More Florida Photos

So get ready for a lot of photos.  This was me in the morning, drinking my coffee, looking out the window at the beautiful Florida sunshine. So pretty....

Not fully awake yet.  Nicholas was overtaking my bed.

And Gabby too.... Everyone wants to be close in the morning.

Amanda was off sleeping in the family room. I finally got her in a picture but she would not cooperate.

Well there is a smile...

The smile was fleeting and she is back to looking annoyed doing Perler beads for Gabby

We decided to play putt putt one afternoon.  Amanda stayed back home so it was only the 4 of us.  Gabby is getting really good.

Nick is keeping score from the first hole... talking trash... telling us how close all the scores are on every hole.  Actually,  the scores were close with Steve and Nick... not so much with Gabby and I.

That's a cute photo of the family...

Nicholas getting fed up with all of my photos.  He wants nothing to do with preserving memories for this blog.

Eventually he decided to play along...

Me trying to get in on the action...

She is just adorable.

He is so happy he won at putt putt today!

Remember when I mentioned Amanda sleeping in the family room.  The poor girl got bombarded with pillows nearly every morning.  I think Gabby just tackled her.

And Nick is trying to get her moving.  Not the most pleasant way to wake up!

Nick played tennis everyday because he had a tournament coming up when we returned home.  The girls joined in the tennis nearly everyday too.

Hitting some forehands...

Nick loves this shot.  I got him doing a perfectly timed donkey kick, which Steve hates.... but it makes for a very cool photo.

Taking some serves....

From the front... using his legs

He has the tennis trophy pose down....

Amanda serving from the front...

And hitting an ace...

I didn't play any tennis.  No one likes to play with me anymore.  The kids can kill me and have no patience, and Gabby doesn't like that I can't get every ball back like her dad.  It's not really a good time for me.  I would much rather run and put on my music and get the endorphins flowing.  I can run as fast or as slow as I want.  Here was a slow run....

Showered and done with the run...

So are the Florida photos done yet?  Not quite..... Until later

A Make-up Lesson with Aunt Laura

Nothing like waiting until the last minute to get in my final entry of the month... #5.  So I decided to take a break from the overwhelming amount of Florida photos and focus on Amanda.  As a birthday gift Aunt Laura/Uncle Brad and crew gave Amanda a Sephora gift card,  and a make-up consultation/play date.  It is so fun to have a talented Aunt to teach Amanda all the tricks of the trade.  (Or at least teach her the basics of applying makeup in the teenage years.)  So here they are on a Friday night getting all glammed up.  Laura is amazing and Amanda is beautiful, so I could hardly wait to see what she would suggest.

Laura was so excited and Amanda too!  The first thing Laura wanted to know was if she could do Amanda's makeup for Homecoming next year!  Oh goodness....Does this mean she is growing up?

So Amanda got a lesson in primer, eye shadow, liner, foundation, blush, highlighter, bronzer, gloss.... it was a lot of fun.  Look how beautiful she looks!  I couldn't quit staring at her face, and those eyes. Amanda hated all the close ups.... but that is how I like to frame my photos... with that pretty face!

This was so fun!  Laura... you are the best.  Amanda loved it!  The only problem was we should have come earlier in the day.  It was 8:45 when we left.  Amanda would have to take off her new face and go to bed instead of showing it off all day.

Laura is going to deliver the makeup and show Amanda how to use her new make-up brushes at home.  Such a sweetheart!  I just love these photos of the 2 of them.  They are both so pretty!  I have to say Amanda took a lot of photos for snapchat that night.

And because Amanda just hates my close-ups.... here is a far away photo for my daughter.

You know I couldn't leave without Laura helping me out too.  Its always so fun to play with make-up, it just makes you feel pretty and good.  That's how we should all feel everyday.   So of course I left with some goodies of my own.  What a fun Friday night!  Until later....

Florida Day #2

So begins day #2.... Taking a jog with the one person who wanted to exercise with me after playing tennis.  We ran about 2 1/2 miles and did some sprinting.  He is a fast boy!  Everything was going well until I got my crazy wind headache, which often happens when I run outside with nothing covering my ears.  I had to rest several times on the way home because my head was hurting so much.  That was a bummer!

Then it was time to chill out in the jacuzzi.  The weather in Florida was nice, but not really swimming weather... 70's and the breeze coming off the ocean.... But it did beat the 11 degrees in Michigan.

Nick was dying to jump in the big pool.  It was a warm 66 in the pool.  He immediately jumped in and then made a dash right back into the hot tub.  It was WAY  TO  COLD!

The girls hanging out... in the warmth... they were smart

Valentine's day was coming up on Sunday...Look at the treats I found for the kids...and maybe for me too!

Practicing taking selfies with this cutie...I could smother her in kisses everyday

Look what Nick pulled out in the afternoon. Scrabble!!!  I think Steve and I almost didn't get married because of our crazy Scrabble games.... or maybe it was our competitive nature... or cheating... or my terrible knowledge of legitimate words and Steve's ability to know every single word imaginable.  We have not played Scrabble in years.  I have to say with Nicholas in the mix, our game was a lot less hostile.

More selfie practice... this time I captured my running partner....

Then it was off to dinner.  I didn't take many photos that evening... This was a cute one!

Then the kids decided they wanted to go bowling...at least Nick and Gabby really wanted to bowl.  Amanda wasn't overjoyed by the idea, but she came along.  My hip was bothering me so I sat out and took photos.  Also... I'm just not really good at games where you have to aim at things, like bowling, or bocce, or pool.   It was a Saturday night so of course it was glow bowling .

.

Gabby was a champ.  She just threw the ball down the lane and did her happy dance.  It was the best! Nick was there to give her technical instructions, but she had her own ideas.

Nick had a great time and bowled really well.  Everything is more fun when the bumpers are up!

I took a shot of this because Gabby got a strike.  The other kids did too... but I just don't have screen shots of them all.

Jumping up and down in anticipation of getting another strike.

AND  FINALLY.... we got Amanda to participate in the bowling.  She was not in her finest mood, but at least we got her off the PHONE!!!

So what does the rest of the week look like?  Until later....

Florida Day #1

So we just returned from a restful stay in Florida to visit Grammie and Grampie.  The kids were on February break so it was the perfect opportunity to get out of Michigan.  Of course 2 days before we left Gabby started coming down with a cough and a runny nose.  I wanted to make sure she would be okay to fly, so into the doctor we went on Wednesday.  Our flight was on Thursday, and I just didn't want to get to Florida and then spend time at the walk-in-clinic which we know all to well.   Check out the weather on that Wednesday.  I'm so glad we were getting out of town.

 

 Here is my sick little girl at the doctor's office.  Walking pneumonia.... time to start antibiotics and bring them on the trip.

 Thursday morning, we were driven to the airport at the break of dawn.  Thank you Dad! Everyone was ready to ditch the cold.

 Smiling passengers ready for take off...

 Here was my traveling companion...

 Gabby decided to journal part of this trip... I think this is the only entry she actually wrote.

 The girls look happy.  We just landed in Orlando.

 Now the 90 mile drive to Grammie and Grampie's house.  Maybe everyone will perk up after lunch!  It looks like they need some food.

 Well we finally made it and the kids were happy to see everyone.  I was too busy visiting to take pictures.  This was my last photo of the day... Gabby getting her nebulizer treatment.  She did a lot of coughing these first few days in Florida.  Poor little girl!

What excitement will day #2 bring?  Until later....