August 20, 2011 - Homeward Bound

The flight home was the complete opposite of our flight to Florida.  In this scenario, we were at the airport 2 hours prior to take off. We breezed through TSA. We were assigned consecutive seats. And the big plus, I had a Starbucks vanilla latte to accompany me while I waited for Flight 205 to Los Angeles International. 

LAX!

P.S. Thanks, Daddy & Mercy, for loaning us the RAV4 during our time in Florida!  See you next time, Ug!

August 19, 2011 - Next Time, Disney World!

The original plan was to end the vacation with a bang by going to Disney World.  We changed gears for a plethora of reasons. We realized it would only cost us a little more to buy the multi-day pass and enjoy all four parks. The heat, humidity, and long lines in those conditions would have been hard on all of us.  These August thunderstorms cause rides to temporarily close until they pass; this would cut down our one day at Magic Kingdom, which is already bigger to begin with.  Lastly, my wanting to stay until closing for a family that had to be out of their room by 6 a.m. and airport bound was probably the clincher for me. Daniel left the decision up to me, and I wrestled over it all day.  By nightfall,  I'd decided "next time."
We spent a couple of hours with Grandpapa at Old Town and then went to say our goodbyes to Grandma Grandpa, Auntie Erin, and Uncle Brandon in Orlando. I dislike goodbyes :(



Anthony's first roller coaster ride!



August 17, 2011 - Gatorland with Grandpapa

Little did I know Gatorland was a total tourist trap!  Not a place we'll make a second trip to, but I did get to "wrestle" a gator. Not much of a match considering his mouth was taped :) LOL!

August 16 & 17 2011 - Time With Grandma & Grandpa

Seeing our kids with the Grandma & Grandpa really makes the 3,000 miles distance set in.

August 12-14 - Time with Grandpapa

Our simple agenda: 1)Time at the pool with the boys. 2)Daddy and Daniel work out 3)Enjoy quality time together over food 4) Enjoy movies in Daddy's theatre as the boys slumber 5) Repeat



Anthony, Duke, and Daddy



Walking Duke in the backyard

August 10-11, 2011 - Boca Raton Peeps

We headed north to see my sister in Boca Raton after checking out of Vacation Villas. Betty and I spent our precious days catching up on overdue sister talk. I will miss our hammock talks. The boys will miss her pool and doggie, Odie :)

Titi Betty's pool

Give me your paw, Odie!

August 9, 2011 - 20 Years, Really?

Facebook has been a blessing in these three friends reuniting. A few exchanged emails and voila! These three musketeers (Lu, Monica, and Linda) picked up right where we left off as if 20 years hadn't passed us by. You have to love technology. Here's to friendship and the hubby for being such a good sport as we caught up!

Frolicking at Ft. Lauderdale by the Sea



 



My hot hubby :)





Rain again... so the reunion party was taken indoors



August 8, 2011 - South Beach - Miami, FL

Going to South Beach as a married mamma with kids is definitely different than when I went as a 20 year old. This time around the flirting was solely for my hubby and my kisses were butterfly in nature for my munchkins. My heels were exchanged for flip flops and the fast feet were now for chasing my kids not dancing. Life is good!

August 8, 2011 - Miami Children's Museum

Typical Florida August weather greeted us from day 1. That translates to thunderstorms pretty much every day on and off.  Lemonade makers of lemons that we are, we bunkered down at the Miami Children's Museum for a few hours.  The boys had a great time exploring!