Patiently...

In case you're curious, those of us in Denver don't "do" rain.  We don't "do" big grey clouds (we prefer the Simpson-esque fluffy ones), we don't "do" bad weather, and I again reiterate - we don't "do" rain.  However, for the past 2 weeks (which seems like a lifetime of days here in Sunny Denver!), we have "done" rain, and done it and done it and done it.  As I've said more than once, "If I wanted all this grey and rain, I'da stayed in the Midwest!"  :)

Last Saturday, I was looking out the window lamenting the rain - for good reason.  John and I had 1st row lower level infield seats to see the Rockies.  We got these phenom tickets as a gift for John's birthday - and it was raining.  Kathy Sabine said it was going to be a high of 60, so I was hopeful...but still complaining.  This is when Tanner looked at me and said, big hazel eyes full of anticipation for being able to tell MOM something for once, "Mommy, you have to be PATIENT for the sun!"

This month's Fruit of the Spirit is PATIENCE (wow, she DOES listen!), and she was right - I had to be patient for the sun.  So I put on my cardi, skinny jeans, and ballet flats and headed out to be patient (if you didn't catch my facebook posts, the sun never came out and Kathy was wrong - the high topped out around 45 degrees and we sat in a drizzly snow-rain mix for the entire game.  The cherry on top was when the Rockies blew a 6 run lead and Brad Hawpe, a former-Rockie-turned-Padre, hit a game-winning homer in the top of the 9th.  By that time, my feet were literally purple.  The day was, for all intents and purposes, an Epic Fail!) :)

But I did get this photo with BannerJack. 
He's at every game, and we see him all the time on Roots Sports.
I guess since I couldn't get a photo with Dexter, this'll do.  :)

So where am I going with all this? Well, it's been a while since I've posted, and you all have been a good example of PATIENCE while waiting for our Easter Beachy pictures (it's either that, or you simply don't care).  So now, I hope you PATIENTLY sift through the tons of pictures I've carefully edited (read: hit the AutoCorrect button on) and enjoy. (I will be PATIENTLY sitting here waiting for them all to upload) :)

NOTE:  It took over an hour to get all these pictures to load to blogspot.  I hope you enjoy them!  Nay, you'd BETTER enjoy them!!!

NOTE 2:  I've kindof grouped the pictures by "activity," not necessarily by day.  But sometimes by day.  Overall, it's pretty unpredictable, so just enjoy the pictures, m'kay???

BEACH!

Of COURSE we went to the beach.  However, John never made it to the beach.  But given his complexion, that's not such a horrible thing, eh? :)

You're probably wondering....what the heck?  This isn't the beach!
No, this is the pool.  We went there BEFORE the beach this day. 
Ellery was less than enthused, which is why I'm looking into swim lessons.

Aunt Laura (& Baby Jazz) hangin' by the pool

Yes, I see the snot in her nose.  That thing was like a faucet at the beach.
But it's a cute picture, even with the snot.

You can't tell it here, but she really LOVES the beach.
That fake-smile thing is just how this 3-year-old rolls.

Ellery sits in her chair.  For a brief moment. 
Actually, I'm shocked I got this picture because as many times as we
hauled chairs over there for the girls, they never sat in them.

Nana with her girls.
I'm sure Nana isn't as fond of this picture as I am!

When you are 15 months old, you don't care that your bikini
top is pulled up too high.  You just strike a pose, yo.

Ellery takes on the beach!

Playing in the waves.
There's that cheeeeeesy grin again :)

Ellery, sick of being taken into the ocean by her mother,
stealthily hides behind nearby beach chairs.

PLAKA!  This is what we do at the beach. 
Sun and eat Plaka.

 While we were at the pool/beach this day, the boys puffed their chests and probably made Tim-the-Tool-Man noises playing with the boat engine. 

"John, pick something up and make it seem like you're working on it."
Love you, honey.  :)

Jeff also helped, but he's not pictured here.

After this, instead of coming to join the girls at the pool/beach/Plaka, Jeff and John rode around the island on Dandy's motorcycles, supposedly getting chicks to "dig them."  *eyeroll*

Of course, there was another day at the beach - I mean, we were there almost a week.  And I took the camera TWO times.

