The Grand Finale

We finished our Florida visit strong with a fabulous day at Disney World's Animal Kingdom.  For all you west coasters out there, the time of poo-poo-ing Disney WORLD because it isn't the original is over.  This place is amazing!  The Animal Kingdom is like a zoo on steroids, a zoo gone Disney, an amazing way to see all the animals we get to see in books but never in person.  It was amazing!!!

Lance claims that his favorite part of the day was riding the "train" (tram) from the parking lot to the park entrance.  Okay!  My favorite part was the Jeep ride through the African savannah and I also loved the treks through Africa and India.  You really have to see it in person to understand how amazing this place is, but here are a few pics from our busy day.  Papa and Grandma Kathie braved the park with us and even watched the boys while Stef and I enjoyed a water ride together!

best part of the day!  tram ride!

well, okay I do look like I'm enjoying myself on the tram too...

underwater viewing area for a hippo- we could see him above and below water and watched him come up for air a few times!

getting into the mood in Africa

 

ROOOOOOOAAAAARRRRRRRR!!!

Braving the rope ladder at an incredible playground in "Dinosaur Land"

exhausted at the end of a FULL, fun, day

Next time, watch out Disney World!!  We will be staying for at least three days and will hit several parks!!!  A special THANK you to Auntie Jane for letting us stay at her cozy, kid friendly home while we were in Orlando.  And a huge thank you to Papa and Grandma Kathie for being such energetic, willing, and easy going grandparents.  Our time in Orlando was made that much more special thanks to you two!

Gainesville and St. Augustine

The second part of our Florida trip was all about the Harmelings.  We spent time with Papa and Grandma Kathie, Jimmy, Alexis and the cousins and even had the chance to meet our first grand-nephew and see his proud mama Deanna.  

Stef toured the boys around all his favorite Gainesville haunts.  We went to the UF Natural History Museum and toured the amazing butterfly exhibit, saw alligators at the lake on campus, watched thousands of bats flood the night sky, hit up Westside Pool AND Westside Park, and even stopped by Littlewood Elementary and got the boys t-shirts.

check out the size of that butterfly on Lance's waist!!!

From there, we headed east to St. Augustine and lived it up for a few days at the beach.  We loved touring the fortress (Lance especially) and taking in the incredible beauty of the area.  Best of all was all of the special time shared with family.  The boys finally had the chance to bond with their big cousins and we got to see our nieces and nephews that live too far away!

Can't wait to see you all soon!!

Three Years Old!

Our little lion is three years old!  Lance is curious, sensitive, enthusiastic, inquisitive, fiery, and so much fun to be around.  It was an action packed birthday that included a trip to the park, a visit to the turtle sanctuary, dinner out with his first cotton candy experience, cruising the mall with Dylan, and cake.  Lance loved it ALL.  He is so proud to be a big three year old- just ask him... He'll tell you!  "I'm THREE!!!"

Reunited and it Feels So Good

Ever since they met in med school, Stef and Dudley Brown have been like brothers.  Before children (B.C. if you know what I mean), they had their annual "guys trip" and every other year, Jill and I were invited along for the fun.  The four of us have shared some hilarious and special memories and it had been WAY too long since we'd gotten together.  Four years exactly, and of course that means that our boys haven't met which for best buds with sons almost the exact same age, is criminal.

Spending an entire week with Dudley, Jill and Dylan was one of our major motivating forces to get ourselves through the flight and make the trip to Florida.  Dudley took a whole week off of work to hang with us and it was wonderful!!

We spent so much time having fun and relaxing that we didn't take nearly enough pics...

But- here's a snapshot of our perfect week in West Palm Beach- lots of pool time, parks, a trip to the beach, boys bonding (big and small), moms relaxing, and really just spending time catching up with each other.  

Lance and Dylan were instant buds.  They had their fair share of arguments over toys but would wake up every morning and from every nap wondering where the other was.  When we were getting ready to leave for Gainesville, Lance asked several times if Dylan could come too.  And it's a month later and he's still asking about him!

 

We are all ready for the next family trip! 2014... the wives and kids are being invited along to the World Cup trip!!  Four Browns + Four Harmelings + soccer + Brazil = something I, personally, cannot wait to experience!!

Florida!!

We did it!!  We finally made the trip to Florida! It was such a full and action packed trip that I have to divide these posts up- too overwhelming for a single post!  SO- here we are about 14 hours in at the airport in Newark.  Kiran decided he wanted to fit right in with the Jersey crowd and made sure he got his first shiner the day before we left.  All in all, the boys did GREAT on the flight(s)- Stef and I could not have been happier (or more relieved!).  We made it!!!

We

Behind

I am seriously behind on the blog.  It's overwhelming.  So much so that I can't seem to get started.  I'll try harder though.  I will, I will!  September was a VERY busy and eventful month so I promise to get on it!