The guys got up early on Monday morning of our vacation to travel to the Kennedy Space Center to watch shuttle Discovery take off into space. It sounded like everyone had the same idea and traffic made it impossible to get there on time for the take-off. They were 40 miles away, pulled over and were still able to get a pretty good view. 
Our vacation pretty much consisted of split time between the pool and the beach each day. The kids favorite was the pool.
Bein' silly.
Enjoying the beautiful Florida sunset with my honey. :) 
My favorite place to be was the beach...although it was a little more tricky keeping track of all four kiddos there.
So fun to have this little pumpkin along for her first family vacation with us. She was such a gem. She took naps in the stroller wherever we went...the pool or the beach. 
A friend of mine let me borrow this little tent which worked perfectly to keep the sun off baby. Thanks Vicki!
Swim time with the cousins.
~Ice cream run~
Our vacation pretty much consisted of split time between the pool and the beach each day. The kids favorite was the pool.Bein' silly.Enjoying the beautiful Florida sunset with my honey. :) My favorite place to be was the beach...although it was a little more tricky keeping track of all four kiddos there.So fun to have this little pumpkin along for her first family vacation with us. She was such a gem. She took naps in the stroller wherever we went...the pool or the beach. A friend of mine let me borrow this little tent which worked perfectly to keep the sun off baby. Thanks Vicki!Swim time with the cousins.
~Ice cream run~Me and my sis...only time in our lives that we will both be using strollers at the same time. We've always wanted to have babies at the same time and finally do. So fun.
Our condo had a beautiful park like setting in our backyard with lots of grass for running around, throwing footballs and that is also where we had the Easter egg hunt. We would always send the kids out to this park bench to eat their popsicles. 
More beach pictures. :)
The whole group
We ran into so many familiar faces from back home while on the beach. So fun to walk up and find our cousins, Don & Heather and their sweet family enjoying their vacation.
cousins- isabella, william & jack
Great Aunt Mary Katherine stopped by for a visit.
Grandma time
Last night on the beach
Our condo had a beautiful park like setting in our backyard with lots of grass for running around, throwing footballs and that is also where we had the Easter egg hunt. We would always send the kids out to this park bench to eat their popsicles. More beach pictures. :)The whole groupWe ran into so many familiar faces from back home while on the beach. So fun to walk up and find our cousins, Don & Heather and their sweet family enjoying their vacation.cousins- isabella, william & jackGreat Aunt Mary Katherine stopped by for a visit.Grandma timeLast night on the beach
You like to play peek-a-boo and do funny things that make us all laugh like shaking your head from side to side.
You are a beauty, my sweetness. Our family would not be complete without you. 
We had our own little family Easter service right on the beach. Twelve days leading up to Easter, we opened one egg each day with a message about Christ. We had three eggs left that we brought along to finish and opened them on Easter morning.
Then we took a walk on the beach looking for shells. 
My sister made a special Easter brunch for our whole family...crepes with fresh strawberries and whipped creme...so delicious! The brunch was also in honor of my parents 40th wedding anniversary that very day. 
The kids also colored eggs...a busy morning, but so much fun!
Kaiya and cousin Rylie
Immanuel
Later that afternoon, it was time for the big hunt. Kaiya finding her first egg with money inside. :)
Baby has no idea what's going on, but she gets in on the fun as well with daddy's help.
Grandma and Grandpa have done the Easter egg hunt for years and it has become a very well known tradition that everyone looks forward to. They hide several eggs filled with goodies, but the two eggs these kids are really scrambling to find are shiny silver and shiny gold. There is one of each and if you are the lucky one to find them, you get a very nice prize. :) 
Immanuel hit the jackpot with the silver egg and the golden egg this year and is one happy camper.
Emmi enjoying her yummy treats. :)
The crazy hunters with their crazy grandparents. 
At the brunch on Easter, we presented my parents with a whole stack of anniversary cards that we had friends and family mail to us before leaving for Florida. It was the perfect gift for them...they enjoyed reading each and every one on this park bench right outside our condo. Thank you to all who sent a card for them. It really made their day special!
What a blessing these two people are in my life...a blessing beyond words!! And what an example to our family...to my children of a marriage that has withstood the test of time. I truly value that and am so proud and grateful for that legacy!
Thanks, mom and dad, for all that you are and all that you do for us! We love you! 
