We had a wonderful trip to Florida for Thanksgiving. We took the Allegiant direct flight from Cedar Rapids to St. Pete/Clearwater and Grandpa Groves came along with us. We arrived on Thanksgiving day and got to Grandma Groves' house around 3pm. Nancy and Gus had flown in the day before. Shortly after we arrived my cousin Michelle and her family came for dinner. Her kids are 2 and 4 so it was fun getting the 1,2,3 and 4 year olds together. After a trip on the golf cart, the kids were surprised by a visit from Santa! Gus has outgrown his fear and ran right to him. Isabella was pretty scared when I took her up there and wouldn’t let Santa hold her, but she did accept a candy cane from him. We ate a yummy Thanksgiving dinner and afterwards Jeff offered up himself for horse rides for the kids.
The kids are 1,2,3, and 4. Crazy!
Gus loves Santa!
Isabella was scared of Santa, but happily accepted a candy cane.
Out looking for alligators, fish, birds, whatever... Isabella brings up the rear because she had to constantly push that umbrella stroller around.
Gus and Isabella enjoy Thanksgiving dinner. All the kids are crazy about black olives, extremely common in our family.
Jeff was so nice to give horse rides when he'd just gone to the chiro the day before.
The rest of the week is sort of blur. Grandpa and Gus did a lot of fishing and actually caught fish. Isabella logged miles by pushing around the umbrella stroller. We had a playdate with Amelia. We got to see Uncle Ron and Aunt Judy when we went to Chris and Michelle’s for pizza – and we learned a new card game – Wizard. We went swimming and on wagon rides and golf cart rides to view Christmas lights. Isabella got her first haircut! (deserves its own blog post) We made it to Parkesdale for the huge strawberry shortcakes. We spent the day at Busch Gardens, we were actually there basically from park open to park close and had a great time (and the park basically to ourselves - no one was there and Jeff got to ride his big rollercoasters over and over again).
Gus was really the fisherman, but Isabella got in on a little of the action.
Amelia kept calling Jeff "Daddy" and all the kids would run and give him hugs.
Isabella really enjoyed Courtney's doll stroller and dress up shoes.
We had fun in the pool. All to ourselves, because the real Floridians think it gets too cold to swim. The pool is heated, folks!
I'm pretty sure Gus is probably telling me to go faster. Uncle Jeff would usually run with the wagon.
Gus, Isabella and their Grandma.
Their eyes are huge here because the Strawberry Shortcakes are so huge. Isabella only wanted the ice cream.
Strawberry Queen, Prince and Princess. (although Gus is the one actually wearing the princess crown)
I liked this pictured of a giraffe at Busch Gardens.
Isabella is wearing her 3-D glasses before the pirate movie, but didn't leave them on for the movie.
We were sprayed at least 3 times with a strong force of water during that movie. It was quite excessive, we all got soaked.
Isabella got a little nap in that day.
I was surprised how much this tortoise was moving around.
Climbing in an area called Jungala. I couldn't believe how big the climbing structure was, and you had to climb, no steps, I was a little scared.
Trying to get a full view of the climbing structure.
Trying to show how high up it was.
Isabella was big enough to go on some real rides!
The little carousel was her favorite. She was able to ride it non-stop since the park was empty.
This ride went up and around kind of like a ferris wheel.
Gus just hopped in with a girl he didn't know. Grandma said, "don't you want to sit with Bella and me?" Gus said "no, I want to sit with her". It was kind of funny because they were actually having a conversation, too.
Isabella wasn't the worst sleeper on the trip, but she didn't sleep as good as normal. She got up earlier and this is after her afternoon nap, which was short, so she decided to fall asleep next to her Daddy.
Gus and Isabella had a wonderful time playing together. They fought over a few toys, but more often than not seemed like a team against the adults. They copied each other quite a bit. Isabella’s first words in the morning were “Where’s Gus?” or “Hi Gus”. And when they were separated because we were driving something in the car, when we’d arrive they’d get all excited to see each other again, even if it had only been a 10 minute car ride. I saw Isabella tattle for the first time. Isabella and Gus got in trouble over and over again for getting into the mini-fridge and she came out once pointing at Gus when he was getting into it. What a little snitch.
Gus and Isabella enjoyed every meal sitting next to each other.
Someone sneezed on the Backyardigans and they both thought it was HILARIOUS.
Isabella had to climb on a rock because Gus did.
Our Thankgiving photos: here
Nancy's photos: here
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