Family portrait

Oma and Opa left early this morning, but before they did, I managed to "torture" everyone and organize a family portrait (me included - gotta love self timers and tripods!!). Everyone will be happy next year when we have a nice photo to remember our time together!  It was a really nice visit... time flew! We can't wait to see them again this summer when we travel to Monhegan Island in Maine!

Blue Hole

Today we went to the Blue Hole, a local water hole here in the Keys, so that my baby boy could show his Oma the alligators.  It was an awesome trip!  We go there very often, but we've never seen both the female and male alligators swimming around together like we did today!  It was a great show! They had such energy!  We also have never seen such a crowd of people! It was so fun!

Visit to East Martello Tower

Today we went to East Martello Tower in Key West.  NO - I did NOT take any pictures of Robert the Doll, in case you were wondering.  I'm not taking any chances.  :)  The kids had a blast checking out the museum, running around the old fort, going in and out of the very narrow brick walls, scaling the creepy stairs, playing in the life-size dollhouse, and checking out the planes flying in and out of the airport. Here are a couple pictures from the trip.

Cake in the afternoon

Today I convinced my in-laws to be my "cake-cutting models" for a wedding photography assignment that was due today.  I baked a brownie cake, iced it, decorated it with strawberries and kiwis, and set it out on a table with a white tablecloth, champagne glasses, and flowers.  I had my in-laws act as if they had just gotten married.  They cut the cake, fed it to each other, and I captured the whole sequence for an album spread.  Here is the final product.  They were adorable and such great sports!  Thanks Oma and Opa! :)

Grandparents

It has been so nice having Oma and Opa visit us! Even though the kids don't see them very often, they take right to them immediately.  It is wonderful!  My younger son was thrilled to have a new playmate - he suckered Oma into playing with his farm all morning. We had a busy day - long hike on a nearby beach trail in the morning, baseball scrimmage in the afternoon (nap for my younger son and me - we were not feeling very well...),  and then we ended the day with a round of mini-golf and dinner out.  Here is a picture I took of Oma and Opa with their grandkids. :)  

Oma and son

My husband's mom and dad (Oma and Opa) came to visit this evening!  The kids were so excited to see them drive up to the house!   They were waiting out on the porch and screamed when they saw their car.  :) After we unpacked the car and got their room ready, we ordered Chinese food and had a nice dinner together.  With all the cleaning and frenzy today, I never took a single picture!  Unheard of!  :)  SO, I snapped this picture right before everyone went to sleep.  Don't Oma and Erich look so much alike!?  

Swing time

Today was pretty crazy...we were getting ready for my in-laws to visit so we spent a lot of time cleaning, organizing, cleaning, organizing, more cleaning....you get the idea.  But, in between all the "fun", I made sure to give my baby boy some "swing time".  He just loves to hang out and swing on our porch as high as I can push him before his nap.  He'll go into a "trance-like" state and just stare off into the trees enjoying himself.   I actually gave him his sandwich on the swing today...talk about busy!  That is why he looks like a chipmunk here.  I slowed him down for a minute to shoot this close-up. :)  I just love that face.