Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Florida or BUST

We loaded a 12 passenger van with 4 adults and 3 kids and headed out for a 17 hour drive.  We knew it would be an adventure!  The trip down was very uneventful.  No traffic and no complaining!  We left at 5:30 am and got to the condo around 11:00 pm so it was a LONG day!  The girls were nothing short of unbelievable!  We kept joking that we must have forgotten to put them in the van because they just sat quietly or slept for the whole 17 hours!  We had perfect weather the whole week.  We got lots of pool and beach time in and got to spend time with GG.  



This little one did great!  She took a bottle like a champ and played happily or slept the whole trip.  (only 6 month old we know that has been to Florida twice) 


We looked back once and saw Emmerson with a bucket on her head while reading a book she and Nana made. 


They wasted no time getting outside when they woke up in Florida! 


She said she loves Florida because, its summer and she doesn't have to wear leggings or sweaters with her dresses.


Audrey was a good girl!  She just went along with whatever we were doing!

We spent lots of time at the pool.  The big girls love swimming.  They were in the pool all day long!






I would say Emmerson is officially a swimmer!  


Audrey went swimming for the first time this trip!  She LOVED it!  She was all smiles and splashing like crazy.






We had lunch at the pool everyday!


Claire is very brave in the pool too!  




By mid week Claire wouldn't wear her floaties anymore.  She would fall off the steps and go under and come up laughing!  


All of our water bugs!


She loves the water!

We spent plenty of time at the beach too.  Emmerson loves it but it still takes Claire some time to warm up if the waves are big and loud.  


She does love the sand once she gets over the waves.


We looked for lots of shells








Audrey tried out the ocean this trip.  She seemed to like it until we were a bit late to pick her up and a wave went up over her head!








Best way to take a morning nap!




Just watching the waves.


Evening walk.


Telling Pop Pop about the waves!


So Claire had her first ice cream cone (we usually get it in a cup) and it was so funny to watch.  


Neil noticed she was using a spoon to dig it out.  He explained to her she could bite the cone.


She couldn't believe it.  


She kept looking up at him making sure it really was ok!




This one had NO problem with a cone.  She ate it right up!

We had a great trip with these three!  









We realized real quick that we couldn't have done this trip without Nana and Pop Pops help!



Packing up to head home.


Audrey didn't sleep great our last night there so Mom woke everyone up at 2:45 am to hit the road!  The trip home was not as uneventful!  It took us 22 hours.  There was SO much traffic.  The girls didn't complain at all but Mom and Dad did...a lot! 



And this happened!  We had a major situation!

Our GG

The best part of our trip to Florida is always getting to spend time with our GG.  We were so happy she was feeling good enough for company let alone our chaos!  She was all smiles and seemed very happy to see us.  The girls couldn't get in her arms quick enough.  It makes my heart happy to watch them love her as much as I do!  



They love their GG



Audrey loved being held by her too.  She just kept rubbing her face.  It was so sweet!


Of course her wheelchair is always a hit!


Audrey couldn't take her eyes off GG.  She just kept smiling and squealing for her attention.  


A very sweet 5 year old!

Emmerson is 5!  We are not sure how this can be!  She loves being a big sister, crafts, school, books, playing outside, playing with Audrey, and doing anything with Claire.  She is silly at home and serious at school.  She is so excited to be 5 because that means she gets to go to school "all 5 days".  She is so sweet!  We are so lucky she is our biggest girl!  She loves that she gets to celebrate her birthday in Florida.  So do we!  It's easy to make her happy while in Florida....stay outside all day!  Easy enough. 


Donuts for breakfast


A sweet sleepy 5 year old!


Opening a present from Claire


Crafts from Nana and Pop Pop


(She got a big girl bike from Mom and Dad before we left for Florida)




After breakfast we headed to the beach




She loves the beach!



Next was the pool for the WHOLE day!


Lunch included




and dinner (her choice was pizza of course)! 


Then we went to our favorite ice cream shop and they got their first ice cream CONES!  







Last stop....a VERY tired girl with popcorn and a show in bed! 


Her birthday ended cuddled up asleep with her sister!  Nothing sweeter!

Beach Sisters

The morning of Emmerson's birthday we went for a walk on the beach.  A few minutes into the walk we realized Emmerson and Claire didn't even know we were with them.  So we just stood back and watched them play together.  It is so fun to see them together and watch the bond they have.  They really are each others very best friends.  


Emmerson thinks Claire is SO funny!


Claire was dancing.










So sweet (not posed)






I would love to know what they were talking about!





Sunday, April 13, 2014

March Madness

Madness is pretty normal around our house.  This is some of the March madness!


Just telling her Daddy a story


Spending some time with Carter


The girls made bunk beds 


We always tell Claire she is big enough to walk...she has now talked Emmerson into carrying her!


When did this one get SO big!?!



The girls were very proud of they gifts the picked out for Mommy's birthday. 




A little Claire entertainment for you.  

Monday, April 7, 2014

What do you think?

 People always ask who Audrey looks like and many have very different opinions...what do you think??

Girls at 6 months


First cereal (about 6 1/2 months)


Monkey Hat (all around 5 months)


(hint- in all pictures the girls are in birth order)