Vacation Day 6 - Heading Home

We got an early start so we only saw uncle Joe this morning.

We had a quick breakfast then it was off to the airport. Uncle Joe led us through the construction and got us to the right place.

Our flight home was uneventful, little C fell asleep quickly and only woke up when she sensed the presence of food.

We arrived in CT just after 2 pm, Big C's parents met us at the airport and we swung by their place to pick up the rest of our luggage and Christmas gifts. Liz had packed us a picnic lunch/ dinner and we were back on the road for 3:30, which got us home for 7:30/ 8pm

Florida Day 5 - On the Road Again

Port St. Joe to Tampa

This time the trip went quicker, of course we had less stops and we got an early start, having packed up the night before.

So not much note worthy about the drive - except that I think we all have had enough driving for awhile - although we still have a bit to go.

We arrived in Tampa a little before 4 pm. We had yet another wonderful visit with family, my cousin Emily had arrived with her two children and we were able to catch up. The evening was again filled with wonderful food and family time. And aunt Bev had picked up matching robes for the children for a group photo a tradition with them. It was wonderful that little C was included. In fact I remember some of these photos from my childhood all of us cousins in matching nightgowns.

Florida Day 4 - Port St. Joe & Appalachacola

We had a leisurely Christmas breakfast in bed, while we watched the last 5 minutes of "The Christmas Story" - we were interrupted the night before by a certain little girl.

We then got ready for a nice family lunch, with my aunt Jean and uncle Joe and cousins. We picked up Grammy and headed out. Again another great visit with family we hadn't seen in ages. There were two little cousins for little C to play with ages 3 and 6. The girls had a blast together. They chased the guinea hens, visited the dogs and little C got to play with a cat and she got to meet some chickens and horses too.

It was an afternoon filled with great food and wonderful time with family. Uncle Joe brought out his banjo and the was music and singing, little C loved it and was dancing her little heart out.



We finished our day with a little swimming and then packed up.

Florida Day 3 - Port St. Joe

We slept in, all of us!! which was really great after the late arrival yesterday.

We finally found ourselves at Grammy Fleetwood's after finding breakfast and getting a little bit lost. (OK...... I read the map wrong and had us heading south/east when we should have been heading north/west).

It was really great seeing Grammy again, it had been a long time since our last visit, little C was about 5 months old the last time she saw her great-Grammy, so over a year had gone by.



After our visit we had enough time to stop pick up some groceries for a light dinner and breakfast. We ate our dinner on the terrace at our rental place - we stayed in a condo, a very nice place, very relaxing.

Then we had time for a bike ride out to the beach to watch the sunset and stick our toes into the Gulf of Mexico - it was a refreshing dip, and little C got a bit more than she bargained for when she fell in. Although I think she was willing to go swimming after that, but I wasn't going in.

The sand was so white little C was expecting snow when she first saw it, She was a little disappointed when she stepped out on it. - We built a "snow man for her to make up for it.



We finished off out Christmas Eve by watching most of "the Christmas Story"

Florida Day 2, Tampa To Port St. Joe in 12 hrs!!!

This portion of the trip was by no means record breaking travel speed, but for the most part we had a lot of fun. This is the longest car trip little C has ever taken and she did very well - although by the end she wanted nothing more to do with the car.

Following waffles (made with pecans, the first time I've had them that way, YUM!) and some last minute visiting, we got off to a great start with some wonderful driving by Joe and Big C. Joe led us through the construction going on and onto the correct highway.

We leisurely made our way up through the state, stopped for lunch at a great seafood market/ restaurant, Charlie's in Crystal River- It was great. The food was wonderful, we had really good food and We finished up our meal with some fried ice cream. Little C REALLY enjoyed herself too and the ice cream.
We had a activity tote that little C's Grammy made her for Christmas that kept her well occupied in the car and in every restaurant we visited, a priceless gift.

A Little further up the road we turned off the main road and detoured to Manatee Springs State park where we checked out the spring, walked the board walk and played in the play ground. It was a good chance to get out and stretch our legs.



The rest of the trip was just driving, driving and more driving. A quick stop for dinner in Perry and then we continued on to Port St. Joe - Arriving at 10 PM. Quite the long day but fun too.

Florida Day 1, Tampa

Wow we had an easy flight, only slightly delayed to allow for a catch up flight from the prior day (I assume delayed for the snow we received).

Little C was unfazed by flying, she seemed to enjoy the small part she was awake for, she slept for most of the flight. She was excited to be eating in the air, travel must increase her appetite.

We arrived in Tampa safely and with all of our luggage (YEAH!!!), got the car seat installed, and on the road - were we quickly got ourselves lost. We got directions and advice and easily arrived at Bev & Joe's house.

Warm greetings ensued and we settled in, my cousin Ellie was there as well, it was so nice to see her, it had been about 3 years since we had last been together. A tasty lunch was followed by wonderful walk around the neighborhood.

Before dinner Bev and Joe, brought us out to a local beach to watch the sunset, it was beautiful. Beyond words really. We were near the Tampa Airport, so we were also able to watch the planes going in for a landing - this was also when little C first asked where the snow was.

Holiday 1, Connecticut

Saturday we drove down to CT, to celebrate Christmas with Grammy, Grampy, and Nana.

We planned to drive down early Saturday morning, but had a bit of a late start, and then a long drive. we have about a foot of snow when we woke up, Big C had to shovel before we could pack up the truck,and it snowed for most of the drive, however big C is a great driver. So no problems on the drive down.

We had a lovely visit, it was so great seeing everyone. We held our Christmas celebration Saturday afternoon, little C made out like a bandit - She got her first set of ski's and teaching devices, she seems to understand what they are for and managed to walk across the carpet with the skis.

While there was plenty of snow, we did not try the skis outside that weekend - we hadn't packed little C's snow gear because we didn't think there would be time to go out.

We had a wonderful weekend full of family, great food and fun.

Early Monday morning big C's parents saw us off on our way to FL.