South Seas Resort @ Captiva Island, Florida

South Seas has a special place in my heart. Not only did Jeff grow up on this beach, but we were also engaged here. I am so thankful that we have the opportunity to return to this very spot every summer. I know that this place will become an important place for our boys, as they remember summers and 4th of Julys spent with family year after year. We hadn't been in 2 years- since the summer of 2010, a very sad summer for me. Last year we were unable to make it down with Greyson having just been born a few months earlier as well as my sisters graduation from high school in late May. So it was time to return to South Seas, and relax in the sun and let the boys play in the sand! First of all we flew, thank goodness- I was not looking forward to a 12 hour drive, even in our new swagger wagon honda odyssey aka the vandge-rover. Travel went as good as one could expect with a 3 year old and a 1 year old in a tantrum phase. We arrived with a stocked fridge, thanks to Mimi and Papa, and were ready for the week. Little did Jeff or I know, it would be anything but relaxing! The boys shared a bedroom, which they have never done before. It went ok at first, then we realized mornings were the issue, because when 1 was up, he woke up the other....even if at 4am. The resort had daily fun kid activities planned...even for our little ones. So every morning at 9am we went down to Skullys, aka Skully's Cross bones, as Connor referred to it, to join the other toddler tots with the activity of the day. As you will see in the pictures....we did bubbles, musical parade, finger painting, and sand castles. The rest of our mornings were spent at the pool with our afternoons spent at the beach, right outside of our condo door. Mimi and Papa were in a condo as well, and Oma came to visit for a few days. We had other visitors as well, my high school friends Jaime and Erin with her boys came for an afternoon. Also my friend from college, Tammy and her fiancé Derek and their little boy, Dylan, came and spent the 4th of July with us. Don't get me wrong we did get a little time for ourselves. We were able to enjoy the pool-sans kiddo- and a fruity beverage. We also walked the beach, saw some sunsets, and even had a date night dinner to the oh so yummy Bubble Room. Most importantly, the boys had a blast! They loved the pool and couldn't wait to get in it every day. By the end of the week, they were both jumping off the sides with little help. They weren't as fond of the beach...at least Connor was not. He tolerated it in small doses but didn't like the seaweed or the waves (which he called fountains). Greyson wanted to drink the salt water and he loved playing in the sand. I always enjoy every minute of being down there, and I can't wait to go back again next year. Enjoy just a few of the 500+ pics we took!

July 18, 2012

Concrete Slab No More

We are excited to share a few photos of our new outdoor space. Over the last few weeks we had a deck and paver patio with fire pit installed. Our detached garage and our back door being our main thoroughfare posed a challenge for the layout. But I think it came out perfect and exactly what we needed!We are so thrilled to finally enjoy being outside again. And I am secretly excited more about the many s'mores that are going to be made this fall! Anyone who has seen me go through my 2 pregnancies knows that I was a sucker for a s'more....and would resort to nutella and fluff to make mine at home, but not anymore :) There is a lot more work to be done....we still have to do some landscaping (the straw will hopefully be grass in the fall), and they are coming out to stain the deck next week. We want to get some more seating options for the fire pit and we have to figure out where to put the boy' sandbox...so this is just a start to what will eventually be, but we are happy that our concrete square of a patio is finally gone! Here are a few pics!

I forgot to take a "before" picture!

ISR Finale

Both boys finished up their ISR (Infant Swimming Rescue) lessons with Ms. Janet at the end of June. Thank goodness, because I was tired of the daily commitment and the drive to Concord. All in all, we are very happy with the results. Here are both boys in their final lessons. I am happy to report that while in FL at the beach for a week, neither Connor nor Greyson used any type of floatie! YAY!!!