Florida Vacation 2011

We took our family vacation to Ormond Beach FL this year.  We left Friday June 24th and got back July 3rd.  It was a great trip! Rob of course took us on the most random route down there that I had ever seen.  The Jason Aldean song "Dirt Road Anthem" became our theme song as we drove through Georgia, we were on the only paved road in site, every other road was dirt!  It made for quite an interesting trip down there!  We will never forget the town of Waycross, GA. haha.  Anyway, it was a long 18 1/2 hour car ride, but the kids were troopers, and it was a lot of fun!  We got to the condo on that Saturday, we stayed at The Royal Floridian which was very nice!  Most days we spent relaxing, swimming in the pool and ocean, and playing in the sand. Rob didn't get his dream of building a sand castle, because Luke and Gabby both loved knocking over everything Rob tried to build haha.  Maybe someday, Rob! Monday night we went to Daytona Beach and walked on the boardwalk, went to all of the cool shops, and ate at Luke's pick of Johnny Rocket's. That was really fun!  I think it was Wednesday that we went to St. Augustine, which is America's oldest city.  Very cool, you would think that you were in Europe.  Then we went to The Fountain of Youth, very awesome!  The water tasted like sulfur, but it was still cool to say we drank water from The Foutain of Youth!  We took scenic A-1-A all the way to St. Augustine, so we were right next to the ocean the whole way there, pretty cool!  That Friday I got the great idea to say in the sun the whole day and I got fried, Luke even had his first sunburn, poor guy.  Such is the life for red heads though! haha.  Saturday we headed back home and stayed again at the half way point in Chattanooga.  Sunday we stopped in Metropolis to get the kids pictures with Superman (a family tradition for us).  When we were in the Superman museum and Luke claims he sees something The Incredibles, we didn't believe him, but sure enough there were some really sun bleached boxes that contained an awesome Incredibles piggy bank.  We had to buy it, because this stuff is hard to come by!  We made it home by 8:00 on Sunday night, and were happy we had a safe, fun trip!

Luke's Golf and Swimming lessons

Luke's choosen activities for the summer were golf and swimming lessons.  The swimming lessons are still going until Thursday, while the golf lessons ended last Saturday.  It is really good for him to get out of the house and around other kids, and to learn to listen to adults.  He has done wonderful listening, and not being afraid to not be with me at all time at both lessons.  This will come in VERY handy when he starts pre-school in the fall! 

Luke practicing his putting skills

putting again!

At the driving range

Luke on his first day of swim lessons!

Luke lined up with the other kids waiting for class to start!

Gabby cheering for Luke at swim lessons!

Luke listening to his wonderful teacher Erica!

Luke's Incredible Birthday Party!

Luke is obsessed with the movie The Incredibles!  If your kid has ever loved something that is somewhat out of date, you know how hard it is to find things for them!  We searched and searched the internet for The Incredible's themed birthday decorations, every site that said they had them would then tell you once you placed your order that they were discontinued.  O.k. I wasn't surprised the movie is about 6 years old or so, but since I had promised I searched one last time on E-bay.  Somehow at the last second a lady had put a wholesale lot of The Incredibles decorations on E-bay!  Anyway Luke was soooo excited!  When the time came Luke greeted all of his guests at the door wearing his Mr. Incredible costume from Halloween, it was so cute!
Luke had a blast at his party, he got a lot of wonderful gifts too!  We had fun hanging out with everyone! 

Incredibles masks, plates, cups and noisemakers

Luke greeted everyone wearing his Mr. Incredible costume!

Kiddos wearing the masks!

Luke with his cake and one of his funny poses!

Luke reading his awesome Incredibles book from his Aunt Laine!

Luke Stephen is 4!!!

Luke is now 4 years old!  He had a wonderful birthday!  Rob took the day off of work, that is our tradition to spend the whole day with the birthday boy!  Luke chose Culvers for lunch, and then we were off to Chuck E. Cheese to play games!  He always has a blast there!   We then walked over to Toys R Us, where he was allowed to spend $40 of his birthday money on a toy.  He got a Home Depot Ultimate Work Bench, that was normally $60 bucks!  What a deal!  We went home for pizza, cake, and ice cream!  He is such an awesome little boy! 
Some of his favorite things right now....
Favorite movie- Still The Incredibles
Favorite T.V. show- SpongeBob Sqaure Pants
Favorite food- Cheeseburger, french fries and a Sprite (exactly as he says it)
Favorite Toys-Workbench, squirt guns, race tracks.
Favorite Person-Daddy (As he tells people "I'm in a Daddy stage right now)

Luke with his gifts from Mommy and Daddy

Rob, Luke and Gabby in front of Chuck's

If you know Luke you know how crazy his poses for the camera are!

Luke posing in front of the Home Depot work table

My cake!

Birthday tradition of setting auto timer for a family pic!

Gabrielle's Winter Onederland Party

We had a first birthday party for Gabby on January 15th!  She had a great time with everyone there and got some nice gifts too!  We had a Winter Onederland theme, because the first birthday party is the only time we really have a non-character theme for their party's.  I really thought it was a cute theme!  We had lots of ice blue, pink, and snowflakes!  We thank everyone for coming to celebrate our precious little girl!

In my dress that Aunt Melissa made!

party set up

Birthday Girl!!!

Matthew, Melissa, Mom and Dad

Crazy kids table!

Rob, Jeff, and John

Mindy and Jeff with Gabby

Smash cake!

Eating her cake!

Janet's cake yummm!

Happy 1st Birthday Gabrielle Susan!

Today is Gabrielle's 1st birthday!!!  I can't believe the big day is already here!  It seems like just yesterday I went to the hospital to have her!  She is such a blessing to us, and brightens every single day with her smile, and adorable personality!  Tomorrow is her 12 month check up, and we will see how much she has grown!  Saturday is her first birthday party, and we are having a Winter ONEderland theme!   God Bless you and Happy 1st Birthday Gabby!!!  We love you so much!!!

Happy Golden Birthday Robert!

Rob had a great "golden" birthday, he was 29 on the 29th!  I made chocolate chip pancakes for him when he woke up, and he had his favorite meal Lasagna and Black Forest Cake!  Yummy!  We had his parent's and brother over, and watched a movie and hung out together.  Happy 29th birthday Rob, hope it is another great year ahead!  Love you!

Rob and his little brother Matthew

Rob and Luke getting ready to blow out the candles!

Family pic!!

Luke by the end of the night!!!