Clara and Wilson: We're Back in the Saddle Again

We're back from vacation and everything is back to normal. Although no one told us taking babies on vacation nullified much of the "vacation" - we naively took books and magazines to read as if we were spending a normal week at the beach - we had a blast. Clara and Wilson have only been off house arrest for a month and it was great to see them experience the beach, the water, new surroundings, and new people.

Wilson is already making faces at the camera.

With twins, we usually get one toy and see if they it like before getting another.
Uncle Dave bought this float for Clara. Who knew it would be the biggest hit of the trip?

I'm pretty much a natural at this. Too bad Wilson doesn't have one, sucker!

Hehehe, I got a float too. I just needed to have a talk with Mimi.

Maybe if I dig a moat around me they will stop taking pictures!

I'm a trend setter. Look for this style on the runway this fall.

How effective are these sunglasses? Let me see, I'll stare directly into the sun. Yep, they work.

Mac, I don't want to get out of the pool.

Ok, that's a little better.

Ahhhhhhhh, that was good. But don't think I'm waiting 15 minutes before getting back in the water.

Mom, do we have to leave?

We left the sand and surf last Saturday during Clara and Wilson's morning nap and drove to Jacksonville to hang out with Chris' best friend and surrogate family, the Rubachs. Chris grew up with Ali Rubach (now Ali Freedman) and her four older sisters in Jefferson City, MO. The entire Rubach family has since relocated to Jacksonville and it is like a family reunion whenever we visit. We were last there in April of 2011 and Ali, Chris, and Ali's sister, Amanda, were all pregnant. (Amanda delivered identical twin girls!) Instead of three sober drivers, this time it was three moms and five kids.

It was GREAT to see everyone and meet the new additions to the Rubach family. Ali, Amanda, Heidi, Julie, and their Mom (which is what Chris calls her), were all on hand with kids, significant others, and another friend, Tommy, who also relocated to Jacksonville from Jefferson City, MO, to welcome Clara and Wilson into the family. They even threw a birthday party for our kids! After a fantastic day we packed up the kids, drove through the night, and arrived back in Louisville around 7:00 a.m. on Sunday. We have a new appreciation for energy drinks and the vacations our parents took us on as kids.