I can't say I don't have much time to write because I probably have more time than not...but my motivation has been low. I have been taking as many photos as I can, though, just in case I do get motivated. So, here's what the last two weeks have looked like for the Ryals family...we can't complain. It's beautiful here in Florida.
We had a wonderful two weeks because we celebrated three birthdays. One of them was on the 10th, and for her birthday, she requested that we go to the beach...so we did. The birthday girl on her actual birthday. Granny got her a birthday balloon and a special cupcake! She was so sweet to share it with us, too!
Ah, the beach.
The girls did some drawing on the sand...
So proud of her drawing.
She also decided to draw some arms and...ears.
Loving the low tide...
My lovely six year old.
This one didn't care for the beach so much at first...
Her expression doesn't change much...
Grumpy.
A permanent pout on that face almost the whole time we were at the beach...
But...after a little bit of time on the sand, she warmed up to it...
Crawled around a bit...
Practiced standing...like a surfer girl...
And finally playing with fistfuls of sand.
Buried toes!
We also spent a lot of time at parks the past two weeks. This one is at Erna Nixon park.
Walking with Granny.
Swings!
She finally learned to enjoy the swing...but she still maintains a white-knuckle grip on the seat when swinging.
Ah, another quick visit to the beach.
There were hundreds of seagulls on the beach that day...
So the girls chased them.
We also took a trip to the zoo! They had just opened a meerkat exhibit!
What funny little creatures.
We saw a baby alligator floating around...
We played "owls" in the giant tree tunnel.
We got to feed a wee baby giraffe...
Isn't he ADORABLE?
There's the mama taking a rest...
She was so awkward trying to sit down.
Even the baby was interested and took notice when she sat down.
We saw bizarro-bird. Strange looking bird...
The girls got to feed some birds...
The birds were surprisingly tame and stayed on the railing...I was hoping to get a photo of a bird on someone's head or something...
Dippin' Dots break!
Playground fun...
What the baby did while the girls played on the playground.
A sneak peek under the blanket shade.
They had such a fun time at the zoo.
The zoo even has a wonderful waterplay area for the kids! What a great way to cool off after an interesting visit to the zoo.
Baby finally woke up and watched them play in the water a while...
...then she wanted to get in...
She loves water.
Another trip to the beach...more drawing.
Collecting buckets of water.
Lots of waves this day, so she and I played running away from the waves...
We got caught a few times...
Water is pretty salty when the wave knocks you down.
Ah, and we have made frequent trips to this place...our favorite ice cream joint.
Messy breakfast face.
Cuddly bedtime cartoons...?
It was getting a bit "sunny" in the room...I guess?
Fancy dress-up time...
I'm not sure what this face was for...but look how light her hair looks.
A look of concern...
Strange sleeping position during her nap one day...
Helping Granny make dessert for after dinner one night. Banana pudding!
Hello?
Whatcha looking at?
WHAAAA? Something surprised her...I can't remember what it was...
Wagon rides are fun! Sometimes...she seems a little unsure in this photo.
So happy daddy came home...enjoying some daddy-daughter time in the hot tub. She caught me snapping a photo of them.
Fish face!
Enjoying the sun in the backyard on a lovely day.
Giggly baby.
Trying out the hammock for the first time.
She's so little...
Mahn-seh!
They have some huge sandhill cranes that just wander the neighborhood around here. This particular one has a mate and a baby! I didn't get a photo of the baby, but this one came almost right up to us while we were out looking at the pond!
I did some gluten-free baking for a birthday cake.
Crazy wet girl alert!
Really enjoying all the pool time with these silly girls.
Jumping into the hot tub!
This one got caught opening some of the kitchen cabinets!
Guess who turned one year old? :) I can't believe it!
Climbing trees!
Little monkeys...
So proud of herself for climbing.
Chillin'.
Smiley.
Chowing down on their birthday lunch before the festivities!
You want a piece of me?
Piñata time!...thought they were going to just pull the ribbons...boy, were they wrong.
OY! Baby started off the batting practice.
Then the rest of the gals took their swings...a few times. It was pretty tough!
Someone didn't want to stand and hold the poster...
She got pretty mad. "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to..."
After the piñata, the girls all went for a swim, and then the three birthday girls sat down for their cakes!
She wasn't so sure about her cake...
Until she tried it...
(I removed the M&Ms so she wouldn't choke on them)...but she liked the cake!
That face...those cheeks...all around adorable.
Happy First Birthday, my Baby.
Opening presents wasn't nearly as much fun as the cake.
Ah, more park pictures.
She actually posed for this picture and told me to take the photo...
Baby and I were hanging out on the side while big sister played on the playground.
Until she got on the swing. Look at her hair blowing!
Someone stole my sunglasses...
Stinker.
Hello, Mr. Lizard.
And Mr. Turtle.
Even the baby was pointing out the turtle!
And we had a dragonfly visitor who made it into the house! Jeff let him out.
Daddy did a whole bunch of landscaping in the backyard, and Ri even helped drag some of the branches to the curb.
Someone has been playing a whole lot of peek-a-boo lately.
How I love her...even when she won't sleep at night.
Just look at this face...how could I not just love her and cuddle her...that goofy face.
Oh, she was practicing how to blow out her candle...except she was just blowing in my face in this photo.
Oh, the almost-twin cousins! Random placement for this photo, but hey...how it loads is how it's placed.
Exhausted? Or just looking around?
And...ladies and gentlemen, I leave you with this incredibly silly clip of what I hear all day and night...so much that the baby (my monkey) has learned it, too.
I will try my best to do a more weekly update instead of the two-week numbers with the ridiculous amount of photos...good night!
