Last night we returned from a blissful week in Fort Lauderdale with my family.
I don’t know how, but a week always manages to fly by as if it were three measly days, and we always find ourselves driving home feeling like…well, like it just wasn’t enough time. This trip was no exception and yesterday I was sad, both for myself, and for sweet Alana, who is going to seriously miss her Nana and Papa.
Sad times.
When we arrived at my parents house last week, the first thing we did was to see everything that my parents had bought for Alana for their backyard. Basically, they turned it into a water theme park wonderland
These first few photos are of Alana playing with the sand and water table they’d set up for her. It was completely adorable, and I don’t think any of us could have foreseen just how much Alana would LOVE it. I think it wins “favorite activity” in her book for the week.
She was SO busy and so focused at the table. Playing is very serious business.
Shovels, buckets, sand molds, rakes…it was all here
And then there was the dinosaur land poolWhen my mom told me she’d picked up a little pool for Alana, I had visions of the small, round, hard plastic Walmart things that I grew up with. I didn’t know to expect THIS: a slide, a palm tree, and yes, a waterfall. Completely wonderful.
Alana loved it, loved it, loved it! I had serious fun taking photos of Alana on this slide:
Round One:
Round Two:
Here are some awesome photos that Amber took…I love them!
Floaties:
More sand and water table fun…
And even some time in the “big pool” in her hippo floatie with Nana:
Some fun bonding time inside on Uncle Shawn’s bed:
Out and about
Family Lazer Tag…SERIOUS FUN.
My attempt to look intimidating while playing Lazer Tag. Thanks for the bandana, Nick
Alana and Papa!
My mom even found Alana her own little pink net for catching stray leaves and bugs…we had a clean pool because of mom and Alana!
Thanks to Amber for this photo!
As if the sand and water table and dinosaur pool weren’t enough, mom couldn’t resist this toddler canoe for Alana
I freaked out about it because my mom had one for me when I was even younger than Alana. Now we just need to find the photos of my mom and I and scan them in so I can add to this blog post with a baby photo of my own. Thank you to Rich for the canoe photos! LOVE THEM, babe!
It’s called the “S.S. Otter Spotter” :):)
Are you kidding me? Cuteness overload. A toddler canoe with it’s own oars and even a little pillow for back comfort
She didn’t want anyone to touch her canoe, so she floated away and said “bye-bye.” She’s quickly getting more independent in the pool, so I’ve decided to enroll her in swimming lessons this summer.
Oh, Shawn. When Alana was done with her oars and threw them in the water, Shawn grabbed them and used it to paddle his raft
I grabbed a few shots of Rich and Alana relaxing in the water…
Rich snagged one last shot of Alana before we went back inside for the day. She’s my sweetie. And oh, so adorable.
Headed out for the afternoon (and Alana trying to smile with a big peppermint in her mouth).
So cute. Nana and her sweetie!
On our last day outside I had my first pool-related scare with Alana. My mom was in the shallow end of the pool, I was in the middle, and Alana was playing in her dinosaur pool down by the deep end. I didn’t realize it, but she’d decided to try and get onto this big green raft by herself. I turned around just in time to see her falling into the deep end of the pool towards this raft. I panicked and was there in just a few seconds, lifting her from under the water. I tried to stay calm for her sake and told her she was going to be just fine, but of course, I was shaky and upset too. She was terrified but recovered pretty quickly – with many thanks to my mom – who had the presence of mind to say, “Alana! Good job! You went underwater!” and helped Alana to feel like it wasn’t the end of the world. Alana is such a cautious and often-scared toddler that it helps to reassure her and encourage her when it comes to things she’s been avoiding. I’m thankful it was just a minor scare and that I was there to grab her…parenting can be so terrifying sometimes. I think she is going to be VERY hesitant about swim lessons…this is the first summer she has even let anyone get her in the pool at all.
Here she is a few minutes later, scary episode forgotten, and enjoying the raft with Nana holding on right behind her.
One of our traditions from the past few visits is to enjoy breakfast at the Jet Runway Cafe. This is at the Fort Lauderdale executive airport, and the cafe (which we didn’t know about until about a year ago), is completely charming. The food is excellent and the view of the runway could not be better. Alana LOVES airplanes – big and small – and has so much fun watching them land and take off through the windows!
A typical gorgeous South Florida day, with bright blue sky and big, puffy white clouds. And to make our visit even more fun, there was a TON of activity on the runway this day. Loads of planes taking off and landing!
Making an Alana sandwich
And that concludes my blog post from our 2010 Summer Family Vacation!
But that is NOT to say that I did a great job of taking photos every time I should have. I missed so many opportunities…namely, our 4th of July family dinner at Houston’s – which may need to become a holiday tradition. We ate a divine meal inside and then stepped outside onto the restaurant dock to watch the Fort Lauderdale Beach fireworks display! No camera! Ugh!
I also failed to take a photo of my friends Lacey and Leslie (from Longview, TX) when they stopped by for lunch, and our friends Lisa and Lauren and their kids who also stopped by to visit. I’m reprimanding myself!
Anyway, happy summer everyone, and happy summer vacations! Make lots of memories and enjoy your loved ones – life is so short!
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