Ft. Myers!!!! -beware! lots of pictures

We went to Ft. Myers for 5 days (not long enough!). I have been craving the beach since our honeymoon. Here are the pictures from our trip (I loaded them backwards in order, but there are too many to rearrange. sorry!). We went with our good friends Matt & Stacie, and their 2 boys Gage & Kanon. The kids did great on the plane. The first day and 1/2 was dreary and rainy. Then God must of heard my desperate prayers for some Florida sunshine and the clouds parted for the last 2 days. It was beautiful! The kids HATED the sand to start with (you'll see below), Mason eventually warmed up to it, Audrey, well she still isn't a fan! We had a great hotel with a great pool. We spent lots of time there. We'll definitely planning on going back next year!

Mason & Gage

Stopping at the ice cream store on the pier

Stacie & I aka: the trip planners!

our pool with a beach entrance. great for kids!

Daddy trying to get Audrey to like the ocean.

Nap time by the pool

Joe cool (Mason) in his sun hat and shades!

Our floor to ceiling windows! The kids loved sitting on the floor and looking out the windows!

watching a few cartoons in the morning before we hit the beach (gage, kanon, mason, audrey)

watching Mason and daddy on the wave runner

Mason was in heaven, so was daddy!

"But we hate the sand!!!!" First day on the beach

The sand is not so bad unless it gets on my hands!!

In Audrey fashion, we had to fall and get a bruise on the first day!

Waiting to board the plane in Indianapolis!

Mom's night!

Tonight was mom's night at Mason's school. We had a great time. They had a "photo area" which had a very pretty background. There was a room for Mason to make me a corsage. We then moved on to another room to find the pot that Mason decorated for me. We got to pick out a pretty flower to put in there. Next was the "beauty salon!" Mason got to paint my nails! That was a real treat! Of course there were cookies to decorate and eat. At the end, all the classes went up on the stage and sang a couple songs. As you can see, Mason was more interested in looking around than singing. Kenny says he gets that from him. The funny thing is, Mason has been singing those songs for weeks at home! Of course! What a treat for Mothers day!




So sweet!

I tried to get him to open his eye and he said he was winking!! How cute!

Getting ready to sing (or look around)

Mrs. Newsom, one of Mason's teachers. She'll be his teacher next year also!

Most of the kids

The final product! A different color on every nail!

Break out the sunblock!

You gotta love this weather!!! We have been putting in lots of hours on our new swing set that Daddy and Marc worked so hard on. (Thanks Cam & Joey for letting us borrow your daddy for a couple days!) We have been outside ALL day today and loving it! Today we helped Mamaw and Papaw plant their very large garden. Mason and Audrey loved dropping the seeds into the trenches then covering them up with dirt. Future Farmers? Here's a few pictures from our day! And our new swing set!

Always climbing!

Where there's Audrey, there's a baby doll!

Mason at his field trip to the zoo. Touching the sharks is his favorite thing!

WHAT was I thinking!!!!!

OK, so I thought, "we haven't been to the children's museum in a little while, it's supposed to rain, good day to go!" I got Mason and Audrey all excited to go this morning, we packed up, headed down there only to sit in an abnormally LONG line to get into the parking garage. I thought, it must be because we are hardly ever here when it opens! WRONG!! I was talking to mom on the phone on the way into the garage (as Mason is screaming with excitement about the dinosaurs he sees outside), and was telling her about all the unusual traffic into the museum. She then said, "you know why don't you, . . . SPRING BREAK!!!" I almost turned the car immediately around and headed home, but then got a wild hair (no longer a fan of wild hairs!) and decided to brave the crowd! We started in our usual spot, surprisingly not so crowded (probably because it's an area for younger, non-school aged kids, and their moms we're probably smart enough to stay home!). Mason did his bee-line to the bobcat and Audrey did her bee-line to the babies. We played, had lunch, went home. It was a short trip today, but we had fun! And might I add, I will NEVER go on a weekend or spring break again! Thank God I have week days off !

We love the water table!!! and even more, SMOCKS!!

She carried these babies the entire time. It was a scene to have to leave them!

He loves this, even though Papaw has a way bigger one and Mason can actually drive his!!

Another on of his favorite things. Stacking blocks as high as he can reach, then cranking the car back and forth on the track

We could watch this all day

Mason loves this

We ended the day with the carousel then lunch!

First Haircut & Custom Suits

Today was a fun day. We started off with Audrey's first haircut! I had finally had enough of the scraggly baby hair. everywhere! I have refused to do banges. So I have boycotted the whole haircut thing till her banges grew out. The hair won that battle. I gave in, and Audrey got a "trim." All and all, It's adorable!

Then we went to get sized for Mason's suit he's going to wear for Grant (my brother) and Jessica's wedding. He was so well-behaved. He did everything the guy asked him to do to get measured with this "so serious" look on his face. He looked so cute in the jackets they were having him try on. All he kept asking for was his tie. He can't wait for that for some reason! Too cute!

Before the big chop! (we had pigtails in, but you get the idea: WILD)

During: such a lady, I can just picture, "Mommy, can we stop and get a mani/pedi after this"

After: Not a huge change, just cleaned up the edges. PERFECT!"Seriously, my daddy's tape measures don't bend this easy!"

"C'mon mom, enough with the pictures!"

Sharp dressed man! (Uncle Grant helping with the finishing touch!)

With sad hearts, we said farewell to Kenny's Grandpa Sands. It was a beautiful service. It's always great to see family and talk about memories, but sad under the circumstances in which it happened. He's in a better, more peaceful place now. A very dear friend and also retired St. Joe (Michigan) firefighter, Joe Mitchell, was so kind and thoughtful enough to offer his 1937 fire engine (which was the same one he and Grandpa Sands rode on when they were firefighters) for the funeral. It really was a beautiful way to celebrate his life. We will all deeply miss him!

On a lighter note, Kenny and I went to our first St. Patty's day parade today. Kenny got to wear his class A's and march in the parade. It was perfect weather and a blast. Can't wait till next year!







Kenny, Joe Mitchell (truck owner), Todd
___________________________________________________________
St. Patty's Day


Fireman walking in the parade. (Kenny's in the middle of the picture, at
the top, waving)

IFD Firefighters
David Richards, Nick Goldsmith, Kenny, Joleen Richards,
Matt Hills, Brandon Craig

Ode to Grandpa Sands!

We survived the 8hr trip there and back.
We almost needed a luggage rack!

Erlanger hospital or bust!
Grandpa Sands, are you ready for us!

Hospital rooms have lots to see and touch,
but asking to be baby-proofed, is a bit much.

So we did lots of walks to see the fish,
Mommy even broke a gift shop dish!

We showed Grandpa Sands that glove balloons are fun,
He told us stories of when he was young.

Grandpa Sands was happy to see us, though the nurses gave him grief.
We knew what he was thinking, even without his teeth!

We had a great time, Grandpa Sands!
And you really are THE MAN!!