Our Thanksgiving!

We spent our Thanksgiving in FL with the Gregov side of the family!

I am back to visiting one of my favorite places (my mother-in law Carolyn and Anna Maria Island)
It could have been a bit warmer but was just what the doctor ordered...a vacation!!!

My crew!

That's us!

We all had such a great time. We always do!

We also took our great friends with us...Debbie and Kenzie!

It was so fun to share one of our favorite places with friends!

The water was a bit chilly if you were above the age of 13...otherwise perfect swimming conditions!!

My loves!

Gotta love that white sand!

So much fun!!!  Thanks Carolyn for having us!!

Now it time to get ready for the holidays...I have been busy already!!!

Simple but nice!

 "It's the North Pole!,  "No it's not!",  "Yes it is!",  "Then where's the snow?"!!!!

Grandma and Grandpa!

Visit #2:  G and G came to visit and we had such an great time.  They arrived a day early and stayed a day longer (for them, that is amazing!) and we filled our days. 
We now live very far away from them but we live in a place that is great to visit in Winter and I am hoping they will take advantage of that and stay a lot longer during those freezing winters that WY endures. 

Some of the fun...
Day 1-Friday, hanging at home

C getting oranges from the tree in backyard!

Thanks Aunt Lori and Daniel...these guys loved the goodies G and G brought!

Earning a little $!  Quote of the day, "Grandpa, I charge $3 but I also accept tips!"  The girl knows what she's doing!

Day 2-Myaaka State Park and Siesta Key Beach

Visitors must go to Myaaka State Park! 

They were finally out and they were everywhere!  We saw so many this time.  Very cool!

Siesta Beach...the kiddos made this incredible volcano and used their swim tubes to make it work!  Very, very cool!

I love this picture!

Day 3 was spent at home watching the Daytona 500!  I was so into the race that I forgot to take some pics...it was a really fun race.  I am a new Nascar fan!

Day 4-our favorite place Anna Maria Island!

Anna Maria Island City Pier...celebrating 50 years!

G and G!

Enjoying Happy Hour at the AMI City Pier Restaurant!  Thanks Gramps!

Happy Kiddos!

Day 5

We had a wonderful visit!  I hate saying goodbye...so it's so long for now!

A Really Nice Day!

Sometimes (a lot of times) you need to do something that reminds you why you live where you live.  In CO, we used to go hiking in the foothills or biking on the miles of bike trails that lie all over or hit the ski slopes at Eldora.  The beach is such a major part of FL and this past summer we spent a lot of time on Anna Maria Island but hadn't just hung out in quite a while.
 It felt good to be back...feet in the sand, the sun warming our skin, listening to the waves rolling onto shore and searching for the most beautiful shells.

Our day...

The water was cold (60-65 degrees) so kiddos didn't spend too much time swimming but they couldn't resist a little!

The kiddos wanted to be buried!

These are the moments that make life special.
It was just a really nice day!

Sand sculpture Fun on Anna Maria Island!

One more joy of being close to the beach...

Sand sculptures!

There were some amazing ones but the kiddos loved this alien sculpture a lot!

Yes...this is all sand

The joys of the beach!! 

Our First Visitors!!!

We were so thrilled...Grandma and Grandpa came to visit and we were all over-the-top about it! 

They arrived while kiddos were at school so I had them to myself for a while.  This was nice for me...they are so special to me and I miss them so much.  I showed them our new house and the gardens.  They both liked the house and Mom commented a couple times that the house just feels comfortable.  That makes me feel really good.  We then went to Baba's house so they could visit with her.  Baba's house is so lovely and we had a great time visiting with her.  Her apple cake was just the icing on the cake...Thanks Carolyn!

We then headed to school to get the kiddos...this was the reaction!

It was a really HAPPY moment! 


We got K from her school and headed out to the beach.  Grandma grew up growing to the beach on the Pacific Ocean and had never set foot in the Gulf...I think she felt a little at home when we arrived. 

The shell hunting began!!!

We had a wonderful time!  It was just happiness and joy the entire short-but-sweet visit.  They couldn't stay long as the house in WY still needs some attention before the holidays but we can't wait for them to come back and stay awhile.  They even talked about staying a long while over the cold WY winters...that would be amazing!

This helped remind me how much family means to me.  They have always been wonderful parents and I am so thankful we got to introduce them to our new home.

I saw a saying this morning that said "Friends are the Flowers in a lovely garden"...if that's true then family must be the veggies...you absolutely need their nutrients they provide in order to live a healthy, happy life. 

I can't wait for the next visit...I love you Mom and Dad!

It's so hard to keep busy...NOT!

So, after the kiddos are all dropped off at school and in between unpacking boxes, I head out for some "me" time.

This is my new fav!

Biking along the beach.  Out on Anna Maria Island, there is a sidewalk that runs along the beach.
It's a perfect recipe to a perfect morning!

The path!

The view!!

It's so easy and convenient!

It helps me physically but also mentally...
I love breathing that moist gulf air-it fills me
I love how there is no end to the view-the hope it brings
I love watching the birds-the freedom

Come join me!~

I WANT this house!!!!!

One of these years, this will be where you come to visit me...

my dream house, Anna Maria Island...

beach out the back door...

This pic is of our spot for the day...I was daydreaming that this was my house the entire time.

 absolutely perfect!

 I could definitely handle living here...sooooo Love it...and you are all welcome anytime!

 AHHHHHH!

One day....