A Visit From Grandpa!

We cut it super close, but the night of Benny's Preschool Christmas Program my dad flew in for a visit!! The weather was bad and his plane had to circle quite a bit. I started getting nervous, not sure what to do, but then he landed! We raced back to St. Cloud to walk in as the kids were beginning their first song... couldn't have timed it better!!

Here is the handsome guy in his Sunday best!

He wouldn't leave his tie alone. At least he sang some of the songs.

After the program with both his grandparents! Lucky kid!

The group! Daniel was at work for a special event and Ivy was at her Christmas Actvity Day event.

While my dad was here I let each kid play hooky a day to hang out with and shop with Grandpa! We took him to check out the new safari, we played a lot of cards, he joined us for our 12 Days of Christmas deliveries on the golf cart and he was able to catch everyone's basketball game before he left. We loved having him!!! 

When my dad left, Benny asked me, "Mom, why can't we keep Grandpa?" It was so cute. After I explained that he had to go back to his home he argued,  "But we love him!!!" 

We sure do miss him!!

Girls Cruise to Cozumel!

About 10 years ago we took a girls trip, on a cruise. It was so so fun. At the time, Erika and Christine were both pregnant and unable to come. So here we are, 2019 and both Erika and Christine are turning 40 (and I did too ;) ) so what a better way to celebrate than to take another girls cruise!! It was a surprise for them both which made it all the more exciting. And we mananged to get everyone on board! It was a 5 day, 4 nighter out of Tampa to Cozumel and we had a blast!!

Here the whole gang gathers to leave!!

Arrival at the port!

Customary cruise photo (a photo of a photo actually)

Out on the balcony in our suites as we sail off!

Group picture before dinner with all our cruise goodie bags!

There was a pirate slitting throats at dinner! (more pictures of pictures)

We spent a day at sea before we landed in Cozumel. He we are with our cruise ship as we debark. 

Manuvering Cozumel marketplace, looking for a car rental.

We managed a maxi van and our first stop was the beach!!

Ceviche and quacomole... yes please!!

After the beach we went to get something to eat. 

Final stop... shopping!

Back to the boat!

We spent a lot of our time on the boat, since Cozumel was only a 1 day stop but we kept ourselves very busy with lots of gaming!!

Face masks.

And of course we took lots of pictures at fancy dinner night. 

The 3 40 year olds!!!

Hope its not another 10 years before the next one!!

Benny's 5th Birthday!!

Benny's 5th birthday!!

The traditional first thing in the morning birthday hat picture!!

Off to school!! 

I brought donuts as his treat for his  class.... his request. 

Quick stop to get my oil changed (with Brynlee) after school and a pit stop at the park!

 

 Dinner with Grandma. Cake and ice cream with cousins followed but I had no pictures of that.  

 It's become the tradition to take Benny to a "hoo-tel" for his birthday and this year was no exception. We just checked into a place in Orlando, near a mini-golf place that Daniel was able to get on trade. We ate out, went mini golfing (which was so so fun!!) and then got ice cream! The kids swam in the (freezing cold) hotel pool for a little bit and then it was sweet dreams... sweet birthday dreams coming true!!