More fun in Florida

Our Florida family thought it was too cold for the ocean, but us tourists thought it was super warm out! Besides, we weren't going to fly all that way and not walk on the sand. They took us to the gulf for fun on white sand beaches and calm ocean water. I was relieved that baby girl didn't try eating the sand, even if she did give that salt water a good lick once. Gag. There was also a beautiful area for canoeing. A couple of my cousins made it look SO easy! Us tourists had a rough time! After getting turned around, my husband and brother did finally make it.

The ultimate beach food, even little girl knows what's good!

Sand castles... fail.

We had such a great time on our trip and we are extremely grateful to my Aunt and Uncles and my cousins for sharing their home with us.

Had to get a picture of the brothers with the awesome lion.

Universal Studios and Blue Man Group

We were lucky enough to escape some of this frigid winter air as my dad flew our little family out to visit relatives in Florida. The trip was an excellent way to wrap up 2011 and our baby traveled so much better than I expected. She alternated between blissful curiosity on the air plane and sleeping in my arms- an act that I cherished since she is normally not a snugly child.


Baby girl and I recovered after our first long day of travel. We hung out at my Uncle's home and then explored a State Park with my cute cousin. We had hoped to see some alligators, but we didn't end up finding any. The park was beautiful though! The boys headed off to a show. They absolutely LOVED the Blue Man Group, and they had front row, in the center seats! Dad even got splashed with some paint and a mashed banana! They expected the awesome beats and rhythms of the drums and other... creative instruments, like the PVC pipes, but they were surprised by how funny the show was and by how much the performers connected with the audience.

Where are the gators?

The guys all ready for their show!

We really enjoyed Universal Studios; especially since we had the fast passes that allowed us to wait only ten to fifteen minutes to ride the rides instead of the two and a half hours other people were waiting! The marvel comics sections was our favorite! Nothin' like a good roller coaster gone hulk style to get the adrenalin pumping. The spider man ride was all of our favorites though. Such a clever concept! See, we wore 3D eye glasses that made it look like the villans were right in our face! Then, the car we were sitting in would shake when we were 'electrocuted,' blast us with warm air when an explosion went off, and splash us with water when an evil water villain attacked. We even fell from the top of a building only to be rescued and swung to safety in Spider Man's web!

Yo, bro!

We waited all day to enter the wizarding world of Harry Potter and then it ended up being too crowded to do anything other than sight see. Bummer. Will have to go back again some day when it isn't such a new, hot attraction. Did finish up the day with a yummy dinner at the NASCAR Cafe, this made my husband very happy.

Oh yea- we got cheesy henna tattoos too!

Rainbow Cupcakes

My husband came home with some very exciting news! He had observed that Betty Crockers rainbow chip frosting is gluten free. We both have fond childhood memories with rainbow chip frosting!

Yes, he was positive! No, he didn't misread anything! It says it right there on the back... under the long list of other bad- for- you ingredients.

See it? Gluten Free. Right there on the bottom! Anyway, the rainbow chip cake mix to go along with it is, of course, not gluten free... yet? So we put our thinking caps together and came up with something just as fun.

These fruity pebble, rainbow chip cupcakes were so yummy! And, so fun to eat. I love how simple the jar frosting spread, it's just like how mom always frosted treats back in the day before the most important part of a cupcake was the fancy look of piped icing.

The most wonderful day of the year!

Christmas day is always such a magical day. This year was definitely different for more reasons than one, but especially since it was our first Christmas after having moved out of state. My dad and brother drove all day to be with us; I was so happy to see them both. But, I wasn't feeling well. None of us really were. I had been throwing up the week prior, and I woke up on Christmas with body aches and a raging fever. My husband had a headache and the aches, and my brother had a terrible cold. I tried my very best to be a good hostess, and an enthusiastic mama for my baby's first Christmas experience, but still I felt awful! My dad and my sweet husband laid their hands upon my head and offered up a priesthood blessing that I might heal. And then it hit me: Christmas isn't about the gifts, the food, the tree... we hear that all the time. It isn't even about the songs or the retelling of our saviors birth. What I felt was that Christmas is about reflecting on the gift that the whole world received in the form of a sweet baby boy all those years ago. It is about coming unto Him; needing Him. Then, about giving Him credit and being filled with gratitude towards Him for all of the wonderful blessings in our lives, including the health that I so daily take for granted. I know our savior lives. I know He loves us. I know He is aware of us and cares about what we are experiencing. I know that He provided a way for us to experience true happiness and to return to live with our Heavenly parents again.

On a more commercial note, and all illness aside, Christmas morning was lovely! Our guests were a little dismayed about the early morning wake up call...

Our little girl surprised me by not being all that interested in tearing open her presents, but she did rather enjoy climbing on her Christmas gifts and sitting atop the pile.

We are so grateful to all the friends and family who sent us presents! When our daughter gets excited she pulls herself up to kneeling position in front of whatever is making her happy and just bounces and bounces. She sure loves her new toys!!!

We all went to Church in the afternoon and enjoyed the testimonies spoken and the songs sung. The children's beautiful, loud, voices bring tears to my eyes every time I hear them sing! I made the little skirt that our daughter wore (here's how). Little girls are just so much fun to dress up!