We got to go to Florida again this year for vacation. It is something we all look forward to since the previous year and it always goes by so quickly. It was a great time together as a family and yet, very tiring :) Our flight left around 6:30 in the morning, so here are the kids ready to leave for the airport around 4:30am or so. They were quite eager to be leaving, especially Selah to head to the airport with her Dora suitcase in tow.
Tadd's parents and sister were going to Florida as well on the same day we were. They flew in to Sarasota while we went to Fort Myers, but we were together until our connecting flight = extra hands :) It was our first flight with two littles and Finn's first flight. We had to buy a seat for Selah this time which was nice because it meant a little more wiggle room. We made it on quite nicely and the kids did amazing. Finn slept through both flights and Selah was so tired she just laid on us while watching movies on her IPad. A win-win solution for all.
We stayed in Naples for the first two days until we could get into our house we rented. Let's just say this will be the last year of doing a hotel. You know how it is. We couldn't really get settled and our kids do NOT do well with sleeping in the same room. We tried switching who laid down first to go to sleep and neither worked well. One night we put both of them to sleep at once and told Selah that Finn might just cry for a while, but would then fall asleep and to just be quiet. LOL! What were we thinking? We laid down as well and after a few minutes of crying we heard silence and then some quiet giggles. Yep, Selah had gotten up from her bed and was leaning over Finn's crib entertaining him :) Oh well, we survived by a thread! Meanwhile we spent time going to the Naples Zoo and the Botanical Gardens.
Last year we went to the zoo and it poured down rain so we got rainchecks and were still able to use them this year. Well, it turned out we picked another overcast windy day. The lady just smiled and said, "Don't worry if it rains again we will just give you another raincheck!" The kids enjoyed it except for the fall by Selah. Here we are pre-accident...
and here we are post-accident :) Selah was happily skipping/running down the path in her new little crocs and tripped. Down she went and caught herself, but in the process bit her bottom lip, scratched her top lip, and gave herself road rash on her chin (you can't appreciate the full severity in this picture, LOL!) but don't worry, the following few days you will notice the damage, not all the pictures are edited out. So nice she did it the first day we got here just in time for all the pictures :) After it stopped bleeding and we kissed her ouchy enough, she was raring to go again - and yes, we couldn't get her to stop running either! Oh well, the first of many...
Finn was such a good boy. He just smiled at everyone, or flirted that is! Did very well for not having many good naps and just fell asleep in the stroller when he was tired. But, we tried to get him out and let him join in on the fun too.
The botanical gardens were great as well. We could have spent a whole day there if we wanted, but we just stayed till lunchtime. They had these hammocks hung between some flowered areas so we had to "rest" for awhile.
They had great gardens and unique little areas. Selah loved this hut, but couldn't sit still of course she had to jump. Actually she pretty much jumps wherever she goes.
There was also a Children's Garden with a fountain area, butterfly garden, and little house the kids got to play with. Finn loved every minute and was not afraid of the water at all. He would stick his face right down by the spout and when it hit him directly in the face, he wasn't even phased. Selah on the other hand was the timid one, casually walking around observing things while stepping in the water quickly every once in a while.
This concludes Part 1 of our trip, next on to Bonita Springs and our large house!
He loves his Aunt Ti Ti! 
Funny story, I had Selah's hair all done in puff balls so it wouldn't get all sandy and by the time we got to the beach her rubberbands had snapped, so this is what it ended up being that day. Not to worry, the next time they stayed in and backups were brought with us! 
She loved collecting shells, building sand castles, and swimming in the ocean. She just couldn't get enough of it. 
Of course part of the vacation experience is eating out every night and with it, having great seafood. We ate at Yabba's on Fifth Avenue in Naples one night. Selah and Aunt Ti Ti being "frightened" She met many statues on our walk down Fifth Ave. She also got in a bit of boutique shopping where she informed grandma while trying on some sunglasses, "look grandma, it MATCHES my outfit!" Oh yeah, we are going to have quite the handful with this girly girl! 
And speaking of statues, this one was found outside our house. One day I catch Selah talking as we walk in the front door. I look to my side and here stands Selah talking...."Hi Mary!" Yep, she named this statue Mary (I am assuming after Jesus's mother - I can't figure out anything else) and proceeded to have a conversation with her every time we went by, which drove Tadd up the wall. I thought it was humerous, but by the end of our trip I think Tadd was a little nervous about all the time she was spending with her :) We had her pose for her picture with Mary before she gave her a kiss goodnight for the evening. 
And this brings our trip to a close. Another year of great weather spent with family. Thanks also to mom and dad and Tiff for giving us a date night where we could eat our food in silence without shoveling it down as fast as we could! So many memories in Bonita. We love the area and now that it has been a few years with our kids, I love the fact that I can remember what they were doing at the exact point the previous year. Time is flying, way too fast that is. And as always, these trips make me remember who is missing...our precious Laynie. Whose 4th birthday would be this year and is only two days before Finn turns one. During my moments of reflection in the afternoons I couldn't help but think how far God has brought our family. How He has stretched our family, grown us and molded us how He saw fit. And even though it was painful, we are stronger and more fully knit together. We had endured! And now hopefully we can worship Him more fully in the year to come. So here is to a renewed hope and security in knowing He is our Savior, our King! 
