Elmo!!!!

New plants

How is it possible I am still finding new plants a whole year after we moved in? 

Tropical Milkweed

Cardinal Vine

Turks cap

Elsa goes to Disney 2014

Since we have 4 day passes to Disney, we decided to take Elsa the Magic Kingdom yesterday. She is still free until 3, thankfully!  We have used two of our days, but we have 2 more to use (probably after the holidays).  She did great. Only got upset a couple of times (mostly when the carousel ride stopped).  

She met 11 characters!!

Tinkerbell, Mickey, Ariel, Goofy, Donald, Daisy, Minnie, Anna, Elsa, Cinderella and Rapunzel. The wait for Elsa and Anna was 50-80 minutes, so I told the fast pass girl that Elsa's name was indeed Elsa Anna and they let us go through the fast line. We didn't do an autograph book, we will wait for that for when she can remember meeting them. But Elsa the character couldn't resist signing one "To Elsa From Elsa." 

There were of course lines, but she handled it like a trooper. Our backs on the other hand, not so much. You can't have a stroller in the line, so we spent a lot of time switching her back and forth holding her. 

We rode several rides too. Dumbo, Under the Sea, Jungle Cruise, Race Cars, teapots, and of course the Carousel. We made the mistake of trying out the 3d show. She had highs and lows but by the end she decided it was scary and cried. Lesson learned. 

Overall it was a great day. She may not remember it, but I got plenty of photos. 

Center of her world

I do believe we might just be the center if Elsa's world and I think that is pretty cool! 

Do you want to build a snowman?

This afternoon Elsa asked me to take my glasses off. Then she grabbed my hand and said "com'on mama!" So I obliged her. She took me to the spare room and said she wanted to get in the bed. Normally this just means it's time to jump and maybe hide under the covers from bears. 

Today however, she told me to lay down and close my eyes "go to sleep mama!" So I obliged again. Next thing I know she is opening one of my eyes and is right in my face asking "do you want to build a snooooowwwwman?" 

I died laughing and said yes. The. She said "do me!" So again I obliged. How could I not? 

Totally engrossed watching Frozen. 

Mommy bought learning toys

Elsa and I ventured out to Toys R Us to do a little browsing...er...shopping. 

I got her a lacing "toy" and a tracing book that you use dry erase pens with. Got her fun stuff that is still educational! Go mom!

Fall Festivals have Begun!

While Steve was off on Mancation with his college buddies Elsa and I had fun playing with our friends at the first fall festival.  The new Grins & Giggles pediatric dentist had a little festival for their grand opening. They had bounce houses, UF Dazzlers, balloons, firetrucks, free shaved ice, and a magic show.

Elsa and Anabel sliding.

UF Dazzlers

Ate her very red shaved ice without spilling it on herself!

Wore out!

TTT 2014

Last night I attended my first FLMNH event as non-employee. Tastes, Tunes and Treasures was always my most favorite event to put on every year. It felt great to be able to highlight the cool collections and research going on. This year they were celebrating the 10th anniversary of the McGuire Center.

Elsa put on her "party dress" and had a blast. She was shy when the crowds were around. However, she played for a good long while by herself in the Discovery Room. Of course I was watching and did play with her too. An intern even went in and played with her. It was pretty awesome. She is so independent! 

I even for to catch up with another ex-FLMNH'er, Caroline Glagola. And Brittany did an great job with the event this year!

More faces of Elsa

She really is a goof ball!

Big and Small

We have HUGE elephant ears....and an itty bitty Elsa. :-)

Choo choo!

All Aboard!!

Elsa has started taking anything that can be strung together and makes a train out of it. She proceeded to sit on these and scoot along the floor yelling "Choo! Choo!" and "All Aboard!"

Goodbye Grandy's

End of an era. Last week the Grandy's on University Ave and 34th Street was torn down to make way for another chicken finger hut kind of place. Although I didn't eat there on a regular basis, when I did it was always yummy....and greasy. Farewell! 

2yo's are Weird

Elsa is definitely heading into her goofy phase. She likes making faces, and has started doing funny things with her voice. It's nonsensical and awesome!!

Share a coke with....

Dancing Queen

Being a good Cultural Affairs Board member for our community, we headed out to one of the gems of the community on Friday night. Every Friday night from about May through November the city has free concert nights at the Bo Diddly Plaza. This past weekend was the Heavy Petty's, a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tribute band. The concerts do not start until 8pm, which for a parent with a small child does make it a little bit more difficult to attend this family fun event. Luckily they played almost full songs during their sound check. Elsa danced with her friend Skylar earlier in the evening. Then she spent some time dancing with a few other kids. 

As you can see she wore herself out and crashed for a few minutes on her blanket before she got her 2nd, 3rd, and 4th winds. 

We had a great time and I am especially grateful that I live in a  community that can provide such a cool event weekly for several months. 

20th Reunion

So I'm old. I just celebrated 20 years of being a high school graduate. Buchholz High School class of 1994. Oof! 

Back Row L to R: Susan, Shandon Hales Smith, Leslie, Kathy Lackey (with Lamar behind), Kaycee Henderson Burkhart, Mike Remer, Albert "Gator" Reed.

Front Row L to R: Jimmy Ruiz, Mary Ann Keck Mike Milne.