The center of attention

I know children usually tend to be the center of attention... but with Ana it seems to go above and beyond the normal idea of that.  It's like she's a magnet for attention.  It's like no one can help being attracted to her... being pulled into her little circle.  And it's not like she outright calls for attention.  I mean... yes... she is friendly and outgoing.  She's a cutie with a constant smile.  She's full of personality.  But that's not quite it.  It's just that random people are just drawn to her.  Physically drawn to her.  Nick actually got a photo of this wacky phenomenon when we were sitting in the Orlando airport at the gate waiting to board our flight. 

Zoe is there in the white shirt and pink shorts.  But all of those other kids?  We have no idea who they are.  They were all just suddenly all on the floor with Ana.  Is that weird?  Does anyone else have that happen?

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Summer vacation - Florida (of course)

We went to Florida in August.  Yes... I know it's October.  It was ages ago.  At least, 2 months ago FEELS like ages ago, doesn't it?  It doesn't sound like a long time... but it does feel like it.  Maybe it's because in August we were wearing bathing suits and flip flops and sun block and now in October we're wearing sweatshirts and jeans and lined Crocs.  It makes a big difference.

Now that the chill is in the air I think it's the PERFECT time to look back on the fun time we had on our last trip to sunny Florida (especially since Zoe and Ana and I will be going again in 2 weeks and then I'll have another whole load of photos to share!  heehee).  Oh how I miss the summer sun.

We spent a week at my parents' house and then headed to the Ron Jon Resort in Cocoa Beach. 10 of us.  My parents, my brother's family (Jim, Erica, Avery and Grace) and us.

The view from our balcony was gorgeous.

 

A view in the early evening...

The lazy river was fabulous.  I wish I had more time alone just to float around... but this is usually what Erica and I looked like.  I'm wondering how much it would cost to put a lazy river in my back yard.

The beach was also quite nice.

I'm not a big fan of the beach.  Actually... the beach is OK.  It's the sand I don't like.  But... I still enjoyed a bit of beach time.

The resort had a great indoor playground.  So, even when we'd had enough sun (or thunder chased everyone away from the pool) the girls had fun.

The girls actually had a good time doing just about anything.

 

 

 

Ana enjoyed her first taste of the beach.

She also enjoyed having her toes in the ocean for the first time.

Unlike her Mommy and her big sister.... Ana has no issue being covered in sand.

An attempt was made at flying kites.  It wasn't hugely successful since the wind wasn't agreeable... but the guys sure did LOVE their kites.

We were all a little sad to leave the resort... but had also had about enough.

Oh palm trees... I do miss you.

When we left the resort we had a couple of days left to spend at Grammy and PopPop's house before heading back to NJ.  We enjoyed relaxing and recuperating from resort life.

 

 

 

The trip was another wonderful one.  If nothing else... the time spent with family was totally worth the trip.

Grace in Small Things - 75

1. Pajamas until noon.

2. A whole day of Halloween/spooky shows on NickJr (formerly Noggin, sniffle sniffle).

3. Beringer's White Zinfandel.

4. Freshly baked brownies.

5. Ana's slight obsession with Dora... and all things Dora.  She's currently wearing a pair of Zoe's Dora underpants over her pajamas and she is over the moon happy.

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Grace in Small Things - 74

1. No nonsense polar bear socks. Oh. My. Soft.

2. My girls covered in bubbles and giggling.

3. Comfy pajamas by 7pm on a rainy night.

4.  Halloween themed kid shows Free On Demand.

5. Snuggling on the couch.

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Photo Class Homework - Self Portrait

For more photos... check our Wordless Wednesday and 5 Minutes For Mom.

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Grace in Small Things - 73

1. Dinner with friends.

2. Take out Italian.

3. Food store bakery bought tiramisu that was actually surprisingly delicious.

4. The way preschool girls can soooooo look forward to playing together only to fight and bicker and whine the whole time they're together... and then talk about how much fun they had and incessantly ask when they can do it again.

5. A dvr so full of shows we are never lacking for something to watch.

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Grace in Small Things - 72

1. Enjoying a Moms' Night Out with Zoe's classmates' moms.

2. Adult conversations without the interruption of "mom... Mom... MOM....MOOOOOOM!"

3. The sharing of wine and beer.

4. A dinner where no one spilled or wiped anything on my shirt... not even me.

5. Anticipation of another night out... soon.

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Um... yeah...

The blog still isn't quite caught up with life yet.  I still have more to share from our summer (things like our vacation and a few day trips) so I'm still going through summer pictures and have more to post.  While flipping through pics from our day at the Turtle Back Zoo I stopped at this shot.  This photo... this just couldn't wait to be posted.  I had forgotten I'd taken it.  Now I can't stop looking at it.  Just like that day early in September when I saw them in person at the zoo.  I'm captivated.

Swimming, swimming... in a swimming pool...

Another summer flash back...

How is it possible we were sweating at the pool less than 2 months ago.  It really feels like August was so long ago.  Sigh.

Zoe became quite an impressive little swimmy fish this summer.

Actually... I think we can say she became a flying fish.

 

 

 

Sunny flower... buzzy bee

I'm taking a photography class with Stacy (Stacy Mae Photography). She's a wonderful teacher... and a fabulous photographer. This sunflower came straight out of my camera.   I'm learning.  It's slow going... but I may understand my camera settings yet. (Understanding the settings and getting them to work for me may be 2 totally different things though).  I can tell you this... I am keeping that camera off of auto settings.  I am I am I am.

Grace in Small Things - 71

1. A 2 week long visit from Grammy and PopPop.

2. Sunshine and blue skies.

3. A walk around the neighborhood.

4. Zoe's NEED to dance when she hears music.

5. Ana's NEED to copy Zoe when she dances to music.

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Grace in Small Things - 70

1. The excitement over the arrival of 1 "Tinkerbell" fairy costume.

2. Getting a good deal on e-bay after spending too much time searching and watching and waiting.

3. Getting a 2nd good deal on e-bay after spending even more time searching and watching and waiting.

4. The sparkling eyes and "wow!" response from Ana over 1 little string of pumpkin lights.

5. Zoe singing and dancing to "The Monster Mash" after discovering the cd in the Halloween decoration box.

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