Florida week

Maisie and I spent last week down in Florida visiting with my parents and China travel mates Melissa & Doug. Maisie loved spending time with her Grandparents dragging my Dad out for walks or to ride her bike or scooter as well as going out with my Mom to the pool or anywhere if it involved riding in the golf cart and going through tunnels. Maisie had fun helping my Mom cook, doing art projects, stringing beads and just spending time with her Grandparents where she could do no wrong.

We both had a blast visiting with Doug, Melissa, Jetty & Ella spending time at the beach, out on their boat, going to wonderful little seafood places and spending relaxing time in their totally awesome back yard. It's been 19 months since we last got together and it's just amazing how much the girls have grown. I was so bad about taking piccies...yet again. I didn't want to take my camera to the beach or out on the boat but hopefully Melissa will send some of the ones that she took and I'll be able to post them.

It's good to be back home and how sweet it was to come into a clean house with an empty dish washer and all the laundry done. Eammon even had the bed turned down for me which was especially nice as we arrived home just before 1am after a 7.5 hour drive. We actually left Florida a day early as I decided to do the drive at night to make it easier for Maisie so that she would sleep. Honestly though she did really well in the car especially going down as I drove during the day and there was an accident which caused us to be stuck at a dead stop between exits for over an hour, so that along with me taking an alternate route to get out of the continuing traffic made our trip 9.5 hours, during which she only slept 30 minutes. We now have nine days home then Maisie and I head to Boston for a week to visit with lots of old friends. Below are some of the few piccies that I did manage to take while we were away.

Maisie painting with Grandma.

Serious artist at work.

Jetty 16 feet high and ready to ring the bell.

Doug making sure that Maisie is safe and secure in the climbing harness.

Maisie ready to make her first climb on a rock wall.

Maisie did great for her first time making it almost the full 16 feet.

Coming down though, especially when you figure out how to push off and swing around is great fun.

Landings are made even more special when friends are there to help.

Ella and Jetty having fun playing on the bar.

Jetty and Maisie wanted to sit next to one another for dinner...in the same chair.

Ella being a little cutie.

Maisie modeling her Hello Kitty bandages.

Maisie in the Princess chair with Grandpa & Grandma.