Winter (in Florida) Fun

Once again, this is just a random collection of pictures we've taken since the holidays. I'm trying to do a better job of uploading them before I forget I even took them!

One of my crafty coworkers made this little suitcase and gave it to Harper. She loves filling it with anything her heart desires and brings it with her in the car to keep her busy!

Just like last January, the Graham and Mitchell families got together down in Boca Grande for a Sunday afternoon. We enjoyed a big lunch together and then an afternoon walk and dessert on the beach. It was cool and breezy by the water, so there was no swimming this year! Mr. Graham also took the kiddos for a golf cart ride, with Andrew and Alison as chaperones. :)

Mrs. Graham had bought the girls matching lavender dresses and had them monogrammed, and Ryder sported a navy blue polo with his monogram on it.
(Ryder, Madeleine, Charlotte, Harper, and Maisie)

ready to ride!

Ryder loves driving!

And they're off!

Grann at the kids' table :)

Since the kids and I were off the following day for MLK day, Mrs. Graham invited us to come back and enjoy some pool time since it was supposed to be warmer outside and the pool was heated. Carrie's girls were napping when we got there, so just Carrie and I took Ryder and Harper until the girls woke up and could join us. I really enjoyed just sitting in the sun, but the kids thought it was still a little chilly in the water!

WINTER WEATHER ALERT: FREEZE WARNING
This message kept showing up on my local news app last week, and it made me laugh. It's a big deal down here because we never get weather this cold. It really felt like winter for a couple of days!

It was 31 degrees when we left for school one morning, so the kids wore winter coats and hats for real! It's a good thing Grandma had supplied us with some winter wear before our Thanksgiving trip to the mountains. 

Fresh out of the shower one morning, Harper asked me to fix her hair. Since it was so wet, I was able to make a small tail of it stick straight up! Ha!

Birthday party double-header
Last Saturday both kiddos had been invited to different friends' birthday parties and really wanted to go. Andrew and I decided to divide and conquer until we realized that the parties didn't overlap. Ryder's friend had his party at an indoor skating rink, and Harper really wanted to go too! Neither of them have ever skated, and Andrew and I calculated that we probably hadn't been in 20 years. Andrew and Ryder went to the party on time, and Harper and I arrived about an hour or so later for the public skating time. We had a blast! The kids couldn't believe how cold it felt since we were technically inside and it was warm outside. We bundled up again in our winter coats! R & H spent a lot of their time falling and trying to get back up again, Andrew only fell once, and I somehow managed to keep my balance...barely! They are already asking "when can we go back?"

After the ice rink, Harper and I headed to party #2. It was at a park, so it felt nice to stand out in the fresh air and warm up after being on the ice! Luckily I had brought an extra outfit for Harper because her pants were a little frosty. After the playground party we headed to Pops and Grann's house for dinner. I was exhausted after such a busy Saturday, so it was wonderful to have someone cook for us!