St. Augustine Camping Trip

My parents have decided that they are going camping once a month.

The first month, they asked if they could take the girls (the two older ones).

Us adults didn't get an invite.

Um... excuse me?  How is that fair!?

So I invited myself to any and all future camping trips. lol

Especially the ones that I want to go on.

First up was St. Augustine!  Of course this was a must on my my list of trips to invite myself on because I used to live in St. Augustine.  I went to college there and lived there afterwards for a year before I moved down here.

If you ever get a chance to go camping at Anastasia State Park, I highly suggest it! It is such a beautiful campground!

This is the drive through it.

They have a Nature Trail walk that's about a mile long... it circled around.

Caroline was just around for the ride.

You can barely see the girls ahead of us. They were having a blast. I really liked how it wasn't a flat hike...it had little hills - Florida hills, anyway.

Back at the campsite.

And of course we had to head to the beach the next day. This is the beach that I would ride my bike to all the time when I lived there. I lived on the island. Yes. I know. How did I ever give that up!? I don't know. Honestly.

Autumn was so excited - she was doing cartwheels! ha!

My dad is out there with her pushing her on the boogie board, trying to get her used to riding waves. His goal is to get her to surf this summer.

THe water was perfect for Caroline. Nice and warm and it was low tide, so there were little sand bars where i could sit with her.

 Then we went to Surf Station (one of the longest standing surf shops there) to look for a board for Autumn.

I left my parents so they could have a nice quiet end and night to their camping trip, but also so I could go visit my friends.

I love driving downtown and I would have gone shopping downtown but at this point the girls were all tired and I didn't have the double stroller...and even if I did, downtown is not the place to take a double stroller. lol

That's my college right there - those 2 towers.

That picture is the typical scene when driving... a VW van and a motorcycle...that's actually the perfect example of St. Augustine.

The BEST college. Ever.

While we were at my friends' house, the girls decided to have a "dance party" with lights and fog! haha!

If you're into camping - make sure you try out Anastasia State Park! 

Backyard Mud Fun

While the pool project is taking longer than what I would like, it has proven to be a great playground for the girls!

This picture pretty much sums it up.

You can dress 'em up, but that doesn't mean they'll stay that way... they'll just be dirty princesses.

This might be the reason that the amount of hand-me-downs is becoming less and less. lol

They would just play and play for hours in this dirt pile that they turn into a mud pile.

I had to bring some shade out for them though, of course to help with sunburns, but also because of the fact it was so dang hot!  That big hole in the ground is really starting to mock me. A nice big hole and nothing to swim in.  Blarg.

Ron started cutting down pine trees. I hate pine trees. I am a lover of plants and animals, but Pine trees?? Nope.  Sorry.

We told the girls to move out of their dirt pile area while daddy was cutting down the tree...so they found a chair and hid - haha. I just love them sometimes...well, all the time. But you get what I mean.

Timmmmmmber!

Then it was time to start cutting up the trees... I kind of made a Paul Bunyon analogy to Ron. He's picking up big ole logs and chopping down trees....

Back to the playing in the mud...

Good gravy.  Look that them! lol

But they are having so much fun.

And we have a hose... so it's ok! They wash off. Outside.

Caroline's first swim in the pool

So it has been SUPER duper hot lately. And that big hole in the backyard is nothing but a big tease right now. Luckily, we have a pool in our neighborhood we can use in the meantime.

So looking at this picture... 1) what is in my hair?! I have no clue. 2) the nice racerback tank tan I got going on there. Problems of a runner I guess.

Autumn just loves doing cannonballs and flips into the pool. 

 And swimming under water. lol  This always reminds me of the baby on the cover of the Nirvana CD...anyone know what I mean?

Brooklynn is a little more timid with the pool. But she loves being in it with her floaties. We may have a hard time getting her to learn how to swim this summer without those floaties...but she will have to learn swim.

This girl is like my little mermaid...for real!

Sweet Caroline... she loved the water.

With all my girls, I've made it a point to put them under the water since babies... it's just for a split second. But I want them getting as used to the water as possible.

Some Firsts for the girls - shoes, haircut, and swim!

So recently, all the girls have had a first....

First for Caroline...

First swim in the pool! Our pool may not be finished, but by golly, it's so hot out, we HAVE to visit our neighborhood pool. The girls love it and Caroline does too!

Autumn's First...

First trip to the Dentist!

A milestone for Autumn...

She learned to tie shoes!!! And now she wants to tie everyone's shoes. Go for it baby girl! I was nursing Caroline when I took this picture. I can take pictures with one hand, but I can't tie shoes with one hand. See?? Already so helpful! ha!

Brooklynn's first...

Her first hair cut!

Yes. I know. Slap me on the hand. She's 3 1/2 and getting her first trim.   Don't shoot me please.  I cut the girls' hair for now. It works. When I decide to do something drastic, then I'll take them somewhere to get it done.

 /

I couldn't even bring myself to cut that much off.  But look at her smile. She was so excited to get her hair trimmed.