We are home.

No exclamation point behind that title! We arrived home around 11pm last night. I can't lie, it did feel good to get back to my own bed (even though it is a hard bed, but nevertheless, it is my hard bed).

Yesterday, while the locksmith was getting into my grandparents car, Evan came over and very seriously said "Mommy, JuJu, that man is trying to break into Papaw's car" He is so cute! I still am wondering how in the world he knows about breaking into cars...???

So, back to life, back to work, and back to school for the Rice family. Special thanks to my husband, my parents, and my grandparents for making last week so relaxing and fun. We had a great time!

We thought we were leaving Florida...

...but Mamaw Judy had other plans!!! This morning while loading the final things into the van in the parking garage Mamaw Judy decided she had to do one final bathroom run while Papaw was taking the luggage carts back. That was all fine and dandy until Papaw came back and realized that Mamaw had locked the car...with his keys on the dashboard!!!! :o Yup, you heard right, keys on the dashboard, purse in the floorboard. Both sets in the locked car. So, here were are sitting in the parking garage as I type! It is pretty interesting sitting in a parking garage for an hour. There is a lot you can do:

1-Evan & Gracie had a breakfast picnic on Mamaw and Papaw's trunk.

2-Update your blog with the interesting story for all to read

3-Sit and wait

4-Repeat steps one through three

So, we have all decided that God wanted us to start a couple hours later than originally planned (which was 7am here, 8 am Louisville time). It is now 9:34 Louisville time.
Just wish He would've told us before we got out of bed!!! :)

FLORIDA!!! day 7

:( Our last day! :(
Today we took the kids to the Jr. Museum of Bay County (trying to excuse Evan's 5 unexcused absences). It was a neat place and we all had a lot of fun.
Here is photo recap of our last day.

The kids were excited to wear their new Pineapple Willy's T-shirts, so we got 'em all dressed up in their new attire and left for the museum...

On the way to the car Daddy started swinging Gracie around, which lead to him swinging Evan around too...

Nick thought it would be funny to take a pic of me backing the car out of the parking space...

We finally got there...here the kids are driving the firetruck and the train...

Evan got to be the cashier at the grocery store...

Daddy is driving the boat while the kids are fishing...

After the museum (our camera died while we were there) we went back to the beach (with new batteries of course)...

Here we are enjoying our last sunset in Florida...

Daddy & Evan

Our "America's Next Top Model" poses

Here we are holding the sun, trying hard to keep it from setting

AWW!

Goodbye Panama City Beach, we will miss you!!!

FLORIDA!!! day 6

One more day...I can't believe it.
Well, no big stories, just a photo recap of the day for you.

We started the day with a mommy, Evan, Gracie photo session...

Then we got our bathing suits on and headed out to the beach...

After the beach we got all cute to go eat at Pineapple Willy's...

After eating we posed for some pics by the "silly face man" (Evan's words)...

After we got back Nick & I got to go on a moon-lit walk on the beach...

FLORIDA!!! day 5

Only 2 days left :( :(

Today we got to see a live jellyfish. It was pretty cool to watch it float around. It was amazing to see all the fish that would swim up to the jellyfish so they could eat on the stuff that was caught in its tentacles. Dad decided that he was going to catch some of the fish so he got the net and swept under the jellyfish. He caught about a handful of fish and one tentacle. I still can't believe he did that! I was scared he was going to get stung.

As always, here are some pics from our day

How many grandmas does it take to put on Gracie's shoes? They have decided that either the shoes shrunk overnight or Gracie's foot grew overnight.

Evan's shell collection (before adding today's shells)

Flying kites-Nick on the left and Papaw Phil & Evan on the right

Mommy & Gracie in the ocean

Nick & Dad admiring the jellyfish

Evan playing with the "big steering wheel" at Scampy's

FLORIDA!!! day 4

What a beautiful day we had! The sun was out, the breeze was blowing, and the ocean was warm... :) (The above picture was taken by Evan)

Evan made a friend today at the pool, his name is Nathan and he is 5 years old from outside Birmingham, AL. It was so cute watching them play together. Evan was suddenly brave when influenced by his new friend to try stuff! They were so cute, "arguing" over who was taller and older. Apparently when you are 5 years old taller and older mean the same thing! Evan is taller but Nathan is older...I wasn't going to get into the argument though! They finally agreed that since they were both 5 they were the same size. How cute. Here they are playing in the pool.

Here are more pics from our day.

Papaw & Nick in the hot tub

Gracie and Evan "surfing" in the pool (it is only 6" deep)