First trip back to America

I just realized that I never posted about out trip back to America last month!  We had a great time, and it was so great to spend time with Mum Mum, Nana, Papa, Sarah, Ian and Pat!

Mum Mum arrived on Sunday, and I picker her up at the airport since we had been awake since 4:45 AM!!  (London time 9:45 AM.)  Not long after she arrived, I needed to run out to Target to get some groceries and just because I could!  Mum Mum sent the kids a little something in their Easter cards that said she would take them shopping with a $20 budget, so Lauren asked if she could go shopping too, so off the three of us went to Target.  Lauren and Mum Mum found some super fun things: face paint, modeling clay and candy!  I loaded up my cart with not only groceries but things I forgot like goggles.  When we returned, Drew, Alison and Brad were ready for the pool so we quickly got ready and went to the pool, which was awesome!  The temperature was perfect!  Drew is not quite ready to swim on his own, but the girls were racing and flipping and having a great time.  Alison was very intent on making sure she got her shopping trip as well; so Mum Mum, Alison and I went to Wal-Mart.  Alison found an Elsa doll, a Frozen key, a necklace and a fish key chain.  

The girls decided to have a sleep over at Mum Mum's house on Sunday night, woo hoo!!  And Mum Mum taught Alison how to play spite and malice.

Monday, we decided to drive down to see Pat in her new house.   She moved to a smaller house in the same general area, and it is very nice.  Unfortunately, the pool was closed so the kids, Brad and I took a picnic to the park.  The kids had a great time at the park and then we headed back to Pat's and Pat an my mom took the kids for a walk to the lake.  All 3 of the kids were LOVING Pat's dog, Kayleigh.  

I am sure Kayleigh was SO happy when we left; they just would not leave her alone, but it was very cute to see how much they all loved her.   We headed up to the outlet mall; I wanted to get a few things for the kids since clothes are so much more affordable in America.  Pat and my mom came along to keep the kids occupied while Brad and I shopped.  Drew ended up coming with us since he can't bear to be separated from his Daddy for more than 5 seconds, but he was great.  Our first stop was stride rite so the kids could each get a new pair of shoes.  And the girls' favorite store was Justice of course!!  Lauren even used some of her own money to buy a shirt from Justice.

Tuesday, Nana and Papa arrived!  

Hooray!  Brad, Mum Mum and Drew went to Wal-Mart before they arrived for Drew's shopping trip, and he bought the cutest little mini Thomas trains!  We spent some time at the pool, and Lauren got some pretty painful sunburn under her eyes.

 Later in the afternoon, we went to the sand pit and the kids had a great time burying their legs in the sand (under the umbrella!).  Sarah arrived in the evening, and Brad, Sarah, Nana, Papa and I met one of Papa's so-workers and his wife for a lovely dinner at the Chart House.

Wednesday, we just relaxed so Lauren's eyes could heal, and then the girls and I went with Nana to get pedicures.  My toes really needed that!  The girls got manicures as well, all very sparkly of course.  And Nana gave then each $20 to spend in the mall so we went to the Disney store, and Lauren bought a minnie picochu, a Sofia the first necklace and some flip-flops.  Alison bought an Elsa wig and a minnie picochu.  Claire's was right next door, so or course we had to go in there as well, and the girls each bought a tiara for the show they were preparing for Papa's retirement.

Wednesday night was the retirement party,

and it was very fun to see Papa in a business setting and hear all the nice things his co-workers said about him.  There were a couple of slideshows and speeches and gifts.  The most interesting gift was selfie stick!  Brad and Sarah gave the last two speeches, and Brad went first.  He interviewed the kids and asked them different questions about Papa.  The best line was Alison said the best advice Papa has given her is "Life gets easier when you are mad."  And Drew thinks Papa is 3.  Brad talked about Papa's visions and his "OCD calendars" which the family can all relate to.  He finished up with the "Top 15 things Brad already knows but Dad wants to tell you anyways."  And then Sarah got up and gave a heartfelt speech off the cuff.  I know that his co-workers really appreciated hearing from the two of them.

Thursday was our last full day in Florida.

 Nana treated the girls and I to "Cinderella" which was very well done, and I think the girls enjoyed it as well.  She had also seen it with Annabelle, so it was nice she got the chance to view it with all three granddaughters.  For dinner, we found Red Robin of course!  Followed by a yummy dessert of DQ!  And when we returned, the girls performed for us.  Lauren wrote a song called "Do Not Disturb," which was inspired by what else what the Do Not disturb sign you put on the door.  It was a creative song, and then she gave a very sweet speech in honor of Papa's retirement.

Friday, we went to the Tampa Sea Life Aquarium.

 What a cool place!  We got to touch stingrays and anemones, and we saw several sharks, jellyfish, and snakes.  But the most incredible thing we did was the "Penguin Encounter," where a small group of people gets to see penguins up close.  They were really, really cute!  We got to touch them and sit next to them and watch them waddling around.  The penguin lady said they poop every 15 minutes; and they make a noise that sounds like a donkey.  Their "fur" is actually really soft because their feathers are so small.

 That experience was definitely worth it!  After the aquarium, we had lunch at Chick-Fil-A, which was the last place I wanted to make sure we went to while we were in America.

The flight home was not too bad.  Drew and Brad had three seats to themselves, so Drew was able to spread out on the seat to sleep.  The girls and I, however, were smushed in the seats.  Alison was in the middle and Lauren was pretty much draped over her, but I think we all managed to get a couple hours of sleep.  We arrived home around 10:00 AM and everyone promptly took a 5 hour nap!  Shoo, that was needed.  And so thankful for the grocery delivery I had set up to come at noon so we had some good in the house.  Lauren went to her friend Skyla's sleepover, and managed to stay up until 1 AM, but she had a good time.

I am so thankful we were able to have the time with the family.  I know it meant so much to Brad's dad especially that we were there, and we wouldn't have missed it for anything!    

Note: the girls loved their new clothes so much they wore them almost non-stop!  Alison wore her PJs and sneakers every opportunity and Lauren was the same with her baseball shirt, which is why they are wearing the same clothes in almost every photograph!