Go Ethan!

Jace & Matt and Braden and Chris checking out the big waves

Working on some sand creations

You have to be quick to get one of these pictures...Braden was so frustrated that every time he tried to write his name it got washed away. ha!

Then he asked me to write, "Braden loves his buddies" and take a picture. Such a funny boy!

After the beach we went to the pool. Braden can't get enough of being thrown in the air or flipped around. He is fearless I tell ya!

Hanging out in the condo after naps-Ethan and Lexi

Braden and Jace have their own room and think they are big stuff!

Monday in FL

On Monday we woke up to a little drizzle so decided to do some sightseeing instead of the beach. We hit some beach type stores and realized it's pretty impossible to shop with 4 little kids. Ha! So we headed for lunch instead. We ate at Jimmy Buffet's restaurant and pigged out (see below). The highlight of Monday was Chris' mom offered to watch all 4 kids so we could go out and have an adult night. Woohoo!

During shopping at Pier Park Braden spotted the kids' area and demanded a ride on the ferris wheel. :) Chris and I our suckers so off they went. :)

Oh my goodness! Check out these nachos! I love me some yummy nachos and this was the grande version. I hate to admit it but we ate all of this! I thought I'd be full for a week. ha! I was full until late that night. :)

That night we met up with Jeremy and Brandi at Pineapple Willy's. We had so much fun laughing and hanging out.

The girls-Me, Brandi & Carrie

Sunday in FL

Sunday was our first full day at our condo. We of course hit the beach right away followed by some pool time, naps and then dinner out at Schooners. It was a fabulous first day.

I have this exact picture of Braden in this outfit and hat looking out at the ocean so I tried to get it of Ethan.

Ethan is so brave in the pool now. Yeah!

Braden and Jace are wild guys in the pool. They swim all over the place and love, love wearing their goggles!

Ethan always makes a new friend wherever we are. I guess it's because all little girls love babies so they come up to him. He played catch with this little girl forever. So sweet!

Hilarious! He looked too cute in these goggles! Ethan now swims independently in his life jacket. Just a week ago he was still hanging onto us in the pool or lake so I'm so proud of him!

That night we met Chris' parents, Jeremy & Brandi and some of their friends at Schooners which happens to be right beside our condo. Ethan was sooooo tired by the time we ate. Aunt Brandi held him.

Chris had the band play a song for Jeremy and Brandi since they never had a first dance. :)

Cute big boys at dinner