Clearwater Beach

Michael had a few days off work last week between his week of night shift and his day shifts, so we drove down to Florida to visit our friends Maig and Virgil (except Virgil is now Father Peter). A few days before our trip, Bella learned to roll over back-to-front, so now she can (and does) roll over both ways.


Bella (with Lily Bunny) in her hotel crib, ready to talk herself to sleep


Gabi excited about her own huge fluffy bed

Between not wanting to get up in the morning and then taking forever to get the girls into the car (plus multiple potty breaks for Gabi girl -- literally every 10-15 minutes for an hour and a half straight! Aaahh!), we didn't arrive until late Sunday night. And then we wanted to have a relaxing, lazy morning.


Gabi loved to pretend it was bedtime and curl up on her pillow
and then jump up and declare it was morning


Mom and Bella by the window


Gabi sitting on the step-stool/chair
(She put her pants on by herself. Backwards)

After a late and prolonged nap, we drove to the beach to discover that it had just closed for the night. So we spent the evening at Maig and Fr. Peter's house having more fun than we've had in a long time. We love to stay up late with old college friends! We put the girls down to bed and then played Turbo Cranium. Afterwards, the winners entertained the ladies with extra puppetry.


Virgil trying to get his puppet to guess "ping-pong";
Puppetier Michael making Virgil curtsy


Maig and Melissa baked yummy brownies


Gabi woke up smiley when we transferred her to the car

We returned to our hotel at about 2:30 AM and Michael still had to do his reading. Tuesday morning, we went to the beach (only for a little over an hour, although this portion of the trip is disproportionately represented in our pictures).


In the wind on Clearwater Beach


Watching the waves


Investigating seashells


Gabi's little shell fits inside Maig's


Dipping our toes in the cold water


Daddy, it's cold! I don't like it!


Okay, Bella. How about a kiss instead?


So, we meet again


Digging in the sand


Bella enjoys watching her big sister play in the sand


Gabi is in a big hole!


Sitting in the tree in Maig and V's front yard


Fr. Peter picking grapefruit for us


Gabi shows Bella her fruit


Happy family


On the road again in Michael's new car


Did I mention that Michael gets really great mileage in his new car
(so long as we don't drive too fast)