Sunday, March 5, 2017

Orlando and Jacksonville

Orlando and Jacksonville


1.22.17 through 2.3.17



After our time on Hutchinson Island, we headed to Orlando.
We were thankful that our hotel had this great pool....


...because we didn't get out of the hotel much,
and since I was sitting for much of the week, it was nice to have this great view.

While playing in the waves, I had tried to lift Ellie over a big one
 that was threatening to wipe her out...
The wave laughed at my attempt and sent both of us tumbling,
 twisting my knee in a strange way, with Ellie landing on it just for good measure.
I hobbled around, spent a lot of time with my feet up (good study time!),
and cautioned the children against asking God to help you be more patient. 😉


"Hotel school" in one of its many forms...


We got a knee brace & headed out for an evening of hobbling around Disney Springs...
(I'm not the only one who has had to have patience with my knee.)  😉





The kids had been at Downtown Disney when they were 6, 4, and 2.
Downtown Disney has been "transformed" into Disney Springs, but there are still plenty of 
places that haven't changed where we could take the same photos
with our 16, 14, and 12-year-old.





We also got to spend some time at Disney's Boardwalk.





Our sweet friend Allie used to work at Disney World.
She had several different jobs there,
one of which was driving these boats called "Friend Ships."
She graciously acted as our long-distance tour guide,
giving us all kinds of tips of places to be sure to see.
(We went to Disney World a couple weeks later, 
and it wouldn't have been as magical an experience without her help.
Thanks so much, Allie!)  💙



From Orlando, we traveled to Jacksonville the following week.
Again, we spent a lot of time at our hotel,
but we did get out to explore the beach....


If you can read what's written in the sand in both of these photos,
you'll have a good clue as to what has been occupying
the kids' hearts and thoughts lately....  😊
I love my kids.
(Brie said I have to give y'all a clue for this one...
The kids recently watched Les Miserables and loved it.
Our adventure often has the background music of Les Mis songs
as the kids each take a role and sing it out.  😉
This sand quote begins with "To love another person is to....")


After a couple of restful weeks, we are ready for Gramama's visit!!!


Monday, February 27, 2017

Sweet 16

Hutchinson Island



Jan 21 & 22



Brie had two wishes for her 16th birthday.
Her "impossible dream" was to ride a horse on a beach.

We spent the weekend here on Hutchinson Island,
where this was the view from our hotel room....

this was the impossibly blue-green water....

and the beach, where it wasn't sandy, looked like this...


The weekend began with plenty of playing in the water...







This is a video of Tim & Ellie out swimming in the waves...





Brie's birthday morning began with an almost-sunrise walk on the beach with her folks...

the traditional "breakfast stack"...

...and a lovely gift (see her handmade necklace?) from her sister.


And then...
on to the Dream Come True!
💙💙💙





Brie's horse, Diva, gave her a hug after their ride on the beach together.



💜 We love our sweet sister!  💜


...and her second wish for her birthday?
Much easier to make happen!

Even though she had to wait a couple of days,
she got her birthday cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory!

Happy 16th birthday, sweet Gabriella.

We are so thankful for the gift of you
and so proud of the young lady you've become.
💜

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

The Keys - Part 2

Florida Keys

...One Day More!


Jan. 16, 2017



The day began with some Sea-Dooing with Dad in the Gulf of Mexico.





We were a little disappointed about not getting to see any tropical fish
while snorkeling at the beaches...
...and then a group of parrot fish decided to hang out with us
while we waited for turns on the Sea Doo.
They're so beautiful! 💙


Just this...driving for miles over the water...was amazing!


We drove to the National Key Deer Refuge in hopes of 
spotting some of those cutie endangered deer found only in the Keys,
but instead we found...
...alligators...
...funky-looking turtles...
...funny dudes hiding in cool trees...

...and then, finally, in someone's yard (of course)...

Key Deer!
Isn't she so cute!?



We finished the day at Bahia Honda State Park, 
known as the best beach in the Keys.
(The Keys are actually not known for having great beaches,
but rather for great snorkeling... when you take a boat out to the reef.)
😏


The girls did some swimming and "snorkeling"...
(Ellie..."Hey! I could see. I even found a cool shell!")
...and we saw a manatee just on the other side of those rocks!!!





We can't even believe we got to be in such a beautiful place.
And yes, we really took the following pictures.
It's just that beautiful.

During our weekend in the Keys, Brie said,
"I feel like I somehow got into the wrong story book!"
It did feel unreal... a different world than we're accustomed to...
What a lovely story book to visit.