Finally...Fabulous Florida

Beauty queens at the pool

Look ma, I've got rose-colored goggles!!

The Pool Posse - Ali, Papa, Madison, Scott and Sammi

We recently spent six fabulous days in the balmy (or in other words...HOT) weather of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Scott's dad took a position a few months ago with a Florida bank and we went to see how he is loving his new condo on the ocean. We flew out July 4th and the girls did so well traveling on a plane for the first time. Alison felt so comfortable that she fell asleep on the way down and on the return flight home. Truth be told, I was much more nervous than the girls when it came to flying. I think it has something to do with the fear of falling out of the sky at 10,000 feet. The girls on the other hand, were like old pros by the time we got through the security center.

I believe a great time was had by all on our trip. To sum up our time in Florida, I would have to say...pool, pool, fireworks, Starbucks, ocean, pool, pool, Rainforest Cafe, pool, pool and, yep, you guessed it, pool. The girls were little fish in the condo pool and they swam a minimum of four hours a day. Mr. Steve, the girls swim coach in Muskegon, would be so proud!! Madison practiced her breast-stroke for swim class, Sammi found herself comfortable in the deep end for the first time and Alison was tooling around the pool in her floaty like she had been swimming for years! I was so proud of our girls:)

Aren't I cute?

The hard part came, of course, when we had to leave. Grandma and Grandpa drove us to the airport. We got in line, checked in our bags and proceeded to the long line for security. I think Madison made it around the first bend of people before she started crying. She just couldn't look at her Papa and not cry. She knows what is going on here...she knows that it will be a while before she sees him again. The other two Sewick girls were too busy playing around with their pull-luggage and deciding what snack they should get for the plane. You've got to love youth...sometimes it is just so simple and easy.

Madison kept moving along, head down, following the line of people heading toward their gates. She got to the metal detector, put her shoes on the conveyor and realized she had to say goodbye. Papa and Grandma couldn't go with us any farther and she wouldn't be able to even see them from where they were standing. She waved half-heartedly, started to cry some more and went through the metal detector. My heart went out to her - I even teared up myself - because it was just so heartbreaking and tender to watch. Her Papa was brave and didn't shed too many tears while he waved frantically as we headed toward our gate. Definitely a moment I won't soon forget - a bitter-sweet memory I'll cherish for quite some time.

But I have to say, while Florida was full of adventure and excitement, there is nothing like walking through your own front door and resting your head on your own pillow. Vacations are fun and full of lasting memories, but as the saying goes...

There is no place like home.