Spring Break '18: Back to Navarre Beach

Dear Leah and Logan,

Woo hoo! We survived another Spring Break...and we had some great company join us on our trip back to Navarre Beach.  The 3 of us headed south about 1:00 pm on Friday, March 23. I found us a room at the Days Inn so we could head down a day early.  We still checked out on Saturday, but we decided to hang-out at the pool before going to our condo.  Here's how the trip went...

Day 1- March 24

• Chillin by the Days Inn Pool
• Condo check-in
• Wal-Mart Run
• Amanda & Dylan Arrival
• Grandma and Grandpa Arrival

Day 2

Sunday was our biggest beach day. The sun was out, the skies were blue, and the waves were huge.  Leah and I drove to meet Mrs. Jennifer to pick up Kinsley Yeater in Fort Walton. So she joined us both at the beach and at the pool.  Dylan also joined us for some wave-jumping. That day, the group also fell in love with the heated pool at the condo, and it was hard to get everyone to go back to the beach after that! That night, we all went out to eat at East River Smokehouse and stuffed our faces with food and cake.

Kinsley and Leah

Logan and Dylan

Day 3- Zoo Day

Monday brought in a bunch of grey clouds, so we decided to make it a zoo day at the Navarre Zoo. But first we tried to visit the world famous Navarre Fishing Pier. However, it was so windy out on the water that we thought a storm would carry us away. That made for a short walk....then, off to the zoo. The kids all had the most fun in the bird house with your budgie sticks, but  Amanda proved that even giraffe's are not a fan of salads. Uncle Caleb arrived also that afternoon from Atlanta.

Barely Any Wind on the Navarre Fishing Pier

So many cups of lettuce

Day 4- Nails and the Killer Whale

After changing some plans around, Amanda, Leah, and Dylan went to get their nails done on Tuesday. The rest of us played lazy for a couple hours before we all attacked the pool again. This time, our friend, the Killer Whale came out to play. Also, I had another empty day fishing, which is still better than being at work.  Uncle Caleb joined us that night at our favorite dessert spot- Tommy's Sno Balls...

Uncle Caleb Likes All the Flavors

Day 5- Dolphins and Jet Skis

Wednesday morning we got up early because Amanda set up an awesome day for us. Grandpa, Leah, Logan, Amanda, Dylan, and I all hopped on jet skis and cruised around the water for 2 hours. We basically had the whole bay to ourselves, which allowed for more fun and going 'top speed' on our jet skis. Even more- we saw a Dolphin that got really close to Grandpa and Logan!

Grandpa and Logan Found a Friend!

Leah Must be Driving

Amanda and Dylan

Amanda and Dylan left on Wednesday afternoon, but not before a couple more hours at the pool. We were all super glad they joined us for the trip!  The heated pool became the staple of this trip...you kids always ended up there. Plus, you made a lot of friends and created a lot of games...diving, swimming, Marco Polo! you did it all!  That night, we all went down the road to Broussards Bayou of Navarre...a little Cajun food on our last night.  We all walked out of there weighing 10 lbs extra from all the food.

Family Dinner and Broussards

Before dinner, I was able to bribe you two into a few modeling shots at the beach. The Preds gear was a shameless dad move. A big thanks to everyone who joined us for this vacation. As for you 2- no matter where you go in life, I hope you find time for the occasional family vacation...just some time to get away from "real" life and enjoy somewhere together. And past that, take some time to yourself every once in a while...like sitting on a beach where the only sounds are waves and birds...and just collect your thoughts and think about everything that is good in your life.

I feel very fortunate that we're able go to take great vacations together. I can't wait for the next adventure.

Love,

Dad
3/30/18

Navarre Beach Sunrise March 2018

Logan's #6

Dear Leah and Logan,

Well, as of this month, I have a 7 year-old and a 6 year-old in the house!  Happy 6th Birthday, Logan!

Since I had taken your sister to Disney World, I definitely had to match the effort for Logan's 6th, so he and I went to Orlando, too.  Only this time, I mixed it up a bit.

Day 1- Universal Studios

Day 2- Magic Kingdom

Day 3- Universal Studios

Our resort was Disney All-Star Sports, which had a giant pool you used every day. Universal Studios was a great mix of movies and super heroes, and it was safe to say that you had to get used to the roller coasters...but by Day 2, your hands were in the air for every dip and drop a ride could throw at you.

 Day 3 highlights included Jedi Training and the Tower of Terror- which you pretty much laughed at!

