New Year's Trip

After a nice quiet Christmas and birthday, we were up for a little road trip over to the other coast. We left on Tuesday night at 10:30 PM! I had to tutor from 6-10, but Anthony was geared up to drive the four hours while the girls and I tried to sleep. It was a great way to travel (for us). We spent a few days with my sisters and their families, and stayed with my nephew, his wife, and their two little ones.
Colin, the older cousin at age 7, then Ava (3), Gabriel (1), Lia (1), and Autumn (7 months) kept us extremely busy. What fun to watch all these cousins have fun from the time they woke up to the time they crashed for the night. It was lots of fun to catch up with everyone. I have to admit that although there was a roaring party on New Year's Eve at Mikol's house, me and my little family were fast asleep in our cozy little guest room at the back of the house by 9:30. We woke up the next day to hear lots of funny stories about what happened that night.
Thankfully, my dad drove down to see everyone and we all watched the Gator bowl - and Bobby Bowden's last game as FSU head coach.
The trip was a blast, even through all the craziness of four kids 3 and under.
A few favorites:
Lia took her first steps (with helpful coaxing from Kristin)
delicious Jet's pizza
playing golf the few times I was able to sit in on the game (cards, not the actual game of golf)

exchanging gifts with Colin at Aunt Amy's house

Why don't they have these little carts in the stores for kids? Lia and Ava would have a blast pushing these around while I shop...

playing the drums

Gabriel found me and told me to take his picture - in his sweet little whisper voice he said, "cheeeez"

Oh Autumn is crawling already - what an amazing little baby trying to keep up with her big brother.

Autumn and Lia are going to be so close as they grow up together









Amy, Ronni Sue, Dad, and me





The only sad part about the trip...Ava getting sick. The Monday we got back, we were spending the (FREEZING) morning at the doctor's office instead of at Ava's first day of school. Next week we'll have fun pictures of that...