Florida or bust

We were very blessed with the opportunity for an almost free vacation with some of our favorite people.

I don't know why they don't have one of these signs in every airport. It sure does make things easy!

We spent the first day like you should on a warm vacation, getting our toes done. (Or in Mark's case, our feet grated.)
The boys spent LOTS of hours as the resort activity coordinators, planning volleyball games and other games where you throw the volleyball as hard as you can at each other. We sat in chairs and did nothing. Number one reason to travel with friends! Husbands have playmates.
Wheeee!

Look at that cute bell boy!
Out for dinner...yummy seafood!

One day we headed to Key West. Man there was some scary stuff on the way there!
An old wine cellar or something?

The Capt. Tony's tradition is evidently to try and throw a coin into this fish's mouth. Both boys did it. What a relief.
How cute is that aluminum Diet Coke? (my friend is cute, too :))


Look at all the people gathered to watch the sunset! So cool!

The trip was basically to celebrate our anniversaries which are around the same time. We celebrated with an amazing steak dinner on our last night...along with some little treats!

And then we celebrated by Christina and I climbing in bed and falling asleep to Notting Hill.
On our way home, but I feel it necessary to give a shout out to MAC eye makeup. That eyeshadow was still going strong the whole next day. Maybe that will be my new trick!
Such a wonderful getaway. But also wonderful to be back to our regularly scheduled programming. Thankful for my 5 years of marriage-and the ups and downs we've been able to share in that time. And thankful for friends who cheer us on in the journey. And take pictures in sharks with us!

a piece of my heart...

is in Upland, Indiana. Mark and I took a quick roadtrip last weekend to go to a wedding-and on the way had the chance to (quickly) stop by our alma mater. Though Mark and I didn't really know each other at Taylor, we both LOVE it and I'm glad we share memories from there even though they weren't together. :) (Except the one time at the soccer game where I remember talking to him and that he was wearing his blue Gap coat but he doesn't even remember me being there. No big deal. I'm not bitter.)

Fashion show in the bookstore. We stocked up with new duds after 10 years.
I know it doesn't look like much, but seriously, one of the greatest places ever. (Taylor, not the grille, per se.)
We love you podunk, run down Upland.
On to the wedding...and getting to see our dear friends Jared and Mandy-and baby boy Seaman who will be here in the spring. Yippee!
Kayla was a GORGEOUS bride! Seriously the most amazing wedding hair I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot.
Marky Mark of course in the very MIDDLE of the dance floor. I LOVE that about him! I'm thinking about putting ads out for people to invite us to their weddings because when else do you get to do this?!
Mark and pretty Mrs. Seaman.

Playgroup Dad and bathing suit season.

Mark has recently been in a job transition, and been around a lot more which has been life changing. He has gone from being away 2-4 days a week to home 7 and we couldn't be happier. My friends and I have jokingly referred to him as "playgroup dad" lately though because sometimes he is around amidst our chaos. Below-playgroup dad reading to a few of the constituents.

Somehow Luke and Ava started talking about getting married. I'm really not sure where it came from, but they were getting married and Ava wanted her wedding dress. Of course playgroup dad then thought he would suit up Luke, also. Oh my.
Oh my.
I mean, Ava was like, the giddiest I've ever seen her. Ever. Obviously Luke was thrilled, too.
Oh my.
OH MY. I feel weird even posting this picture. Sorry Luke. You kinda look like you're being taken advantage of by an older woman. Which, let's be honest. You are.
Onto more innocent fun.....I think these two girls look a lot alike!
Dress-up.
They found the pool bag in the back hallway. Who knew not wearing bathing suits for a month would lead to this much enjoyment! Kaiya makes me laugh out loud in this picture. Especially the boots.

Boo.

I'm not that into celebrating Halloween...but this year we had several occasions to party. (Which, I was ok with-because I got lots of hand me down Nerds and Tootsie Rolls.)

We started things off a week or so early just giving the costumes a trial run.

The dog pushing the dog. Good thing for the trial run though, because the head didn't fit so we had to go to Plan B.
The hips on this thing crack me up. Especially because K is such a rail. I loved watching her waddle around!
We moved on to Tinkerbell. Unfortunately not even fairy dust can get you out of the occasional time-out.
My friend Meredith had a ridiculous Halloween party. Reese thought it was awesome to dress up.
Not in time-out this time. Just cute.
Pumpkin pinata! Since otherwise they might not have gotten enough candy.

Kaiya a day late and a dollar short. She is so cute-and always a little late on the big kid fun.
My sweet, wonderful, amazing friends whom I love so very much! Why these 3 cute, type A, got it together girls chose to be friends with me I don't know-but I'm grateful!!
The beautifully staged group picture.
Ava and Natalie in a fairly rough game of Ring around the Rosey.
On actual Halloween we went to my friend Kim's. Another fabulous get together. The cowboy below was not actually sharing his beer with my baby. It made me laugh though.
Little pumpkin sitting all alone dipping her tortilla chips in ketchup and wearing a hood. I can't hear the music her drum plays, but it certainly different and she definitely marches quite happily to it!
The benefits of having an ortho doc host the party: disgusting pictures of severed body parts shown via i-phone to keep my husband from getting a motorcycle.
I forgot at first that this was actually Reese she was holding. Yikes. Sorry sister!
A couple attempts.

Cuddle bunny. (cuddle giraffe just doesn't have quite the same ring to it.)
A bunch of cuties getting ready for a night on the town! (street)

The green beans on the left are ours. Ava was ALL over it. 90 mph an hour from house to house.