Bye-bye Honda

Today was our day to say goodbye to my Honda Accord.  We have been having some issues with the car for a while - some didn't really need fixing, but recently the transmission started to slip.  Matt put some special fluid in it and that didn't do the trick.  I FINALLY agreed it was time to look for a new car and Matthew had decided on a Hyundai Sonata. (He had been doing research for months).

I purchased this car on October 28, 2000.  My dad paid me for my grades in college which allowed me to have a very nice down payment - money talks with me!  After I graduated college two months later and started my real job I was determined to save and pay the car off early.  I only made $27,000 when I started in advertising and saved money each month and it paid off...literally. I paid the Honda off in 2 1/2 years!

I had to document this day because it was obviously very sad for me. This was the first new car I had purchased and she had been in my life for 13 1/2 years. I was so sure that this would be Mallory's first car, but alas it is not. :(

Here are the back seat.

My last time to drive.

The title that I had to give to the dealer. It says "Stephanie Butler."

Good-bye friend.  We had many memories together!!!  I cried and cried as we left the dealership. I'm tearing up now writing about it.

The Mudcats Are Victorious

We have been enjoying going to Sam's baseball games and watching him play these past few weeks.  Maybe I should say that Matt and I have enjoyed it. The girls they are completely uninterested in watching and just want to play.  That's fine though and I completely understand.  It has been exciting to watch him this week because his team has been in the playoffs.

Today was a very exciting time because the Mudcats won first place in their division.  Sam is a champion!

Fun in the Floridian Sun

The girls had so much fun playing on the beach.  They built sand castles, looked for sea shells, and crabs. Oh wait.  Maggie and Sam looked for crabs and Mallory screamed bloody murder when she saw one. She was convinced they would bite her.

When we first arrived both girls were nervous about getting into the ocean. Mallory would go in a foot or two and Maggie would only go in if someone carried her. By the end of the week, both girls were in the ocean alone and we even had to remind Mallory don't run into the ocean unless you have on your floaties.

Adventures in Florida

Most of our time in Florida was at the beach, but we managed to get in a few other adventures.  There is a neighborhood close to where we stayed that has peacocks that live there.  The birds just roam the streets and came right up to our car.  It was crazy!

One day we went to the local aquarium.  I love this picture of the girls and Sam. They both just adore him and he is so sweet and loving to them.

This lobster was HUGE!!!  The photo doesn't do it justice.

We were standing above these sharks on a platform and I won't lie I was terrified.  I knew we couldn't fall in, but still. 

Our View in Florida

This was our view the entire trip!  When I think US beaches, I think nasty Texas coastal water.  Texas waters look like a lake and nobody in their right mind swims in them.  Florida water (at least here) is completely different. It is bright blue and you can see in it rather well.

We saw a family of five good sized stingrays, dolphins, and even got really close to a Manatee.  It was awesome!!! Can't wait to go back next year.