Florida - Part Two

Kate and Olivia playing .. .. "parking" their "cars"

Taking turns

Ava was super excited all week for daddy to come and for them to go fishing.

The day finally came . . .and no fish were biting.  It's all about the company, right!?

Mom and Dad had to leave a day early and so for our last night on Siesta Key, we had to take our family for dinner at Phillippe Creek.

Daddy and Ava holding up their mussels

No visit is complete without some fun

"Cheese"

Then to keep enjoying more siesta "last" memories, we headed to Big Olaf's for some ice cream

After ice cream and some souvenir shopping, we spent the rest of a beautiful night just relaxing outside at a local coffee shop off the beaten path.  The girls had some fun with the camera. : )

Olivia

Mommy and Kate

Olivia and Kate

Mommy checking her email : )

They had a local musician inside playing the guitar and singing and the girls loved just hanging out and listening.  When we got ready to leave, Ryan gave Olivia a dollar to put in her tip jar.  Instead, Olivia happily walked straight up to her and handed her the dollar. : )

Then we had just enough time to head home for a few rounds of Uno

Ava happily displaying the dolphin necklace she picked out for her souvenir

Our last morning, Ava tried one last time for a fish to no avail. : )

We poked around Gpa's orange trees and found a few that were good. . .and some more that were just fun for the girls to pick.

Mommy and Kate

Kate showing Daddy her oranges

Then Ava had to pick some

And Olivia too

Me and my girls at one of my favorite places - love that they loved it so much too

Ava took one of Mommy and Daddy

Then she wanted one by the dolphins - we posed a few times until she thought it was just right : )

A little memory of two incredibly special people

We still made time for some last oreos at Papa Ben's house

There's not another pool like it. : )

Kate "practicing" her piano

Ava and Daddy taking a turn around the driveway

And then it was time to pack up.  I think one of my saddest moments was the night before when we were cleaning up and getting ready to leave.  Ava saw me throw away some play dough that had been thoroughly played with and quite dried out that week and quickly protested, "Mom, you can't throw it out.  We need it next time we come to Papa Ben's house!"  I love how much my little girl loved their place too.

But I'm so thankful for the time we had there, the memories with Gpa and Gma and that I was able to share even just a little bit with my girls too these last few years and that Ryan could grow it love it too.  Here's praying the next family can be even half as blessed by their home as our family has been.