Admit One

We finally ventured 11 houses down to visit the Pier park.  It was the kid's first amusement park rides and everyone had a great time.  Although the carousel was very exciting, the planes were the crowd favorite.

More McBeach

Hello from Florida.  We are having a wonderful time. It is heavenly here. Our lazy days have been full of precious moments to savor. Here are just a few of my favorite things.

Morning beach walks.  Above, Will admires his shell collection and carefully displays his treasures. 

Plenty of popsicles on the porch with stunning sea views.

Evan shows us how he will surf when he is bigger.

Boogie boarding, the kid's favorite activity. They will keep going until we tell them it's time to stop.  The water is beautiful aqua green-blue and nice and warm so we love it too, but it takes a lot of work to keep up with the kids.  The current keeps taking them up the coast, so we have either walk through waist high water or swim to keep them close by.   Periodically we have to get out and walk back down the beach to the house. The kids think they are surfing.  The first day, Will kept repeating with amazement. 'I've never been surfing before!' Lily is a bit too brave and will head out without making sure we are near by.  Evan started out a bit timid but is now having a blast jumping in the waves.  Holden will only go in with an adult in hand.

Sunsets on the porch. Evenings are my favorite time of day. There is a wonderful breeze to match the gorgeous sunsets.  We eat seafood, drink wine, play music and dance.

Lily and Will dancing like Mom and Dad

Even nap time is better at the beach.  My favorite spot is the daybed in the shade on the second level porch.

Evan and Will

Hanging with family.

First Sunset



Sunset at McBeach

We've arrived at McBeach and enjoyed a lovely afternoon at the beach. The kids (and adults) were so enamoured with the house we had to wrangle everyone to get out.  We were rewarded for our travels with beautiful white sand and a gorgeous sunset.

Kid's first Sunset



Lily Clare gets a better view

Evan Relaxing in the Baby Pool

Steamed shrimp and key lime pie for dinner from Buddy's Seafood

Lily's Portfolio

Lily Clare with braids.  Even though I thought she looked darling, she was not impressed and quickly ran off to pull them out.



'Super Hero' and 'Pineapple' by Lily Clare

Top: 'Cat Sun & Beach with Sun & Rain', Bottom: 'Mermaid & Snake, Lily Clare

I love children's art and it is one of the things I daydreamed about having in our home once we had kids.  We display a lot of their art but haven't been very good about keeping their art.  Recently I found this portoflio at a local frame shop to save a few of their creations.  I also picked up the inexpensive acrylic frames above for Lily to display her art in her room.

On the Road

Back To School

Will, Evan and Lily Clare's first day of 3s Preschool.  Same scene as last year, the first few photos I snapped Lily was standing patiently, by the time the boys looked up she was getting restless.

I asked this cutie what she wanted her teacher and friends at school to call her several times over the last few weeks. Each time she said 'Lily Clare', so I enrolled her with her middle name this year at her new school.

This was Lily Cat the night before school started, she decided to draw wiskers on her face with a permanent marker.  Thank goodess a little make up remover was all it took to take it off.  Lily agreed that the teacher would probably say, "No cats allowed at school!'.

Pirate Memo, already feeling inspired after one day of school to 'get creative'.  He is usually a bit reluctant to draw and will say 'you do it for me' so I was happy that he was enjoying the window markers. Barely a widow in the house escaped his art and today he brought home a drawing from school.

Holden's first day of school was today. He was all smiles.  Yesterday was a bit rough for him, with everyone going off to school without him.  The trips will be going three days a week, and Holden will be going two days.

Proud little guy with his backpack on.  No tears at drop off, although about a third of his class was pretty distraught.  At pick up he told David 'I had a fun day!'

How was your first week? Any tears for you or your kids?

3 Tips for a Successful Bedtime Routine

Tips for a successful bedtime routine:

1. Dim the lights for quiet play

2. Read a bedtime story

3. Sing songs and lights out

Our bedtime routine:

Countdown to the Beach

Photo by FlyThroughOurWindow.com

Counting down the days to our beach vacation...We are staying at this amazing ocean front house in Panama City Beach, FL.  David's parents, my mom and a friend and our nanny Carmen will be joining us.  We will also be celebrating the trip's 4th birthday while at the beach - robots and princess theme.

Photo by FlyThroughOurWindow.com

This is where we'll be enjoying our morning coffee.

View from 33rd Floor

CEO's digs

Fashion Week Awards Afterparty

 

We offered our office space to host the Fashion Week Awards afterparty.  I snapped a few random photos.  Later discovering this photo included project runway star and her photographer, children's vampire book author, unknown partygoer and my coworker Lea at Lea's desk.

Check out this fun video my co-workers made.  Those are my colleagues in the 'dance train'.

Ballet for 3s

Holden with one of his coaches

 

Holden at day camp