Cupcake

So I finally got around to making cake (or cupcakes) for Erin's birthday.  A little late, but better than never!  I just bought a bunch of Christmas sprinkles, so the boys were eager to use them.  And of course both boys needed candles in cupcakes too.  So we had a little birthday party for all of us.  Alex licked the frosting clean off of his, cake untouched.  Adam stuck his finger in the icing a few times before he was done.  Erin had a bit more fun, but like her brothers ate mostly frosting.   :)

Florida

Since Alex will be starting kindergarten next year, we thought this would be our last chance to take a trip to Florida in the fall.  We had cooler weather than what we'd expected, however it was very pleasant weather.  Instead of 85 and sunny, we had 75 and partly sunny.  It was kinda nice to only have to put sunscreen on faces and necks.  And since 70 degree weather is waaaaaay better than the 30's, we thoroughly enjoyed our time outside! 

Eddie and Louise graciously let us invade their Ft. Myers Beach house.  They only arrived a day before we did, so we all got settled about the same time.   Our basic schedule was breakfast, beach, lunch, nap, beach, dinner, bath, bed---with pool time thrown in there randomly. :)   A schedule to be envied, yes.  And hard to see go.  Especially when we are welcomed back home with rain/snow and everything looks that dull gray color.  Blah.  Well, at least we have pictures to remind us of the fun!  And the boys were looking forward to coming home and playing with their toys inside anyway.  :)

Alex really got into the waves this year!  He had his swimsuit on almost every time we went to the beach.  And this is the same kid who wouldn't touch the water a couple of years ago!  Adam was more into the sand than the water.  And Erin tried to talk to everyone who walked past--and eat sand.

My cousin's husband hooked us up with a great deal on a rental van for the week (thanks so much Freddie!), so we took the kids up to Sanibel one day.  The beach is pure shells.  Alex looked for nice shells a little, but it was pretty cold that day and the wind didn't help.  So the boys were content to just dig in the piles of shells left by a higher tide.  For lunch we headed to the Bubble Room restaurant on Captiva island.  They have lots of things to look at in the restaurant and their dessert (cake) is a must-have! 

Eddie and Louise's house is on the back side of the island(east), so we have bit of a walk to the beach(west).  We went to the same spot on the beach every day.  Not too far from the beach access, in front of houses not yet occupied for the winter, and a nice grassy spot right behind us so when the boys had to go....well, you get the picture.  :)  Although it made me feel better when another family on the beach just let their boy be stark naked and run around.  At least I wasn't that bad!  Not that it couldn't happen to me....

Erin was not thrilled with the floaty thing in the pool.

She was much happier with Daddy!

Erin had her first birthday while we were there.  Sorry no party, but you got to go to Florida instead!  You had your first taste of mint chip ice cream----and loved it!   Happy birthday, Baby Girl!

barge with an excavator being pushed by a tugboat

Boat ride!  Eddie took us out one day for a ride.  It was a perfect day and we all enjoyed it alot.  There's always lots of things to see as we idle down the back of the island, under the bridge, and out towards open waters.  No dolphin sightings this year, but we saw some come next to the beach while playing one day.  

Pier at Market Square (gulf side)

watch out for pirates!

This boat was interesting.  I think it was doing some sort of dredging.  We could see it when we played on the beach.  And when we were out on the boat, it looked like it would run aground.   However after looking closer it would fill itself with muddy water (the mid-body of it was full of pipes gushing out the mud).  Eddie said certain areas around the island would get dredged and then dumped at a different location.  Evidently this boat was owned by the Army.  

Alex would get so cold in the pool that his hair would stand on end.  It had this puffed look---hilarious!

 We finally had a really warm day and Erin got to put her swimsuit on and play in the water.
Andy said a lady stopped to tell him that we had the cutest baby on the beach.  She'd walked up and down the island and none matched the cuteness of Erin.  I couldn't agree more!

nothing funner than running and splashing thru the water

our spot on the beach

Halloween

Like the past couple years, we went over to the Berger's for Halloween and trick-or-treating.  Alex was a cowboy sheriff and Adam was train engineer.  I made a train out of a cardboard box for him to wear, but he refused to wear it last minute.  Probably wouldn't have fit real well with all the clothes on anyway.  But Alex says he'll wear it next year, so maybe it will make it into some pictures then.  Andy dressed up as a engineer too.  I thought his costume was the best!  It turned pretty cold on us for the evening, but the kids still had fun knocking on doors and getting candy.  Then they returned and we dined on some Halloween food.  Our boys had a blast and they can't wait for next year!