Sum-sum-summa Time, Summatime Travels

So, Tanner coaches a local Babe Ruth baseball team - and was then asked to coach the Babe Ruth All-Star team. He handpicked a (legit) team, and the ended up winning the state tournament. This resulted in a road trip to Richmond, VA.

The State Champs!

In typical Collins planning... we decided to leave town at 9:00 pm Monday night, drive through the night to Richmond...stay there until Saturday...leave at 6:00 pm and drive straight to Cape San Blas, FL for our annual week at the beach for family vacation.

With a 3 year old. (And the assistant coach. And one of the players.)

Needless to say, we were skeptical. Turns out, driving through the night is the way to go. (Not to mention we rented a minivan with a DVD player. I am embarrassed to say that I actually liked the minivan. Let's not go crazy and think I will ever purchase one... But the doors that open automagically and all the room... It was tempting.) Fisher watched movies and slept through the night both ways. It was such a pleasant 11 hour drive - if that is possible.

Tanner's team made it to playoffs in the regional tournament, but with a heartbreaking loss, came in 3rd place. (They were headed to the World Series should they have won.) But, it was such a great trip. We have family in Richmond that we obviously don't see very much, and loved spending some time with them.

 

Representing Florida well.

We made it back to town about 6:00 am Sunday morning, stopped to pick up my mom and return the beloved minivan, and headed to the beach for a wonderful week of family, relaxing, fishing, scalloping, and beaching.

Tired boys.

Best location for a morning run. Ever.

 

2 weeks from our original departure, we made it back to Bear Creek. We have never been so happy to go home! ...And I think the same goes for the dogs!

Now... Time to settle in for the Sunday of Summer (August), and anxiously await our most favorite time of year..... FALL!

(We squeezed in a little in town fun pre-roadtrip marathon.....)

Painting with Henry.

Vacation Bible School!

Movie date with Jayden!

Boat Days of Summer... and Water Days Too

Tanner and I bought a boat last year, and have really enjoyed our first full summer using it. To say Fisher loves it would be a gross understatement. He LOVESSSSS it! Such a water baby... Loves to fish... Fits right in.

 

We have also spend an enormous amount of time in various water locations this summer... Be it the ocean, a pool, a splash pad, or a random blow up pool... We are there!

Fisher and Sammy are besties!

He might not look thrilled about it, but he graduated swim school!

Showing Sofie the ropes at the Splash Pad.

TeeBall Season Wrap Up

Fisher's first season of teeball was a smashing success. He is naturally a very sweet, very shy little boy. The change in him from the start of the season to the end was amazing. He has started learning what it is to be a team, how to interact (and share) with others, how to take turns... the list goes on. He really started to come out of his shell, and we are so pleased with this direction!

 

His very last run home : )

 

 

His last game happened to be on my birthday, so later that evening we went to The Melting Pot to celebrate...both my birthday and his season! He was so proud of his medal, he decided he should wear it to dinner. (And obviously we agreed!) 

 

NOW! Time to gear up for SOCCER SEASON! (How fun will it be to see a bunch of 4 year olds running wild on a field chasing a ball?!)

New York, New York, New York

So, I had to visit NYC for work (tough life), and on a last minute whim, my mom decided to join me. We haven't been to NYC together in almost 10 years, so we were very excited to explore the city and have some one on one time together - sans babies! Our hotel was in a great Midtown location, so we were able to walk almost everywhere we wanted to go.

(Obviously) I watched Serendipity on my flight there, so I could arrive with the hopes and dreams of all NYC has to offer. My mom has never eaten at the actual restaurant, so that was a first stop. (Amazing)

Then we took the Staten Island Ferry for a spin... My mom read this was the best free way to see the Statue of Liberty, and it honestly was! I have been to NYC a few times and never gone to see it - so this trip was a must - and totally worth it.

When we got back from our boat tour, we went to the Financial District pay our respects and honor the memory of those lost on 9/11. The statue of "Double Check", also know as "the Survivor", faces the site of the attacks, and if you Google it you will see that the statue was the only thing standing in the midst of destruction. Then the office building nearby is still completely covered in smoke damage. Erie feeling on those grounds.

 

We also took a stroll down Wall Street. The entire time, all I could think about was the movie The Wolf on Wall Street..... I was sure every man I passed was up to something (illegal).

That evening for dinner, we paid a visit to the iconic Carnegie's Deli. We split one of their sandwiches and a side of onion rings - and didn't even eat half of the half. HUGE. Then of course, we had to get a slice of their world famous cheesecake!

One of my meetings was at the Estee Lauder headquarters, and I have to say, provided the best view of NYC and Central Park. Such a beautiful city.

Really not sure how mom and I never managed to take a picture together, but I will chalk it up to the fact that we were having such a great time exploring that we just rarely thought to stop and document.

We went to the Toy's R Us in Times Square and I bought Fisher all 4 Ninja Turtles, which is apparently the thing right now for 3 and 4 year olds. Mom and I did a little shopping, and a lot of walking. (a LOT of walking) It was such a great few days, and now I am ready to go back again!

Oh, and of course, on the way home.... watched When Harry Met Sally. Like any respectable NYC tourist would do.

Success.