Florida recap!

I want to get some Florida shots up before it fades...  We had a great trip.  Very laid back.  I took the kids to the beach one windy day, which was a big hit with both.   Mom and I chased them around Jungle Gardens (gators and flamingos oh my!)  We visited Uncle Cash and Aunt Maria.  Hunted for alligators by mule (for hours.)  My folks took the kids to see chickens and Clydesdale horses, also a huge hit.  But mostly we just hung with Grams and Gramps, making messes and noise;). I'm always amazed we don't drive my parents bat shit crazy...

Honestly, they are so awesome.  Really, really great grandparents.  I love how dedicated they are, how they put their lives on hold to lavish the kids with attention.  It's adorable to see my father on the floor, helping load a nerf gun full of darts.  Or, after pulling toys from the pool, watch him chuckle as Z throws each toy back in with a serious look of determination.  My mother must still be exhausted from trying to meet all or our dietary restraints (and pick up the dirt we tracked in daily.)  She sweetly ran to the store constantly, making sure we had food that Z would not react to.  I would post pics of the hours and hours she spent playing with the children, but she somehow seems to slip out of each shot....(AHEM!)  So here are a few, though they aren't fully representational of our visit: (sorry if there are repeats, I've lost track :)

The beginning of our trip overlapped with my big bro's visit!  Soooo happy to get to see him!

tiny pirate.  she loved the pool and P's float.

haha - caught you mom ;)

Jungle Gardens!  This flamingo snuck up on P ;)  We also got to see a alligator thrashing and growling!

E came back from NYC tired ;)

The drive received a shell load while we were there (nice timing, Mom!) and the Little Man just HAD to collect.  This is how I found him one afternoon.  He spent HOURS out there.

The bath there has glass doors and the kids had THE best time (seriously, THE BEST TIME) throwing water at each other and laughing.  Unfortunately, Z tries to repeat this each bath here at home... (yah, we doN'T have glass doors ;)

P actually caught a lizard.  Built it a habitat.  Dug for worms to feed it.  And, most fortunately, let the poor thing go the following day :)

Sweet Aunt Maria gave the kids fun glasses!

It was fabulous fun to see P transition from P being his beach bud to Z being his sandy playmate.  They had a great time, despite the chill and we even all waded into the water.  Then they were wet and cold and ready to get back to Grams' ;)

Goodbyes were tough.  We HATE leaving them.

The long flights sucked, no lie.  But the kids were travel troopers.  And nobody puked, pooped or came down with hives or fevers this time!

Random Florida walk photo I'm too lazy to move (really, its a pain. Promise;)