Christmas in Florida || 2016

This year we spent Christmas in Florida with my family! The weather was gorgeous, we ate a ton of delicious food and most importantly spent so much quality time with the people we love dearly! I took 372 photos and a dozen videos and spent the 10 hour drive home putting the highlights together in iMovie…

Our Christmas video was truly a labor of love but SO worth it. On to a few (okay, not really a few) pictures.

We decided to head home a day earlier than we originally planned so I could see one my besties before she left town for the holidays. We literally arrived, ate a quick spaghetti dinner with my family and then headed to the small high school reunion that Ashley hosted in her beautiful home. Meanwhile, the kiddos were beyond happy staying behind with Grandma and Grandpa and they loved having them all to themselves too.

Ashley is my longest best friend. We go wayyy back to elementary school and to this day pick up right where we left off when we get together.

Class of 2005 BHS gal pals right there!

The next morning my other bestie May came over to see the kiddos and we went for a long walk together. I love this girl so, so, so much. Back in college we’d take long walks together every single day so it was just like old times…but with a stroller and a giggly toddler.

Sibling pic! I always find it hilarious when I post pictures of Ian and everyone freaks out and says they never knew I had a brother — ha!

Uncle Ryan! And I have no clue what the kids are so intently looking at.

These two.

Thursday night my other bestie Shannon came over for a fun, late night of #winetalk and Cards Against Humanity. Never a dull moment with Shanny — my partner in crime.

Friday morning we walked around Lake Eola (my old cross-country running route) and went for a Swan Boat ride.

Both Thomas and Jackson lasted a whole 7 minutes before melting down over the life vests so the ride was cut short. However, we rented the swan for a 1/2 hour so Matt and Caroline decided to go back out after dropping the grouch off on land.

Is that not the cutest moment of all time?! Caroline could have stayed in the swan boat all day.

Can you find Caroline in this picture?

 After naps the boys were back at it running around the house together and getting into trouble.

 It’s all fun and games until you have to share the cell phone.

Meanwhile, Matt and Ryan assembled the kiddos’ Christmas present in Santa’s Workshop under the supervision of my dad.

All three babies in their Ron Jon Surf Shop t-shirts. In case you’re wondering, this is totally a Florida thing. My dad is a really big surfer (as in, every weekend before getting sick) and we spent lots of time in surf shops and at the beach growing up.

Saturday night has been “steak night” in our family for two generations. So when we come home we are always guaranteed a delicious steak dinner. Caroline and dad grilled up some of the most delicious filets I’ve had in a loooooong time.

We all felt so blessed to have dad home this year for Christmas after spending a very terrifying Christmas in the hospital last year. For those of you who have asked (thank you, by the way), dad is doing pretty good. He will continue his chemo treatments every two weeks indefinitely to keep the cancer from spreading. He is in a lot of pain and his entire body aches constantly but we are so thankful for him and for all the snuggles he was able to get in with the kiddos.

After dinner we let the babies set out the milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.

And then let the kids eat cookies because…Christmas Eve!

The whole family went for a stroll around the neighborhood before singing Christmas songs and putting the kiddies to bed.

 Santa came!!!!

After we opened all the gifts we gave Caroline one last box to open. Inside was a key tied to a string which she had to follow outside to her and Thomas’s gift from mommy and daddy.

The truck is a mini version of Matt’s truck which I find absolutely hilarious.

Lindsey, Ryan, Jackson and Baby Boy (due in May)!!!!!!!!!!!!

We also sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and celebrated with cake!

And that was a wrap on Christmas in Florida!

Previous Christmas Vacations

2015 Christmas

2014 Christmas

2013 Christmas

2012 Christmas

2011 Christmas