Slip Sliding Away

It's sad that nearly every birthday party we've been invited to here in Florida has been on a Sunday.  But the bonus of Florida birthday parties has been that all of the siblings are invited as well.  I think in Florida they are used to there just being one other sibling - not three.  Or in Utah where that could a little dangerous - you could end up with quite the party!

Here are some photos and video of one of the only parties we've made it to since we moved here!

Beaches

While we were in Naples, Marc took the kids to the beach while Cooper and I took a nap.  It was still cold but they had a good time playing.

Swing Time

We had a fantastic time in Utah over the holidays and once I download the pictures, I will post about them.  One of the things pulling us back to Florida was the kids' gymnastics classes.  The kids were eager to get back, and I really enjoy watching them.  It is fun to see the improvements they are all making. 

Addison, was even asked to join the Superstars class when we got back.  We didn't realize it at the time, but it is quite an honor as it is a special class by invitation only.  She is doing so much more in this new class in the same amount of time - it is crazy!   But, it is fun to see how all of these little stepping stones prepare the kids for true gymnastic skills. 
Here are a few videos of the kids when they first started gymnastics in the fall.

Campbell is wearing a red shirt.  Coleman is wearing a white shirt.  The coach had to lower the bar for Cam.

They call this one the hot tub.  The kids are supposed to flip up and land in the hole. 

 

 These were the first couple of times at gymnastics for Addison.

Naples

It would really be fantastic if I could post things right after they happened.  But it takes me forever to get the pictures off of the camera and then it could have been weeks or months and it's just old news to me so I don't think to post it.  I'm really doing kind of sloppy job for those who care.  Sorry.  New Years Resolution!

Last November, we traveled down to Naples for work and decided to make it an extra long weekend.  We set up a trip out on an air boat and we were all so excited.  We left straight from gymnastics, feeling a little chill, but excited because we were heading south where it would be even warmer.  The morning we arrived, we changed into swimsuits and headed down for breakfast and a nice swim in the heated pool.  From the moment we stepped out of our room, you could feel the cold air.  We hoped it was just the A/C, but no.  A cold front had come and it was FREEZING! It was absolutely beautiful just days earlier and now we were rushing to the store to buy warmer clothes.

Our brave kids were able to enjoy the heated pool but the outside air was too much for Marc & I and soon the kids were eager to rush back up to the room and try to get warm.

The next day was the air boat ride that we had truly been looking forward to.  We couldn't wait to go see all of the alligators and other creatures promised to us.  As we began, the cold didn't seem unbearable and we had some friendly, forward pelicans come flying at the boat and landed right at our feet.

Once we went further into the bayou, the sun couldn't break through the mangrove trees and the boat was going so fast, we just gritted our teeth and tried to snuggle closer together to stay warm.

The cold also made all of the animals disappear. The weekend before, they saw several 12 foot or longer alligators. We were thrilled to see one little 6 footer!

Everything else stayed out of sight! But we enjoyed ourselves nonetheless.  Marc didn't have a jacket - that's how warm it was when we left - so he ended up having to borrow the woman in the front office's jacket for the ride.  He said it was a good thing or he would have froze. But you can note the lovely ladies jacket in a couple of the pictures with Marc.  His arms were just a tad longer than hers.

Our boat ride was freezing and rather uneventful, the scariest part being when it looked like nothing more than a puddle, and we were going over it in this boat, chopping up wood as we went.

After the boat ride, we got to hold the little alligators and learn more about them as well.  Everyone got in on the action.

The alligator had just thrashed his head towards me.  Those suckers are strong!

Cooper is a little heavy for all of us!

It was definitely an experience we won't soon forget!