zoo, Florida, Cade

firsts, Cade - bike-riding

We had a great Christmas and a great New Year's, and I, as always, have a hard time keeping up with all the photos.

In the meantime, I wanted to note for the record: Cade, riding a pedal bike. Within 10 minutes he was keeping up with his older brother and cousin, no problem, on his little pink clown bike.

Christmas vacation, Florida, 2012

Can you see how much fun the boys had - and Mama too, at the Mario Andretti Race Track! Not to mention the zoo, the beach, the glow-in-the-dark mini-golf, and bungee jumping in the mall!

firsts, Jackson & Sammy - ride a bike!

When we were in Florida, Jackson surprised the heck out of me by pretty much getting on a two-wheel bike and riding it. It was that simple. I guess it was 2 years of riding the Skuut bike that really helped. The same day, Sammy started riding his bike with no training wheels too! It was pretty cool to watch them riding around the neighborhood.

This video kills me - Jackson is wearing his Optimus Prime pajamas, riding his too-small pink princess bike. Sammy speeds by, and......there's Cade, bringing up the rear on HIS pink princess bike (and matching Dora helmet). (Both pink bikes from the local Salvation Army for $5.99 and $9.99, if I remember right).

brevard zoo, fla

I love the joy in Jackson's eyes.

Papi's House - Florida - by guest blogger Jon Milott

We went to Papi's house! It started out great.
Cade's flying skills improved substantially as he entertained himself with applying stickers EVERYWHERE!

The boys swam in Papi's pool, bounced in the bouncy house, slid on the slipNslide and celebrated Jackson's birthday.

Then he woke up on the second day and barfed. On the third day we went to the clinic.

We still had a ton of fun being with Bebe, Papi, Nikki, Darin, and Sammy.

F L O R I D A

A belated little recap of our trip to Florida (Papi's Florida, as Jackson would say). Fun times included, but were not limited to, bouncing, our annual trip to the Brevard County Zoo, playing with loud flashy toys from China, eating Bebe's delicious food, opening presents, watching fireworks, celebrating Sammy's birthday, and hanging out in matching jammies. And oh yes, pushing plastic containers across the house.

gone fishing

So, if Oprah had a "Favorite Things" show just for Jackson, I'm pretty sure this is what it would be - fishing with Sammy, Uncle Darin, Papi, Bebe, and Dave Carbone, off Papi's dock in Florida. Would you look at his face in the top picture? He's just thrilled! and look at that fish he caught. It's as big as his head!

annual trip to the brevard zoo

This year the boys really loved the zoo in Forida, especially the beautiful giraffes.

On the day we left Florida, Papi gave Jackson his Brevard County Zoo hat, which has a giraffe on it. Jackson wore it all the way home on the plane, in the taxi home, and to bed that night. Thank you, Papi!

florida

Jackson misses Sammy so much.
We had an awesome time.
Hard to believe we are back here in 23* weather.

back in cold new york.....

but thinking about how much fun we had in sunny Florida.