The Brown Brick Road

Naples fun

January 17, 2018

While the weather wasn’t as warm as we might have liked, it was still sunny enough in the afternoons to make a trip to the beach possible!

beach

The cooler temps didn’t bother these beach babies!

brach

The week after Christmas is probably the busiest week on the beach down there. Combine that with the fact that the beach club and pool are under construction and you had one packed strip of sand! It didn’t bother the kids though. If anything, they liked having more kids out there to play with!

beach

Of course there was football on the beach! Pretty much all the boys did!

beach

Cutest buns on the beach!

beach

They also had a full bar set up on the beach and the kids discovered they had smoothies…happy campers all around!

beah

Somebody LOVES the beach!

beach

naples

We all love Naples!

naples

See you tomorrow!

ps – cutest video ever here

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Outta the cold

January 16, 2018

After a wonderful December 25th, I spent December 26th putting away every bit of inside Christmas decor so we could be ready to escape the cold on December 27th! Thanks to GJ and Daddo, we jetted out of the freezing weather in style…

plane

They checked out every inch of the plane…

plane

and found all the good snacks!

plane

We sure were happy to land in 75 degree weather!

naples

The next morning it was definitely too chilly for the beach and the non-heated pool…well, too chilly for sane people! Maxwell decided to take a polar plunge! He’s crazy…Spencer and Samantha ended up getting in about to their waist too. Crazy all around.

naples

While we might not have made it to the beach each day, we still had plenty to do…like ride scooters and climb on this awesome tree we found that had a rope swing!

tree

and there was football, of course. Lots and lots of football!

football

Beach or not, we always love being in Naples!

naples

That said, there was some beach…and fishing! More to come!

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Christmas day continued

January 15, 2018

Our Christmas day fun continued when our favorite people arrived!

famiy

family

Took no time to dive into the presents!

presents

My favorite part of Christmas was giving Daddo the awesome book I made for him chronicling the history of his Ferrari collection…

xmas day

Love Samantha giving Susu and GJ a baby doll show….

xmas day

And out of all the super cool toys these guys got, I think these squishies were their favorite! Go figure!

toys

The house was festive and the tables were set for a feast!

xmas day

Robert, once again made the best tenderloin ever!

tenderloin

And I think everyone enjoyed some good cheer!

xmas day

b aby doll

playroom

xmas toys

xmas

After lunch, there were lots more presents to be opened! The fun never stops!

toys

toys xmas

Love these sweet cousins!

xmas day

It was a great Christmas day with these cute kiddos!

xmas day

toys

Ho Ho Ho indeed! Only 11 months until we get to do it again!!

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Christmas morning

January 12, 2018

Christmas morning! finally! Maxwell was in our room by 6am and we made him hop in bed with us just for a bit before we went and woke up Spencer and Samantha. By 6:30, everyone was bleary eyed and ready to head downstairs!

xmas morning

We were all so happy to see that Santa had come – and he had been very generous!

xmas santa

Everyone got what they asked for – jerseys for Maxwell, a remote control dinosaur for Spencer, and a babydoll highchair for Samantha. There were lots and lots of surprises too!

xmas morn

xmas morni

xmas morn

We spent the morning happily checking out all the new stuff!

xmas morning

They got these surprise balls which you unwrapped to find little presents throughout…kinda fun.

surprise balls

But also had pretty junky presents in them. Not sure Santa should get those again!

nose

My fave pic from the morning…Maxwell reading Spencer’s new book to him. 💙

xmas morning

Proof I was there…

xmas morning

and Robert too!

robert

The wrapping of Maxwell’s present to me. Love him.

wrapping

We then had Christmas waffles (breaking tradition from the pancakes!)…

xmas morning

and got ready for family to come over!

Have a great weekend and see you Monday!

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Christmas Eve

January 11, 2018

On Christmas Eve we went to the noon church service and everyone was looking holly jolly!

xmas eve

Especially Samantha in my old dress (that she also wore last year!)…

xmas eve

Samantha did “ok”…I’m hoping by next year we’ll all actually be able to enjoy the service! That afternoon I had some helpers while making food for Christmas day…

xmas eve

Best bowl cleaners around!

That night we had GJ, Daddo, and Susu over for dinner and Daddo gave the kids these neat Santa lanterns to put by their stockings so Santa could be sure to find them in the dark!

lantern