4th of July at the Beach



We headed to the beach for the 4th of July Weekend.  We had such a good time and we got lucky that the Dorsey and Grundmeyer families were also at the beach the same time as us.  They were staying in the two condos next to ours so Ella Kate had a blast going back and forth visiting. 



Ella Kate and John with Nana

It is really hard to get both of them to look at the camera and smile at the same time :)

Happy Boy

Happy Girl.  We brough Ella Kate's new bicycle down to the beach and she rode some on the sidewalk around the courtyard of the condo.  A few times she toppled over and I was waiting to see her reaction before I ran over to her.  Both times she looked up at me with the bicyle practially on top of her and said, "Whew Mom that was close :)"  She is so funny.

Walking with Nana

Oh how Ella Kate loved to fish.  When we take the boat down to PCB, Dave heads out around 5:30am most mornings to do a little fishing.  When the kids and I wake up and get ready we like to meet him at the dock around 9ish for more fishing/boating and then take the boat to a restaurant on the water for lunch.  This was John's first time on the boat and he did great.  The movement of the boat put him right to sleep.  Miss Ella Kate on the other hand could not fish enough.  In the afternoons when Dave would tell her to pull her line in she would always say, "Ok Daddy, I just need to catch 5 more fish first."  Dave is thinking that by next year she may make the 5:30am fishing cut :)  I think part of the reason that Ella Kate likes fishing so much is that in her mind she catches a fish everytime.  Dave normally puts a shrimp or bait fish on her line and each time when she reels it back in she would proudly say, "I caught another one."  She caught her bait many many times. 

Nana and John.  I really need to get John a more comfortable looking life jacket.  He was such a good sport.

The little princess ready to hit the pool.

Johnny boy on the beach.

This was the first trip that Ella Kate has really liked the ocean.  She would tolerate it before and liked it a little if Dave and I were holding her.  But this trip she ran and played on the shoreline and loved getting knocked down by the waves.

Daddy and Ella Kate's fish.

So proud

Dave and his little fishing helpers

Ella Kate has her own pink fishing rod.  We saw lots of dolphins on our trip which Ella Kate loved.

The boys

Poor Dave just wants to fish - notice the pink fishing rod in his hand :) 

Ella Kate and John "discussing" who is going to drive the boat.

Future fisherman

Some of the bait fish Dave caught.  The little ones were Ella Kate's favorite.

Ella Kate driving us to BoatYard for lunch.

Dave's view.

What brothers do :)  Ooops

So glad that they finally have rides back in PCB.  Ella Kate had fun down at Pier Park.

John had fun people watching.

Dave and his little ones.

We ate dinner one night at Uncle Ernie's.  We sat out on the deck for dinner and watched the sunset.  It was so pretty.

John sporting his new crocs.

Little swimmer.

Sweet Kate. 

Ella Kate and her two boyfriends (Evan and Luke).  The boys were so sweet to Ella Kate.  One night when they were watching a movie together they were arguing over who was going to sit by Ella Kate.  Watch out Dave.