Sunday, November 26, 2023

Florida 2022

 This Florida trip started out rough and ended rough with our flights but we made the most of it.  Our original flight was supposed to leave the day before Christmas but due to the frigidly cold temps, it was cancelled but were able to get on the flight which left the day after Christmas.  This turned out to be good for Dandelion while she recovered from frost bite!

Jordan and I spent a couple of days in the Everglades and had to stop at our favorite lunch spot on the way down.


Hiking the glades



We stayed in a new eco-tent which was really neat.  Could have spent a few days here!


More exploring the next day then headed back to Venice.






Having fun with their floats at the local soda shop!


Beach, shark teeth, and sunsets.  Doesn't get much better.








Jordan was very proud of this old school candy puzzle he put together!

Found some burrowing owls too!

Going home, our flight was delayed by several hours so we had lunch at the airport which gave us an opportunity to recreate this picture.  We were close although the tree was in the way to get it perfect.

After a several hour delay, we took off and as we're flying into Rockford and circling, we hear that it is too foggy to land so they're taking us to Appleton to wait the fog out.  Well after much waiting there, our flight had to return to Sarasota so we were stuck in Appleton!  We played a little bit of ping pong but mostly just waited while we had friends drive two hours up to pick us up and head back home.  The next day, we drove down to Rockford to pick up the truck!  Hopefully that it the most adventurous our flights get for a long long time.  Mr. Brews was delayed a day but we still made it!



Saturday, November 25, 2023

Thanksgiving/Christmas 2022

 A few days after coming home from the cruise, Kayla took her braids out.  Wow, did she have some curly poofy hair!


Colin cuddling with Chicken


Ma, why I gotta dress up as santa again??


She seems unimpressed in a sweater too!


Prairie moonrise


Colin played basketball last year so he got to go to a Milwaukee Bucks game with his team




At their winter concert, Kayla played a duet!


Family time!  We received an oreo gingerbread house making kit and Ash was quite intrigued!



All the chickens in one spot!  We had quite a cold spell just before Christmas and Dandelion got frostbite!  It was so cold our plane to Florida was cancelled which worked out well for me to care for her. 



Merry Christmas!





Friday, November 24, 2023

Framily Cruise - 2022

 All 16 of our framily members took a cruise last Thanksgiving!  We all took various flights down the day before leaving and here we all are getting ready to board.


Adults are on deck while the kids check out the hot tub.








First stop is Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas.  We splurged here and all of us rented a private cabana with a butler, chef, and bartender.  If was the absolute best day!  First had to get out there.  Kayla was not thrilled to be sitting next to Tony.  ;)


With unlimited sun, food, and beverages, it turned into quite the day!














On the boat









Next stop...Grand Turk.  Our family did a snorkeling excursion and then beach time.






More ship time.  Dance lessons and saying goodbye to my sunglasses!  I leaned my head to far back and they fell off into the ocean...






Aruba was next where we did more snorkeling.  This time to a shipwreck.





After the excursion, the adults (and Kayla!) went to go have drinks (non alcoholic for Kayla) off the ship.





Next and last stop was Bonaire.  We all did a beach and snorkel trip here.  Definitely the best snorkeling of the whole trip.










Thanksgiving dinner with the whole framily!




After all the stops, we had two days at sea.  Colin and his buds made a ton of friends, Kayla won bingo for Anna, more dance lessons,













Back in Wisconsin!  Had to end the trip with Mr. Brews.