Destination Florida

JEFF AND I WERE ABLE TO ENJOY A FIVE DAY TRIP TO SARASOTA, FL WITHOUT THE KIDS RECENTLY. WE JOINED DAWN AND BOB FOR A LOVELY VACATION FILLED WITH SUN, RELAXATION, ADULT CONVERSATION, LONG WALKS, GOLF, SWIMMING, GREAT FOOD, AND MORE SUN.

WHILE PREPARING FOR SUCH A TRIP IS A LOT OF WORK, WE HAVE REALIZED HOW MUCH WE VALUE TRIPS AS A COUPLE. OF COURSE, WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT THE HELP OF OUR DREAM TEAM - PAPA, NANY, DOC AND MIMI. WE REALIZE HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO HAVE SUCH INVOLVED GRANDPARENTS WHO WILLINGLY CLEAR THEIR CALENDARS AT OUR REQUEST AND ACTUALLY THANK US FOR "THE PRIVILEGE OF WATCHING THEIR GRAND KIDS." WE DECIDED IT WOULD BE BEST TO TAKE A DIVIDE AND CONQUER APPROACH TO THIS VACATION, SO THE CHILDREN EACH SPENT TWO DAYS ALONE WITH EACH GRANDPARENT AND THEN SWITCHED MID WEEK. CHARLOTTE WAS EVEN ABLE TO ENJOY A TRIP UP NORTH TO CAMP DAVID WITH MIMI AND DOC. OH, THE STORIES THEY HAD TO TELL AFTER THEIR WEEKEND TRIP WITH THE LITTLE LADY. JOEY WAS THRILLED TO HAVE SO MUCH ONE ON ONE ATTENTION FROM SOME OF HIS FAVORITE PEOPLE. AGAIN, WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE SUCH WONDERFUL, COMMITTED PARENTS.

I ALWAYS FIND MYSELF REFLECTING ON MY FAMILY WHILE I'M AWAY FROM MY CHILDREN (AND HAVE LOADS OF UNINTERRUPTED TIME TO ACTUALLY THINK.) DURING THIS PARTICULAR TRIP I WAS REMINDED HOW LUCKY I AM TO STAY AT HOME WITH MY CHILDREN; IT IS SOMETHING I NEVER WANT TO TAKE FOR GRANTED. I ALSO REFLECTED ON MY MARRIAGE AND AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT JEFF IS STILL MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PERSON (IN THE WORLD) TO SPEND TIME WITH (EVEN AFTER ALMOST 14 YEARS; I KNOW I WILL THINK THE SAME AFTER 50). I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR HIM AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SNEAK AWAY AND TAKE THIS TRIP. DAWN AND BOB WERE NOT BAD COMPANY, EITHER!

OUR SWEET GIRL MAKING THE TRIP TO MILWAUKEE VERY EASY ON HER PARENTS.

DREAMING OF FLORIDA BEACHES, PERHAPS?

RELAXATION. RELAXATION. RELAXATION.

OUR DAILY VIEW.
JUST ANOTHER COUPLE IN PARADISE.

ST. ARMAND'S CIRCLE

SUN KISSED AND FULL AFTER A DELICIOUS DINNER OUT.

WHAT A TRIP!