Christmas Fun and Santa Pictures

The kids loved having their Elf on a Shelf, Sparky, return and visit Santa Claus of course.  Enjoy!

Sparky came back and brought gingerbread houses with him.

The kids had fun decorating and of course, eating them.

Kinley just went right for it.

Colton was a little more demur about it :).

Time to visit with Santa.

The kids yearly Christmas pictures.

Love this boy and his smile!

Love this girl!

Florida, Part 2

The kids had fun going to their usual places when we visit Florida.  Enjoy!

Both kids had fun zooming around on go-karts.

Kinley needed a little help to get started.

Colton was a pro.

Both kids and even Daddy loved the dragon rollercoaster.

The kids had the park mostly to themselves.  When we go after Christmas  it's mayhem so it was nice to have it be a little quieter than normal.

We also went to the Wonder Gardens.  Each time we go there is something new happening so it's fun for the kids to try and find what is different.

Pink Flamingos

The kids bi-annual picture at the Wonder Gardens.

I think that this is what they love the most about the Wonder Gardens....running on the rickety bridge.

Beach!

This girl loves collecting seashells.

Grandma helping the kids to find cocina's. 

Colton found a sand crab.

The kids had fun building sand castles.

Both kids had fun being buried in the sand.

What to do when we get back from the beach?  Get in the pool of course!

Grandma Deb made smores for the kids.  They loved them, even if they were a little sticky.

Last day before heading home and Grandpa David treated us to his famous waffles.

Florida, part 1

We usually go to Florida to visit the Gant grandparents after Christmas each year.  This year we switched things up and went a few weeks before Christmas because Colton was on track break and it just worked out better.  Enjoy!

Kinley loved listening to music on the airplane.

Of course the kids got to open presents with Grandma Deb and Grandpa David.

Visiting Santa at an outdoor mall.

It was actually raining during this picture.

While at the mall there was a dance recital.  Kinley was obviously enthralled.

After the mall, we went across the street to the Lake House for dinner.  It was neat to be right on the water.  Grandma Deb is showing the kids the Christmas tree in the middle of the water.

It was a little cold and rainy but the kids still had fun.

The next day we took the kids to the Naples Zoo.

The kids had fun feeding the giraffes lettuce leafs.  Here Colton is showing us what the giraffe is doing.

The kids had a blast having the giraffes take the lettuce right from their hands.

They even got to ride a camel.  Can't do that in Vegas.

We had to hit up the local ice cream shop for some delicious ice cream afterwards.

Time to make the traditional Christmas sugar cookies.

David makes the most delicious waffles from his 30 year old waffle maker and I'm not even a huge waffle person.  Always a treat when he makes them for us.

Grandma and Grandpa took the kids to the Naple's Children's museum.

Of course they loved playing store.

The hula hoops were a hit as well.

Even Grandpa got into it.

So did Grandma.

Having fun on the stage.

Playing doctor.

Another day and another adventure to a animal park.  Florida is packed with places like this to see.  This was the Shell Factory.

Dinosaurs!

Camels that the kids got to feed through a tube.

There was this cool enclosure of animals and birds that you could buy food to feed.  We spent a good amount of time in here feeding animals.  They were very friendly.

That was one big tortoise.

Colton was brave and let the bird land on his arm to feed.

An iguana walking around.

Zebras

Kinley wasn't so sure about this parrot.

Time to make a yummy cake.

Grandma showing off her new scarf that Kinley picked out for her.