the beach.

what a wonderful weekend we had!! we were invited to the beach and promised steaks on the grill, new friends, a beautiful naples sunset, and fishing with daddy.

i kind of wanted to stay home, relax. i wished for rain...a dark sky, heavy wind. not hurricane wind, but the kind that lets you know it's a little different outside. a good time to stay in the house, light some candles, and hit the eject button on your dvd player and play a favorite.

how i love me a good lightening and rain storm. the perfect atmosphere for making something. a pot of soup or homemade baked good in the oven. sometimes, i just opt for some oreos and my computer or an us weekly mag...it's all good though.

no resting this weekend though. we filled it up with stuff to do. memories we are a makin'! i LOVE being home again. how i have missed my mattress, my dishes, my beat up kitchen table, my couch, my pool,...

i just want to stay here for three months straight...not leave the city. fall is near, christmas is around the corner,...so much fun in store for all of us. i ADORE this time of year. peace falls over me. i think it is because this is the time of year that i make promises to myself to get things done. to better my home, myself, my babies, our lives.

i admit, i'm not an outdoorsy kinda a girl. i kind of always wanted to be that cool chick that would bait her own hook, pop open a beer, and sit on a bucket and wait for a tug...but i would never rip a worm apart, and if i did i would run to the ocean and throw up and then disinfect my hands, and pretty much my night would go down hill from there. no, i'm not a cool outdoorsy chick, but i'm pretty sure peyton is on her way. she loves anything to do with being outside and will jump at the chance to go fishing with daddy and becks. i love her passion for these things as it is something i never really enjoyed as a child even when my grandpa would take us girls to the detroit river at 4 am to go fishing. so proud of her. (okay, not so happy she's afraid of going to hip-hop class tomorrow. "i'm shy when i dance, mommy." we're workin' on that one!!

we did enjoy the most beautiful sunset. paradise is where we live.

the following day...i turned 33 and a certain hubby and his accomplice planned a beach surprise complete with good friends and cake at isle of capri...

thank you. i love you both lots and lots.

my babies made me a birthday sand cake complete with a beach pencil candle!!!

my gift from brett!!!

cris, kelle's mom. love this woman. amazing lady. i know where the cryder girls get it from. xoxo

julie and rebecca!! julie's having twins in february!!!

this just made me laugh.

does anyone see something hilarious in this pic?? i was taking a photo of a beautiful rainbow...and someone was snapping away at me. lol. didn't know until i saw the pic today!

i know there are lots of pics, but i have a hard time choosing and some just make me laugh, and i'm pretty sure my future self will find it funny when i look back as well!!!

my birthday was so fun and of course, ioc is like home to me now. i love it. it is tradition. it is the place we go to to unwind, slurp up frozen concoctions, laugh, tell stories, share, connect. it's the place that seeing a nakey baby run by with a bucket of sand is the norm. expected. where our kids play with other kids. i just love that place. i hope everyone has their own little 'isle of capri'. it's the bomb!!! (doe)

thank you for your birthday wishes. i loved hearing from so many people. i'm so touched!!!

xoxoxoxoxo