I really hope one day that I can take you two and maybe Grandma too!

Happy Birthday, Kid!

Love,

Dad



Here is a link to the facebook photos, but I'm pasting some of my favorites in here with our Youtube video!!

Family Preds Night Out

Dear Leah and Logan,

For Christmas 2017, Daddy got our entire family the same Christmas Present: tickets to a Predators hockey game in January 2018. So on a unseasonably warm Saturday night, we all went downtown in Nashville and had a fun night enjoying the city.

Uncle Mike picked our restaurant- Dick's Last Resort.  Now, depending on what age you read this- the night might be even funnier now.  At Dick's, everyone gets a funny hat from the sarcastic waiter...you didn't get the jokes on the hats, you 2 just thought it was hilarious that everyone got a hat. The other part of Dick's is that the waiter tries to be difficult, funny, and sometimes rude- all on purpose. So the rouse is funnier if you don't know what (which Grandma and Daniela didn't know). Hilarity ensued and we got lots of laughs out of all your uncles.

After all the dinner laughs, we finally made it to the game! You two cheered and danced and learned some great Preds chants!   The night reminded me how important family is and that we should do more stuff together more often!

I'm proud of you both as Preds fans!!

Leah and Logan's first Preds game together. 1/20/18

Love,

Daddy

Pre-Christmas 2017

Dear Leah and Logan,

While I have always enjoyed the Christmas holiday and even the occasional frosting of cookies, I don't believe I've ever experienced the fun and craziness that we just lived the last 4 weeks!

First, the city of Murfreesboro just put in an outdoor skating rink, so for the very first time, you both got to go ice skating. I'll admit, I hadn't put on ice skates in 10 years, so I was a little scared at first.  We bought a PVC safety rail which you both took turns with, but I think you'll both agree you caught on quickly.  Your rollerskating skills you've been mastering at Skate Center West really came in handy!  After 30 minutes, you were both zipping around the rink with no rack, all the while Polar Express played on a giant outdoor screen. We capped off the night with ice cream and hot chocolate.

Ice Skating @ Fountains at the Gateway

Next up: Breakfast with Santa at Muirwood.  Daddy had to get you both up early on Saturday so we could run to Cracker Barrel to feed the neighborhood breakfast.  I had no idea it was going to be 30 trays of hot food that barely fit in my jeep, but we squeezed it all in.  Santa arrived at 8am, so you 2 got a lot of 1-on-1 time with him before the other neighbors showed up.  I wonder if he knew if you were naughty or nice this year??

Next up:  Gingerbread Houses.   Now, I had never constructed a Gingerbread house, but Amanda and Dylan showed up to our place with 4 houses one night, so we were able to make an entire village.  Each of us had our own approach and style, especially with the roofs.  Afterwards, we had a vote to see whose house was best...there may have been bribery involved with the voting, though. Both of you showed a lot of patience while making your house, and Logan ate a half-pound of white frosting...We did all agree that Amanda's roof was the best :)

After that: Christmas Cookies!  Amanda and Dylan AND the Dewig twins came over for this event, and our group cut out and frosted hundreds of cookies.  You all even managed to get sprinkles all over the kitchen floor!  Santas and candy canes and even a shark! We made so many cookies, we are able to give some to your teachers and your friends.

The Master Cookie Cutters & Frosters

Finally....Amanda and Dylan got us another great gift...'Make Your Own Snow Globes'... Now, I had never even heard of this before, but the instructions were quick and easy, and the 3 of us got to create our own scenic world.  The reindeer in my globe only had one antler, but he didn't seem to bothered by the pain.

And here's the best part...we did ALL of this was BEFORE Christmas even got here!  I feel grateful that you 2 are able to experience so much fun around the holidays with friends and family. I hope you pass that down to your families one day!

Love,

Daddy
December 24, 2017

Fall Soccer 2017

Dear Leah and Logan,

This is just a quick note to say 'Great Job' to Logan for soccer this fall (2017)!  He had over 20 goals in the YMCA U6 league.  But most importantly, he got to play with a bunch of is friends:

From left to right...Candence, AJ, AnnMarie, Logan, Elerie, Noah, & Ben.

The best part about this team is that they came to practice and games with the same energy...even when it got cold and rainy- you all wanted to keep playing!

It helps that your coach is pretty awesome, too! :)

Leah was supposed to be my assistant coach, but mostly she just wanted to sit in a chair and drink gatorade.  :)

See you in the Spring,

Love,
Daddy