Fun Memories

When we were in Florida, we had some professional pictures taken with my grandparents. I feel so blessed that we got have ones taken with all of my sisters and the great-grandkids!! Enjoy!

Cousin Love

Angelica and Emma just LOVED having Baby Albert around in Florida. They always wanted to hold him and kiss him and tried to get him to play. Emma called him "babies" (for some reason everything is plural in her vocabulary right now) and Angel loved to sing him all her songs and watch him smile!! Wish they lived closer so we could watch them grow up together!!

Follow the Leader

Meme started this game with Emma....where they sing Follow the Leader and march around the house. Emma LOVED it....she would hang onto people's fingers and drag them all around the house and want to do it over and over again! This will be a nice new trick to keep up my sleeve!!

Ring Around with Aunt Caitlin

Fun times in Florida...

Cute

Coloring

Florida - Day Eleven

This morning I am really not feeling well and just trying to hold it together. UGH. We decided to take the girls back to the fun water fountain park, this time ready in bathing suits and with towels. They had a blast playing and getting wet, really wish we had one of these around us back home! I spent the rest of the day picking our stuff up, finishing laundry, packing for our EARLY trip tomorrow and trying to clean up the apartment some that we stayed in. For dinner, Meme and Pepe took us back to that yummy Primos Italian restaurant....very good. We hit the sack a bit early because we have a 330AM wake up call tomorrow....our flight leaves at 6am!! I hope Meme and Pepe go back home and go to bed. And hoping I can make it through the flight without throwing up!!

Florida - Day Ten

Today I was not feeling well at all...it was another hot day about 86 and humid. It got humid even for Meme and Pepe and they turned on the AC in the house. After we were ready in the morning and Megs was packed, we drove out to Palmetto to the house that Mamasan and PopPop used to live in that we grew up in. We have such fond memories of that house, the loft, the yard. It was a bit sad to see it so run down and the beautiful things about it destroyed. It was also bittersweet to be standing there imagining PopPop walking around in his red shorts and fan hat doing all kinds of work around the house and in his workshop. And then there was Mamasan in some bright colored capris and her sun hat doing the garden work and tending to the flower beds. It was sad and happy all at the same time remembering them and all the memories we shared at 1511 - I think they were smiling down from heaven as we visited and remembered. Then we also drove to their last little place they had in Melwood Oaks and it was great to see that again as well....Mamasan used to love the little pool right across the street. After that we came back and got Megs and Bertie ready for the airport. On the way there Emma swallowed some juice down the wrong tube and started coughing which led to throwing up....all over the car seat and herself. So when I got to the airport I changed her. We then found out Megs plane was about an hour late, so we decided to get some frozen yogurt and the girls loved the water fountain and fish tanks!! We eventually said our goodbyes (although we look forward to seeing them again in about a month back in WA) and then went home to take a nap. For dinner tonight we went to my Aunt Ann's house because it was her birthday today. Uncle Andy is quite the cook and he made a spread of ribs, hot dogs, sausage, bread, salad, veggies, fries and it was all very yummy. They had their kitchen remodeled since I was there last, and it is beautiful. Emma (and actually even Angel a bit) enjoyed playing with Shadow the dog especially feeding her cheerios. We had yummy ice cream cake for dessert....then it was to baths and bed!! Hard to believe tomorrow is already our last day here!

Florida - Day Nine

Today I was not really feeling well at all. I keep trying to remind myself that it is the little one needing all my energy to grow healthy and strong....but man I am glad you somewhat "forget" what this pregnancy naseua and sickness feeling is!! So trying to make it one deep breath at a time.....although the second I go from horizontal to vertical it doesn't get any better!! Today was a HOT day....86 and humid!! We went down to Bayfront Park....on the water and where all the sailboats are. There is a great playground park their for the kids...Angel loved climbing up everything to get to the big slides!! Right next to it is a fantastic water fountain park...the spouts are just the kids size and lots to play with. I wasn't sure how the girls would react, but they both LOVED it....so not expecting to go to a water park, I just stripped them down to their onesies and let them play. Unfortunately, I did forget sunscreen and poor fair-skinned Emma did get some sunburn on her arms and face. I dont' think it is bothering her and I just hope it doesn't get too bad. Bad mommy!!! We will definitely hit that place again, but this time with sunscreen, towels and bathing suits in hand!! Megs picked us up some yummy Chick-Fil-A for lunch....had to get my fill once more!! Then me and the girls headed up to take a nap...they were out in 5 minutes!!! Aunt Ann and cousin Emily came over and Emily brought little presents for the kids....so sweet....thanks EM....they love them! We had a yummy chicken packet dinner and sat out on the porch watching the girls play. It was a beautiful and actually comfortable night with cool breezes off the water. So.....Megs and Bertie leave tomorrow so this is our last night sleeping with them in our quarters...we will miss you both!!! Emma and I will have way too much room in the bed. The kids looked so cute today in matching outfits from Hanna....thanks Aunty Megs.

Florida - Day Eight

Today was a very comfortable temperature day and nice outside....I think that storm yesterday cooled things off a bit. So Meme and the rest of us girls plus Bertie decided to go down to Main Street and window shop. I wanted to pick up some treats and more chocolate buns at the French bakery as well. So we enjoyed some walking, the girls got a couple treats at the toy store and then we stopped and had lunch at a DELICIOUS little Greek restaurant. We got some bruschetta which was yummy with Feta cheese via the Mozzarella....then I had a yummy roasted chicken sandwich. Meme had a lamb gyro that my hubby would have been very jealous about. The girls just loved to play more outside.....they love to collect the rocks and then re-distribute them everywhere. Angel likes picking flowers (Sorry Meme if you are missing some parts when we leave!) and the birdies and pelicans keep them laughing as well. Megs made a yummy pork roast dinner and again Megs and I tried to stay up and watch a movie and about half way through it decided we needed to head to bed.....sad but true.

Florida - Day Seven

Today it was nice not getting up super early to head to mass like we do at home. And I woke up lots due to the HUGE and LOUD thunderstorm!! It rained and poured and was nice to have a good storm again, don't get ones like that back home! So we had a relaxing day (Although I have not been feeling very well at all lately!) and then that afternoon my sisters and I decided to take the kids to the mall for a bit. We got pretzels and smoothies and rode the carousel again....we also picked up a webcam for my Pepe as a belated birthday gift and hope to get him set up on Skype soon so we can SEE them back at home. I grilled (thanks dad for the tips) a yummy flank steak tonight....hubby usually does the grilling at home....and it was delicious with some roasted red potatoes and asparagus. I seem to get more and more tired.....Meghan and I were laughing because we used to be able to stay up so late all the time and now with kids we are exhausted come the end of the day!! Welcome to mommyhood!! Meme and Pepe live right on the water and have two little docks so Alli and our cousin Emily enjoyed a little trip out on the dingy off the dock and made it back safe and sound. A nice relaxing Sunday and a COOLER one too!