Our Florida trip part 1 - music, decorating the tree and gingerbread house

We loved being in Florida for the holidays again this year!  It was wonderful to have lots of family time and get out to play in the great weather.  We did so much and have lots of photos, so we'll put up several posts.  We spent our first week with Jason's dad, Deb, and Kimmy who was down from college.  We got out instruments they hadn't played in years which was a blast, the kids plunked around on the piano, and Grandpa played Christmas music too.  They waited to decorate their tree so that we could join them (so sweet, since we didn't do a tree at our place), and Rylan was so excited to help!  I think he decorated most of the tree!  It was actually cold enough to light a fire in the fireplace, and the kids were mesmerized.  Jason and Ry also assembled the gingerbread house that night, and my mom joined us for the fun.

We had an early flight and had to wake the kids up at 4am, so we were all wiped out and slept on our afternoon flight!

So sweet... don't get to have my baby sleep on me often these days!

Our first playground outing near Jason's dad's place

An early Christmas gift from Grandma Deb and Grandpa!

Trying out Grandpa's trombone

So excited to play daddy's old trumpet

Picking out ornaments for the tree

Trying to use up all the icing!

Ry's silly face with our finished ginerbread house :)

Auntie Kimmy (aka "Uncle Kimmy" as Ry decided to call her this trip!)

A big family birthday party in June!

We couldn't resist another birthday celebration for Maylee with all of our family in town for the Meert reunion cruise in mid-June!  Our little ones don't usually get to celebrate their birthdays with extended family since we live so far from them, and we've never had over twenty family members come to us, so this was a special event!  We had lunch and cake at our condo's party room after everyone arrived from the cruise, and made it a celebration for Maylee and the June family birthdays, including Jason's dad, and cousins Michelle and Justin.  After lunch, we all took a walk to the salmon hatchery and walked one of our favorite trails nearby that runs along Issaquah Creek.  It was an awesome day and we loved celebrating with our wonderful family! (Thank you again Aunt Laura for taking all the great photos!)

Uncle Arny and cousin Becky have some Lego fun while hanging out at our condo for a short bit

Lunch time

Uncle Arny with Jason, Ry and cousin Kami's daughter Jesica

Aunt Nancy with cousins Melissa and Justin

The June Birthdays!  Jason's dad, and his cousins Justin and Michelle with us

Blowing out the candles...

I made a lemon cake with lemon icing... yum!

I love cake!

Wardrobe, please! :) Time for a new outfit after my last one got covered in cake!

So happy with daddy!

Yay for another chance to celebrate our sweet little girl :)

Deb, Uncle Ken, Jason, and cousins Melissa and Justin with Uncle Arny

Loving the balloons!

With Aunt Laura... taking a ride in Laura's mom's walker 

Cousins Becky and Jeremy "decorating" Jason's dad while he's resting

Ry got a kick out of riding on the walker for a short bit

 

Family photo near the salmon hatchery :)

Smiles from the birthday girl!  We love you Maylee!

The last September birthday

If you haven't already guessed, September is one big month of celebrating for our family! :) I have the third September birthday on the 18th and we had another fun day!  Jason decorated, and got me my favorite cake (princess torte, from Hoffman's Bakery), gave me some time in the afternoon to relax on the lawn on a blanket in the sun (one of my favorite things to do in the summer that I didn't get to do much this past summer... it was a perfect day for it!), and took care of dinner (our favorite pizza).  He also took some great photos of me with the kids while we were all outside playing in the afternoon.  We also got to celebrate with Uncle Bill, who happened to be in town and joined us for dinner.  It was a joy and blessing to be celebrating another year surrounded by my amazing family... I feel very thankful and very loved!

Ry helping me blow out the candles :)

Cake yum!

My lovely flowers...

and an upside down balloon bouquet from Jason too :)

A few photos of my gifts.... Thanks to all my wonderful family for the lovely gifts!!

More goodies from my wish list :)

Ry and Mei Mei had a grand time playing in one of the giant gift bags!

Ry trying some of my chocolates :)

Maylee wants some too! :)

Outside on the slide

Can you guess that my little ones don't like to sit still for long? :)

I love my sweet boy!! :)

Playing with Uncle Bill after dinner

Cute smiles for Uncle Bill!