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Sunday, January 9, 2011

A Sarasota Christmas

This year we decided to be brave and fly with both kids to Sarasota, FL. Nobody had seen Pop's new house so what better occasion to get a sneak peek than during the Holidays? Megan, Newman and Gram all arrived the same day we did and the Tabaka's arrived a few days later. We flew down on Friday the 17th immediately following Aston's Christmas program. It was a better choice than fighting the actual holiday travelers. I wanted to get some photos of Stell's first airplane ride but things were that crazy there was no time for even a cell phone pic. Mistake #1: we did not get Stell a seat of her own. Mistake #2: we sat in the same row...and the issue was Aston wanted to sit with me on my lap because Mei was sitting on my lap so the lady between us was passing kids back and forth between me and Jeff. Mistake #3: We chose a flight time that landed in the midst of nap time thinking Stell would sleep. Fat chance. HOWEVER all that was temporary and we arrived on time and Pop was right there to greet us. Gram was slightly delayed so we needed to wait for her but the kids had a grand time running around the small airport with Pop.

Pop dropped us all off at the Hyatt so we could drop our stuff and get settled before heading to his house for dinner. Poor Gram was stuck with us at the Hyatt. We got adjoining rooms and Gram and I shared one room while Jeff slept with the kids in the other. Just as a side note...Aston fell off his bed 2 times in one night. One time landing on his chin...and just 2 days ago did he say to me "Mom I can chew with all my teeth now!"

Meg and Newman had already been at Pop's house for hours before we arrived. It was nice to see them and to let the kids hang with them while we grabbed a glass of wine to settle down. Stell had no problems sitting with Aunt Meg right away...here she is checking out her new rock from Newman!!! so exciting!

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The next morn it was rainy so we walked across the street from the hotel to the G.WIZ museum for kids. It's associated with a national network of science museums, which includes Discovery Place, so we ended up buying the annual family pass that we can use anywhere, anytime, all for $75! Totally worth it!

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After the museum we wandered aimlessly and happened to find a really cool Farmers Market downtown...probably could have walked since it was much closer than we thought...but Pop gave us his Honda Odyssey so we needed to see all what we were missing...you mini van friends know what I'm talking about! And funny enough we ran into the rest of the Family also shopping the market...

Then back to Pop's for more hanging with Aunt Megan...whether Megan liked it or not!

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Mei loves Holly. Always has and always will...She chose to play with, lounge on and torture Holly over all other options...even eating!

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A fast photo of the dining table on day 2. The kids sat with us for 3 minutes maybe! until they had better things to do.

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This one taken by Aston.

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More Aunt Megan...and Stell...Pop put this whole kitchen in by himself by the way!

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Pop put this gigantic tent up in his workshop/office for the kids...brilliant Pop!

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When we weren't in the tent...we were having pull-up contests...way to go Gram!!!!

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Mei giving Newman a high-5 after doing her pull-up and then some "weeee" (as she calls it) time with Meg

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On Sunday morning we had our little celebration time. We opened gifts...like this remote control Lighting from Gram and this yellow bus monster truck

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Stell loved the sleeping bag she got from Pop....

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The swing in the backyard was hours of entertainment

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much of the outside time was spent with Gram...I was too cold! didn't bring enough warm clothes! Whenever we go to FL it's freezing it seems!

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watching the heron fly down the canal...Pop has a beautiful spot here. He has his boat within steps from his back door, sees manatees come to his dock and has the best view of this canal I think since he's situated at the very end of it.

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Jeff showing off his tree climbing skills...

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When the Tabaka's arrived there was a renewed energy in the house! Stell followed Nita around like a puppy dog. she was mesmerized by her awesome tutu!

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Aston just jumped right in like he was a Tabaka himself...can you believe these PJ's Chrissy had made?!

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These are the coolest cousins ever!

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Aston needs boys he can play with like this in his life...it's just the type of boy he is...he enjoys being in this position...loves it actually!

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Putting the window stickers on...Chrissy brought these...it was like 30 mins of entertainment for Mei.

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Again check out this boy time! priceless...

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And then the gift opening extravaganza!

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Love Owen's face in the background...all like..."yup I knew he would like Hot Wheels!"

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Sisters

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Chrissy got Stell this tea set...she plays with it everyday...loves it!

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Thank you Tabaka's, Aunt Meg, Newman, Gram and Pop for creating such a special Christmas in FL. We did learn from our mistakes and got Stell her own seat on the way back to Charlotte and we split up. Stell sat in Aston's car seat in the middle of the plane next to Jeff and Aston and I had the very last row to ourselves...it was decidedly a better experience! Plus both kids slept!...a little.

7 comments:

Ross said...

A great chronicle of the first visit to Sarasota for Aston, Stellyn, Owen, Nita and AJ. You know Sarasota is a small town when we all decided to go to the farmer's market independently and ended up running into each other! Jeff tried to get some alone time following that but Susan and I were still able to surprise him at Whole Foods:)

Anonymous said...

Kate, wonderfully fun account of our Florida Christmas! So nice to reminise when viewing your magical pictures of Pop's house, gifts, meal time photo by Aston, the cool office tent and Meg and Newman playing with Stellyn, Pop's great backyard, Jeff climbing the tree, Stellyn loving Nita's tutu, Aston swinging, Gram on the pull bar,Aston enjoying trucks and the whole Tabaka clan opening gifts and in their neat pj's...thank you Ross for opening your lovely home to everyone! love, Gram

kate's corner said...

oh man! what a stupendous post!! first off! aston in "aston" pjs has done me in! first time i've ever seen him in anything personalized and love it ;) what great pjs!

man what fun yall had! needed to see the other side of things (given the plane ride and not so great sleeping!).

tent in house...brilliant! your sis and newman look so great and happy. love it.

cousin fun all around! love asty's face in that car pres pic.

and love the colors/tone in the indoor shots. good work!

love mj drinking a brewdog in the reflection of that one.

cute sis pic!

fun outside pics with gram and what a great spot!

Anonymous said...

so well documented as always. so fun spending holidays with family huh? but always good to be home again as well. impressive that your dad did that whole kitchen by himself. love the kids matching pjs. jeff is like thang with the climbing trees :-) love tent in house. we may have to copy since us sickos have cabin fever it may be fun to do something diff inside.

Tricia Williams said...

no wonder why you took a break. so many highlights and amazing pictures to sort through. what a nice setting your pop has. love that tree in the backyard. it was great in your shots and p. acker's. love the b&w one of stellyn behind the tree trunk. so dramatic.
great job capturing so many wonderful family moments, big and little. what fun and cute cousins! aston and stellyn must worship them.
g.wiz looks pretty cool. my parents made me think it was for older kids, but it looks like there was a lot of fun stuff for your kids.

brooke b said...

LOVE this post, Kate. So many incredible shots. Looks like such a fun family vacation. Love the tent - how awesome is that?!?! Love all the fun outside by the water (and all the tree climbing!). LOVE the clown wig and all the carrying-on-her-back your sis did. Love all the cousin time. Love Stell's uggs. :) Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

kathryn Karakus said...

Wow, so many great pictures Kate, where to begin... I loved that you were all together having a great time. Pops house looks great and I love the big tree in the back and of course his water view, so peaceful. Favorite picture was Stellyn and the tree trunk, loved the texture of the tree and this beautiful little girl behind. So many great family pictures! A very proud Pop! Also loved the pictures of Aston and Stellyn sitting outside in the chairs enjoying the view. Great holiday pictures Lee's!