road trip to florida, part five: down south

I'm so glad that we were able to make it down to Coral Springs to visit with some of my besties...

Some of my all-time besties.  I love these ladies.

Pool time.  (it was a little chilly)

E. finds a turtle in the pool!

I really loved these shots.

My boys were a little obsessed with this game while we were there.  These two were so cute working together.

Movie time.  (Read: Time when the big people get to actually talk.)  :)

Elliot inspired a little spontaneous swing time when he saw a rope hanging (pretty high) from the tree in the backyard.

Brave E. likes that idea.

Hayden takes a turn.

Later that week, we went back down to Boca Raton to meet up with Blair's mom, brother and two grandmas.  Also, some of my favorite people in the world. 

I know these are a little blurry, but they are still treasures to me.  Great Grandma Carol is just so sweet and Novah immediately snuggled right up to her to read books and look at dolls.  These Grandmas hadn't seen the kids in about two years, so we had alot of catching up to do. 

Grandma Jayme had some sweet cuddle time with baby Gil.  :)

Uncle Jake!  Sorry, the only good pic we got was mid-chew.  He took a break from his tennis to hang out with the kids.  They loved him!

Hanging by the pool.

Sweet Great Grandma Shirley.  (These ladies do NOT look like grandmas and great-grandmas!  Really!)  She had some special time with the little ones as well.  I love this lady!

And a little nod to my alma mater, while passing by. 

I know this picture does it little justice, but this was the night before the "supermoon" when the moon was pretty full.  Every night while we were in FL, we had these gorgeous, clear skies with breathtaking sunsets and moon rises.  I had to pause to let it soak in.  

This may have been the first time, since moving away that I actually really enjoyed Florida, in a sense.  Because I feel so removed, I was able to look past the commercialism and consumerism (and, uh, even partake a tiny bit) and enjoy the broad, wide open skies.  The horizon line.  Something we don't have in the mountains.  I found myself stopping all the time and just taking in the landscape.  It was lovely.  And that brings me to the beach, the next post in my series....stay tuned!

first days of spring

I am taking a little break from my Florida trip blogging to put up a quick post from this week.  The weather has been so bizarre lately.  One day, a few weeks ago, we had this....

Then, a few days later, it was nice enough for a hike... 

Worth every step.  Isn't this glorious?

Then, a few days later, we had weather so warm and lovely, that we shed our clothes for swimsuits and soaked it in as much as possible.  Welcome Spring!

 

April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.  ~William Shakespeare

first crawdad!

 

dandelion soup in the making

Days like this are remembered forever.  The first days of spring.  First splashes in the creek.  First dandelions and daffodils.  First crawdads.  What a gift, really.  We are grateful.

"Hark, I hear a robin calling!
List, the wind is from the south!
And the orchard-bloom is falling
Sweet as kisses on the mouth.

In the dreamy vale of beeches
Fair and faint is woven mist,
And the river's orient reaches
Are the palest amethyst.

Every limpid brook is singing
Of the lure of April days;
Every piney glen is ringing
With the maddest roundelays.

Come and let us seek together
Springtime lore of daffodils,
Giving to the golden weather
Greeting on the sun-warm hills."
-  Lucy Maud Montgomery, Spring Song 

road trip to florida, part four: even more family fun

Alright buddy, you're done. 

Hop on out, it's my turn.

That's right.

Clear. a. path.

Elliot and Karly.  And the top half of a masterpiece. 

Do these even need captions??

 

Making birthday signs.  We celebrated 3 Reinhardt birthdays while we were there.

Poor Dylan was sick.  That's why he...well, looks sick.

More to come....