Fun in the sand ... (post 4)

We had such a great time in Daudy Lapp's back yard!  Instead of going to the beach, we hung out together at the house.  Hadassah and Matthew could not just sit down and soak in the sun.  They instead sprayed each other with the water hose.  They had Lena and I hollering at them because they kept spritzing us too.  :)



Crazy fun ...

We ate our Cha Cha Coconut's one evening and then walked the some town of shops.  Mike treated me to a bottle of Basil Olive Oil!  It is delicious and I can't wait to use it in pasta recipes!!!

Dear Hunter was such a trip in the sand.  The first day or two he kept putting his face right in the sand.  The rest of his trip to the beach, he just played in the sand nicely!  We had such a blast with them down here on our vacation!

Matthew loved walking the beach looking for sea shells.

She wanted to always be in the water.  She kept asking if anyone wanted to swim.

Lots of sand castle's were built!

Here is one of Hunter after tasting the sand ... yuck!

These birds are so annoying.  Especially when there is food around.  We saw lots of people lose their sandwiches, chips and snacks by these birds swooping down and taking off with it.

More castles ...

Ashlyn loved the sand too but always found a collection of sea shells by the water too!

Nephew Hunter had his first birthday down here.  The kids were so glad to be at his party!!!  :)  He's so cute and darling!

We only have a little more time here in Florida before we head back home to the cold, wind and more snow is in the forecast.  We would love to get home to warm, beautiful Spring!  It sounds like Winter will last just a bit longer!  For now, we are enjoying all the warm sunshine that we can get!!!

Florida is the best place to be right now!!!  :)

Fun in the water (post 3) ...

This was an overcast day.  Defferent from our previous five sunny days.  We made plans to go to Pete & Marty's pool for the day.  It was the perfect choice because the kids loved the pool water and because it would have been breezy on the beach!

Ashlyn loves to watch "Peter Rabbit" in the mornings while the other children do their school work!  Lizards are all over the Florida landscapes.

Ashlyn is feeling much better!!!  Our prayers are being answered because we prayed and prayed that she would soon start to feel better!!!  Her fever and hurting chest had us concerned.  I decided to sleep on the couch with her on one end and me on the other.  This is not a big, cofy couch ... no, but I just felt better being close to her and making sure I can hear her if she needs me.  We were up a few times during the night and really Mike and I were praying that she wakes up with a smile this morning!  Our prayers were answered because she woke up saying, "I feel better!"  It was music to our ears!  With having fever, ear ache, belly ache and just not looking good out of her eyes the past few days ... we were so ready to hear her say that!!!  She had a good day today and even enjoyed the pool a bit.  She still is looking a tad washed out but on her way to feeling 100%!  Thank you for praying for her!!!

We sat by the pool with Pete and Marty and their children.  Hadassah had fun with Jennifer while Matthew and Javon are outside being adventures boys.  Landon and Roberto came for a short visit too.  The boys biked up and down the street.  Seeing relatives down here is always fun.

On Tuesday of last week, the guys planned a fishing trip!  Matt made the reservations and Mike and Matthew, along with Mommy Lapp, went along!  Matthew loves, loves to fish, so this was a trip he couldn't wait for!!!  It was a sunny day and the weather was perfect!

Matthew and Mommy Lapp on the boat ...

 Mom caught the first fish!  Big trout.

 Big fish!!!

 Matthew was taking it all in.  They realed in about 50 fish!  Mom and Matthew were so tired by the end of the trip!

 Matthew and the captain TJ ...

 Matthew even caught a baby shark!!!

 Time to clean the fish!

They got back to the house around 5:00 PM.  They all smelled like the sea and fish.  They proudly brought back a cooler of fish!  The next night, we had a fish fry!!!  Fresh fish is the best ever!!!  Thanks guys for bringing home the yummiest fish in town!!!

Florida is great!  Florida is tasty!  Florida is so much fun in the water!!!

Fun in the Sun ... post 2!

We are enjoying the Florida weather tremendously!!!  It's been warm, sunny and sandy!  Going to the beach is a highlight for all of us!  Mike is also doing some golfing.  He keeps getting texts from friends that also are enjoying the south for a vacation, inviting him to golf.

 

This was the other day when Matthew ate a snow cones on the beach.  (I can't believe I am writing 'snow' on this post.  :)  )  Ashlyn ate a push up Popsicle.

 Hadassah is practicing her flips on the sand.  She pretty good too!

I wish I could say that Ashlyn is having a blast.  The truth really is that she is fighting a flu/bug/earache/stomach ... something???  Since Monday, she has been well/not well.  She has been laying on the couch and then plays some.  She's been running a fever off and on.  She complained of a stomach ache the other morning and threw up once after eating cereal.  I stayed home with her that day while Hadassah beached with Lena and while the guys fished.  She was not feeling well in the morning but by afternoon, she joined me in the sun and played with her kitchen toys in some water.  Last night, she was up a lot complaining of a earache and again a fever.  She refuses to take any kind of meds and so we just pray and wait for the fever to break.  Please pray for her today as she sleeps, fights off this sickness and hopefully get well!!!  Caring for sick kids is never fun ... but especially not on vacation!  Where the sun is warm and inviting.  When the tempts are to be in the 80's today!  I hope she is well soon and that she can have some sun fun!!!

Spending time as a family is so wonderful!!!  I am blessed!!!

Fun in the South!!! post 1

We are in the sunny south!!!  It’s been nothing but lovely ever since we arrived here safe and sound!

We are settled in at our 'annual house' and yesterday we got to feel that white, grainy sand between our toes!!!  The kids loved it!!!  The sun was bright and warm.  The dose of that good sun was the perfect start to our tans.  We are very excited about the upcoming forecast for this week!  Lot’s of sunshine and warm temperatures!  (It seems so different to just step out the front door and not feel that bitter cold air and winter snow!  It’s a blessing!!!)

Ashlyn is enjoying “Florida” too but yesterday she said, “I want to see Florida.”  We are not sure what her little mind thought Florida was?  A person?  A thing?  We assured her that all she see’s right here is Florida!  She loves riding a little trike outside.  She really enjoyed the beach.  She said before we left, “I am going to build a snowman.”  We chuckled and quickly corrected her by saying, “You can build sand castles!!!”  J  She getting the feel of the south!  Wearing her favorite Dora flip flops are once again on her feet.

Our nephew Hunter is vacationing here with his parents nearby too!  We are going to have so much together!  Yesterday, we were on the beach together and he kept sticking his face in the sand and then stick out his tongue!  Why in the world would that taste or feel good???  He really didn’t seem to mind!

Ashlyn loving the beach and especially her sunglasses!!!

 Matthew dug a deep, deep hole in the sand the first day on the beach!  He too is enjoying his sunglasses!

 Here is Hunter with his sandy mouth.  Ugh!

 Ashlyn and Hunter got covered with sand by their daddy's!

 Hadassah and Hunter ...

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We soaked up the sun again today!!!  We all made that transfer from 'mayonnaise skin' to 'sun kissed skin' today!  :) 

Our vacation is going well and the fresh fruits and foods that the state of Florida brings this time of year is awesome!!!  We are loving the fresh strawberries!  I need to buy some oranges and grapefruits yet!!!  We love those!!!

The south is warm!  It feels so good to be somewhere not so cold!  We are going to enjoy every single day of this vacation and hopefully by the time we get back home ... Spring will be right around the corner!!!  :)  (It's OK to wish, right?)