Family Vacation

This year we decided to do our family vacation in West Palm Beach, Florida.  We left on Friday, June 8th and returned yesterday, June 17th.  We met my Mom and Stepdad, Scott, for the first half of vacation and then Brian's Mom, Mary, and his Stepdad, Tom, for the second half.  We found an incredible Marriott hotel with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, living area and amazing balcony so we decided it made sense to use the space wisely and bring our families with us!

We had a really great time too!  The resort was fantastic, there were tons of activities for kids and adults.  The pool was amazing and so was the beach.  And, with the ages of our kiddos, having our own space to cook and prepare foods (read: the foods they like and eat) made it so much more relaxed.  I heart these kind of hotel rooms.  Space for everyone.  And I heart these kind of vacations.  Things for everyone.

We would absolutely visit this location again.  Possibly even next year!

Brian happened to be out of town and we happened to have a
connecting flight in Atlanta, so the girls and I flew to Atlanta
and met Brian there!

Riding on airplanes is half the fun when it comes to vacation!

Seriously.  It was a complete hit!

My little backpack love!

Gramma plays M&M bingo with us!  Maya enjoyed the majority
of her M&M's and Kate enjoyed playing!

There were s'mores almost daily!

And who can resist a s'more?!

Ahh, the beach.  Central Ohio has me really appreciating
real beaches!

Family photo in West Palm Beach!

Photo with Gramma!

Maya loved the waves!

And I love that beautiful Mama of mine!

She is a total beach babe!

No fear!

Maya: almost 3.  Kate: 5.75 - enter posed photos...

Daddy and Mommy selfie...

Our view!

No beach visit is complete without the burying of someone!

It's like she's lived at the beach her whole life...

Wine and paint night for the adults!

Masterpieces!

Strawberry daiquiris at the pool!

And no vacation is complete without hair braids!

Pop Pop and Gramma!

We visited a sea turtle hospital while we were here which was
very interesting too.  They help revive sea turtles that are hurt or
sick and release them in the wild!

Dinner selfie!

Pool ready!

Glitter tattoos!  This girl is all pink all the time!

And this one is all puppies all the time!

Still posing!

We said goodbye to Gramma and Pop Pop and Papaw joined our vacation!

We painted piggy banks!

And enjoyed sugary cereal!

Kate chose a turtle!

We also made bead collars and bracelets for the build-a-bear
animals the kids made earlier in the week!  (Also through the
resort!)

We spent A LOT of time at the pool!

We held cruise ships up with our finger!

Family photo with Stinky too at Salsa dancing!

Hand print mural!

Annnd another braid!

Continuing to pose!

Mimi joined us too!

This one is such a water baby!!

Love her.

We made Father's Day cards for Daddy and Papaw!

And painted frames to take home with us.

I will never tire of after snooze snuggles!

Noodle raft!

This is lounging on vacation!

More s'mores!

Waiting for our bags in Columbus.  Those two
holding their little hands together seriously melts
my heart.

Maya's 1st Manicure

We are headed on vacation very soon and Kate really wanted to get her nails done.  So when we went to the nail salon, I signed Maya up for a little color too.  She had asked so sweetly and I thought it would be wonderful for the two of them to get a little pampering!  Plus, this was her first official manicure!

Of course, Maya wanted her nail color off 10 minutes after we got it done, but it still was pretty while it lasted!

Such a sweet girl!

A pro!

All pink!

So Maya!

So Kate!

So proud!

And so happy!

Now we're ready for vacation!  (But not really...)

Leah Sleeps Over

We had my niece and Kate and Maya's cousin, Leah, sleepover on Friday night.  Not only was Kate EXTREMELY excited to have a sleepover, she was also EXTREMELY excited to have a sleepover with 9 year old Leah.  Because, seriously...when you're five, what's better than hanging out with a nine year old?!

We had a blast together!  We picked up Leah on Friday night at El Vaquero after we all had dinner.  When we got home we went for a bike ride to the park.  This was the first time Maya rode her bike all the way to the park and she was so proud!  After we were home and everyone was bathed, Maya went to bed and Kate and Leah colored while they watched part of a movie.  Then when it was their turn to head upstairs.  They both got into Kate's bed and the giggles continued!  I got a tiny glimpse of what a real sleepover will be like in the very near future!

I thought for sure the girls would tire themselves out but they didn't fall asleep until close to 11 PM!  Oops.  And Kate's ballet recital was the very next morning, so I was a bit sad that she'd be so tired.  But, nothing I could do at that point.

So the next day, Leah joined us for Kate's ballet recital and when we returned home we went to the pool!  Leah tackled the rock wall and Kate tackled the lily pads.  Kate and Maya want ice cream from the pool and Leah wanted to stop at the Goodie Shop to pick out a cookie so we did both and everyone got a little of both.  #success

Kate and Maya adored having Leah over and Leah is such a sweet girl!  We all loved our time with her and are looking forward to doing this again!

Leah is the coolest, by far!

Bike riding to the park!

Maya kept saying, "Hey Guys? Wait for me. Wait for me."

Cutie patootie!

Such sweet girlies!

Trio of trouble!

Taking the park elevator down!

Movie/Coloring - on the back of one of these I got a note that said,
"We want some food. -Leah & Kate"  Um.  Not at 8:30 pm, ladies.

Pool girls!

Leah does the rock wall!

Kate tackles the lily pads!

This was the first time she ever did them!

And she did a fantastic job!

Love that brave, brave girl of mine!

Ballet

This past year, Kate decided she wanted to do ballet.  So we found a location super close and highly rated near us and signed her up.  She had a recital in the fall (that I missed because I was filming a wedding...) but her Spring recital was her big one.  Every Wednesday afternoon Kate attended 30 minutes of ballet while Maya played with Lennon (Leighton's sister).  The kiddos in her class have been working on this routine for an entire year and their hard work really paid off.

So fancy, y'all!

This is from her rehearsal a week ago.  Her form is incredible!

The instructor, Miss Lauren, was fantastic!

Leah got to join for the recital!  And Maya has her beloved
"Bee-yah bee-yah", which doesn't normally accompany us.

Beautiful girls!

Kate's class - Ava, another friend, Kate, and Leighton.

This picture gives me all the heart eyes!!!

I added the professional photos in.  We didn't get them until August, but if you'd like to see her performance, take a look at the video below.  It is from her dress rehearsal.  She did a phenomenal job and I think this really showcases her amazing talent!

Side note: I love ballet.  I think it's a great activity to be involved in, so if Kate decides she'd like to do it again, I am all for it!

Playdate with Friends

We had two of Kate's friends come over today, Sophie and Reagan, and Kate and Maya loved spending time with them!  They made brownies, ate lunch, played, and we took WAY too long getting them both home but we did it and Kate loved seeing her friends from Polar Bears.  Sophie and Reagan will both be going to a different Elementary school but I have a feeling we'll be able to keep these friendships going!

This girl LOVES her pup!

Oh em gee!  Just melt my heart please.

Sophie, Kate, and Reagan!

Lunch goers!