Florida Here We Come

Friday, April 3

Friday we delivered Marley (the cat) to Angela’s house for safe keeping while we are in Florida.  For those of you who don’t know, Marley is actually Angela’s cat.  Because of Marley’s potty problem (i.e. – he pees all over the house), we now have what we thought was temporary custody of him. 

Back to the subject of vacation….The kids were delivered to our house by Kevin at 4:00 Friday afternoon.  Don’t even ask why they weren’t brought home by us.

We ordered our favorite food in the whole world for supper. Pizza!  Yes!  The plan was to go to bed early, but, of course, it didn’t happen like we planned.  I eventually got to bed at midnight  At least the kids and Pres fell asleep early. 

We were up and on the road by 2:30 Saturday morning, after a quick stop for coffee for Pres, the driver.  We arrived at the airport early, but waited a long time to check in and go through security. 

 

Some people weren’t smiley so early in the morning.

 

Annie and Grumpy 1 and Grumpy 2.

Our flight left 1/2 hour late, but was uneventful.  We sat in the last 2 rows of the plane, so we were the last ones out.  We picked up our bags and started the 2 hour wait for our rental car. 

Hudson wasn’t happy to have his pic taken, but I had to do it anyway.

Once on our way, we stopped for $60 worth of junk food (and cereal) at the local grocery store. 

“We spent how much for that crap we bought?"

After hearing Sandy’s gecko-in-the-room story, along with suspicious people in the hotel parking lot, we were prepared for the worst when we checked into our hotel.  I mentioned her problems to the front desk when checking in.  They gave us a very nice, large executive room in the main tower.  We face International Drive so we can see everything that’s going on.  It actually is a nice hotel.

Here’s the hotel room before we junked it up with all of our stuff!

The kids wanted to eat at Sonic (since they hadn’t ever been to an A&W).  When we pulled in and looked at the menu, it wasn’t very appealing.  Since the kids wanted ice cream, we ate dessert there first and then stopped at Popeye’s Chicken for a take-back-to-the-room meal.  I think everyone should eat dessert first once in a while.  It was a hit with the kids.

Life would be a better place if we all ate dessert first.

We were exhausted by about 4 in the afternoon.  Annie and I took a nap.  She never woke up until the next morning!

 

Saturday, April 4

I forgot to mention that the weather is beautiful.  For you Minnesota people, I want to add that there is no snow here!  Ha ha!

The plan for today was to eat a quick breakfast in the room and head to Daytona Beach.  After a quick stop at KMart for some flip flops for Hudson and a hat for Annie we hit the road.  Daytona is about an hour away. 

Welcome to Daytona Beach.

Once at Daytona Beach, we lucked out and found a parking spot on the beach only about 20 cars in from the pier.  Before we set our things up, Pres had to help push a stuck car out right in front of our parking spot.  Note to self…don’t drive too far in!

I have no words for this dumb person.

Here’s another one.  Geesh!

  

$3 popsicles are really messy!

Brewsky break

Grandma, stop taking pictures!

We really do like each other.

Relaxing on the back end of the car.

We rented a golf cart for only $50 an hour.  (and here I thought $50 a day was a lot to pay for a golf cart at Jellystone.)

I’m driving here.  I don’t remember where Pres was.  Oh, wait, I bet he was taking the picture!

 

Another fine golf cart picture.

What’s with the kids here, anyway?  They sure look goofy.

Carrying water for sandcastles in a plastic bag!  What the heck?

This is the good life. 

Hudson, look at me when I’m taking your picture.

Little Miss Smiling Minnie Mouse.

Getting Ready for Florida

Friday night Annie and Izzie spent the night at our place. Hudson didn't want to come, as he was staying at a friend's house. This is a first for Hudson. My little (not really) grandson is growing up. Annie hasn't ever been to our house without Hudson. It was good for her to get some attention (when Izzie wasn't demanding our attention). Annie was really tired but Izzie didn't want to sleep. She and I ended up sleeping downstairs in the recliner so as not to wake Pres and Annie.

We brought the girls back Saturday morning. Mom and Dad came with. After dropping them off, we met Jenny and Gustavo at Costco for some last minute vacation shopping. Gustavo snacked on sample foods. We met Sohrab for dinner.

We leave for Florida in 6 days. Yesterday we spent in Minneapolis getting Hudson and Annie's things ready for our upcoming vacation. We went on a small shopping spree. They both got some new shorts, t-shirts, pajamas, and other things I'm not allow mentioned. We are going to try and pack lightly this time. Yeah, right! Northwest and most other airlines have begun charging extra for each suitcase. We bribed Hudson and told him if he shared a suitcase with Annie (and pulled it through the airport all by himself), we'd give him the extra $30 that the airline would have charged us for an extra bag. Last year Annie pulled her own suitcase through the airport. It didn't go well.

Introduction

Allow me to introduce myself. I am a wife of 1, mother of 2, and grandmother of 4. Up until 20 months ago, we had 2 grandchildren, Hudson who is 13, and Annabelle who is 7.

Annie and Hudson – February 2009

Life changes quickly. In July of 2007, our 2nd grandson, Gustavo, was born in Guatemala. He arrived home on April 1, 2008.

Gustavo – December 2008

Two months ago, our 2nd granddaughter, Isabelle, was born.

Isabelle Grace – March 2009

I recently heard a song called, "Life Won't Be Like This For Long" by Darius Rucker in which he tells how fast life changes and how quickly the kids grow up. It made me stop and "smell the roses" and appreciate my family and my wonderful grandkids more. I decided to write a blog to record some of our adventures with the grandkids. You can read the words to this song below:

It Won't Be Like This For Long
by Darius Rucker

He didn't have to wake up
He'd been up all night

Lying there in bed and listening
To his newborn baby cry
He makes a pot of coffee
He splashes water on his face
His wife gives him a kiss and says,
"It's gonna be okay""
It won't be like this for long

One day we'll look back laughing
At the week we brought her home
This phase is gonna fly by
So baby, just hold on
It won't be like this for long"

Four years later, 'bout 4:30
She's crawling in their bed
And when he drops her off at pre-school

She's clinging to his leg
The teacher peels her off of him
He says, "What can I do?"
She says, "Now, don't you worry
This'll only last a week or two"
It won't be like this for long

One day soon you'll drop her off
And she won't even know you're gone
This phase is gonna fly by
If you can just hold on
It won't be like this for long

"Someday soon she'll be a teenager
And at times, he'll think she hates him
And he'll walk her down the aisle
And raise her veil,
But right now she's up and cryin'
And the truth is that he don't mind
As he kisses her goodnight
And she says her prayers
He lays down there beside her
Till her eyes are finally closed
And just watching her it breaks his heart
'Cause he already knows
It won't be like this for long

One day soon that little girl is gonna be
All grown up and gone
And this phase is gonna fly by
So he's trying to hold on
It won't be like this for long
It won't be like this for long