~Florida: Evening on the Beach~

Our last evening in Florida we made our way back over to the beach to take pictures and watch the sun set.  It was actually a lot cooler that day and with my achy pregnant body I wasn't about to get in the water, but the kids didn't seem to mind too much and still wanted to wear their swimsuits.

Seaweed collecting was a favorite pastime for Elyssa. She is a beach girl, like her mama.

Kungfu fighting?  Not sure what the little man was doing in these pictures. 

Grandma was there to make sure she didn't get swept away.  :-)

The kids used the sand and seaweed to build fairy beds or nests.

Our best attempt at a group shot.  Love Alec and Elyssa's faces.  

Then we tried to take some pictures of just our family, but the kids were feeling way to goofy to just stand and smile.  Lyssa has to be the best part of this picture.  

None of them were exactly wall worthy, but I think we still had fun.  

Nick and I have pictures of the two of us snuggled together at every beach we have ever been too. This was not going to be the exception just because I was pregnant.

Daddy and his daughters.  I must have been standing on higher ground here because I am not as tall as my sister.

I've never been one to take belly shots while pregnant.  I don't mind that other people do it. I just don't feel comfortable with it myself, but Ryan snapped this one really quick and painlessly and I actually think it's a beautiful picture.  If only that was a large as I ever get pregnant!  This was me, just over half way and is one of the only pregnant belly shots of me in existence.  Way to take a one and only, Ryan!

Beautiful Erin, a month behind me, expecting her first child, a sweet baby girl.  I was beyond thrilled when she told me.  I may have even cried.  

At a certain point I looked over and saw Elyssa having this beautiful moment and simply had to take a picture.  She was just staring off at the clouds and that beautiful place where the ocean meets the land, taking in natures beauty.  

Then I sent the other two munchkins to sit by her.  They are always so cute together.

This picture became my new computer desktop photo.  Two little monkeys, snuggled up being sweet together, with one little monkey calmly looking out at the world.  

We made our way back to the house, packed up our bags and prepared for the journey home.  We woke up before the dawn and drove back across the keys, up the coast to the airport in time to make our flights to our respective homes.  I wanted to cry when I hugged my parents goodbye at the airport, and some of my children may have shed a tear or two.  It's never long enough!  It was a beautiful vacation and a wonderful way to end 2012.  

Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa!  

We love you more than all the grains of sand in the ocean.