Tampa Visit

Grandma & Grandpa Byrd took us on a little trip to Tampa this weekend. We got to try some new restaurants and take Ben to the Florida Aquarium. Visiting the aquarium has become a little summer tradition...we love it! After the aquarium we let Ben do his favorite thing in Tampa...ride the streetcar!

Thanks for such a fun trip, Grandma & Grandpa!

swimming in the hotel's pool

Jeremy's burger at Square 1

horseshoe crabs

Ben and Daddy checking out the Snook

looking for shrimp!

the magnified image of a Brine Shrimp

eating at our new favorite pizza restaurant...Eddie & Sam's located in downtown Tampa

after pizza, we had gelato from Stefano's...so, so good!

getting ready to board the streetcar

we wore him out!

Updated Blog!

Okay guys, I just spent two hours trying to update this blog and I'm still not finished! I have some new posts starting in May if you want to check them out! I hope I never get this far behind again.

Hollywood Studios

We finally made it over to Hollywood Studios today using the annual passes we got for Christmas. It is the only theme park we haven't visited. We weren't sure that there would be much for Ben to do, but we found several fun things. He loved the Disney Junior show! It was a live show with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Jake & the Neverland Pirates, Doc McStuffins and Sophia the First. We found the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground, which Ben also loved. He got to do lots of climbing and sliding. We had a really good lunch, then took Ben to see the Muppets 3D show. He wasn't as interested in that as Disney Jr., but still enjoyed the show.

So captivated by the Disney Jr. show!

He looks so grown in this picture!

He LOVED this giant leaf slide at Honey I Shrunk the Kids

A Busy Week!

For three people on vacation, we've sure had a busy week! Jeremy and I both had doctors appointments at the beginning of the week. We try to get those things done over the summer so we don't have to miss much work. On Thursday, we met Michelle & Alex in Lakeland to catch up. Michelle lives in Germany and I had not seen her since last summer. We had a great lunch at Burger 21 and dessert at Coldstone (this is the very reason I go to the gym...I like to eat!). After lunch and a lot of catching up, Jeremy and I headed to Bartow to Papa's house to visit with some cousins that were visiting from South Carolina. Ben had so much fun playing with his cousins Betsy, Lacey & Molly. On Friday, Jeremy and I did some work on the house. I pressure washed the front while he started the big project of tiling our back porch. I know this sounds crazy, but I love it when we have some free time to work on the house! I have so many projects I would like to accomplish in the next year. Saturday was another busy day. We met up with a ton of relatives on Jeremy's side for his Uncle Charles' 78th birthday. We left the party and went straight to my cousin Austin's graduation party. We didn't get home until 10 o'clock! Today, we finally took Ben to see Despicable Me 2. He just loves those little Minions! Nana and Aunt Darla went with us. We had so much fun!

Here are some pictures from our busy, but fun week!

Molly & Ben jumping on the bed like little monkeys!

Ben schooling everyone on how to play Trouble

Lacey & Ben playing in the back of Neal's truck

I love this face!

I downloaded a new photo app and Ben decided he wanted a green mustache!

Ben & Daddy playing outside at Uncle Charles' party

Ben & cousin Brandi

cousins: Ben, Zach and Nathan

Neal took this picture of us at Charles' party

Nana and Ben enjoying their Starbucks

me and Aunt Darla

Big Boy

Ben fell asleep on the way to Publix this afternoon. I just couldn't resist snapping a picture of him in his new booster seat. He is growing up so fast!

New Gear

Ben's new backpack and lunch box came in the mail today! He's so excited that I found a backpack with green & blue colors....his two favorites!