Livin' on Island Time -- Sanibel 2012

"Wishing I was knee deep in the water somewhere
Got the blue sky breeze and it don't seem fair
Only worry in the world is the tide gonna reach my chair"

-- Zac Brown Band

 

We kicked off summer break with our annual trip to Sanibel Island.  For a flashback, here are recaps from our prior Sanibel shenanigans here and here and here and here and here (whew!).  This place has my heart. 

 

So many sweet memories and many more to come.

 

Serious business

 

Burning off Cheeburger Cheeburger lunch

 

Buried Briggy in the sand

 

 

Low tide is the best time

 

Paddleboarding

 

As usual, we snapped some family portraits too.  You just can't beat the beautiful scenery...makes for special shots!

 

 

(be looking for some of these shots in a soon-to-be updated blog header!)

Spring Breakin'

I remember being a kid and so anxious for spring break.  Besides the obvious fact that it's a break from school, moreso it is the sure sign that summer break is near.  This year was Harrison's second spring break ever, and in keeping with tradition (see what we got into last spring break here), we wanted to make it special (but still budget-friendly). 

The first rite of warm weather?  Bustin' out the Slip & Slide!

And nothing more refreshing than hose water on a hot day

My favorite part of Spring?  Garden time!

With the help of this little worker boy

Our first beach day of the season

...with a full backseat!

A special "date" to dinner and Toy Story 3 on ice!

A "good" Friday with Daddy that included putt-putt golf.

Summer Family Portraits

Since getting my new camera back in December, I've been excited to take it to Sanibel.  It seems that every year we attempt to put together some family pictures on the beach on our last evening there, but it always falls through.  Either we head out too late and it's already dark or we're just exhausted and don't even feel like it.  Not this year!

For amateur portraits taken by myself (except the ones I'm in -- my MIL snapped those), I was very pleased and the boys did great.  Well, I never really worry about Harrison, but that Brig can give me a run for my money!

My Heart

Brothers

Mama's Boys

Best Buds

By far my Better Half

I may be partial, but this is the most beautiful child on the planet.

My Guys

Daddy's Clone

Sanibel Vacation 2011

As expected, the boys had the most fun on our annual trip to Sanibel.  It seems the older I've gotten, I don't feel like we need to spend an entire vacation going and doing and seeing everything.  It's much simpler now and I get the most joy out of simply spending time with my little family.  Playing in the sand.  Walking the beach.  Bike rides.  Mornings on the balcony. 

Though we're hoping for a different arrangement in accomodations next year, the summer is nearly over and I'm already aching to go back.  Maybe, just maybe, I can talk J into a little Labor Day Weekend trip, ya think??  (I can hope, right?)

Beachin'

Beachin'

Fun at Sanibel Park

Daddy's Boys

"Diss??"

Chillaxin' on a Bike Ride

...and a much-needed Icee to cool down!

Memory Monday

It's been a true-blue Florida heatwave of a summer...and we're right in the thick of it.  I have a handful of close friends that are pregnant and I feel so miserable for them.  Not the being pregnant part, but the being-pregnant-in-the-heat-of-summer part.  Ick.  In fact, after growing my hair out for what seems like forever, I've come *this close* to hacking it off just simply because it's entirely too hot for long hair.  BUT come dreary, gray January, there's only one thing I'll be missing?  The precious heat of summer. 

As of now, it's officially too hot for any activity outside that doesn't include water.  So, in true Memory Monday fashion, we're going back to last summer for a look at how we keep our cool. 

Let's take a trip, shall we?

Definition of "Chillaxin:"  Briggy D on the beach.

Pool fun!

Mama's Littlest Fish (who's not so little anymore)

Even Mama & Daddy gotta cool down once in a while!

Those arm floaties are no good this summer...that boy's a-swimmin' now!

Spring Break-in'!

Being a big school boy now, this was Harrison's very first Spring Break!  Daddy managed to score a few days off of work and we headed to the beach.  This is by far one of Harrison's favorite places to go and I was anxious to see how Brig would do this year...he's MUCH more mobile than he was last year! 

Brig's first beach day - March 2010

We had the best time just enjoying the perfect weather and the sand and the water and the pool.  I wouldn't be completely honest if I didn't say that by the end of the week, Mama was ready for school to start back!  Summer Break should be interesting. 

We managed to poke around downtown St. Augustine one afternoon too...