Wednesday, August 26, 2009

My cool girl

We were out with Sean and his two best friends, Aspen and Taylor, looking for Jonas Brothers stuff, and Erin tried on this hat. Love this picture.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

School days

Everyone here is back in school. We all started back yesterday, and it was a great day. I have six classes this semester, Sean is in high school (9th grade), Brendan in middle school (7th grade), and Erin is in 1st grade. This is the first time that all three of my kiddos have been in separate schools, although the middle and high schools are on the same campus (less than 2 miles from our house).

Sean is in all honors courses, Brendan has committed to himself to make straight A's "at least one quarter this year", and Erin will undoubtedly excel as she always does. She is actually being tested this week to try and determine a course of action/education plan that will be able to challenge her, and keep her challenged.

So we are back to our routines, and excited about the adventures that the next few months will bring.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Anah Belle

I took this picture of Anah about a year ago, and just found it in iPhoto. It's so cute, and so indicative of the way that she likes to sleep with her head on the pillow. Doesn't she look comfortable?

Blonde Sean



Yep, he's "expressing" himself. Love the teenage years.

School

First day of school last year,
and first day of school this year.
Love my sweet girl.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Sunset

I took these two pictures from our balcony the last night we were at the condo. Both were taken as the sun was setting.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Home

We're home, we've unpacked, and already been out and about. The boys both had school registration this afternoon (7th and 9th grade), and I had to go get my annual TB shot (required to work in the hospital), so we were up at their schools within an hour of getting home.

It was so nice to be away from here. I loved being with my kiddos, and spending the relaxing time with them. We all go back to school on Monday so it is quickly going to become the chaos that I know and love. Add into that the fact that we have to start looking for new homes, and we are in for a good time.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Day #4 at the beach

Our last full day here. We check out of the condo tomorrow morning, and head back home (a whole 35 minutes north).

Last night Erin sorted all of her shells on the dining room table. She absolutely loves finding and collecting shells. She also loves (as I've already mentioned) snuggling with her Uncle Tony. They spent some time laying together in the recliner this morning.


This afternoon we were out on the beach, and we noticed a huge storm about 30 miles out in the Gulf. If you look at the right hand side of the picture below you can see the beginning of a water spout that formed as we watched. It almost got completely down to the water before it broke up.

Brendan doing some more snorkeling. He and Tony found another 10 sand dollars.

Bren with a live conch. We threw all of them back.
Erin and Zaye.

We found a small sea star that was regenerating one of its appendages. He was alive so we let him go.



The Jonas Brothers are here in concert (Tampa) tomorrow night, and they are staying at a hotel just two blocks from our condo. We saw their tour bus parked in front of the hotel so Erin and I walked down there to get a picture.



And finally another swim in the pool.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Day #3 at the beach

With the tropical storm nearby the morning started off extremely windy and gray, but still beautiful. Earlier this afternoon I spent a bit of time with Zaye, Bren and Erin in the jacuzzi and pool.


Later in the afternoon while the boys went with Papa, Tony, Erin and I watched tv for a little bit (and just relaxed). Erin LOVES her Uncle Tony, and she especially loves snuggling with him every chance she can.

This evening Tony, Zaye and I went for a walk down the beach for a couple of hours, looking for shells and sharks teeth. Brendan and Erin joined us on our way back.





Saturday, August 15, 2009

Day #2 at the beach

I woke to this...
Started the day by taking Erin to the pool downstairs.





The rest of the day was spent out in the sand, sun and water.
The late afternoon thunderstorm rolling in.
Brendan (above and below) snorkeling. Yes, I had my camera out in the water with me.

Tony snorkeling.
Zaye relaxing on the float.


And then back to the pool with Erin.
And then about 10pm we all went out for a night time stroll along the beach.