Family pictures

We got a few pictures of our groups...wish I had remembered to take off my sunglasses...

Getting out in Florida

We did a few other things besides beach, pool, grandparents, and Disney World while we were in Florida, even though those things alone would have been enough! 

We went to the aquarium, which the kids enjoyed.  We didn't get many pictures...it really is too hard to get many good ones in a public place since I don't want the kiddos just taking off! 

Z loved the sharks...they were pretty cool.  There was an outdoor playplace too, with water, but we had no clothes for the kids, so we scrapped that section pretty quickly. 

One night we drove about a mile down the beach to John's Pass for dinner.  It was fun, a bit crazy, but good. 

This is a great pic of all of us...too bad Jenny took it and isn't in it.  If I knew more about photoshop maybe I could fix it...

Grandparents

So the main point of us going to Florida was to see my grandparents (Dad's parents).  They just moved in to a fabulous independent living facility.  We went in shifts to see them (my family alone is a bit intimidating!).  Jenny and Greg took Anna to see them, and she was sweet as could be. 

A few days later we took our brood.  The boys did sooo well.  They were gentle and not crazy...big things :)  They talked to Grandma and Grandpa and showed them their cars and sat in their laps and didn't cling to us or freak out.  And Grandma and Grandpa loved it. 

Grandpa was giving them drinks of his water here...like a flock of birds waiting to be fed :) 

Z did well and had conversations with them both, and that is an accomplishment for him as well...he is 5 and is still working on being polite and having nice conversations with adults. 

They all were willing to give hugs and kisses when we left...another huge deal that no one pitched fits over that. 

We got to see them a second time when we were all invited over for dinner at their place.  This was another time it could have gotten ugly quickly!  The tables were all set with plates and 6 pieces of silverware and glasses and coffee mugs and tablecloths...I got in there and got that cleared off quickly. 

Again, the boys did soooo well, over an hour and a half meal.  All 4 of them.  The little boys would eat, then get down (no high chairs or boosters) and go of their own accord to talk to another adult (as N said, "Great Papa?  I go Great Papa?!").  They sat with and talked and moved and behaved and obeyed and ate...so so so proud of my boys.  Of course we did have some bribes (dessert) and all their favorite cars to keep them occupied, but still, this whole dinner could have gone so badly!   

Z:  Sometimes people put their napkins like this, right mom?  Yeah...he hasn't seen too many cloth napkins ;)

L decided that he really needed to have some of Great Grandma's fruit.  She happily obliged and fed him the entire bowl (after he had already eaten his own first course of applesauce). 

The kicker was that we let them each have their own eclair...wow, what a mess...but man did they love them! 

I just think this picture is funny :)

C was sharing with Anna...so sweet. 

Then we got group pictures...again, wow, my boys did great!

This is all just direct descendants of Grandma and Grandpa.  (Except the woman next to Grandpa...she is a cousin...)

We were so glad to be able to visit with Grandpa and Grandma, and let them have some physical time with the kiddos, instead of just Skyping with them.  They have been awesome leaders of this family!