Beach Trip

We are back from our beach trip. It was a relatively short trip (5 days), but it was great. It is always good to leave when you don't want to (as opposed to be so ready to leave and to still have a few more days before you can go home).

They boys did great. Steve and I got up at 3 am (after going to bed at 12:30a) and we hit the road with Christopher and Conner at 3:45a. We are thankful to God for the safe journey, lack of traffic and most of all, for the DVD player. This was a life saver, literally! The trip was 13 hours each way and since our trip went so smoothly on the way down, we used the exact same strategy on the way back. We did stop a few times at Chic-A-Lay (as Christopher calls it) to let the boys shake out their sillies. :)

The weather was incredible. Makes me long for the warmer Spring weather to arrive. We made it to the beach 3 times and we have the best time. I love, love, love the beach. I wish I could go there all of the time. Maybe it's because I great up near the ocean, but there is nothing like the sea breeze, the crashing waves and the warmth of the sun that makes me breathe deep and fall into relaxation mode.

Christopher loved building sand castles and running through the water. Conner LOVED the sand (as soon as we stepped out on the beach he plopped down ready to play... little did he know we had a few hundred yards to go before we would set up our "spot". Conner amused everyone by running around, saying "hi" to everyone, rolling in the sand and yes, using his face as a bulldozer in the sand (I should have had the camera on hand for that one!).





Our set-up in the sand. I was so proud of it I had to take a picture. :)

Enjoying our time at Siesta Key beach in Sarasota, FL. This is a great beach. Loved it!

I got to see a lot of my relatives from Nova Scotia on this trip. It was like a mini reunion. We got to spend some time with Aunts and Uncles and one of my cousins. It was really fun getting to see everyone. Of course, we got to spend time with my parents. It is always great to spend time with them. I really enjoyed seeing my mom since she just returned from a 6 month stint in New Zealand.

We can't wait to go to the beach again!

My cousin Brent, his wife Leeann, Uncle Rick
(my dad's brother), my dad and Steve. Missing in
picture are Aunt Marie and most of the children
(our 2 boys, and Brent and Leeann's 4 boys!).

Visiting with "Nanny" Norma (my mom's sister--that's what Christopher calls her b/c she looks like my mom), Uncle Dick, my dad and Conner.

I'm at work today and on my lunch break so I thought this was probably my best bet to give a blog update. So sorry, no pictures today.

We are getting ready to leave on Saturday morning for FL so we have been busy this week getting the house, car, bags, etc. ready. I'm in a Spring cleaning mode right now, so I seem to be creating a lot more work for myself this week.

In the past we have always been up late the night before getting everything ready and I'm determined not to do that this time (especially since we will be hitting the road at 4 am). I haven't been to bed before 12:30 a this entire week, but I'd rather be up late on the front end than on the back end. Friday night is going to be an early night for us (that's my goal anyway). I'm thankful for coffee. :)

All of you girls have been on my heart this past couple of weeks. God has been reminding me of how much each of you have been a blessing to me, and I am so thankful for each of you even though I don't always tell you (or even make the time to text or call you!!!). After vacation I am really going to try to make a conscious effort to be a better friend. God has really been showing me how little I invest in others outside of my husband and boys. I'm trying to be a little more in tune with what is going on with others. Maybe it is due to the renewal of the season, or a recent death in the family (my brother-in-law's brother died unexpectedly) that has prompted this...probably a little bith of both.

I'm managing to reach my goal of updatig my blog more regularly, so hopefully I will be able to be able to be a better friend too. :)

Love you girls, and I hope you know it!!!!

Ok, I can't believe I'm actually blogging. I tried to post a blog two weekends ago (Conner pooped in the bathtub for the first time on Valentine's day. It was so gross!) and I ended up having to save it as a draft twice. As you can see, it never made it online. Oh well...at least I tried. :)

Life is just pretty busy at this stage, as all of you girls know. Winters are hard for us b/c we are always sick. We seem to have a little break now, so I'm praying it will last for a little while, especially since we are heading to Florida in a couple of weeks.

I'm so excited (not about the car ride -- last year our 9 hour drive took 18 hours! Yikes. Hoping this year is a little smoother and much faster). My mom will be back from her 6 month stint in New Zealand, we will get to spend time with my dad, my aunts and uncles (2 sets) will be in from Nova Scotia, and my cousin, his wife and 4 boys will be in FL also. I haven't seen my cousin since I was in high school, junior high...I really can't remember. It has been a very long time. Anyway, it will be like a small family reunion for me. Yippie!

Since January I have been working 3 days a week. I am really enjoying it. It is truly a blessing to have a job right now, and my boys get to have a blast at Ms. Donna's house while I work. She is the greatest!

Conner is 16 months old now and is in to EVERYTHING!!! And boy is he a climber. The changing table is coming out of his room b/c he scales it like he's a professional rock climber. He enjoys dancing on the kitchen table, much to his mommy's dismay. What he lacks in stature (he's not quite 20 lbs. yet. He is finally filling out his 6-9 mos. and 12 months clothes!), he certainly makes up for in determination and persistence.

Christopher is 3, going on 6, I like to say. He is constantly engaging anyone he can in conversation, and his questions are at least 6 layers deep (and the, "well Christopher, why do you think?" doesn't work. He's much to smart and truly inquisitive for that). He is very independent and likes to do everything himself these days (pour his own milk, fix his own sandwich, etc.), except for using the potty on a consistent basis. We are working on it! He keeps me laughing and gives me gray hair all at the same time. :)

I do love my sweet, busy boys and I am so thankful for them. Here are a few somewhat recent pics. :)



BTW...I'm going to try to post a blog at least once every 2 weeks. I was going to strive for every week, but I'd rather not set myself up for failure.

:)