Summer Vacation 2012

Florida bound!  All loaded up and ready to drive all night!  I love road trips.  Especially when all the kids are sleeping!

Made it through the night and a quick stop for breakfast.

Love the gas prices down south!

Finally!   But we still had 4 hours to go.

Isaac loved the water.

No toe-dipping here.  He RAN and jumped in.  Belly-smackers, pencil-dives, head-first, summersaults and flips.  But only if he had his Floaties on.

Father's Day 2012.  My kids have the best dad ever.  End of story :)

Ella is a fish and the queen of treading water.  She is always in the deep end.  Abby is a great swimmer but super-cautious.  She gained a lot of confidence this year and even let Carl throw her in a few times.

Indian Rocks Beach is beautiful!

Buried in the sand.

Loving the ocean!


Fish hands!

Shark's tooth Carl found on the beach.

Heading out to LightHouse Donuts


Just a short walk away.

Key Lime and Chocolate


PJ's for lunch.  Great seafood, and dollar bills on every inch of the wall, and a parrot.

Crabby Bills for dinner.  (not all in the same day :)


The sunsets were amazing!  Carl caught lots of pinfish, ladyfish, and a jack.  He was really hoping for a shark.  Maybe next year.

Cuteness!

Ella's turn


Caleb trying out the waves.

Canon Ball!

They can all jump in without holding their nose.  How do they do that?  I really want to know!

Caleb is a master bubble blower.  He can blow ring bubbles under water!

Abby

Last day.



We drove all day and then spent the night in Gatlinburg.

The next morning we went on a hike through the mountains.

And got to see this.

Awesome!




Laurel Falls.  A 75 foot waterfall

Huge boulders

Downtown Gatlinburg 

And another short hike along a stream to Cataract Falls.


Best vacation ever!  Then we headed Home Sweet Home.  

Catching Up

I know I've mentioned how much Carl loves to hunt and fish.  Check out his latest Ohio muskie.  49 1/2 inches!

And one for my nephew, Nate!

In addition to building numbers and letters for birthday cakes, Caleb also made these last week.  I have to say Legos are probably the number one toy my kids have played with the most.  They have spent many HOURS creating.

Kicking off summer vacation with icecream!


Yes, I got Superman.  Both.  Carl & my icecream :)

Did you celebrate National Donut Day?  We did!  Please try not to lick your screen :)

Isaac turns 5!

His only request for his birthday party was a water balloon fight.

So we filled up 150 water balloons.  The balloons only lasted about 3 and 1/2 minutes!

Abby and Katelyn made his birthday cake and Caleb used legos to make the 5 for his cake.  And he also spelled Isaac's name with legos. 

Isaac was so happy that all of his best little buddies were there to celebrate with him!
Drew, Jack, Judah, Levi, Sean, and Ethan.  My nieces were spending the week, so Katie and Brooklyn got to be here too.  And of course, his favorite siblings :)

Happy Birthday to Isaac!

End of School Days

Today is the last day of school!  Yay!  The last few weeks have been filled with concerts, picnics, awards, field days, pizza days and icecream parties.
2nd grade field day at Nisbet Park.  

Ella waiting her turn.

I loved this activity!  They started with a huge blank piece of foam board for each classroom.

Then there was a tub of water balloons filled with craft PAINT.  Here is the first balloon about to go

Splat!

Each student had a chance to throw several balloons at the foam board.
Yes, even her throws have some added flair!

More paint splashes

And even more!

This was the final outcome!

Which was cut into a piece for each student to take home

And on the back -- I was part of the "Bigger Picture!"

Face painting  -  of course.



This may just be my new favorite picture of Ella!

Best 2nd grade teacher ever!  Abby and Ella have both had her for 2nd grade and she is amazing!

Abby's field day.

Egg race

Abby won the hula-hoop contest.  She is unstoppable.  Except when it comes to teaching me.  I can NOT get the hang of it!

Milkshakes and icecream!

Caleb's spring concert

Caleb specifically asked me NOT to bring a camera to field day.  What?  I did get this video of him (somewhat discreetly) on the ipod.  He is running the obstacle course.  Or, maybe I should say winning the obstacle course  :)

Bring on Summertime!