Enjoyin' the Sunshine State!

I will remember . . .

the thunderstorms
the torrents of rain
McDonald's milkshakes
seeing a small sting ray
watching Coben hold the hermit crab & then jump & squeal has it scampered in his little hand
Coben's laughter going over speed bumps
Ethan's tireless diving for shells, always seeing his little feet in the air
Ethan's "watch my dive" and then watching him run into the water and land body first
Zach's snorkel goggles
Zach seeing a Manatee
Coben chasing the birds, watching the para sailers, wondering if he could do that.
Coben wanting his Papa
Snails, bugs, and sea shells
Going swimming the second we'd hit the beach
Ethan swimming in his clothes
Only getting to take 7 or 8 pictures
Grandmother's talking
Mav's first tooth
Ethan's first loose tooth
FIREWORKS on the lanai
Sand castles with Great Grandpa
A white remote controlled Hummer
Sand
7 people in the car
Barefoot beach
Bonita Springs 4th of July Parade
Grandma throwing kisses to the firemen
Grandma heckling the Obama campaigners
Regina and Antonia's excitement at being Godparents
Hotness
Humidity
Reflecting on life and what I want to do, how to raise my boys, being a housewife
Marveling at Zach's efficiency
Where in my life do I need to practice a little humility?
Wanting my mom here with us
Wanting to rent a house on the beach for the whole family
Hoping for a safe flight home
Loving my time with my family and relaxing, for the first time in a long time
Wondering about God's plan for my life, the salvation of humanity, what we 'take' with us . . . trying to hear the Lord. Wanting the love of my family forever
Mav's back bridge and push ups
Mav--the Jumping Bean
Mav's desire for FOOD
My grandfather's need to feel worth
Uncle Billy and Aunt Barbara
Palm Trees, sunsets, sea grapes, and white sand, little minnows, dolphins, sand dollars, turtle nests, and fighting conchs
Ethan playing with tennis balls, reading the funnies with Great grandma, learning how to fart with his armpit, watching for alligators, loving the gulf, wanting to play chase, being content and quiet
Coben's kind kisses to his brothers,
Mav's frustrated squeals
Rainbows above the pool
Intense blues and greens
Coben enjoying Great Grandma's entire bottle of Blueberry Bliss Bubble Bath
A Red Sox's hat, a game ball, and a red cowbell!
Sleeping on the lanai
Birds making nests
Ice Cream, microwavable meals in boxes, take out, and lots of fresh ice cream.
Aging
Golf Cart rides and alligator hunts
Pictures
Video camera
Three sons full of love
Husband who cares
Dog track winners
Ethan's favorite thing being that he won money
Worthington's pool
Hurricane Bertha
Coben backing the golf cart back, falling out . . . hearing about it all later

A never ending trip home, waiting on the runway in NC, Denver, a hysterical-overtired 2-year-old, making chocolate hand prints on the barf bag, mechanical delays, missing bag, three hour nap at Matt's, a long drive home, seeing Flathead Lake on a beautiful sunny day.