Hermine who?????

One of the only perks about Ronnie's hectic travel schedule is that he gets to accumlate LOTS AND LOTS of Marriott hotel points -- which we horde all year in order to spend 4 days in Marco Island at this amazing resort over Labor Day weekend!  Ronnie and I started going down there the year we were engaged and have gone 2 other times since (we skipped the years the kids were itty bitty babies).  It's one of our favorite weekend of the year because it is like the grand finalie to summer and it welcomes fall -- football, baseball playoffs, pumpkin spice lattes and hopes for cooler temps in the next coming months.  It's a celebration!

I have been looking forward to this year's trip pretty much all year - and especially this summer when Ronnie was gone.  However, mother nature decided to give us a run for our money in the final days before the trip.  Tropical Storm Hermine started spinning in the gulf the weekend before we were supposed to leave and landfall was expected the day were leaving. 

The good thing (if you can imagine for a minute that this is good) was that the largest part of the storm was headed to Tampa, not to south Florida where we were traveling (Marco Island is about 3 hours from here and just south of Naples). We live inland enough that we were confident that really all we would get at home would be lots and lots of rain and some wind (and a VERY long weekend indoors).  So, Ronnie took charge and on Thursday morning he said - let's pack up and get down there!  So we ran the kids over to Grandma and Grandpa's for a couple hours while we packed and then off we went!  

And thankfully so, because we barely saw ANY rain and the weather was gorgeous!  Thursday afternoon (pick below in the background) you can see some wind and overcast but that was the worst of it.  

Mom - really.  Enough with the pictures. 

Oh, I'm ready for the pool... but first I'm going to play on this bed and make you catch me!

Drew - we're here!!!!!  

Long car ride, some pool time and fun on the beach after dinner = falling asleep sitting up.

Morning stroll on the beach -- these were some of our favorite times of the day!

Drew and Reese are starting to play together so good!  Makes our hearts smile :-) 

But.... she is a stinker.  "Hmm, I'm thinking about knocking Drew's castle over."

Mission accomplished.

I'm outta here!

Lesson from Daddy.  "No Reese, you can't just go around knocking over people sand castles.  We have to fix it now."

Drew learned about conch  on this trip and was listening to the ocean in the shells.  "Hello?  Ocean, are you there?"  There were so many beautiful conch shells on the beach this year - it was really amazing.

Daddy and his Reesie.  LOVE.

Holding hands with her is so much fun.  She was in AWE of the beach, the sounds and sights. 

Since we ARE on vacation... I'll take the frozen daiquiri please.  Extra strawberries :-)

HAPPY BABY.

Selfie with mommy while Drew napped!  

Pingpong after dinner!

Nothing like sitting on the balcony overlooking the beach in the morning.  Especially with this guy.

More pool time... and more snacks!

She loved sitting and playing in the shallow end.  CALM... for once.

Nothing like a popsicle when it's 90 degrees out!

Riding in our new beach wagon was so much fun!

FRAMER.

This boy loves the beach, the water, the waves and everything about it.  

Little beach princess.

Daddy snuggles.

These two have my heart!

And THIS one... just awwwwwe.  Can't get enough of this boy. 

Finale.  

We had a wonderful family trip and the plan is to go back again next year!  We love you Marco Island!

Water and the Webers!

No clue where this summer went - especially the month of August.  Soo.... like most of my posts this one is a month late (where is that little emoji with the monkey with his hands over his face??!!) 

Anyway... the second week of August Wendy and the boys made a trip to Florida!  Originally this was going to be during Reese's birthday but since Grandma Lori was coming down for that we decided to stretch it out to two weeks later.  Needed to share the family love across more time! 

When Reese was born it rained for like 10 days straight.  I think that pattern shifted to the second week of August this year because when the Webers were here IT RAINED NON-STOP!  

But guess what... this rain didn't stop these kids from having fun!  If there wasn't a threat of lightning you could find them in the pool or huddled up under the lanai watching cartoons outside! 

Morning fun!  Good thing we only got a few toys out.  LOL


The rain and the pool are fun... but maybe not ALL day.  So we decided to pile in the car one day and head to the bowling alley!  The bowling alley is one of those places that Drew had been to one time, but begged and pleaded to go back.  Not exaggerating - he asked every day for a couple weeks straight.   "Do-it-again" Drew can be very persistent!

Off we went to Splitsville!

"But mom - there are still two pins left"

Pals for life!

Look at these three.  They are on a mission... not sure if it's to somewhere they should be going but at least they have each other! 

Back to the house and into the pool!  Reesie... you're just not QUITE big enough to swim with the big kids.  Maybe next year!

As most "toys" that kids love, they aren't actually toys.  Take our pool float for example -- it's designed for the relaxing adult to lay on and just quietly float around.  OR -- it could be used as a "boat" or perhaps to practice diving into home plate.  Use your imagination, and that pool float can be anything you want it to be! 

Time for a snack!

Ethan LOVES the pool and it makes me so happy that he comes down and enjoys it so much!  He's such a sweet boy and pure joy to have around.  Drew has a great role model in him!

Ok - break is over... someone tell dad.

We are so fortunate that the Webers make an annual trip to see us -- it keeps these kids close and it's so much fun for us to have them.  Always an adventure when we get together!