Spring stuff

It is the beginning of Spring, finally!  The polar vortex was seemingly interminable, ugh.  So nice to have all the snow melted and temps above 40 for several days in a row.  We don't ask for much!

Here are some pics from the week:

Park and Rec Easter egg hunt - Luke was excited, but then got cold feet and didn't participate

Easter Bunny!

Had some friends over after the Easter egg hunt.  We had a hail storm, which was fun for the kids to watch.

Ryan and Lukers

Joey and Eloise

Sweet smile

Dying Easter eggs, he loved it!

Congratulations Coach Fred!

My swim coach Fred Russell was a huge part of my life from ages 13-18.  He was extremely influential, teaching me hard work, dedication, setting goals and believing in myself.  There were probably more times than not that my friends and I cursed his name, as he employed sort of a tough love approach, but all in all he was an amazing coach and he cared about all of us so much and really wanted the best for us both in and out of the pool.  After a lifetime of sacrifice to the sport of swimming, he has decided to hang up his stop watch finally and he and his wife are going to take some time for themselves.  Just as you appreciate your parents more once you are older, you appreciate those teachers and coaches that also played such a key role in molding you into the person you are today.  Fred is one of those people for me, and I was proud to attend his retirement party to help celebrate his impressive career with all those other swimmers who's lives he impacted as he did mine.  Thank you Coach Fred for everything!

Andrea, Fred and I that night.  The waterworks were definitely on with all the beautiful speeches that were given that night,  

That same weekend we had a birthday party for our neighbor Max at the Kohl Children's Museum and enjoyed some Midwest outdoor time.  Spring is here!

Looking through the telescope the wrong way

Zoom buggy in action.  He's a maniac!

Lovely Longboat Key

The siren song of Florida called to us once again, and we answered…."Halooo?  Yep, we'll be there!"  Mom and Dad rented this year in Longboat Key, FL near Sarasota.  The vacation exceeded expectations!  It was awesome having a full week with Kristin, Cory, PJ, Mom and Dad and Longboat Key and the surrounding area was just gorgeous.  I had no idea of its white sand beaches and glittering turquoise water.  We could have been in Turks & Caicos!  The weather was also amazing, which always helps.  Mom and Dad rented not one, but two amazing properties with pools and views and amenities (we switched houses mid week).  It actually was a lot more relaxing than I was expecting a trip with the kiddos to be.  With M&D's plans to spend more winters in FL over the coming years, we are looking forward to answering more siren songs to come!

Really fun to see Kristin's baby bump!

The cousins were so glad to be reunited!  Vacation gifts from M&D:)

Celebrating Mom and Dad's birthdays which were earlier that week.  Photo book from our last family vacation.

Ice cream treat!  Claire is a girl who knows what she wants…more ice cream!

Beautiful mornings on the deck looking at the wonderful water views.

We had to stage some chair blocking of the stairs in order to contain the beast:)  

Loved the al fresco dining!

and what's not to love about peel and eat shrimp?

tickle, tickle, tickle!

on the move!

fishing off the dock of the house

Matt and Cory broke open some coconuts to show the kids (after about an hour of trying)

Hot tubbin'

Walked to the beach from the first house

PJ immediately started dancing in the waves

Claire's first time on the beach as a wild child, at first unsure, but then a beach power walking machine!   

She loved it all!  The wide open spaces, the wind in her hair, the lack of things to trip on.

another wonderful lunch eating outside

oyster man

coconut shrimp ladies

experiencing her first lemon

Mom was nice enough to chase Claire around the beach while we finished eating

Dog walk to a nearby park.  The kids helped walk the dogs.

Claire getting into the toy cabinet, literally!

Mom and Dad made a ton of super delicious fancy meals so that we wouldn't have to have the hassle of taking the kids out to restaurants to eat every night

Happy girl LOVED being outside every moment she could.  It has been a long winter!

Beach day at nearby Coquina Beach.  Mom and Dad brought a ton of sand toys for the kids to play with.

One more swim in the old house's pool before we moved over into the new house.

Dinner on the deck of the new house

On Wed the guys went on a fishing trip and the ladies headed back to the beach

No men to haul our 150 lbs of beach gear?  No prob!

Just perfect

Dinner at the Lazy Lobster with the original Mackus 4 while the guys watched the kids.

 

Ice cream outing in nearby Brandenton

Hike and visit to De Soto national park

Peek a boo!  Cut out Indians along the trail.

Getting cheeky!

Junior ranger 

Jump!

My favorite lunch of the trip was here at The Waterfront on Anna Maria Island.  Everything was just PERFECT!

Claire agreed.

Can you even take this gorgeousness?

Walking out to the end of the pier.

Pool at the new house was super fun, too

Mom and Dad watched the kids while the four of us "kids" went to a fancy dinner out.  Pretty water views.

Alaskan King Crab- yummers to the max!

Grandma helping get a splinter out of Luke's foot before we left on Friday.  Handy to have a nurse around!

Claire is at a super-not ideal age for flying.  She was quite a handful on the trip to and from.  She will not be contained and refused to nap.

Stinkers!!  But she's a cute stinkers.