MetLife Conference in Naples, FL

Last week we had the privilege of going to Naples, FL (I know, Italy may have 

been better) for Brian's MetLife President's Conference.  After a 3 hour drive, and 

Bryn discovering that our car has a DVD player, we were back to the beach!  

 This time we brought toys, but they just couldn't compete with 

chasing birds or filling a different kid's bucket with sand...

But Bryn can get in the bucket.  But that is only fun until it tips over!

 Checking in to the Conference

 Congrats to Dad for making Presidents!!!

On our way to dinner.  The conference has a professional photographer,

 so we end up with a lot of these types of shots :)

The next day was a pool day.  

Eating homemade popsicles with Mumma.

 We usually get to see the same people at conference each year.

So Sydney played with Bryn while we hung out with her parents.

All that swimming and sun can wear you out!

 We went to the NGALA Reserve for dinner and Bryn did NOT 

like the welcome we got from these guys!

 She was very excited about the giraffe, even nibbled 

on his carrot, but got scared when he got close.

 We were close enough to touch the zebra, but the trainer said they are not the friendliest...there is a reason why you never see anyone riding them!

 The rhino's skin was so hard and leathery!

 We spent a lot of time checking out the camel.  Watch out, they spit!

She was such a trooper!  Dinner wasn't served until almost 9 

and she was still awake after the 30 minute bus ride back!

 The Robinson's came to visit us at the pool!  Debbie was giving Cole a snack so Bryn plopped herself on Debbie's lap too, borrowed Cole's pacifier, and opened her mouth like a little bird!

The next day we met at the mall for some drinks, some snacks, and some shopping.

This was the best shot I could get of Bryn and Cole!

 Bryn was fascinated by the fountains

How do I get to that water?

It was a great conference!  None of us were ready to leave!

Happy Birthday, Mumma!

I am excited to say that I turned the big 3-0!  As I think of the people 

I have known that did not get the opportunity to celebrate their 30th birthday, 

I decided to be excited to celebrate mine!  So, we started the night before with cake!

 Bryn has gotten better about smiling when we say "cheese"

Make a wish!

 For my birthday we headed to Palm Coast to the Ginn Hammock Beach Resort.

Bryn was checking out the ocean when we got to our room and excited to see the waves!

 I think Brian was eyeing the 18th hole...maybe for his birthday!

 We made it to the sand

 Dad and Bryn headed down the the waves.  

She was squealing when the water would get to her feet!

 The current was very strong pulling the water back.  We had to hold onto Bryn 

or she would fall down.  The sand was literally pulled out under our feet!

 We sat outside for dinner watching the waves and the birds.

 Back to the beach the next morning to hunt for shells.

 Bryn, you are my greatest adventure!

The waves were cresting and crashing right up on the sand.  

Bryn was not as excited, so we packed up and headed home!

Thanks for a great birthday :)

Always Busy!

We always seem to be so busy but I have few pictures to prove it!  

Here are a few from the past few weeks.

 Bryn and her cousin Piper in having fun in the kiddie pool!

 We went to a Braves vs. Tigers spring training game and even had a shirt for Bryn to wear!  Good for Papa, it was a Tigers shirt....bad for Dad that it wasn't a Braves shirt.

Guess how many times people thought she was a boy!

 We did some painting after lunch one day...

 It was more like dump the paint.

 There is not much we do without making a mess!

 And then it turned into face painting.

And while we are busy in Florida, our house in Michigan has been busy transforming too.

The cabinets are in!  Two months and counting until it is done and we are there!

A few of my favorite things..

We've been singing that song a lot lately and so I decided to share a few of Bryn's favorite things with you!  She is now 15 1/2 months old and is still little!  She is in the 3rd percentile for weight (17lbs 13 oz) and 30th for height (30 in).  Bryn is such a happy and ACTIVE little girl!

 She loves to carry stuff around in ziploc baggies, take it out and put it back in.

This bag of erasers and bookmarks is one of her favorites!

 Bryn has discovered my old college computer and the games I have for it.

We watch the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom song almost daily :)

 Bryn loves to look at books and have them read to her.

Thanks to our book exchange we have gotten lots of new ones!

 My Grandpa Booms made this bench for me when I was little.  

It now sits in Bryn's room and she has discovered that it is the 

perfect size for her!  Move over Mr. Bear!

 Bryn loves smoothies!  Whether Mumma made it or

 Planet Smoothie, she sucks it down.

 Towel rides are a must!

We have taught Bryn sign language and she uses it ALL the time.

Please, thank you, up, eat, again, what, where, dog, all done, more, milk, and help 

are most of them...I think.  And she has just started to put two words together.

This is my favorite - curls!  She may not have much hair, 

but it does have some curl to it.

Swimming!  Now that we have done two sessions of swimming lessons, 

Bryn wants to go in our pool often.  She is a champ at going under, blowing bubbles,

pushing off the side and the bottom of the pool, holding onto the wall and climbing out on her own, and when she is sent under on her own she rolls to her back to float!  We will continue the lessons to help our little fish.

Now that Daylight Savings Time has kicked in, we walk after dinner. 

Bryn thinks it is funny to take the leash and walk Marley.

He is so good and she can keep up with him!  Sorry for the back view, 

but if we are in front, Marley walks faster :)

Michigan House Update

Changes have been happening at our Port Austin home!  So far we have two walls 

gone, the kitchen gutted, the family room ceiling beams taken down, new drywall 

put in and PAINT!  Remodeling a house from 1,000 miles away is tough!  Thanks 

to Turmell's and Varner's for going and taking pictures.  It has helped a lot!

 From the front door 

 In the family room looking, at the kitchen/dining room...before....

and after!

Looking towards the front door

So we still need flooring, cabinets, appliances and oh so much more!

Everything is scheduled to be done by the beginning of April.  

Too bad we won't get to see it until Memorial weekend!