First off let me say that it was a big eye-opener to return to Indy and feel the 12 degree/snow covered reality that we have here. But it just makes one appreciate the beauty that is Florida. A BIG THANKS to Grandma and Grandpa (aka mom and dad) for being such wonderful hosts! But there is so much to tell about our trip I'll not bore you with lots of reading. So here goes ...
Great Grandma came too! It was really nice having her come with us :)
The kids enjoyed their 5th Christmas of this season! I think by the end of this one they were finally X-Mas'd out.
Funny story. We went to an Elementary School that had a fantastic play park. Now ... it was available all summer when we last visited but upon arriving at the gates we saw this. So I tried finding a different gate in when I turned around and saw THIS ...
Yes ... they climbed the fence. Ava was over it before I could even blink. These are pics of getting back over cuz they were both playing before I knew what happened. So I figured we'd all do some B&E. (Great parenting I know)
This BTW is Daphne. Ness and I gave her along with her sister Chloe to my parents since we couldn't take them with us to England. Daphne is loving life in Florida. And without 2 kids chasing her everywhere she has FILLED OUT!
Of course we took a trip to the Jacksonville Zoo and of course the kids had to see the snakes. I liked the Mambas but Ava thought this Python was pretty cool!
The kids got the opportunity to feed giraffs. Pretty cool, huh?
I must admit but it was creepy seeing the gorilla because he just stared at you. And you could totally read his mind. It said, "You are so lucky you are behind that gate because if I ever got these hands on you I'd rip your arms off." Not kidding. Also, a neat story. Before we could see the gorilla Ava had to wedge her cute self in between a group of 5 large very in-shape men wearing Florida State gear. Turns out that Bobby Bowden (coach) gave his team the afternoon off on the day before their Gator Bowl. The WHOLE TEAM was at the zoo. One guy with a #3 on his jacket was asked for an autograph right in front of Ava. The next day we're watching the game and I mentioned to Ava "You remember that guy who was being asked to write his name?" "Uh huh." "Well there he is!" Quarterback. Player of the Game. And yes Ava thought it was super cool that the nudged him aside to see a gorilla :)
Here's grandma making M&M cookies with the kids while dad was out on errands with grandpa. Apparently, letting the kids have cookies and dough for lunch is a grandma's privilege and there's nothing I can do about it! Well, I was alright with it until about one hour after this pic. Use you imagination.
A BIG THANKS to my Aunt Laurel who is just about the coolest great-aunt these kids could ask for! Always giving of herself. She also mentioned that Jacksonville does a PolarBear Plunge every New Years Day. In a fit of insanity ...
I did it. No I don't know why, but it was actually fun.
Grandma got Ava a jewelry making kit where you can write messages. Ava insisted on making a bracelet that said I LOVE YOU and a choker that said I MISS YOU for her mom. What a wonderful girl.
Both kids went to the beach on the last day. Although the water was only 50 degrees they got soaked up past the knees. And they loved every minute of it ... until it was time to go and they realized that they couldn't feel their feet! Don't worry. After a little love and a hot shower all 20 toes were saved!
So a wonderful time was had by all. And I can't wait to go back (but maybe in the summer). Thanks again to all the family, friends, and airline pilots who made the trip a complete success!
So Indiana is under a perpetual blanket of snow and ice...known in kid-speak as school-stopping-snow-man-medium-sledding-weather...and they are loving it! (And I'm loving my ancient tracker with the fantastic four wheel drive!) The kids and I are going skiing with my step mom and sisters this weekend and I can't wait! Finally am going to have two little skiing buddies just like I always wanted.
Here is picture of my princess Ava on Christmas day. She got a flute, new clothes and boots, a million toys, a new sled, and a kitten that she named Angel Frost. I'm pretty sure Angel Frost is deaf because she is calmly sleeping through the two wild Stegosauruses that are currently feuding through my living room...
I don't have the heart to tell my kids that a Burly Forest Nymph actually puts presents under the tree...not Santa....
The "before" picture...another year of breaking the "we will not go overboard" promise...
Eli got a train set for Christmas (among many other goodies) and it has bought us all hours of peace! The kid can spend hours putting that thing together and actually has enough track to stretch from his bed room all the way into the kitchen. I always have to check with the "engineer/conductor" before making my way through the train station...um...living room.
