A Family Vacation

Portland winters can be a bit rough, especially around March and April when the rest of the country is getting sun and we still have 40's and raining. Every year that we have lived here, Todd and I have talked about planning a vacation in the spring-- going somewhere warm and sunny. And every year we found an excuse of why we couldn't go. However, this year, 2012, was the year of the warm spring vacation. We did it!
We headed to Florida because my folks have a house there, so we had a free place to stay, and somehow, plane tickets were ridiculously cheap. We had a blast: theme parks, pools, mini golf, beaches, and even a boat tour where we got to see alligators, manatees, turtles, snakes, and other wildlife. It was warm, sunny and lovely. However, I have now learned that a vacation to a warm and sunny place is not exactly relaxing when you have 2 small kids. Gone are the days of reading by the pool, napping on the beach, or sleeping in. Roller coasters at theme parks were traded in for Dr. Suess rides and kid areas, and romantic dinners were traded in for cooking at home or ordering pizza. Tears were shed daily, especially on the 15 hour journey back to Portland. But, we had fun. It was an adventure to be remembered, with lots of good family time.
For those of you whose blogs I normally read, I have been neglecting reading them because we had only sporadic internet service. But, I have not forgotten you, and now, as I adjust back to the real world (of cold and rain nonetheless), I promise I will be reading blogs again instead of just writing them!
Here are a few of the pictures from our trip: