First time ever at the Beach

We took I-75 all the way down past Ocala and hopped on the Turnpike, and took it down around Delray Beach. By that time, we were itching to see the ocean. So we drove through Delray Beach (which was really nice - I loved the downtown area -- Maybe we will go back and visit sometime). Anyway, it turned out to be a great place to stretch our legs. This was Luke's first time to see the ocean and experience the sand between his toes -- wasn't too crazy about the sand. And he hated the water, perhaps it was a little chilly.













Then, on Wednesday, we had a little free time in the morning, so we headed out again to find the beach! (Actually, we first headed out to go to the Miami Seaquarium, but when we got there and found out that it was $35 per person + $7 for parking, we quickly turned around and came up with a Plan B... why? well, - One, we only had about 2 hours before we needed to be back and Two, it's not Sea World - it's just a seaquarium - not worth $77 for 2 hours, in my opinion.) Anyway, we just kept driving down the Causeway and we ended up at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. As you can see, it's really pretty, and the lighthouse made for some great photo opps.


(above) This lighthouse looks like the Leaning Tower of Piza... here I was trying to be a professional photographer, and I lined it up the camera with the palm tree on the left. Perhaps the palm tree is leaning....

(above) Here's that darn lighthouse again, and I think it really IS leaning... or are my pictures just crooked???

He really didn't like the sand sticking to his hands...

And that's Miami!!

Christmas in Miami

After driving for what seemed like days (oh, wait a minute - it was days), we finally arrived in Miami! I wish we had taken a picture of the car and us packed like sardines! Luke did awesome. Granted, he had his moments - we all did. But the little guy was a trooper! Thankfully we had Aunt Joy in the backseat to help keep him entertained.

Here are some pictures from the days we spent in Miami. There weren't a lot of "extra-cirricular" activities, except for a very short little visit to the beach. (Those pictures will follow).

Family photos... 4 generations....









Just hangin' out...




"Hobble-ty Gee".... (Inside Joke)...


Uncle Alan, a.k.a. "The Bulldozer"...


"Go?"


Pictures from dinner....








Working a car puzzle with Grampa Joe...





Posing for the camera...


Silly boy eating a banana...


As you can see, we're all exhausted from the trip...

But Santa was still good to him...

Santa had to come to our house a day early this year since we were heading to Miami for Christmas. So here he is waking up on Christmas Eve morn and running to see his gifts under the tree... (It was a small tree this year - it's a train tree that my Aunt Nancy and Mom made for Luke last year).



He went for Cookie Monster first....



Next, he hugged Pablo. (If you don't know who Pablo is, then you're missing out. He's one of the Backyardigans, which is only the cutest cartoon out right now)!



Then he found his Monster Truck!!


He LOVES the Monster Truck!!!




And finally, the Mega Blocks - (this, sadly, was the gift I was most excited to give him and probably ended up being the one he was least excited to receive). Oh well. Better luck next year.

After unwrapping all the gifts, we enjoyed some Christmas Cinnamon Rolls for breakfast (Luke's first)....


YUM!!


Then later that day, we jumped in the car and hit the road on the way to Miami!! There are so many Christmas pics to follow.... Stay Tuned!

Not so Jolly to see Santa...

Here's Greg putting Luke in Santa's lap. Greg said he had the 'death grip' on him.



He started screaming immediately....


Santa tried consoling him but to no avail....


So finally I think Santa was just laughing at him too.... what else can you do. Hopefully next year won't be so traumatic...


A family portrait in front of a friend's Christmas tree....




And if we'd sent out Christmas cards this year, I probably would have used one of these pictures. Oh well. There's always next year.