Florida Trip.. Last Days of 2016 and Welcoming the New Year!

Early on Tuesday, December 27, our entire family (including Bella!) headed to the hanger to go to Florida! Woo hoo!! 

Happy passengers eating lunch! 

Poor Bella had the worst flight... she could not find a spot where a child wouldn't step on her!! 

Lots of musical chairs! Flying 'Russell Air' is the BEST!!!

Finally, a seat to herself!! Happy dog! haha!

We got Gigi while Barrett went up and sat right seat with Capi!

And less than 3 hours later, we arrived in paradise!  Excited little monkeys!! 

Running and getting wiggles out while we unloaded the plane! 

Our first night there, Barrett stayed in with Ellie (who was getting over a little cold so needed to go to bed on time and rest) while the rest of us headed to dinner on the water! Yummy fish tacos and fun to start our trip (although missing the other two!!).

Morning one- wake and swim!!! Yay!!!

Ellie is a little fish!!! She LOVES swimming (but has NO fear and NO idea how to save herself! Pretty scary combo!!!)

And LJ finally got to fish again! He LOVES fishing and had been so excited to do this ever since our visit to the Gold lake house!! 

During naps LJ and Capi would go Iguana hunting!! LJ became obsessed with this!!! He forgot all about fishing when he discovered hunting! Haha! 

 The iguana hunters hard at work! 

 Another fun lunch hang out! 

 LJ and I out for a stroll around the block. He wore his hunting glove 'just in case' and told me all about how to hunt... for about 40 minutes straight! So cute!!! 

 Gigi spotted on her bike! 

My cool little kiddo ready to go boating!

And we're off!! I got to drive the boat the entire trip - my very first time!!! Pretty fun with my favorite instructor, Capi, by my side!

Hoping not to make these precious people sick! Haha! 

Headed to Sunset Beach to watch the sun go down with all the locals. It was quite an experience! 

They played music that was perfectly timed to the second of the sun setting. Then everyone sang a song together (and we were given papers with the words in case we wanted to sing along!).  Apparently this happens every night here! 

Night swimming- so fun!!!

Movie night!!! We had 3 movie nights and watched The Jungle Book and Tarzan!

Bella got to go lots of places with us, or just on lots of daily walks. And Ellie always insisted on holding her leash...

Walking from parent's house on the canal to their beach-front property a few streets away! And Evan insisted on pushing Ellie!!! Such sweet little helpers!

Boys spotted Capi and Barrett coming home from their bike ride!

They have four bikes at their house in Florida ... so we went on LOTS of bike rides!!! So fun!!!

 Made it to the sand!! 

Tonight we decided to check out the sunset from Capi and Gigi's beach front land (just 2 streets over from their house on the canal). We walked over and played on their beach until sunset.

One day they will probably build a house here... heaven! Here is a panoramic shot...

Always amazed by God's creation!!! 

An attempt at a group shot! Not easy with the lighting, but fun!

Then we walked to a restaurant for dinner! I love how close/ walkable everything is!!! 

LJ and I making faces... his looks a little sad to me! 

Ellie eating up all the extra attention from her Gigi and Capi!

Pedal kayaking with Capi... I LOVE this!

Tried to get a shot of the 20+ Iguanas (some HUGE) sun-bathing in this bush, but then I started gliding into them and had to put my phone down so I didn't get one on my lap!! Ah!! 

Then we went back out in the boat, and I tried again!

Got off the boat to grab some lunch... 

Ellie had to get up to go give her Gigi some extra hugs! 

Back home... and trying to get back into the pool! 

Evan helping clean the pool!

These two! Seriously!

After all their hunting, they focused on just target practice with the pellet gun for a little while. And LJ surprised us all- he is an awesome shooter!!!

He got the bullseye!!! Dead center!! Wow LJ!

We headed back to Capi and Gigi's beach for the last sunset of the year...

The kids were so happy to be playing in the sand! That is all they had been requesting all day!!

Taking it all in!!! 

it was so colorful and beautiful, but a few clouds blocked the moment the sun actually went away...

The kids with their Capi and Gigi right after sunset!

I can to try to get in... the sun has officially set on 2016!!! 

New Year's Eve!!!! Our celebration consisted of a countdown beginning at 8:25 pm, and then the 10 seconds to 8:30! It wasn't super organized or perfectly executed this year, but still fun!!!

 

What an honor to get to cheers to these two!!

Sparkling grape juice never tasted so good!! ;)

 Countdown... 

 Cheers!

NYE kisses! 

Last full day here... we had to get in lots of pool time!

Let's go boating!!! We were in search of a fun sand bar to play on so wore swimsuits... no luck!

Took a break from driving the boat to hang with my family - and get one picture of us together!

Time to go home already! We were ready... but always excited to get back on the plane!

I taught LJ how to play Hangman with our cool new Boogie boards! Fun! 

Cute husband... Always working!

Evan got to sit right seat next to Capi for a while... he was so happy up there!

Ellie was out in minutes... a late but much needed nap for this little princess! Back to reality we go!!! 

What a wonderful conclusion to a great year... Lots of changes for us in 2016, and we are excited to see what 2017 holds for us! Thanks so much to everyone who made fun memories with us this year and for being in our lives!!