The Sunshine State

We had a wonderful visit in sunny FL. And by "sunny FL" I mean "not at all sunny FL." Our big plans to go the park were squashed by cool temperatures, but we managed to eek out some big fun.

Sunday night we watched in amazement as the Saints not only won a football game, but won the football game. (Yes, we'd been watching them all season, but it just hasn't seemed real.) We were both elated and stunned, and I was actually surprised to learn that it's a little difficult to watch football in the company of five children under age 6. Who knew?

Oh, and Sunday I also watched in amazement as a 6-year-old girl and 5-year-old boy tried to pull together a surprise party for my little sister. My nephew, when fussed at by his sister for nearly spilling the beans: "I didn't say the surprise! All I said was 'cake!'" And then my niece: "Mom, don't forget we need to go to the store and get the you-know-what for you-know-who!" Yep. Sister will never crack this case.

Our visit was a little chaotic sometimes, as we tried to keep up with the many kids, a dog, one husband, and ourselves. There wasn't much opportunity for one-on-one time, so I missed some of the serious conversations that my niece and I usually have. At one point I said to her, "C., with all of these kids around, we just don't get to spend as much time talking like we used to." She replied was a sad, "Yep, I know." (Funny, it seems like I have that same exchange with almost everyone I know.) My nephew's answer to that problem is that I just need to call him more often, and he provided me with two numbers where he can be reached.

The kids had so much fun together. I can't believe we actually got that photo (see above). If you're wondering why the two wee ones are staring to their right, that's where my sister was standing shaking a bag of Goldfish at them like they were stage dogs. "Here, puppy puppy..."

So no one had a major meltdown (except on the Chick Fil A playground, in the minivan, over the birthday balloons, etc.), no one got hurt (except for about 10 head bonks and toddler smacks), and no one argued (except over who loved who more...awww).