Thanksgiving 2011

For Thanksgiving this year our family traveled to my hometown of Sarasota, FL, to visit with my parents.  In the past 21 years of my life I have only made Thanksgiving dinner twice.  I know.  I'm spoiled!!  For years we had my brother down the road or visited with my parents.  Next year I plan to do it up at home!  (Just so you know.)  My younger brother, Jamie, came and spent two nights with us, as well.  We all really enjoyed his company!  While we were there we visited one of our favorite places, Mote Marine Laboratory.  Here are some photos from our visit...

Me, Jamie, and my Dad frying the turkey

Dan and Max get friendly with sea life at Mote

Goofing around at home

What Joshua did while we ate Thanksgiving Dinner...

Saying "hello" to Mr. Shark!

Love this one of Buffet looking at Eden & Tommy!

Tommy with "Squishy" the Loggerhead Turtle

My 40th Birthday Beach Trip

Mima shades Joshua

Josh poolside
Max shows off his shell
My Dad (Pipa) and Eden at Siesta Key Beach

Jamie and Mom
Buffet says "hi" to the kids
The fam at the beach
Eden hangs out with Celeste in the pool
Jamie 14, Jamie 37, Nancy 40!!

I had a wonderful 40th birthday. I will post a link to more pictures soon! My kids gave me an iPod Shuffle. It is SO much fun! I'm listening now! (I should be sleeping...) I went shopping with my Mom and had a GREAT birthday dinner with my family and birthday buddy, my brother, Jamie. It's hard work, but I am enjoying my 7 week old birthday present, too. God is good!

Sarasota Trip

It's been a week, but I wanted to post some pics from our trip to Sarasota last week. There are so many! I'll put a few here and here is a link to all the rest. Enjoy!

Here are a few pictures from the weekend. They include my Dad and StepMom (Pipa and Mima). Also, there is my younger brother, Jamie. We hadn't seen him in over a year--3 years for Celeste and Jamie. It was a crazy weekend and I was exhausted when we got home. It's a challenge to travel with 6 kids--but mostly the baby and the toddler wore us out! In addition, it was Dan's 8th birthday on Easter Sunday. I can't believe it's been that long. He's getting so big!

Mini vacation

We're in Sarasota for the weekend. I've taken lots of cute pictures, so I will be posting them when I get home. Right now the kids are outside playing yard darts with their Pipa. My brother, Jamie, is coming in later this afternoon. I haven't seen him since December 2005. Celeste and Jamie haven't seen him in about 3 years. We're excited!!