Tanner had to walk/pull her toys to the beach herself.
She didn't mind - in fact, she loved it.
And only a 3-year-old can pull off that belly-bikini look :)

Teeks & Ekes stroll to the beach.

Ellery makes herself a sandy mess.

My little beach girl.
As long as we don't get too near the water.

This is what happens when you decide to throw yourself
face-down and have a temper tantrum.

Shadowy face?  Check.  Cute beach girl?  Check.

Our castle.  Tanner loved to make castles.
And Ellery loved to eat the castles.

She looks like such a big girl here. 
She's going to get water for our castle-building.

You might think, "Man, sand angels?  What a mess!"
You say that because you fail to consider the mess that can
be made by making a beach "pool" and jumping in it over and over and over again.

I don't have any pictures of the beach pool because my camera died as it took this picture.  I'm shocked I even got this picture, to be honest.  But the gist is that I dug a small hole, kept filling it with water, and the girls jumped and played in it for a long time.  I had to strip them down at the outdoor showers before I felt they were even fit to walk up to Plaka and eat!

BOAT!

So the guys weren't working on the boat engine for no reason....we went out on the boat, of course!

The boat and its cargo.

It's like a portrait, only on a boat.

Hangin' out on the bay...

Two Tutu sisters :)

In case you're curious, Ellery HATED that life jacket.
Silly laws.

Awww....she's so cute.
Sometimes.
Mostly.
Tanner's pretty cute, too.  :)

I love this pic of Mimi & Mych.

I think she's safe between Dandy and Nana. 
And with that ginormous life jacket, of course.

I love this picture of my Mimi & Dandy!

El Cap-EEE-tan.
Or should I say "Cap-EEE-farmer's-tan" ?
Don't worry, Jeff O - Chicks dig it.

What else did we do?

PADDLEBOARDING!

For Mychal's 17th birthday, Mom bought us all paddleboarding lessons (I'd say her 17th worked out well for all of us, wouldn't you?) :)

First, we had to learn how to get in the water on our boards.

And the lesson continues...

WINNING!

That's a good look for her.  :)

Daddy gives a high-five on his way out to the bay.
Something about "high center of gravity" made him lose his balance :)
(But he didn't fall :)

Mimi the Photographer, in her beanie cap

I just love this pic of Mych! 
It's like a papparazzi shot.

SMILE!
(Indeed, we are the nerds we appear to be) :)

Mom makes it back and celebrates :)

 
EASTER!

We also celebrated our Easter while we were on the beach.  John and I went to The Chapel by the Sea and enjoyed an Easter service, and when we got back, we did the Easter bunny thang.

Ellery, the sad Easter princess.
(She wasn't really sad).

All the cutest smiles come at the expense of closed, squinty eyes.
Bummer.  But still cute.
Kinda.  :)

Happy and excited about her Easter goodies.

Those two were not for want, that's fo' sho'.

Mimi smooches EK up :)

Dandy ensures Elle's love by offering Reese's Peanut Butter cups.
Ellery is gullible enough to fall for it.  :)
Who isn't, really?

Tanner searches for Easter eggs.

Ellery examines her Easter egg treasure.

I think that covers all the major stuff....otherwise, we just hung out on the lanai, enjoying all the warmth, sun, and family that Florida has to offer :)

High-Five!
(She's probably saying "Thanks for the Reese's!") :)

Tanner & Dandy water plants in their jams.

Ellery enjoys Dandy's messy messy PB&J breakfast toast.

Hunting geckos!

Cute smile, squinty eyes.
Same ol' story.

Ellery strikes a pose.

Dandy and his GREATS :)

Aunt Laura helps Tanner with sidewalk chalk.

I think this is just a funny picture.
Maybe Ellery is poopy? :)

Dandy helps Tanner with her new puzzle.

You can't ever have enough beads
(in case you were wondering)

Ellery borrows Mimi's beanie and shows off her
Lil' Chick outfit :)

Well, if you've made it this far, then you truly are a patient person.  Congrats!  You deserve a prize, but unfortunately I have nothing to offer.  Consider all these pictures, this post, and your opportunity to leave a fun comment your gift! :) 

And I didn't even include Ellery's haircut pictures....you'll have to check out facebook for that!