Florida Photo Fest

We haven't taken a vacation in a loooooong while, with Matt's school and work load being so heavy. So, we were excited to take the week off after Matt graduated. And, Erin and Lincoln offered to let us stay at their place in sunny, warm Florida for the week.

It was perfect, the kids had playmates they adored and we were just twenty minutes from the beach. Erin and Lincoln lived just up the street from us in college. So, after the kids went down for bed in the evenings, we relived old card and video game rivalries.

What follows are a ton of vacation photos. We had a fabulous time and Adelaide is already trying to steal the car keys so she can drive back down and see her cousins again.

We took the overnight train, which was

pretty comfortable and nice. Adelaide 

got a little bored waiting in the station.

Eleanor snuck in some snuggle time

while we waited to pull into Jacksonville.

While Matt was taking his last finals, Erin and Melinda

took the kids to a park and old farm house. Tanner

wore his gator shirt in support of Uncle Matt.  

A balloon artist at the park made the kids some

awesome creations. Adelaide's Princess Tiana doll

was impressive and Leila's flower even had smell.

When Matt was done we were

able to visit St. Augustine with the whole crew.

Flagler college was amazing, the windows

of the building are the largest collection of Tiffany

glass in the world. 

Adelaide and Tanner were more

impressed by the garden and frog fountains than

the antiques and architecture.  

Eleanor laughed and giggled when her feet were first dipped in the water
Then, she tried to walk away on her own and a wave hit 

her in the bum. Bring on the tears!
If there is one thing Eleanor can't abide, it's cold. 

She had a great time playing in the sand
and knocking down the mermaid fins
and castles that mommy built on her toes. 

The kids loved having Granny and Poppa around

to play with them, read books to them and spoil 'em rotten

with gourmet popsicles and trolley tickets.

 Feelin' fancy free!

The kids loved playing together on the shore.  

 Lookin' fabulous!

 Mickler's Landing is covered in shells. Many people

were walking with their heads down, sifting the shells for

shark's teeth. Melinda joined them, but no luck.

Erin found two teeth in a matter of minutes to the delight of the kids.

Even when we were just hanging out around

the house, the kids had a blast.

Adelaide and Tanner became fast friends.

Shaving "slippery" cream in the backyard.

Eleanor enjoyed clapping and seeing

the shaving cream fly off her hands. 

Rockin' the diaper look. 

Stack o' kids on the way to the pool. 

 The neighborhood pool was sweet, with a 

wading area and water slide.

It was a great week, and it will be hard to get back to reality (and work). We're already looking forward to our next trip to see Kristin and James tie the knot in Utah this June.