Fall Break In Florida

Last week was Bella's Fall Break, which happened to coincide with an bank exam that Steve had scheduled in Tampa, so we decided to pack the whole family up and spend the week in Florida. It was wonderful! We kind of felt like it was a delayed Summer vacation, and we loved the extra family time, hanging out with Papa and Mimi, and enjoying lots of pool time! (Oh! And we didn't deliver a baby in Valdosta, so extra win.)

On the road and ready to go. We managed to pack all of us in Steve's car, which will be the last time our whole family will fit in the car!

 

 

The girls are getting a little obsessed with cereal, so every morning was Cheerios and strawberries.

 

They also got very used to having Mimi and Papa in the same house! They'll really be "suffering" when they have to return to real life and only have me to serve them.

 

Pool time! Monday was a bank holiday, so Steve got an extra day to play with us!

 

Bella was rocking it in the pool! Getting very brave and jumping in the deep end by herself! Still not swimming like a master, but I'm just thankful to see her braver!

 

This picture is when Mom didn't realize her phone was set on a permanent filter and kept taking "antique-y" pictures all weekend. :)

 

The weather was gorgeous and definitely "cooler" by Florida standards. (Which basically means it was still in the 80's, but there was a breeze.) The girls outgrew their bathing suits from the Summer, so we just went in undies all week. Luckily, they're still young enough to pull that off.

 

 

Bella didn't stop running all week! At the beach, she bolted back and forth between rolling in the sand and rushing to the surf!

 

I'm pretty convinced that this flotation-thing that we got for Evelyn is the greatest invention of this century! You could basically throw her into any large body of water, and she just bobs there. She's our little daredevil, so it's really nice to know she's always got her head above water. In the pool, she floated and kicked all over the deep end without the slightest problem, and at the beach, the surf knocked her over a couple of times, but this little thing kept her upright each time. I'm a little in awe.

 

 

We loved the time to relax, knowing that Little Man is coming sometime soon.

 

I've never worn a bikini while pregnant, and I'll be honest - I loved it. It was awesome to not have anything tight against my stomach and for the only time in my "bathing suit life", feel like it didn't mater how big my belly was.

 

Once Steve left to go to Tampa for the week, it was just me and the girls, and Papa planned a special surprise for us - Jungle Gardens! It's basically a mini zoo, and very interactive! They were very laidback and the girls got a lot of opportunities to be up close with the animals. Bella wanted to see everything; Evelyn wanted to touch everything!

 

Silly faces just 'cause.

Mimi and Bella, waiting for the reptile show to start...

 

 

After the reptile show, the animal handlers let anyone who wanted to come back and hold the animals. Dad was a trooper in his wheelchair and held the baby alligator while Evelyn pet his back.

 

She specifically requested to have the snake draped over her shoulders. Evelyn is definitely our brave one.

Bella loved this pretend alligator almost as much as the real ones!

 

 

The flamingos roamed freely around the entire park, and there were little vending machines where you could buy food for them. I was pleasantly surprised at how gentle they ate the food out of our hands.

 

I think this may have been Bella's favorite part...she didn't want to leave!

Okay, yes, I'm putting in another picture of me, half-naked in a bikini, but this was our last day in Florida and my last time EVER being pregnant in a bathing suit!

(You're more than welcome to still roll your eyes, though; I completely understand.)

 

 

Swimming in a friend's infinity pool that overlooked the Gulf. Not too shabby.

 

Bella showing off some of her new moves and "spinning" as she jumped.

 

Our last dinner was at Sharky's On The Pier. This is kind of a family favorite, because the restaurant is right on the beach and you can walk out on a long pier, too.

 

Daddy and the girls, walking on the beach after dinner.

 

Dad and I were wimps and sat on the pier while Steve and Mimi played in the water with the girls.

 

Mom and I working on our selfie pose.

 

 

Family picture!

The original plan was to roll up their pants and keep their clothes dry, and they were very pleased with themselves that they got completely soaked.

 

 

Mimi and the girls

 

The sunset was so beautiful and just about to go below the horizon, that I couldn't resist a kissing picture!

 

One last, special picture...Evelyn loves her some Rachel! She wanted to talk to her and kiss her all week long. Rachel doesn't always like having people in her face, but she's really patient with Evelyn and by the end of the week, I think Rachel had just accepted the inevitable. I love this picture, because Evelyn is grabbing the front of Rachel's shirt to pull her in for a kiss!