The week of leave

Sea World is awesome for a plethora of reasons, my current favorite being that they let us in free last week. They give active duty servicemen four free tickets per year thru their program Salute to Heroes. Well since Braden finally and officially started class yesterday, he realized that last week would be the only time he would have leave approved for the next year. He had five days so he took it and we partied and haven't looked back. Still washing all the laundry though.

Our vacation started with a visit from Phil and Jaime who trekked over from Mississippi for the weekend. We sat around and talked and for the most part ignored our kids. We learned that Phil's mallow roasting skills exceed his golfing skills and Jaime taught me how to use my pressure cooker to make Brazilian style beans. The true test of friendship was passed when we realized that we didn't have to do anything at all to have fun- it was a riot just to sit around chatting and laughing.

The next day we headed off to Orlando to get to our fancy discount pricleline hotel in time to wear the tinies out in the pool. Mission accomplished. I fully enjoyed being able to sit in the hot tub and watch the girls play ever so happily in the water.

Our Sea World adventure was great. Everything you want from a full day at a theme park with three girls under three: laughing, amazement, discovery, whining, meltdowns, stroller naps, and a million pictures in case we forget any of it. The girls favorite part were the acrobats. Anabelle is really inspired to be an acrobat now. Lila squealed and laughed through the whole show. We seemed to draw a lot of attention with the circus we were traveling with. People were staring at us all day and I kept wondering if there was a breast pad hanging out of my shirt but I guess it was probably just the sheer volume that accompanies us. There is something so wonderful about introducing your kids to nature. Watching their eyes light up with wonder and awe is good for my soul.

We left there and spent the next day with Reese, Kat and company. "Dak's house" is really what this trip was about for Anabelle- the fact that we went to Sea World is completely incidental to time with cousins. The four of us even snuk in a date night at my favorite restaurant and then went to Melting Pot for desert. It was a hoot to hang with Reese and Kat. Oh how we wish that those times were more frequent.

We made it home the next day with a few hours to spare before our friends the Bischoffs came to visit from Bama. We went to the base beach on Saturday and also got to go out on the town with them as well. James took us to Foot Locker and hooked us up with some new running kicks. We consumed a vulgar amount of candy and stayed up way too late playing games and chatting on the back patio. So good to hang out with Bama friends.

It must be said that Maisey was an absolute champion. So in love with that little girl.

A non-stop fun week.

But I could really use a nap.