Florida

So a lot has happened since our last posting but life gets busy and posting gets difficult. Here is an attempted update and pictures galore!

First Jackson has become much more active. He is everywhere all at once and this is still on all 4s. Can't imagine what happens when he gets up to using just 2 legs. If you thought my hair was thinning before...

And speedy seems to be at a significant disadvantage when they play tag or follow the leader. Jackson seems to enjoy it though.

And we also have had the luck to make a whirlwind tour to Florida this month and coincide with Mom and Dad's trip to Florida as well. Jackson got to meet Memere, Aunt Lorraine and Uncle Dick for the first time and all parties involved seemed pretty happy with the meeting.

He also got to mug for the camera with his Grampa and Grammie and some solo shots as well.

While in Florida we were lucky to stay in a timeshare in Weston by using timeshare points from Jackson's Williamsburg grandparents. It was a wonderful place and served our needs more than perfectly. We spent some time by the pool and Memere, Mom and Dad and Lorraine even came and visited. Timing was perfect as bingo began moments after Memere arrived and Laura and Memere headed off for some rapid daubing action. Then Jackson and I headed for the pool and Laura joined as shortly thereafter. Jackson was overjoyed by the worlds largest bathtub with built in huge faucet(waterfall). His giggles and facial expressions were worth the entire trip by themselves. Jackson then decided to show his three levels of joy in the pool.

Beginning with

OVERJOYEDThen transforming into

HappyAnd finally reaching

subduedAnd after this wide range of emotions it was time to dry off and relax.

This picture almost scares me because he seems older than he is to me.

The next day Laura, Jackson and I all headed to the Everglades!

Water and sawgrass and alligators

Oh My!

We started out with Laura and Jackson mugging for the camera with Penelope the peacock.
And then mom and son were stairing at the airboats and an alligator swimming right at the dock.

Jackson's dad then tells him a funny joke about alligators, peacocks and the square root of pi.

He laughs anyway.

I love this kid.

Really though, this is one of his best grins ever.Then Jackson donned the appropriate gear that says, "Alligators beware!(or maybe it says poor excuse for life saving device if you were to fall into the Everglades near an alligator, I forget)

And then after a bit of a zip through the channels in the Everglades there were the alligators. Not as many as we wished to see but we got really close to the first one and the second big one was chomping on a good sized fish which was very interesting to see. By this time however Jackson had had it and was wailing. His mother and father had taken him on an airboat ride with views of water, sawgrass and animals big enough to eat him, but we had forgotten Cheerios. Our parenting license was nearly revoked and if the decision had come down to a vote on the airboat, we may have been gator bait, but luckily a mother on the boat that was prepared for her children handed over a bag of Goldfish crackers and Jackson was happy again. Whew, lucky one.

Jackson and I then decided that alligators were exhausting and took a quick siesta back at the room.




We spent a good bit of time in Deerfield, back with everyone else which was great. The below shot was from a pizza place where we had lunch.

We also got to take a walk on Deerfield Beach boardwalk. I'd forgotten how truly nice the beach and boardwalk are. We stayed here years ago(Mom, Dad, Donnie and Angel and I) and had a grand time. Maybe we'll get the chance again at some time.


Then it was back to Uncle Dick and Aunt Lorraine's for a few more photo ops.
I love this picture of Jackson and his Grand Grand-Mere(thanks babelfish for the translation)

And the picture above was the best I could do to make it look like we were all standing together. Someone had to be taking the picture so this could never happen and if you look close enough the tears in the merge are clear, but I'm reasonably happy with my effort.

And then it was time to return to Virginia and Jackson was again sweeping the floor of doghair with his knees. Thanks Lil' Buddy!