Today: Ava + Sophia's Beach Playdate

Today, Ava and I met up with our friends Jereann(mom) and Sophia(daughter). We originally met them at our Amanda's Place Mommy&Me classes a couple of months ago. They also live in Pompano Beach which makes it great for a last minute, local playdate for the girls. 

Jereann asked me if we could meet up at Pompano Beach's splash pad so that the girls can run around and play in the water.

 I had no idea that this even existed because my family is not aware of anything going on in Pompano - ever... 

Since Mark and I grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, we do everything there. I guess this teaches me that I need to branch out and see what our official place of residence offers. 

I will say... Pompano beach is VERY clean and family friendly. They have clean picnic area, bathrooms, a playground, a nice kid's area with the splash pad, and the pier nearby. It took us 10 min to get to our beach parking spot from our home. (There was no traffic what so ever.) 

I usually go to Ft. Lauderdale beach which takes me 25min since we live north of there. 

Now that I am am familiar with this "family friendly" beach,  I will be going here more often with Ava and Mark. 

When it is time for me to have a mama's day out with my friends, I will be loyal and still go straight to Ft. Lauderdale Beach though haha ;)  

Anyways, today's beach playdate was adorable! 

Sophia and Ava get along so well and the weather could not have been better. 

80 degrees and very sunny

Here are some pictures that I took today. They came out a bit dark (still learning how to use this Nikon D5100) so I had to try and lighten them up a bit at home.

(And I promise that Ava is walking a lot now...just didn't get any of it on camera today - my fault.) 

Jereann & Sophia

Ava is still getting comfortable with the idea that there is water randomly shooting up from the ground...

The mamas with our precious girls

Sophia sharing her beach toys with Ava

Sophia petting Ava's hair. haha This was funny

Ava found some little toy duck nearby... She loves little toys

Sophia bringing Ava her water 

Thanks for a fun playdate, Jereann and Sophia! We will be back soon :)

Hope everyone is having a nice Tuesday! 

Family Beach Day {OOTD}

It's finally Saturday and going to be perfect south FL beach weather. 

75 degrees and sunny. 

I prefer hotter weather for the beach but let's not be greedy now... ;)  

I'm anxiously awaiting for Mark to get home from golfing so we can go! 

Can you tell I am excited to spend today outside ?! Ha 

Today's Mommy&Me OOTD will include bathing suits and nothing more until bed time! We are long overdue for a day like this. 

Bathing suit: Roxy

Bag: Patricia Nash

Sunnies: Ray Ban

Suit&Cover up: Carter's

Sorry, Mark... I couldn't find your suit :( 

Hope you enjoy your Saturday wherever it is that you'll be spending it. 

XO

Christina 

Our Weekend {Beach Picnic + Jazz Brunch}

Mark's Grandma Ann is here visiting from North Dakota for a couple of more days. Since the weather there is ranging from -17 to 7 degrees right now, we thought it would be nice to spend as much time outside with her. On Saturday, Mark went golfing with some of his friends while Ava and I went over to the our neighborhood park with my friend, Jessica, and her son, Christian. 

After he got back from golfing, we went over to Fort Lauderdale beach to have a sunset picnic with family. 

Ava was extremely "vocal" at the beach...

She gets really excited when the breeze hits her face and starts screeching/squealing/laughing.... you name it. She is loud but it is absolutely hilarious to watch.

My happy place: with my daughter on our beautiful beach. Doesn't get much better for me. (My husband was taking this picture...he is included in my happy place :)

Mark with the ladies he loves most in this world: his grandma, his mama, and his daughter. 

Then today, we headed to Riverwalk (near downtown Ft. Lauderdale) for the Suntrust Sunday Jazz Brunch that happens on every 1st Sunday of the month. 

It was another beautiful day in south FL. Perfect for picnic #2 of the weekend.  We had the usual spread: croissants, nutella, cold cuts, fruits, pasta salads, chips & salsa/guacamole, mimosas, etc...

"Ok, ma! Enough pictures... I'm eating."

Happy little thing in her rocking chair. She loves that chair so much.

See?

I love these jazz brunch days so much. Put me outside in my favorite city with brunch food&mimosas and I am set. 

...And so is Ava
(but you also have to give her a cup or a plastic spoon. Then, she is set!) 

We had such a great time with Grandma Ann this weekend! 

And currently...
Mark and I are where you can usually find us before bed: on the back porch rocking chairs listening to music.
He is working from his laptop and getting prepared for the upcoming week while I am planning a few things of my own.

XO
Christina

Snapshots of Sunday Morning

On Sunday morning we went the beach to have some breakfast with the Mark's dad, step mom, and two half brothers - The McGuire Family :) 

They spent a week in Ft. Lauderdale visiting us from their home in West Linn, Oregon. 

We loved getting to spend time with them and cannot wait to see them again in September. 

Here are some pictures I took while we waited for our food: 

Before we went to the beach

Ava wore our favorite, Janie&Jack!
Shirt Found Here
Pants Found Here
Socks Found Here

Ava's favorite thing in the world: my sunglasses. 

Ava with Uncle Ryan 

Happy. 

Reaction to the breeze

Uncle Kevin and his great smile :) 

Busy on her cell phone

  

"Eeeeee!"

Mark's dad trying to get their delayed flight schedules corrected 

Grandma"SuSu"McGuire trying to soak up as much Ava time as she has left with her

Mommy!