Lost Pines

Last weekend we took a super fun trip to a resort called Hyatt Lost Pines with Keith's company. We took our wonderful babysitter and friend Liza along with us to help out for the long weekend. Soon after we arrived we put on our swimsuits and hit the lazy river. The kids were too big for the tubes but their Puddle Jumpers allowed them to float alongside us. It worked out perfectly!

The kids couldn't get enough of the water!

The slide became an instant hit and I think the kids went down nearly a dozen times each when they first discovered it.

The kids preferred company over riding solo on their way down. Here's Liza taking Madison down the slide.

Payson was timid at first but, with Daddy's urging, he went down the slide and was overtaken with joy!

Hayden just laughed and laughed. She loved it!

The next day Liza took the kids on a horse-drawn wagon ride while Keith and I checked out our bowman skills with a few games of archery. There's Keith on the left aiming for the last remaining Triceratops in the world.

The instructor equipped me with a fabulous pink bow.

How fabulous it is to find Sooner Schooners near Austin! You would think they would be banned!

It's getting easier and easier to travel as we have less and less gear to take with us. Madison and Payson did great sharing a double bed and Hayden was all about the roll-away. Looks like we might be able to take that Disney trip one day after all!

Florida Finale

Despite the thunderstorms we had our last few days in Florida, we made the best of it. We visited the Florida Gulfarium which the kids loved. Each of the kids fed the stingrays by hand. Here's Daddy showing them how to do it.

Payson's turn! They were all smiles and were so tickled by it.

The dolphin show was a big hit.

As were those silly sea lions.

At the airport, Keith led the kids in a few foot races to shake those last few sillies out before we boarded the plane.

They played, ate and watched movies on the plane but were fast asleep in the car before we even got off of the airport property.

Who knew that you could have a successful beach vacation with three 3-year-olds? Sure it wasn't exactly relaxing, but it was fun, fun and more fun!

Experiencing Florida

Playing.

Watching.

Dreaming.

Feeling.

Imagining.

Loving.

Experiencing.

Living.

The Jet-Setting Melkers Are Back!

Two summers ago, when the kids were 20-months-old, we attempted a family vacation to California. In that blog post I said, "I vow this will be my last trip with toddlers under the age of 2." Then I had said 2-year-olds and vowed that I wouldn't take them on vacation until they were 3. Or at least emotionally and mentally stable enough to handle vacation. Ha!

We received an invitation to join friends at their rented home near Seaside, Florida this July so we took a deep breath and went for it. Here's our journey through pictures.

Madison and Payson hanging in the single seat row. My flight tip? Lollipops keep 3-year-old mouths quiet and closed!

Hayden and Daddy gearing up for a mid-flight matinee.

Madison took in the view from amongst the clouds. "They're made of cotton," she says.

While driving our rental car to the resort we spotted this car in front of us. If Payson's name were "Mississippi" then this license plate would have been a perfect match!

Hayden's first contact with the silky sand was magical. The expression on her face was priceless. (Her first beach experience was a bit dramatic for her so this was a great day for everyone.)

Hayden is a princess but also loves nature and she took to the ocean immediately.

Free-spirited Madison joined in on the fun.

Run to Mommy!

Payson's turn! He was a bit timid about the waves and didn't want to wade out there for too long, but, with a little encouragement and a gentle push, he enjoyed a few brief dips.

The kids got busy in the sand and played for hours.

Payson on the move.

Beach beauty.

Time to get buried! The girls were all about it. Payson likes to be clean and comfortable so I was surprised when he offered himself up to do it after his sisters did.

Yay for a fun family vacation!

Time to boogie board! Madison, ever the adventurist, was all about it...


...until she had a crashed hard. Here's the wave and the nose dive that took her down.

Payson was a good sport and gave boogie boarding a try but he was tense and unsure about the whole thing.

With the wave behind him, Payson relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the ride in. Hayden gave it a whirl and did well but was more interested in playing in the sand with the other little girls around.

A little snuggle on the beach.

Time for some fun at the pool!

Florida- Part 2 coming soon!

Fourth Fun

Despite the BLAZING temperatures, we had a fun and festive 4th of July. We spent the afternoon at our neighborhood celebration playing games, eating barbecue and sweating our tails off. Our good friends Joey and Cristin were in town so we got to get our Independence Day party on with them and their precious children. All of the kids were a bit perplexed when they happened upon a super tall cowboy.

We braved the heat early so the kids practically had the pirate bounce house all to themselves.

Hanging out with friends while waiting for the sun to go down and the fireworks to go up.

Payson and Harrison sword fighting.

Jab!

Madison secretly hoarded the glow bracelets, sneaking them to her seat one by one, until the other kids began to complain leading me to a large stash in her cup holder (bottom left of photo).

Hanging out with neighborhood kids just before show time.

Payson and Harrison got along really well and truly played together, not just by each other. Payson was so upset the next day when we woke up and realized that Harrison had gone back home.

That same weekend we celebrated a friend's birthday and her citizenship as well. The kids really gave the pinata a pounding. Hayden gave it all she had with a free spirit and a mouth wide open. Hiya!

Madison took her task seriously with focus and determination.

Payson eagerly gave it a shot with his tongue sticking out

Toddlers strike again! This is was happens when you have two toddler girls upstairs by themselves. The girls were having a "party" and although it doesn't look like it, it was an organized mess with each book properly placed and spread throughout the room.

We took the kids to their first Rangers game. Payson was thrilled to be watching the "grown-up men" playing his game (T-ball). He really got into the cheers and cried when The Wave stopped. "I wanted to do it again!," he said. (Enter sobbing here.)

A good friend got this family shot of us- something we don't do enough. Thanks Brian!