Saturday, November 30, 2013

Key Largo, FL

Key Largo, FL was the first stop in our two week vacation this summer.  My sister, Deanna, and her family met us out there and we rented a condo for the week together.  It was such a great vacation that was relaxing and great memories made!  We spent the week checking out a lot of the beaches and swimming in the pool.  We quickly found out that the Keys is NOT the place to go for white sandy beaches!  After our first attempt at a beach and finding it very rocky, we managed to find a couple with sand that week for the kids to be able to play in the sand.  My nieces, Katelyn and Mia, enjoyed snorkeling as well.  We made it down to Key West one afternoon after spending a couple hours at a sandy beach.  We found the southern most point, as well as a butterfly garden that all the kids enjoyed. I also discovered that the only way I get a lot of photos of me and the kids is by vacationing with others!  On another day while my nieces got to swim with the dolphins, we decided to take the boys on a glass bottom boat.  That will be our one and ONLY experience.... at least for me and possibly Ryley!  Once we made it to the reef, I went down to the bottom with Ryley and quickly made my way back up to the top deck!  Ryley was the first to get sick, which did not help me maintain my eyes on the horizon to keep from doing the same.  Once the captain said he was turning back, Will came up to the top with Grayson to find Ryley in the arms of a nice lady who felt sorry for us, while I was getting sick over the trashcan.  On the way back we all were sitting there, when Grayson started to get sick as well.  Will was the only one to walk off the boat feeling fine, but his dreams of owning a boat and going out on the water with the whole family were quickly washing away.  Sorry Daddy!  Apparently your wife can't handle the open waters and swaying back and forth!  Other than that one experience..... we had a wonderful week and we will never forget!  

















































September 2013

September was a busy month!  Grandma Sand who came to the rescue in August to stay with the boys in Georgia while we went to Chicago to get Payton, abandoned Mommy once we were back to school/work.  (Okay.... so it wasn't really abandonment since Mommy said Grandma could go.... but Mommy was thinking twice about having her leave afterwards!)  Grayson started his second year of school and is in the 3's class.  Mommy and Daddy got a much needed night away while they went to the Battalion Ball and our trusty babysitter stayed with all three kids over night!  Grayson also  started soccer for the first time in September.  There was also a Heritage Day at a cattle ranch near Savannah that we went to near the end of the month.  


Trying their hand at t-ball








Will and his 1SG toasting to the "Grog" at the ball


A few of the ladies I've gotten to know through the FRG

Me and my trusty FRG co-leader!



Putting in a french drain in the back yard









No!  I just like the middle of the Oreos mom!









More first day pics

His teacher, Ms. Allison, from last year moved up into the 3's this year so Mommy worked her charm to get Grayson back into the class she was assisting in :)


Heritage Day







Playing "ring around the rosie" with new friends
who are just about the same age as each the boys :)