Florida in Photos

 Finally a family photo session.  We have so few of these pictures....

 Down time with my parents at the beach...



 
Cousins on the Gulf of Mexico.  Just like my cousins and I thirty years ago.  I so treasure that our children are now making these memories together....

 

Dinner at Crabby Bill's, of course.  And Sadie was the one man band's BIGGEST FAN EVER.  She danced up there in front of him all alone. 

  

Visiting with old friends who don't live so close anymore...making up for lost time.

A perfectly lovely Thanksgiving day.  It started with a very cold run for the annual family 5K.  But it sure felt good to run (and good to run at sea level!)  

The Thanksgiving table at my Aunt Cathy's house was gorgeous as always, and I am so thankful that she makes it possible for the entire family (nearly 40 of us) to actually sit down together. Such an amazing feat, but so worth it!

 

We celebrated Chanukah together for the first time in more than a decade! 

 A visit to the Florida Aquarium...

 Late nights with my cousins...Hunger Games movie, beer pong, movies, chatting, Trader Joe's snack explosion.  Oh how I wish we all lived closer so that we could do this more often.  I have so much fun, laugh so hard, feel so comfortable and safe and happy when I'm with my cousins, my brother, and all the spouses who've become a part of the family.  It makes me so sad when this trip comes to an end every year. 

 And of course...watching this next generation make their own memories, and follow in their mamas' footsteps is the best thing ever....

Florida trip

Too busy, or tired, or distracted to write eloquently about my recent trip to Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday, but I have some great pictures to share.

Sadie and I traveled alone to Florida to add a few days to the trip. It was fun traveling together, just the two of us. And Sadie did REALLY well on the airplane.



We spent a few amazingly relaxing and calm days at the beach with my parents, consisting of delicious meals out, unstructured playtime on the beach with a few Florida family members, TV and reading with Mom at night, and a dolphin watching expedition!

Our first Peckett family Thanksgiving Day 10K run and 5K walk were a great success! And Brian won the race!

Thanksgiving was lovely as usual. What a nice treat to be able to eat the big meal outdoors, at a table all together, in the gorgeous 75 degree weather.

Visit to the new, fabulous Children's Museum in Tampa.







Boat trip on the Gulf of Mexico with the entire family. Best day ever.


Cousins in the bath. Just like their mamas used to do...

Sadie's enthralled with the horses....

What a great trip....the fact that it was so perfect continues to make coming back to work that much harder....

Thanksgiving 2010

It's my favorite holiday of the year. I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting into the beautiful Florida weather. It's not too hot, not cold at all, not humid...pretty much just perfect, and a nice change of pace from the dreariness of early winter in Colorado.

It was a relaxing, exhausting, peaceful, chaotic, and fun-filled week.

We played at the beach....

We gave and received LOTS of kisses....

We went for leisurely walks full of all sorts of new things to look at for a certain toddler....

We missed my Grandma and Grandpa but gave thanks that we're all still able to get together for their favorite holiday....

We went to the zoo....

We shared costumes....

We rejoiced in the change in our family dynamic over the last couple years (although it feels like it happened overnight). We've gone from a bunch of adults and young adults sitting around together to a family full of kids under 5, and it is such a joy to watch this new generation!


And we soaked up the wonder and beauty of our newest, beautiful family member, Chloe Noel Armstrong.....

Welcome to the world baby Chloe...we're so happy you're here! You'll fit right in with this crazy, loving, happy, energy-filled family!

My very favorite part of the trip was watching Sadie slowly gather the courage to investigate and eventually chase the waves. Check this out....