Estes Family Corner: Florida x 2 + T-Ball & Hiking!

It's not often I get the chance to travel to Florida, but my maternity leave was the perfect chance to do it twice in just a two-week timeframe to introduce family to our sweet Hailey Ann.

First-up, Pensacola where we visited with LOTS of family and both kids soaked up every minute...

Nonny holding a sweet, sleeping baby Hailey

Michael LOVED spending time w/ his "cousins" in the pool - conveniently located just mere feet from the condo.

Kirk holding Hailey for the first time.

Anthony, Allison and Kirk with sweet Hailey.

Anthony was a great babysitter while we were in Pensacola.

Jessica, Anthony and Hailey.

Hailey sure was comfortable in Allison's arms...

My sweet night, night girl.

And you know Auggie Paparazzi - always a photo shoot. But all kidding aside, I am very fortunate that she's always taking pictures of my babies. I'm not as good about it, but definitely important I capture these memories as the years will fly by...

Our little fish, Michael just LOVES the water... especially pools!

And what's a new Mom to do when she is in FL? Rent jet-ski's with some of her cousins of course!

Hadn't ridden in years but it was a blast!

Thanks Matthew for joining-in on the fun!

And to John for joining-in too!

Three of my four uncles with my aunts-in-law (LtoR: Kirk, Chris, Keith, Heidi, David and Noeline)

Sweet family - SO glad I got to see so many family members!

We attempted to light a lantern on the dock one night - didn't work out but it was really fun and funny trying...

We had an amazing time and Michael and Hailey are so blessed to have so many people adore them. He still talks about this trip almost daily...

Next-Up: Deerfield Beach

We then had the opportunity to travel to Deerfield Beach and introduce Hailey to Deborah and Ben, as well as spend time with Auggie, Poppa and Auntie 'Em.

My sisters, always the models...

Had to add at least one picture of David and I...

Cousin John came to visit us too while we were in Deerfield - here he is with Deborah getting their groove on.

And another photo shoot was done of sweet Hailey Ann... Prepare yourself for cuteness overload.

There are some really cool boulders on the beach - Michael had fun climbing and playing on them.

My sweet babies - Michael is an AMAZING big brother.

Workouts on the beach are awesome - I literally look forward to running on the boardwalk by the beach...

Auntie Deborah with my sweet babies. Michael doesn't love Hailey at all as you can tell...

Me and my sisters.

Then we went on a deep sea fishing trip with David, Michael, Deborah and I. It was AMAZING! David and Deborah struggled to reel-in two large Bonita's and we walked away with 4 grouper and 4 snapper - yummy dinner was had that night!

I captured pics of Deborah trying to reel her large Bonita in. Her pole is now between her legs while she is screaming for me to help her...

C'mon Deborah you can do it!!!

And look at that! Amazing catch sis!

Oh look, David got something too!

Nice snapper babe!

Michael got-in on the fun too!

Wow looks like a big one...

Yep! Another Bonita!

That's right, I didn't miss out on the fun either...

He made it through most of the trip but was pretty tuckered out towards the end.

Check out our catch! I lightly pan-fried the filets and they were a delicious treat for dinner that night.

Family pic - thanks Auntie 'Em for taking!

Baby girl did great on the beach - she loved her little tent.

We had a wonderful time visiting family in FL and am so glad I was able to do so during my leave!

T-Ball Comes to an End

Michael had a ton of fun this season playing t-ball with his buddies Jacob and Nash, and he really enjoyed David being the Coach. For their last game the kids got to run through a breakaway banner, fog and then they received medals and pizza to celebrate their last game.

Adventure Friday's Live On...

Although I am back to work - God did I LOVE my time on leave - Adventure Friday's will live on for the foreseeable future. And so, last Friday Michael got to pick his adventure and can you guess what he chose? Yep, hiking... again :-)

He LOVES being out in nature and I think it is fantastic.

Can't Forget About Ft. Pickens!

When I inserted my pictures in the blog some of them got moved around, but while we were in Pensacola Michael got to explore the old Ft. Pickens - where I used to explore when I was a kid and my Mom, uncles and aunts did too when they were kids - so it is an especially important part of our family. He absolutely LOVED it!