Florida as a Family of Four

If you’ve noticed my posting lately has consisted mostly of Blog-A-Pal-Loosa giveways you might have guessed that we’ve been on vacation.  This was our first trip as a family of four to visit my parents in Florida.  I’m happy to say that Arden and Hadley are quite qualified to serve as Air Travel Embassadors as they were professional travelers and we received many compliments at the end of flights.  Arden is a veteran traveler having been to Florida multiple times as well as Oregon, Missouri, and Idaho.
So here are some outtakes from our trip.  These are all straight out of the camera as I am still debating which editing software to use.  I have PhotoShop Elements but I find it time consuming and I can’t figure out collages on it and Pic Monkey only allows you to upload one picture at a time so that’s out for picture-heavy posts.  Any suggestions?

Hadley ventured into the world of Cheerios, putting her new tooth (singular) to good use.  My parents found this cute little walker dubbed the “Hunny Cart” at a rummage sale.

Grandpa playing magnetic dress-up dolls with Arden.  I bought these specifically for the trip and they were a pretty big hit.

My parents also rented a little trike for the visit which was intended to be used outside but there was a hatch of noseums that found Arden irresistable so it was used more indoors than out.  Arden took great delight in making a “train” with Hadley in the Hunny Cart.

The trike did get used outside several times, but with a liberal dose of bug spray first.  Arden reacts really strongly to bug bites and gets big welts with pustules from mosquito and noseum bites; poor girl.

Snoozing with Daddy in the big bed.

Hadley REALLY liked this little maraca toy, but…

Promptly whacked herself in the head with it, which she didn’t enjoy so much.

Bath time in the sink.  I tried first to give her one in the garden bathtub but wet soapy babies are slippery and she nearly face planted into the water a couple of times so we went back to the sink.

What?  I can rock this look!

Grandma and Arden reading before bedtime.

This isn’t a great photo since I had to use the flash, but I loved Arden trying to give her little sister a ride on the back of her trike.  You can also see the shirt rescue I made in action.  Hadley is wearing the headband I made since Arden doesn’t always want to cooperate with hair accessories.

Mango smoothie!!  Arden would methodically spoon up a couple of glasses of these most days.

We celebrated Mother’s day while we were there and Arden colored pictures for both Grandmas and for me.

Hadley took a few days to warm up to Grandpa, but once she discovered his furry arms and legs she was enthralled.

Splashy sisters at the spray park.  This swimsuit, though adorable, is now retired as I had to stuff Hadley into it!

Dave and I shared a giant Corona with dinner.

I bought these water color pages, but Arden had a hard time with the concept of getting the palette part wet and then painting the picture.

We went to the local zoo – a really fun outing but sort of crazy because there was a giant busload of school age kids there at the same time.

Arden thought this was HILARIOUS to cover Daddy’s eyes with his hat while he was carrying her on his shoulders.  I was directing him where to walk and he could sort of see with one eye.

More fun with Cheerios.  She enjoyed picking them up and putting them into her mouth but wasn’t sure what to do then.  I think she looks like a bunny…

A little unsure of going into the water at the beach.

She eventually warmed up to the idea and then I could float her on her back and she would close her eyes and look so peaceful.

Grandpa and Arden having fun in the Gulf.

Making “mango smoothies” in the sand with Grandma.  Quite the imagination.

Hadley really enjoyed this mix of purple carrot, blueberry and pear.

Putting Hadley’s hand print on the wall of the local post office.  Now Grandma can see reminders of her granddaughters almost every day.  That’s Hadley’s hand print just next to her right ear, and Arden’s foot print at five weeks from three years ago and Arden’s hand print from last year to the right of that.

Daddy and Grandpa went fishing and then took us all out for a short boat ride around the island.

Happy girl!

My paternal Grandma lives nearby so we stopped in for a surprise visit.  Hadley was super excited about this little bunny Great-Grandma had, and Arden put on a rare singing and dancing performance across the living room.

I got these window markers for the trip because my parents have six patio doors across the screened in porch that make a perfect canvas for drawing.  They worked really well on the windows, and we also found by necessity that the marks come right off dishwashers and cabinets!

One Response to Florida as a Family of Four

  1. Ellen May 22, 2012 at 8:47 PM #

    Wow, looks like a lot of fun…your girls are so cute!

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