Cinnamon Beach

We really enjoyed our stay at Cinnamon Beach in Palm Coast, FL. We arrived in Jacksonville last Saturday around lunch time.  Mom, Dad, Andrea, Caleb and Ashling picked us up from the airport. We stopped off for lunch and some shopping and then made our way to the condo. The condo was great! Three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Very spacious. Great view of the beach. After settling in, Dad, Ellen, Ashling and I went to the pool while mom, Andrea and Phillip did some grocery shopping (getting to WalMart ended up being quite and adventure). On Sunday we went to church in Ormond Beach. A sweet couple that Andrea and Caleb know from Maryland, Bob and Shelby Mills, invited us to lunch at their house after church. They provided a delicious meal - brisket, green beans, cole slaw, potato salad, fresh fruit, cornbread and pineapple upside down cake. We had a great time visiting with them. We went to the pool again on Sunday afternoon. The girls loved the pool! We celebrated Father's Day and our 6th wedding anniversary that evening. On Monday we went to the beach. The sand was very shelly - not like the Carolina beaches. But we still played in the sand and the water. Ellen was not very interested in the ocean. I still have hope for the future. Monday evening Phillip made fajitas and then Andrea, Caleb, Phillip and I went to see Disney's Up. Cute movie. Tuesday was my 30th birthday. We got up early and drove about 2 hours to Disney World. We all went to Magic Kingdom. Andrea and mom got pictures of the girls with Mickey and Minnie in Toon Town. Dad, Phillip and I went on a couple rides while we waited - a Goofy ride and the train. We then hit up Fantasyland - Peter Pan, It's A Small World, Pooh's Great Adventure, Mickey's Philharmonic Orchestra and Snow White. Sadly, no Dumbo. After a long time in Fantasyland, we watched some of the parade on Main St and then went to Adventureland and rode Aladdin's Magic Carpet Ride, walked through Swiss Family Robinson tree house, Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Safari. That is all I can remember. Right when we were leaving, a major downpour occurred. We got soaked but it did help cool us off. After Disney, we ate dinner at Maggianos (Italian). The chicken parm was excellent! One of the best birthday meals I have had. Too bad most of us were still very wet. It was a fun way to start my 30th year. My memory is fading, but the rest of the week we went to the pool a lot and did some shopping at nearby outlets. Thursday afternoon we went to St. Augustine. Neat city! We flew back on Saturday. Came home to a broken air conditioning unit in our house and a truck that wouldn't start. Such is life.

Overall, it was a great vacation. Ellen had an ear infection and was on antibiotics and a decongestant but she was a trooper. Besides not getting enough rest, which was our fault, she did really well. We have a lot of memories from our week together.

More pictures to come.

More Florida - in random order

A taste of Florida

Cookie Cracker

I bought Ellen some Ritz bits cheese sandwich crackers for the plane and had her try them the other day to see if she liked them - which she does. This morning Phillip gave her some (long story) and she started calling them cookie crackers. She also calls Nutri-Grain bars cookies. Any love for real cookies she has definitely comes from me.

Gearing up for Florida

We are heading to Florida Saturday morning. Looking forward to the beach, Magic Kingdom, St. Augustine, shopping, good food and family time. When my family goes on vacation, we are on the go most of the time. But we also relax and enjoy ourselves. It is hard being at work this week - but only a few more days to go. I keep thinking of things I need to do at home. We are about 90% packed. I like to pack and organize for trips and I usually pack for Phillip too (because I want to and I am a control freak). I used to pack for camp atleast a couple weeks in advance. I'm not that bad anymore, if you consider that bad, but I do start early. Phillip's brother is coming to house/dog sit. Very thankful he is able to do this for us. Saves us a lot of money - boarding our dogs would cost a lot. Added bonus, he can get our mail. And maybe mow the yard? Pull some weeds? Wash our cars? I will leave you a list David :) Another bonus... Phillip's dad, who is bringing David here, is going to take us to the airport. And when he comes back next weekend to get David, he will pick us up from the airport. Saves us a lot of money in parking and saves us the hassel of getting us and all of our bags on and off the shuttle bus. We appreciate you both!

America, the next time you see me... I hope to not be so white!

Weekend Pictures

These breakfast pictures may have contributed to us being late for church this morning. Maybe.

Ellen likes sitting in a regular chair now - we let her depending on the food being served. It is funny sight sometimes!

Lucy is waiting and hoping for some Fruit Loops

A little someone likes standing on this particular vent..."Cold"

Found these sunglasses this week - in our medicine cabinet of all places

We had a good weekend. Did a little shopping and ran errands. Watched some movies and relaxed. Ellen woke up Saturday with some eye gunk and other side effects of having allergies. Hopefully she will start feeling better.

Water Day Here I Come

Excited to wear her bathing suit

Penny Pincher

Putting money in her lion bank... he roars every time. Thanks for letting me play with your lion bank Aunt Kendra - I love it!

Pictures taken this morning around 6:15 (hence the deer in headlights look)

Where's the sand?

Potty Time

Ellen is really interested in the potty. I was hoping to have her potty trained around 2 years old - looks like this may happen! We are going to get her a potty seat in the next few days and see how it goes. For now we just sit her on the toilet and say encouraging words to her. She seems so proud. Monday morning she was standing next to our commode crying out "pee pee potty" and trying to pull her shorts down. I will keep you updated.

Recent Pictures

She took down 2 capri suns at Cole's party

And a little cake and ice cream

Before school

Beautiful evening for dining outside

Yummy!

Cranky Sunday

Cole is 4!

A few pictures of Cole from his party

Water Day

Ellen's teacher posted quotes from the kids on one of the walls in their classroom. Ellen's quote is, "No! No! No! Not nice." I told Phillip this morning and sure enough, Ellen started saying this to the dogs when they repeatedly tried to kiss her.

Today is water day, as is every Friday, and so we sent Ellen to school in her bathing suit ("baby suit" in Ellen talk). The school requests/requires that you bring your child dressed and ready for the water, so she has her bathing suit on under her clothes. I NEVER thought I would buy her a bikini ("kini" as Ellen says), but alas I did and it is cute. A friend advised a 2 piece makes for easier diaper changes, which I am sure we will discover and appreicate while in Florida. I know she is having fun! They go out in the morning and then again in the afternoon. I was told that she doesn't care for the sprinkler, but I think she will come to enjoy it over time. My sister and I used to play in the sprinkler a lot. And we had a slip and slide that my Dad put going down hill in our backyard. Dangerous but fun.

Ellen at Jump!Zone

We went to Jump!Zone for the first time on Saturday to celebrate Cole's 4th birthday. It was fun watching all of the kids and adults play. It took Ellen some time to warm up to the concept of huge inflatables being a good thing... but she caught on at the end (the very end). I think we will try it again this summer. She woke up a little under the weather Sunday, so that may explain why she was so lethargic at the party.

Just after sliding
Squeeze!
Phillip's turn on the slide
This was more her style
And this


Preferred solid ground
Blurry and major red eye that I couldn't remove, but the best action shot I got

Coming Up next: Pictures of the birthday boy