While There was a Blizzard...

The kids and I went to Florida for what was supposed to be a 4 night trip while Den went skiing in Utah. I was completely stressed the whole time we were in FLA about what was happening back home, but we still had a great time. The kids are real pros at flying--when we walked up to security, Eddie had his shoes, coat and backpack into a bin before I could turn to help Josie.

Highlights:
Flight was delayed both directions. Our flight home was cancelled on Sunday due to the weather, but despite calling the airline 2 hours before, and the monitors in the terminal showing it was taking off, we didn't learn this until we had returned our rental car and presented ourselves at the ticket counter. Grabbed a new rental car and headed back to hang out with Cousin Sami, whom the kids adored.
[note: to get home, we got the rental company to drive us to curb side drop off and the driver even helped me get the carseats in their bags; then someone else noticed me struggling with the 1 suitcase, 2 carseats, 2 kids, backpacks, and the bag with Ed's nebulizer trying to get inside and they carried a carseat and suitcase in. Yet another couple helped when we had to move down the counter to an agent from the self check. All in all, we really lucked out. I did have to do battle with another passenger who said that she had 2 elderly people she needed to check in who were in wheelchairs. I told her that I had a 2 and 4 year old who both had to go to the bathroom and we'd been waiting at the counter for 25 minutes. I said, "I can go toe to toe with you, if you'd like". She graciously allowed us to go in front.]

Had a fun time hanging with Gwyn and then hit the beach in the afternoon. The kids had a blast, but it was freezing. The playground I'd planned for us to use was closed due to the Superbowl festivities. Ugh.

On Friday, Cousin Sami got to skip school after taking a test and we all headed to the Miami Zoo. We rented these little bicylces and the kids had a blast, imploring Sami and I to peddle faster. That was until it rained on us and then Sami and I peddled as fast as we could move the bike.

I had promised Eddie both a camel ride and a ride on the monorail. The later was a complete bust. Ugh. The camel was a rip-off--less than 2 minutes for $5/person, but Eddie can say he has ridden a camel. To be continued...