at least the house is clean: {vacay recap & recovery}

We just returned from a trip to see the grandparents and Aunt Katie in sunny Florida. It was a great vacation! The upside of returning was that we went from 90's to 70's in just a few hours. The downside is of course leaving the fam. Vivi has been distraught ever since we left. She lives life with such an admirable energy and thrill of every moment. Here's where she could be found 99% of the time we were there:

Here's where I could be found a time or ten:

Charlie wants so much to be a big kid and swim around--or do just about everything--like her sister. She was at the height of her "NO NO NO!" routine while we were there, but we would occasionally get it right, and she would giggle with glee when we did. She had a great time viewing the pool action from the chair (aka. the "float boat" according to Genevieve) and playing peekaboo with Grandpa.

We're thankful that we had the chance to take a wonderful trip to see them, but it always bittersweet going back to the airport and knowing it will be another year before we make that trip again. One last shout-out goes to the fantastic place we had dinner one evening. It's called Becky Jack's Food Shack, and it's quite literally what it sounds like. But with great beer, fresh fish, and friendly service, it charmed our socks off. If you're ever north of Tampa and in need of an eatery, I give it two enthusiastic thumbs up!

Now I'm back into the post-vacation laundry routine, and between loads I am wrangling the post-vacation brats back into their old selves. I can't complain because I know lots of you are already in the back-to-school mode, and I'm heaving a sigh of relief that we still have a few more weeks before the grind begins.