MTS Week 3...

The photos continue, I am halfway there. I am loving learning how to use my camera, but it really can be a challenge figuring out the best way to take each shot and then actually getting the shot. As you can see there are still a few inspirations left over from our Florida trip. We don't have palm trees and gators in our neck of the woods.

Day 15 - Silhouette

Day 16 - My Makeup Products

Day 17 - Stop Motion

Day 18 - From A Distance

Day 19 - Close Up (Yes, he is missing a tooth. Will post about that next.)

Day 20 - Back Lighting

Day 21 - Hands

Florida Vacation Part 2...

During the second half of our vacation we drove 2-1/2 hours from Fort Myers to the east coast to Palm Beach Gardens to spend 5 days with part of the James family. We joined Don, Donna, Kyle, Christy, Sophia and Caleb. We were just missing John, Susie, Sammy and Stephen.

We stayed at Palm Beach Shores Resort & Vacation Villas. It was a nice spot right on the beach. We enjoyed are time each day doing nothing but being at the beach and pool.

Jason and his dad took two days to go golfing. They golfed at Jupiter Country Club and North Palm Beach Country Club. 

Brayden loved our time at the pool, it was his favorite place to be. We got to Florida with Brayden right on the verge of being able to swim on his own and by the end of the week he was doing an amazing job swimming all by himself. So proud of him!

Grandkids with FaFa & Grandma

Our beach time was great. We purchased chairs and umbrellas from the resort for the week and it was so nice to have them waiting for us when we walked out to the beach. The water was beautiful, warm and clear. Towards the end of the week there were a few jellyfish, so being in the water wasn't much fun.

This is the view from Kyle and Christy's room. We all had a view, but this was the best.

Grandma and Sarah checking out the ocean on the clearest day.

Uncle Kyle was manager for this sandcastle. The team he had did a great job working together.

Our last night together was Friday night.

Florida Vacation Part 1...

The kids and I had the opportunity to go to Florida for two weeks, Jason for 8 days. It was wonderful to get away for the extended time and spend time with all our family.

We flew into Fort Myers to spend the first 5 days with my family and then  Jason flew in and we drove to the other coast, Palm Beach Gardens, to spend 5 days with Jason's family at the beach. The last 2 days we were back in Fort Myers with my sister, Mitch and the girls.

The first part of our trip I was so focused on starting my 30 day photo challenge and getting the pictures I needed for each day that I didn't take many "family" photos.  I was happy to get these few with PaPa & MeMe and the cousins.

PaPa had Brayden come to his workshop to work on a special project. Brayden had a great time. The next day he was asking PaPa if they could make a toy airplane next.  The finished project was a picture box with a place in the middle for putting his treasures.

While the boys were at the workshop MeMe took us out shopping. Sarah was in heaven at "Charming Charlie's" with her spending money.

The bird candle that Sarah is holding was a gift she got for PaPa & MeMe while she was on her missions trip to North Carolina. When she saw it she said she immediately thought of "Quiet Rest", PaPa & MeMe's cabin in North Carolina.

PaPa & MeMe also had the cousins get their picture taken together,


The last two days we got a chance to spend a little more time with the Hutchcrafts. They took us to Gatorama in hopes of seeing some baby gators hatch. Unfortunately, there weren't enough eggs ready for our kids to hold one in their hands personally, but we got to watch a few hatch in others hands.

Our kids took their turn at wrangling some baby gators. They were complete naturals at gator wrangling, thankfully all these gators had their mouths taped shut.

Claire took charge of handling the smaller ones. 

We also got a chance to watch crocodiles and alligators at feeding time.

Then we had our feeding time and a chance to try some gator tail. The girls were a little unsure, but tried it together to help each other out.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Not fans.

On Monday we took a daintier turn and Michelle treated us all to a visit to the tea room, 5 girls and 1 not so dainty boy. The food was amazing, the company was delightful and the tea delicious. However, we learned Brayden is not a fan of tea.

Afterwards we had the opportunity to visit where Grace and Claire go to school. I loved being able to see where my two nieces go to school. When Michelle shares with me all their different activities I can now visual it in my mind. I am so proud of both of them, they are beautiful girls. I only wish we lived closer to be able to share in each others lives.