vitamin C

tonight it is cold & rainy here...

but we are squeezing some sunshine! 

fresh FLORIDA oranges that my mom brought back.

yum

delightful

jungle gardens part 1

 (i must apologize for the "stuff" that is coming out of A's nose!!!  we've been blowing it every other minute...& well...it really is just reality!)

scott & i both have memories of going here as kids.  it was so much fun to take the girls today!

yesterday.....

scott golfed, the girls enjoyed the playground on the beach & then a short walk on the beach, we swam in the pool, ate lunch (prepared by grandma) on the porch, jyla had a breakdown, addalie  was still slightly sick, girls took naps,  went out for dinner to a new favorite  place, came back & played games, girls to bed...us to hot tub,

glass of wine & then to bed! 

the restaurant that we ate at was at the end of a long long pier with fishermen fishing all along. *amazing* sea food!

 

Yes, I am still here....even though I've been absent on my blog...

Last week was a long & difficult week.  On Monday morning, my grandfather passed away.  He was 90 years old.  He was born with heart problems and has always had a weak heart.  Growing up we would often eat dinner at their house a few times a week & usually see my grandparents almost every day. 
Since Sept. my grandpa has been in & out of the hospital with congestive heart failure.  He ended up getting pneumonia & wasn't able to recover from it.  My extended family is very close, so we were together alot last week.  My sister & her little Aaron even made it to PA for the services.  While my grandfather will be missed (especially by my sweet grandmother who was married to him for SIXTY-EIGHT years!!)  he was a believer & we are comforted knowing he is in heaven.  The whole week was bittersweet as it was a very emotional time for my family. 

One good part of the week was that my sister & Aaron stayed at our house with us.  Yay!!  I still had never met Aaron (17 months) & Sara got to meet Jyla!  She spoiled my girls...playing dress up with them, painting nails, telling them stories, giving them baths....We had many good talks & it was refreshing to be in the same place! 
Meanwhile, Scott had a stressful weekend at market for numerous reasons.
& Addalie was starting to get very sick.  She had pneumonia a few months ago & I was starting to be reminded of the long nights w/her...as her symptoms seemed to be getting worse.  She was up so much at night that I ended up getting a sleeping bag & sleeping (sleeping????barely) on her floor.  and -Scott had "Jyla night duty" & so neither of us were getting much sleep.

Then, on Saturday Scott, Addalie, Jyla & I flew to Florida!  We've had this trip planned for awhile & were thankful that we were still able to come.
When we left PA alot of my extended family (who we had been with all week) had the flu & we were wondering if we were next?
in addition to Addalies sickness, Jyla & Scott had (still have--but we are working on getting rid of them) colds.
SO, needless to say, It has been SO wonderful to be able to come down here to the sunshine & fresh-squeezed OJ & RELAX!!!!!
AHHHHHHH.....
Scott's grandparents have a time share & his parents are here with us too.
I grew up coming to FL a couple of times a year as my grandparents have a house in PineCraft.  However, this is our 4th trip to this place.  (Anna Marie Island) & we LOVE IT HERE!!  The condo is right across the road from the beach & there is a pool at the condo.  It is a small, quiet island....& perfect in our opinion.
Our flight yesterday went really well.  (even though jyla had "ants in her pants" as Scott said...& would NOT sit still for 1 second.)  Even so...it was very "easy" after our China-flights!!!
2.5 hrs... a complete piece of cake!
Addalie with her "wings" given to her by the flight attendent.

 addalie thought she was so cool as she walked through the airport w/her bag!

 after a day of traveling..it was so wonderful to get here....we let the girls play in the sand & water...& breath in some warm *fresh* air!!

 heading out to breakfast this morning to one of our favorites...

The Beach Cafe...right on the beach...right across the street.

when we came back we hopped in the pool & the girls played & played....

all of these photos are "straight out of the camera"

because I am on V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N! 

& enjoying every moment.

*i think i will get off of my computer & try to squeeze in a few moments by the pool before the naps end*

who needs a crib.........

when you have a daddy to sleep on?

this is still jyla's preferred method of sleeping. 

when we were in China, it is the ONLY way that she would sleep....

thankfully she is getting more comfortable in her crib now.

however, her nights are still very interrupted.

every once in a random while, she will sleep all night.

but normal for her is up 2-4 times.

we still have a mattress on the floor of her room, where i usually end up sleeping because it is easier to comfort her from there than it is to get out of bed every time she wakes up.

we could not help ourselves....

it's february-

& there's still some snowon the ground here-

but we could not stay inside today!!

it was so fabulously warm!

so we headed to the park

& both girls cried when we had to leave.

*Valentines*

We had

SO

much

FUN

celebrating Valentines this year!

roses, cards, making treats, getting treats, special packages in the mail, dinner out with my husband!!!

on valentines morning (without my knowing)

scott had a rose & card & candy at the girls' spot at the table.

they were thrilled (& i was impressed) =)

&

they got some sweet cards in the mail!

they made chocolate covered messes  strawberries for their daddy.

And Addalie LOVED taking Valentines cards/treats to school for all of her friends!

She came home with quite the bag of stuff.

Jyla was amazed!