FL part 1

Thankfully packing for a Florida vacation doesn't take much. Throw a swimsuit, pjs, lounge clothes and a toothbrush and you're set. I found a few minutes of free time between going to the store and prepping food for Tiffany's graduation party to pack summer clothes. It makes it easier when they aren't in the laundry but packed away at the back of a closet waiting to be rediscovered.  

12 hours after our last guests left the party we were rolling through the airport.  Tiffany came with us as our graduation gift to her.  And because she's amazing. And because the kids love her. And because frankly flying with three kids by myself sounds horrifying. Although I think I could do it if we bought another iPad - which might in the long run be cheaper than a flight for Tiffany but where's the fun in that!

You also know you've made it with three kids when they can all carry their own carry-on bags AND we get to use the escalator instead of the elevator. Elevators at airports notoriously suck as they take a long time and there's usually only one car for the 6 wheelchairs and 14 people waiting to ride it.  

All dressed up and ready to go!

Miss M and Tiff got their own row.  I was envious.  Very envious.

This was essentially Cater most of the trip.  Standing in her seat and being defiant.  I don't think she'd have cared if we did have another iPad.  She wasn't having any of it but I didn't care. The plane is loud. She wasn't crying. I wasn't crying either so I left her to her own entertainment. 

We swam as soon as we got to Poppy's house. It's all the kids could think/talk about during the flight. Poppy and Grammy are currently residing in a rental house approx. four blocks from their old house which is currently being rebuilt into their new house.  We got to walk through the new house and WE CAN'T WAIT.  It's going to be so awesome.

Cater is a fish in the water.  She loves to just lay back and get her head wet and float. She does it in the bathtub too. It's so serene to watch her close her eyes and relax. She doesn't relax much.  She's pretty much on fire from sun up to sun down.

The rental house also had a hot tub. Miss M wouldn't leave the hot tub. Mostly because she didn't have to wear her floaty b/c she could touch.

Big Papa and the kids sitting on the wall of his new hot tub...Can I get a "HOT TUB".  The kids screamed this most of the week.  It entertained me immensely.  

She's into her summer dresses right now.

Naked baby buns and Willie playing in the hot tub during an afternoon downpour.  The adults (and Miss M) sat under the covered area of the lanai while those yahoos frolicked.  Another sign you've made it in life with toddlers.

We ventured to the beach one afternoon. Cater was happy in the sand, digging and building.

Tiffany and the big two waded in the water.  They searched for dolphins and splashed around.

And of course they had a snack.  What's a day at the beach without a snack.

There's a great park area up the street from Big Papa's house that has a covered play area and a splash pad.  We killed some time there one day. It's not hard to kill time in Florida. Especially when the kids haven't seen temps reach 60 degrees since the previous October. 

How can you not be happy?

DON'T DRINK THE WATER.  Gross.  But she didn't die.  Or end up in the hospital with serious GI issues.  Phew. Escaped another potential nightmare.

I call this her Donald Trump hair do.  It occurs naturally after some sun and swimming.  And she's gonna have the best tan lines.  I'll spend my summers jealous of her golden skin tones while I am lathering SPF 100 on myself and the other kids.

I scream. You scream. We all scream for ice cream! Celebrating Big Papa's birthday with an ice cream cone and crazy children.