naval aviation museum in pensacola {photo diary}

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let's go to the beach (sqt)

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// flipflops for less than $17 //

^^^ Drop that hat on Lucy! ^^^
 I am not a style blogger at all. Just a wanna-be.

{first}
outfit details ~
floral dress turned cover-up, DCB, similar here
swimsuit underneath, polka dot retro-inspired onepiece, here as a two-piece
flipflops
wide-brimmed straw hat, hautelook, old, similar here



{second}
Sorry not sorry for bombarding this post with more than 7 photos. The children are just so cute. We were all happy in sunny St. Pete Beach because it was low-80s for the high temps.  Five days at the beach ~ that's what we signed up for! Give us all the sunshine!

There was one rainy day (Tuesday) so we spent the day souvenir shopping. We went to the movies. We had lunch at a japanese steakhouse. We got the usual souvenirs ~ magnets for our fridge and the grandparents', shot glass for my mom who does not drink {she collects them}, shirts for the children.


{third}
We stayed at a timeshare in St. Pete Beach. Thanks to lolo and lola for the timeshare points.
We would love to stay there again but the usual full-kitchen is missing and instead only a kitchenette. The restaurants and bars are overpriced. Yet because of convenience we had lunch and I bought drinks there. For dinner, we ventured to nearby restaurants.

We had crab legs and seafood at Shells.
More seafood at John's Pass in Madeira Beach, north of Treasure Island.
Thai food and sushi at Nori Thai (St. Pete Beach).
More seafood and crab legs at Oyster Shucker.

Daniel and Isabel inherited my love of crab legs and cracking them!

posing with J & M

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//block heel sandals in nude //

outfit details ~
Anthro top,  from last year
Maxi skirt, Nordstrom
LK Bennett Helena block heel sandals
Shades, Valentino
Swatch
MCM wristlet pouch from the tote

Princess Isabel + disney springs

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this post has less photos than previous installation. But photo-heavy still.  

Best days are the unplanned ones, agree?

Belle and Prince Charming had an afternoon appearance at the Grand Floridian. Princesses and princes are invited! Here's Princess Belle waiting to meet and dance the waltz with Belle and Prince Charming. 

 

resort hopping

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Continuation of our breakfast day with the Disney characters.
First a selfie (when you're the photographer, you have to improvise and get a selfie so there's proof that you were there)

 

Pretty centerpieces at the Grand Floridian Lobby where we had breakfast. 

breakfast with Alice, Pooh, Mary Poppins + more

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Here's another photo overload post featuring my children and their date with the Disney characters.

For Magic Kingdom -- head here
For our beach day -- head here

 A photo with all of us looking at the camera at the same time.

That's awesome!

beach day {day 4 spring break}

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we had a late start for our beach day.

that's because we did not get back at the resort until MN, the night before.

 

Whose idea was it to get these 60+ oz of sugar?

how we survived Magic Kingdom {day 3 spring break}

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affiliate links are used. 


Photo overload and play-by-play, hour-by-hour, moment-by-moment post... for grandparents and for the children to read once they are older (so they may appreciate the hard work their Dada and Lola did carrying them)..

It took one and half hours to get in. We made it close to 9a at the gate of Magic Kingdom. There was a line of cars there. Then another line from the parking lot shuttles to the entrance.

Once we had our tickets, I forgot that we have to ride the train or ferry to go to Magic Kingdom.
So another line there.

when i took us to the wrong church {day 2 photo diary}

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disclaimer: affiliate links are used.

For a 7qt preview of spring break

For day 1 - travel photo diary + video

Day 2 of our Spring break was our first full day in Orlando. 

We went to the resort pool. The water was so cold.  Daniel enjoyed the hot tub more than anything. Lucy and Lola just hung out by the poolside getting their tan (not).

Now here's an obligatory palm tree + sky shot...

when in Florida, eh?

Thanks again to my inlaws for letting us use their timeshare points. The children loved the spaceous 2bedroom condo.

how we loaded a mid-size SUV with 3 adults and 4 carseats {travel photo diary}

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Day 1 of our spring break was A LOT  of driving. 14 hours became 18 hours with all the stops. I drove about 2 hours of those 14 hours. Rest were by captain Hubs.

I was afraid to go over the speed limit so I did not make good time when I was co-piloting.

in which we braved another long drive {7QT}

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Hello hello! Pretty quiet on the blog this week. But not on snapchat or Instagram.

The crew loved the 80s temps down in Florida. We are NOT excited to go back where it's 40 degrees cooler.



{1} drive down

This was one of the stops because crying babies --- eeeh... It's too stressful.

There's nothing a little cuddling and a little DQ blizzard won't fix.

Florida vacation, our 2nd year anniversary trip

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Day 1 - Tues 10/21
We arrived in Tampa at 1p and went grocery shopping. We realized right away that traffic in Tampa is not that great -- with all of the constructions and congested highways. But while stuck in traffic, we found this radio station: SpiritFM (Catholic and Christian station) and heard about Theology on Tap that night. Guess what we did: oh yeah, we crashed their party. The topic was faithful citizenship. Very appropriate since the national election is coming up.


View from our suite -- Tampa Bay


Theology on Tap 986 miles from home


Channelside


Day 2 - Wed 10/22
We drove to Clearwater to enjoy some sun, sand and gulf water. It was the first game of the World series so we went to Ybor City to watch the game.





Attack of the birds

Run for your life, baba



Beautiful handiwork of our Lord.




Pier 60 in Clearwater



Ybor


Day 3 - Thurs 10/23
Orlando for a day. We went to Universal Studios -- both Islands of Adventure and Main theme park.








Happy Fall!!!





Look at that big smile -- he's right at home!

I look tougher than Cyclops



AAAHH! Derrick's gonna get eaten!

@ Bubba Gump Shrimp Restaurant


Day 4 - Fri 10/24
It was bleak, cloudy, gray day. We drove along the gulf coast -- from St. Pete Beach to Clearwater (again) but the rain followed us.


John's Pass


Night at Ybor (again) -->

Because we wanted to eat at Acropolis Cafe -- belly dancing every Fri-Sun. With tons of napkins on the floor!



Day 5 - Sat 10/25
It was time to go to Anna Maria Island -- an hour get-away, quiet, resort south of Tampa/St Pete. The skyway bridge was impressive. This was also Aimee and Alex's wedding, Jamie's birthday and gross anatomy team 1 reunion (minus J).


My hubby loves the water






He likes St. Pete!

I miss my sushi partner! It was nice to see you Aim at your wedding! love you.

Day 6 - Sun 10/26
A relaxing Sunday just in Anna Maria Island. We went to Church at SS. Peter and Paul Church in Bradenton. And God blessed us with a beautiful, beautiful sunset!












It's almost gone

And it's gone


Day 7 - Monday 10/27
Off to Tampa to see the Prathers! But before that, we went to the northshore of Anna Maria Island and I killed even more skin cells in my body.... Derrick just stayed under the shade. We also watched the Colts vs Titan game that night. I cannot believe Colts are 3-4. Nooooo! I wore my personalized colts jersey (tnx hubby!) and was very proud even though we still lost.


We saw a manatee here at the pier!!!




"My head hurts " -Derrick, staying under the shade

Because of this --> check out next pict

...I am this dark


Day 8 - Tues 10/28
Just hung out at Jamie and Andrew's complex. Did a lot of reading under the sun and enjoyed the poolside for an hour.


view from the Prathers' 2nd floor deck


The friendly duck