So this last week I was hanging out with my family.  My whole family.  A total of 21 of us fitting just barely into 3 vehicles with a UHaul taking everything (including the guy’s golf clubs… apparently they can’t leave home without them).    We all went down to the Florida Panhandle – Cape San Blas to be exact.  We’d worried for so long about the oil spill and as it turned out everything was absolutely gorgeous!  Clear beautiful waters and sandy white beaches greeted us when we arrived. 

We had such a great time!  In the morning we’d take the kids to the beach to swim and you know what – the water was sooo great that they actually could swim in it!  And at the end of the week it was so calm that we could walk out quite a distance with the kids and let them swim with the little fish in calm shallow water.  It really was amazing and the little ones absolutely loved every minute of it!  And every night we each took turns cooking everyone a feast and we dressed up for dinner every night.  We didn’t eat out once the whole week and not one of us missed out.   Then in the evening I’d sing on the deck with my sisters with the sun setting on the beach behind us… OK.  So those of you that know me know that I personally didn’t sing toooo much (out of kindess to others) but it was great fun none-the-less.   

My only regret was not taking my camera out more often.  But even that I don’t regret too much.  The time playing in the sand with my kids was priceless and I’ll never forget it.  Pictures or not. 

I wanted to thank my sister, Gianni, for stopping on our walk down the beach to take this shot of my family for me!  I’m sooooo often not found in pictures… 

Back at home at last! Our trip was so much fun!  The kids had a blast every single day and it was great to hang out with my brother and sister-in-law!  Little Henry had some trouble with the characters though - I can’t say I blame him too much.  The scary picture was from the Tiki Room in the Magic Kingdom…  really what small child wouldn’t be afraid of that popping up in front of you??  From that point on when the lights dimmed no matter where we were he went into a panic.  Poor little guy.    Emma was sooo excited that we got to see the High School Musical show.  She was actually asked to join them on stage and dance but she was too nervous to actually go up there.  Will’s favorite was the Yeti ride at Animal Kingdom.  I was in shock when I realized that not only was Emma tall enough to ride just about all the rides, but so was Will!!  LoL – so now there’s another child growing up in our house.  Where does the time go?!?!  Overall – amazingly wonderful trip.  Even the nearly 20hr drive (each way!) to Orlando was great!

Special thanks to my sister-in-law Leah – she took the family shot of us walking on the beach for me.    Thank you!!

Oh no, a post without pictures!    Don’t worry, I’ll fix that as soon as we get back home.  Right now my family is down in Florida visiting my mother-in-law… who very luckily lives extremely close to Disney World.  So far the kids are having so much fun!  And today will be my most favorite day yet – the beach!!  I’m looking forward to laying on the beach making sandcastles and watching the sunset…   Hopefully some of our home movies will also turn out well.    My daughter has decided she would like to be the videographer for our trip.  So her little 6-year-old personality will be our host for our very own movie.  I have to say – it’s sooooo incredibly cute to watch her create her documentary all on her own (with some help from her little brother, of course).    I only hope that the head of everyone are actually in most of the shots…