SUMMER 2012 VACATION

We were able to take a vacation this year!! Yay!!! I was so excited!! We decided to visit family in Louisiana and visit Destin. I have heard such great things about Destin so I had to check it out. Ricky has family in Louisiana he has not seen for over 20 years!! Thanks to facebook we were able to get reconnected. We spent 3 night in LA with Ricky's brother Barry and sister-in-law Darla. They were incredible hosts. On Sat we went to New Orleans. I have never been and really wanted to see it. I love the city and am looking forward to going back and exploring some more of it. Including the night life and plantations. So much history. Sunday we went on a swamp tour in Slidell. It was very informative and fun. What a neat experience seeing the alligators close up. Our tour guide, Melvin was a hoot. We still imitate/talk about him to this day. We really enjoyed meeting the family and just fell in love with them.
Monday - Fri afternoon was spent in Destin Fl. It is only a 4 hour drive from Slidell. How awesome is that! We truly enjoyed Destin. I was not disappointed. The water was gorgeous!!! We had a little surf couple of those days, but my favorite were the days of no surf. We snorkeled, boogie board, ate on the boardwalk, went on a sunset cruise and watched dolphins play in the wild and swam some more. Such a beautiful place. I would love to retire there or get a little condo now!!
Fri - Sun was spent at Barry and Darla's campsite in Louisiana. They gave this little place in the middle of no where, right on the river. So peaceful. Ricky even got to fish. According to Darla he caught the biggest fish that has been caught of the dock.
We had an incredible 9 days of vacation!!
(warning lots of pictures)

Entering LA for the 1st time. 

New Orleans red dress run for charity. 

Ricky's brother he hasn't seen in 26 years!!

Kids with Aunt Darla and Cousin Amber. 

Getting ready to ride their first street car. 

                                                              1st Beneigt

                                                            so yummy!!

Hana being silly

being silly

Oldest Baptist church in N America. Beautiful. 

One of the many statues. Lil Ricky went near it and it moved and scared him 1/2 to death. 

Swamp tour!

Basking in the sun

Drive through Daquiri!!!! So good

Hana swimming to daddy

We found a pirate

Having a relaxing vacation

Having a snack on the beach

Our matching pedicures

Loved my hat!

Loved our view!

Eating lunch with a gorgeous view

Snorkeling! Due to my research I found where the tour excursions take the tourists and was able to do it for free. Short distance from the condo. 

We got a tip to bring frozen peas. It worked. The fish came flocking and were a little aggressive. They bit our belly buttons - ow

Hana snorkeling with daddy

Getting ready to go on the sunset cruise

Loved watching the Dolphins jump and play. There was even a mommy with her baby. 

The board walk

Hana goofing around

Biting daddy

Learned a thing or 2 going to MMA with daddy

Enjoying a snow cone

Enjoying the best grouper sandwich on the board walk - according to the sign

 

catching some air

kids being silly

The campsite.

We saw an armadillo and possum while smoring

yummy fish fry!! We had to do plan B and buy the fish. 

SPLASHTOWN!!

This year I decided to get splashtown season pass tickets. The main reason I decided to get the passes was because we no longer had the luxury of going to N. Padre Island and spending weeks during summer on the beach. Splashtown tickets are the next best thing. Right??? Since summer started we have gone to ST 1-2x per week. I would say we definitely got ours money worth out of it. I was very surprised at Ricky. He did almost all the rides!!! I was not expecting that. My little guy is getting brave. Hana too!! She did all the rides that she met the height requirement to. The kids love going and it was a way for me to fill a whole day. Big Ricky loved it because I didn't spend any money that day. Parking is free with passes and I packed our food/lunch.
We are still working on getting dad to come with us before the season is over.

One of his favorites!!

Going on Thunder Run together. 

Off they go!!

                                      Here they come!!

Stingray racer!! (Ricky is on 2nd slide from left)

                          Hana is on 1st slide from right. She would only go down the orange slide.

Wave pool!

BLESSED 8 YEARS AGO

Eight years ago on 7/25 we were blessed with the most perfect little boy. Happy Birthday Ricky. We love you so much. You have made us so happy these 8 years and we couldn't imagine life with out you. You are smart and funny. Some things about you at 8 years old. You LOVE swimming, sharks and dolphins, roller blading, Diary of a Wimpy kid (books, movies), Phineas and Ferb, computers and picture taking. You have the biggest heart out of any kid I know.

                              Birthday party at Skate Town.

           Having a blast rollerblading.

        There goes Hana!!

                     Had a great show for his birthday. So much fun skating with all his friends.

Birthday spin wheel. Won 2 tickets to come back and skate. 

I hope you made a big wish

On his actual birthday we celebrated with cake at the house. 

I don't know how you got to 8 so fast, but please slow down. Words will never be able to express how much I love you and how blessed I am to have you.  Event though I don't want you to grow up I know God has incredible plans for you.