MERRY CHRISTMAS / GOD JUL

I want to start by saying

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

or as we say in Swedish

 

GOD JUL!

 

Our Swedish Christmas tree

Now I want to take the chance to apologize for the very long break since last time I posted something. I am very sorry. We have been way too busy, probably more busy than what is good for us but now we are soon going to sit back and enjoy Christmas! And for you, who are reading this, I just want to say - Get ready for my longest post so far!!!

 

Dec 5

We all (Alex, Marlee, Noah, Cory, farfar and I) went to Santa's Enchanted forest, which is an amusement park in Miami, only open during the winter. Wow, how fun!! It was the first time Marlee got to go on a real Merry-go-round and a ferris wheel.

Making a puzzle, still anaware of what the evening has to offer...

Starting out light, a merry-go-round

Going up the ferris wheel!!!

 

Dec 7

Went to Miami beach to have lunch with one of Alex's old colegues. After the lunch me and Marlee enjoyed a swim in the ocean. It was great!! The waves were pretty big but Marlee was brave and went in with me.

 

Having lunch at "The place" on Miami beach.
Marlee is busy playing Angry birds...

Me and Marlee going swiming

A little surfer dude on the beach! :-)

 

Fancy houses and yachts on one of "the islands",
Star, Hibuscus or one of them..

 

Dec 8

Christmas time!! It was time for us the celebrate Christmas before leaving Miami. Cory came over. We all went into the hot tub, which was very niiiiiiiice!!!! