Welcome Summer 2013

Summer started off with a bang here. This is a recap from the past week. Busy times and we are loving every second of it.

See that look of panic in Quinnie's eyes?! This is how she felt when she realized that her binkie was broke.

Branson jumps at the opportunity to spend time on the tractor, especially with Uncle Joel.

We have quite the little farm boy on our hands. Here he is teaching us about "good soil"

Of course any chance for Sister to get dirty she jumps on it as well.

Happy Father's Day to one of the best.

 

The kids are great helpers with herbs

"Grandma and Papa from Tenino" came  for the kids June Jubilee at gymnastics 

Swimming lessons have started and I am super excited about the progress B has made so far.

Quinn loves swimming, but she is not a fan of swimming lessons. 

We haven't had much summer weather, but the forecast tells us that is going to change soon.

Quinn wasn't the greatest helper when I tried to take her to a couple barn sales with me.

 We went to a beautiful wedding in Chelan last weekend

I think she loves him

  

Then topped the weekend off with a birthday party.

Fun times. As the rest of our Summer (even Fall) plans start to fall into place it doesn't look as if things are going to slow down a bit, and for that I am grateful. We love making memories with those we love.

SeaWorld

When we first learned of the wedding location we started researching things to do in the Key Largo area.  Of course our minds also drifted further north to the Orlando area, not wanting to give up any family time we decided to spend our week with family in the Keys then our two extra days we headed north to Orlando. With so many attractions in that area we decided on SeaWorld. Something that was totally doable in one day.

Sunday after checking out of our "Florida House" as Branson called it, we headed north. When I first came up with the idea, I didn't realize how far it was, but Josh convinced me it would be worth it. Our kids are great travelers, but still 8 hours in a car followed by a six hour flight home made me a bit nervous. They rocked it though. Five hours north to Orlando without one stop. No potty breaks or food stops. 

There was lots of reading

And LOTS of fighting

Happy kids to be out of the car and getting food in their bellies. Happy mommy and daddy too for such an easy car ride and to be out of the car as well.

We woke up bright and early the next morning to get to SeaWorld right when they opened.

And looking back it was totally worth it. 

The kids like the shows

And LOVED the rides. 

There was literally no wait in line for the rides. Josh and I each took turns going on the adult rides while the other stayed with the kids.

Branson was tall enough to go on all of the kids rides alone and just tall enough for most of the adult rides.

We headed out at dinner time and the kids promptly fell asleep as we headed south to Fort Lauderdale. Arriving at midnight we checked into our hotel aware that we were basically paying for a place to shower and get organized for our flight home. We checked out at 4 a.m. and headed to the airport and had an uneventful flight home. 

When we landed in Seattle the adults were starting to get sleepy, but we knew if we could make it home we would get a break.

Thankful for kids and grandparents who missed each other. We dropped the kids off at Papa and Mimi's and went straight home to get some rest. Transition back to reality was fairly easy with their help.

Key Largo

Our Spring Break trip was amazing. Amazing people, amazing weather, sand, surf. What more could we ask for?!

It was nice to get to be with family for the week. 

Lots of cousin time.

Lots of Auntie snuggles. 

Another day another Auntie.

Or cousin.

Another day, another meal on the water...

We spent the majority of each day in the pool

We drove down to Key West. It is a beautiful drive with turquoise water on both sides of the road. The Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. Amazing.

We watched the cruise ships, went to the most southern point of the continental United States (to match the most southern tip of the U.S. that we visited in Hawaii a few years ago), and saw the beginning of highway 1. Quinn's favorite part was the ice cream snack.

We came home to snow in April. Branson entertained himself by bike riding in the house. Why get dressed when you can ride bikes in the house?!

We are thankful that we are getting some breaks in the weather and can be outside a bit more. I am so glad for gymnastics and indoor activities that kept the kids and I busy this winter. Quinn started gymnastics when she was 18 months old and is doing great. The last 5 minutes of class they have free time and last week Quinn chose to lounge in the doughnut.