Really?

April 28? Our last post? The person responsible for this is definitely NOT getting a bonus this year! So, how about we take a little walk through the past two and a half months... hitting the highlights (and some lowlights), and I promise to be a better blogger in the future? And we will never speak of this infraction ever again? ;)

April.... we decided to get back into the boating thing. After much back and forth, we decided to go with a 15 ft center console Boston Whaler. It fits in the garage (no paying for storage - nice!) and we are SO happy to be back on the water! Will is really digging it, too.

Cousins. Beach.

Our beautiful and fun niece Jessie is visiting this week, so we felt we needed to do some real "Florida" things! Yesterday Karen & I took the kids over to Daytona Beach, where Spring Break appears to be in full swing. Ashley, Austin, and Jess decided to do some parasailing, and had a great time doing it. They earned free t-shirts by going up to the highest possible height - 2000 feet. The rest of us enjoyed that from the ground.

If that was Hell...

... then this must be Heaven! After taking a 25 minute boat ride across the crystal clear water of the Caribbean Sea, we arrived at the Stingray City Sandbar. Here you can swim freely in waist deep water teeming with Southern Stingrays. We were able to pet them, hold them, and feed them. And get rammed into by them, which is a bit unsettling. But it was a really great experience, and the water off the coast of Grand Cayman is truly the most beautiful I have seen.

Gratuitous Will at the playground shots!

Couldn't resist posting multiple photos of His Cuteness!

Last Day of Summer.

Karen and I decided to spend the last sunny summer afternoon with the kids at the beach. We all had a great time enjoying the beauty and serenity of the Cape Canaveral National Seashore. More photos here.

What if it never stops raining?

I'm just asking.

So glad they canceled school today so these poor kids wouldn't have to go out in the big storm.

Summer is here.

We have arrived at the final destination of this year's road trip... the lovely hamlet of East Quogue on the east end of Long Island. So now we have ventured out of the Honda and will spend lazy days on the beach, frolicking in Poppy & Gheghe's soft grass at their charming bayside cottage, and waiting ever patiently for our little cousin Joshua to make his way into the world. (Enough already, kid, let's go.)
**Thanks to Gheghe and Heath, who contributed their excellent photography skills to this photo montage!**

Gardens of Busch.

Since Leah & Jack didn't get enough excitement in Chicago, Karen and I decided to take the kids to Busch Gardens in Tampa for a couple of days. We had a great time... Jack and Ashley rode the "big four" roller coasters - Gwazi, SheiKra, Montu and Kumba, and we experienced the new Jungala attraction on opening day.



































And how could I forget... the kids saw their very first concert!

I guess the diet starts tomorrow.

May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks.
May your heart be as light as a song.
May each day bring you bright happy hours,
That stay with you all year long.
For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, People!

Water is good.

We are really not having any fun.

And the weather isn't very nice.





















































Marathon, Florida Keys.