We are home from the south. (post 4)

We are back North ... living again in the cold state.

 

Our family vacation was ... I think "the best one yet!"  (I think we say this a lot.  But really, it was great!)  We had so much fun TOGETHER!  We were together 95% of the time.  We woke up together.  We stayed up late together.  We ate breakfast together.  And frozen yogurt and pie and lunch and supper together.  We beached together.  We laughed together.  We traveled the highways all together!  Family time together was great!!!

 

Now, we are catching up with laundry, unpacking, visiting TWO newborns that were born in our family while we were vacationing, and back to school and work.  The time 'off' was refreshing and now we return with hoping that Spring will soon be here!!!  :)  (Having snow in the forecast doesn't help the wishful soon Spring arrival does it?)

 

Anyway, I have so many pictures yet I would love to share with whoever reads this blog.  I think the pictures are gorgeous!!!

 

One morning, Ashlyn got the dust pan and brush and decided to play in the dirt.  Don't worry ... the street we lived along was VERY UNOCCUPIED!  Well, until we arrived!  That's one reason why we like staying at this house!  The kids can ride their bikes, rip stick, and play on it without fearing cars will come along!!! 

 

 Don't let her facial expression fool you ... she LOVED the ocean water!!!  Thanks to Daddy and Mommy Lapp and Hadassah for taking her into the waves!  (Ashlyn's mom likes to swim but in water that she can see her toes in.  Always see her toes!!!  :)  Like pool water!!!)

 Seashells ...

 Lunch on the beach ... this girl digs into my lunch foods like none of our other children did.  Turkey, lettuce, avocado and mayo!!!  She loves it all!

 The sand shovels got used a lot!!!

 These pesty birds were always looking for a crumb!!!

 They both made a sand chair to relax in!!!  Notice Matthew's soda can?!!!  :)

 Along the beach, there were these pretty yellow wild flowers!

 We went out to see the sunset two nights in a row!  We loved it!  It's so amazing to me that during the afternoon the hot sun felt so good and then just a few hours later, the ocean chilled and the breeze was cool.  We were then thankful for long sleeves!

 Our three adorable, tanned children!!!

 

Sea gulls ...

 Love of my life ... Mike!!!

 Just in time ... she was running straight into the water and was ready for wet feet!  Thanks Mike for the rescue!!!

 The girls of the house doing a dance in the sunset!!!

 Our family enjoying the sunset!!!

 

 She loved running the beach!

 Beautiful!!!

 So precious!!!  She got so much "Daddy time" the past two weeks!!!  Very sweet!!!

 This is why Siesta Beach was awarded for #1 beach in the USA!!!  White gorgeous sand!

 He loved the sand!!!

 Totally loving it!!!

 And loving this too!!!  Daddy's treat to her!  :)

 We all liked finding seashells.  Even Ashlyn ...

 

We now have tanned skin.  And our skin is now dry and starting to get a peel here and there.  Lotion is the only moisture now and not the water and sun.  Sad.

However, we are glad to be back home.  Back with Ginger.  Back to extended family.  Back to "real life"!!!

We are very thankful that God blessed us with the wonderful, safe, and fun vacation!!!


P.S.  Spring comes in the month of March!!!  We can't wait for the weather to warm up, the flowers to bloom, and the yard sales to begin!!!  :)