a little family....

....staycation!

we returned safely from the beach, had a week of work and then another little *vacation*....this time right here in town at this beautiful resort....they give teachers an awesome discount :)

it was honestly a spur of the moment decision on my part.....brett had known that he was participating in a memorial golf tournament for a former blazer football player on friday...kirk was such a sweet guy and actually took over brett's position when his shoulder wouldn't allow him to play anymore....and i knew i was off and had a four day weekend....then deciding the kids would not want to stare at me all day, i packed us up and headed to the hotel....and their AWESOME pool!

we had a GREAT day!! the kids swam and swam and slid and slid....then when you thought they were done, nope...back for more!

to say the kids were worn out that night would be an UNDERSTATEMENT!!....between the amazing marriott beds, black-out curtains & tired kids we managed to sleep until 9am the next day....wow!!....but within an hour of being up we were back at the pool for more fun...and this time daddy was able to join us :)

he even braved the slide....i did as well the day before but i about lost my bottoms so i thought i would let brett handle it the next day!

and as you can tell below.....the day was again a success!!

before the beach....

....we made a pitstop to visit our cousins, grams & more!

and, as you can see from the pic below, our car was packed to the hilt and i was relying on my camera phone for pics...

i was also having a LOT of fun with all the new camera apps....so neat!

we had lots of fun swimming together!

then the girls spent the night at gram's house and the boys at aunt lisa's....we LOVE watching ramona & beezus!

the next morning the girls decided it was dress up time....a chef, princess, doctor & fireman!

we then all met up to celebrate my nephew's 12th birthday....i am still in shock! he goes to middle school this year, that just does NOT seem right :)

...and seeing as this side of the fam had not *officially* celebrated grant's birthday he joined in on the fun!

it was the PERFECT start to our vacation!

saving the best.....

...for last!!

yup, audrey & i went parasailing!!

it was absolutely amazing.....the best words to describe are calm & peaceful.....when you are 800 ft in the air there isn't much noise but the sound of the chute blowing in the wind :)

this is on my to-do again list!!

...and the story goes...

audrey started asking our very first day at the beach to go parasailing....i, of course, kept telling her maybe & we will see ~ parent's best go to phrase :) ....i honestly thought she would quit asking, change her mind or chicken out....nope...none of the above....so on our very last full day at the beach we got up bright and early to fling ourselves off the back of a boat with an itty-bitty rope...lol!

and can i tell you, she did great!!....she was not scared at all....

i LOVED this pic of  the rope....such a good realization :)

we even got dipped in the water!

honestly, one of the neatest things i have ever done and i was THRILLED to be able to experience it with audrey for her first time too!!

and the last days....

....were GREAT days!

beachin' it, playtime, fabulous dinners & more...

wait....who is supposed to be building the castle?!?!....haha....the "big guys" loved it too :)

he wanted dearly to catch a fish!

she didn't mind looking....but she didn't want any fish nibbling her toes!

styling in their hats!

a quick photo session before dinner :)

blake & megan at dinner!

we had to finish our trip to the Track that we cut short.....the bumper cars were a hit as usual!

grant's faces are HILARIOUS!

one of their MANY collisions!

such a pretty passenger :)

now you couldn't expect him to pass up a tractor!

to finish up our visit.....carousel for grant and airplanes for audrey!