The Streff Family: 4th of July in Florida!

To celebrate the 4th Kipp, Kella & I headed to the shores of Destin! Ryan still naps and we didn't really want to interrupt that, so she stayed in Oklahoma with Gibbie. To help Kella with the drive I printed a map and marked some of the cities with fun symbols. If we made it to, say the heart or smiley face, without any complaints she got to open a present! I found some fun games and books that we could do together. She got a kick out of me riding in the backseat with her!

We finally made it!

This was her favorite thing to do...run, fall down & roll in the sand. YIKES!

Our favorite place to eat!

I've probably mentioned this a few hundred times on this blog, but Kella L.O.V.E.S mermaids, and we're not just talking Ariel - all kinds! She is constantly asking for a tail! I told her she wouldn't be able to walk and she said she was okay with me pulling her in a wagon! Hmmm...

She just about flipped when she saw this lovely lady carved out of wood!

Strolling on the beach after dinner.

This was a first for us...not quite sure we've seen the whole - put a kid in a bubble & let 'em walk on water...???...she wanted to try it and secretly, so did I!!

Oh yeah, their blowing it up with a leaf blower!

Making her way into the pool.

After dinner one night we were strolling along the boardwalk and found the funnest kite store. They had tons of other goodies - especially this sweet little mermaid doll. Let's just say she was not.leaving.the.store.without.it! Annnnnd, being the parents we are, we DO NOT give in to such behavior! So how did she end up with it? I took her to see some live parrots outside while Kipp snuck back in & bought it. She woke up with it lying on her pillow the next morning. What a surprise!

Dinner at the Wharf, one of the funnest places we went. There was a chipping contest to win a new golf cart, so Kipp tried his luck. Objective: You get 15 chances to hit a whiffle golf ball onto the floating green. You have to get a minimum of 3 onto this tiny island to qualify for the "finals". Kipp had no problem qualifying - I think he made 5 of the 15 on! That's my man!!! Now, all we had to do was come back the next night for the, yes that's right, "finals"! This time, if you made it on again you keep going in the rounds, if you make a hole in one you win the shiny new golf cart!

Remember those mermaids, check out this one! A bronzed beauty in all her glory. The store was already closed, but we promised our little one we'd be back the next day to take a closer look!

One thing you see all day from the shore are parasailer's passing by. Kella was beyond excited to see them and asked if she could get a turn...why not?!

Here she is with her game face on!

Gettin' suited up...

Ready for lift-off??!!

Up, up and away!!!!

Made it back - safe & sound!

View of the Boardwalk from the water.

There's are brave girl! She never got scared she just kept saying to Kipp, "Daddy, we're really high! Hey, look at all those boats!"

Back at the Wharf for all the Fourth celebrations. I wish I could've captured how good these snow cones were in a picture, actually they were called Snow Balls! Which is exactly what they tasted like - just.like.snow! Melt in your mouth, YUMM!