Florida Trip!

I had a bonus winter break...Leslie kicked us off after winter break, giving me a few extra continuous days off.  Toss in today's 'cold day' and I've been off for over two weeks.  Like it.

The day after Christmas we went to Minneapolis to drop off Finley and swim in a hotel pool.

Finley was really, really sad when we left.  Or not.

The next day, Finley & Spencer flew to Florida with Grandpa & Grandma!

I was not invited to FL, so my stories come from text messages, FB posts and a little imagination from the pictures I found on my camera. Like this picture, I'm guessing they are checking out the ocean view from their room ;)

They went to watch the Blugold Women play basketball in Daytona Beach, FL!

Finley & Spencer were the honorary water boys, a job they took very seriously.

Before, at half-time and after games, they practiced their own skills.

Finley & Spencer adored the players and it sounds like the feeling was mutual - they didn't starve for attention.  Grandma even scored numbers for two babysitters.

A highlight of the trip was dinner with the team.

Sue & Roger were in FL too, Sue must've been teaching new iPad games - they're hovering a screen in all of the pictures together.

There was also time for new adventures.  They visited a fort in St. Augustine.  I know very little US History, but a quick google search said it's the oldest masonry fort in the US and it still shoots off cannons.  That's all I know.

Ice cream break.

The weather wasn't totally "Floriday", so they stumbled into a bowling alley on a rainy day.

Low 70's was warm enough to get two WI boys onto the beach.  

A kid in a swimming suit, a Grandpa in jeans.

Climbing the giant clock next to the beach.

Hotel pool.

There was one rule for Florida - no Disney World.  In a few years (when Hadley is annoyingly into Disney Princesses) we'd like to take the kids ourselves.  Grandpa & Grandma obliged, they headed to Sea World.

Finley & Spencer crawled in (fake) snow with the penguins.

They took a cruise in the flamingo boats.

And stumbled upon a parade....

...featuring the UW Badger Band!!

Sketchy diver...

...that photobombs.

They went underground for a close-up of the killer whales.

And Sea World's most famous act...Shamu!

Even the pretzels were Shamu-shaped.

They packed so much FUN into each day they literally passed out at night.

After five days, it was time to come home.

There's a lot to do in the Orlando airport.

It's kinda crazy that Finley went to Florida without us.  Who sends their kid on a flight across the country?! We do, people that have awesome parents that give their kids awesome experiences.  Could these two have any better grandparents?  Lucky, lucky, lucky boys.

Mom & Dad - thank you.  Thank you for taking Finley on a fun vacation and creating memories with him. 

While the cat was away, Hadley & I had fun too.  Our fun kicked off at the dentist's office. This picture doesn't accurately display our visit. She did awesome!  She opened her mouth when asked, they brushed her teeth with a toothbrush, counted her teeth (her 2-year molars are in) and peeked around with a mirror. Next summer will be her first real cleaning.  

We had a girls-only playdate with Elle & Elise, I don't know if Hadley had ever had a play-date without any boys.

We hung out with Dora and I painted Hadley's nails.

Hadley & I set up her new nursery center.  Sister knew exactly what to do.  Even though she plays with boy-toys 75% of the time, there's 'girl' in her too.

It was a pink-explosion!

Hadley had a spa-day in the sink.

My cousin Jason was in town visiting his Grandma and parents.  We stopped by for the start of the Packer victory.  Hadley wasn't sure about Jason, nor anyone else for that matter.

But before we left, she was chasing and playing hide-and-seek.

Hadley was my not-so-helpful helper prepping for our New Years Eve celebration.  Painting and couch cushion removal - two awesome activities when we're expecting company.

Our family-friendly New Years Eve gathering was low-key.  The women and the little girls danced (if you're Melissa) upstairs.  And the boys played downstairs.  All the kids got along, there was too much food, and a lot of chatting in our sweatpants.  Perfect.

Bring on 2014!

Santa delivered an Easy Bake Oven and Grandma's birthday was the perfect excuse to try it out.

They are the teeniest cupcakes ever.

Even the kids were surprised at the size.

But size doesn't matter, it was the love and thought that went into them.

Sprinkle spill.

No worries!

The happy bakers!

And Grandma made a special visit to try one - Happy Birthday!

We celebrated Grandma's birthday with a Blugold game and dinner. It was a little chaotic. Finley was crabby and exhausted to the point of irrational, that's mine! don't look at me! go get my running shoes! let me cut the pizza!  why is it cold outside?  The game was fun, dinner wasn't.  At the game, Finley & Spencer immediately resumed their duties, the three other littles tried to help - you know, chaos there too.

The Florida trip, followed by New Years Eve (both kids made it until 12:30 a.m.) and no routine while on winter break, Finley's been extra sleepy and napping more than usual.

Last night we watched the Packers lose to the 49er's.  Grandpa & a few friends came over to grill out and watch the game with us. Finley broke out his new Packer uniform, complete with iron-on numbers for the back.  Did he want to be Aaron Rodgers?  No. Jordy Nelson? No. Jermichael Finley?  No.  He wanted to be #56.  Is there a 56? There is, but the I don't even know his name.  The numbers were chosen because Finley's 5, almost 6.  Makes perfect sense.

Now onto our cold day, stuck inside.  Legos are scattered from one end of the house to the other.  There will be hot chocolate consumed. And sister won't let one drop go to waste.