Time to Pack It Up...

Russ's conference was coming to a close and so was our Florida vacation. While I was able to relax and enjoy some down town with family, it was time to pack it up and head back home. As I started to think about all the things "we" wanted and needed to get done before Russ's friends come to visit and before Lexie's sibling arrives...all I wanted to do was bury my head in the sand like a flamingo!!! Why does it seem like vacations are over the day after they started? In any event, we had a wonderful time visiting with family and Russ visiting with friends/colleagues, but now it was back to reality!!! Here are the last few photos from our trip! Thanks again for such a wonderful time...we can't wait to come back (all four of us by then)!


Russ and Lexie all cleaned up from the beach and enjoying a bedtime story on the side porch at Granny's
Lexie listens intently while Russ reads an adventure about Dora (who else?)

All smiles....even though we are packing up and heading home! I just love this picture!
Lexie playing in Granny's room...she is supposed to be helping me pack!!!

Beach Bound...Again!

During the conference, Russ had an afternoon free so we decided to take Lexie back to the beach. She was so excited to get to explore the sand with her Daddy!! We looked for shells, splashed in the water, and soaked up some afternoon sun! We had so much fun and found some more shells to add to our collection! Can't wait for our next trip to the sea side!!!

Lexie strikes a pose on her way up the pier
Walking with Daddy and Granny to the beach


Lexie and her Daddy walking hand in hand, looking for shells
Time to stop and splash, splash, splash!!!


Check out the video



Showing her daddy all the pretty sea shells
A quick family photo...baby bump included
Lexie shows off her latest find...
...then it is back to splashing!
Time for some fun in the sand
Lexie and Russ having one of those "father/daughter" moments...


...or was it Russ having one of "his" moments???

A good time was had by all!!!

Lunch break with Daddy!

During the conference, Russ was able to break away for lunch one day to spend some time with Lexie. She was SO EXCITED! She gave him BIG kisses when he got to Granny's. She wanted to show him her new Dora Bubble Blower. It didn't work as well as we thought, but that didn't stop her from having fun! After playing with the bubbles, she tried to "slide" down Granny's chair, then it was off for a ride through the neighborhood with Granny and Daddy of the golf cart. I think Lexie could get used to this!!!


Lexie had BIG kisses for her daddy!
Trying to slide down the chair.
Using her Dora wand to blow bubbles...
...and she even got some help from her Daddy!
Waving bye-bye...it was Lexie's turn to drive around and show her Daddy how it is done!

A Honeymoon Breakfast

A trip to Florida would not be complete without at least one visit to the beach! After Lexie's last excursion, I wasn't too sure what to expect. It had been about 6 months since her last encounter but this time was much more pleasant! The causeway going out to the beach that we would usually go to was under construction, so we decided to head out to Honeymoon Island. We got up a little bit early, grabbed some breakfast on the way, and were one of the first to set foot on the beach. As soon as Lexie's toes hit the sand, she was a bit unsure, but after a few minutes, she was in heaven! We found a bench, enjoyed our breakfast, listened to the waves crashed and the seagulls squawk, then it was off to find some shells.
Honeymoon Island (and its sister island Caladesi) is known for shelling! We thought about taking the boat over to Caladesi, but the first trip didn't leave until 10am. We made the best of our time on the island and found a ton of shells!!!


The view from our bench while we ate breakfast...
....shells, shells, everywhere you looked!


Lexie and Granny enjoying the food, view, weather, each other...EVERYTHING....what is not to enjoy? We are at the beach right?

Time to explore and look for some shells...
I think Lexie sees some over there...
...just checking to make sure I am still following her!
Trying to find the perfect shell, strolling along the waterline.


Not quite a postcard, but she just stopped....and appeared to take it all in!
My little Coppertone baby!!!
Checking out the view from the pier.
I don't think she wanted to leave!
After almost two hours at the beach (and no shade) this paranoid mom thought it was time to retreat!!! What a way to spend the morning!!!! We all had such a great time!

Playtime at the Park

The second half of our trip started out with of course a trip to the pool and a ride around Granny's neighborhood in the golf cart. Lexie LOVED going for rides in the golf cart! She sat right between Granny and I and took it all in...from time to time, she would help me drive, but mostly just enjoyed the ride!
After a morning trip to the pool, we decided to let the sun's rays cool off a bit then headed to Fred Howard Park for an afternoon of fun. Luckily the playground was a bit protected by the trees and shade was abundant! Lexie would have stayed for HOURS, but after what seemed like 30 trips down the slide, we headed back to Grans for some dinner. She had such a great time at the park!!!


Lexie crawling from one side of the slide through the tunnel to the other slide! (I think this is one of my new favorite pictures of her!!!!)
Going up the steps to the BIG slide with a little help from Granny.
Ready...set.....smile!
Here I come...ready or not!!!!
What a ham...in the car and back to the house we go...what a fun afternoon!!!

Bye -bye Venice, Hello Tarpon Springs

Our time with GG and Gpa in Venice was coming to an end. Lexie was so tired from such a fun day, she gave everyone a couple rounds of kisses then it was off to bed. Sadly, I wasn't too far behind her! After packing up everything, we loaded up and headed a bit north to Ellenton, where Granny picked us up for the second part of our adventures in Florida.


Kisses for GG (in yet another pair of cute pajamas)...
...and more kisses for Gpa...


The next morning, Lexie was all dressed up and ready to go...here she rolling it while doing "pat-a-cake"
A rare "pose" from Lexie...usually I can't get her to look my direction when the camera is out unless there is a goofy face that goes along with it!
Another cute "pose"...I think Dora was on and I was in her view!!!
ALL SMILES HERE for her last ride in the elevator!!!

We had such a great time with GG and Gpa and hated to leave, but they had to get packed up for their journey home. Thanks again for such a wonderful visit!!! We can't wait for you to get home safely so you can come and visit us!!!

Play hard...work hard

Day three of our trip brought more sunshine and blue skies and of course a trip to the pool. Lexie really enjoyed her time in the water today...in fact, we ended up staying in for over an hour! Luckily we got out early before the sun was too strong! (I went back during her nap and ended up only staying for 45 minutes...don't want a pregnancy mask--that is for sure!) We splashed and floated and jumped off the side of the pool...she was SO tired when we got back to GG's but that didn't stop her from helping with the clean up efforts. GG and Gpa are leaving to head back up north on Sunday, so Lexie did her part to help! (Make sure you check out the video at the bottom of the post). After all that hard work, and play time at the pool, she could barely keep her eyes open...so lunch had to wait until after her nap!

GG helps Lexie into the pool.

Still loving her float boat and new beach toys!

She sat on the side of the pool and dumped buckets of water on herself! She just thought it was the greatest thing.

Then it was time for a ride around the pool before we headed back to the condo...and out of the sun!

Lexie being a big helper...she helped with the kitchen floors...

...check out this video...such a BIG helper!

After her slumber, Lexie ate a big lunch then it was off to visit some of GG's friends. We went for a little stroll and had a nice visit! Gpa really wanted to hit the pool, but it was just toooooo hot and the sun was too strong! He settled on making us homemade pizza, which made the condo smell like an Italian Oven--YUMMMMMMO!!

Visiting over at GG and Gpa's friends-- Cy and Marie's.

Enjoying the ride on the elevator again!!!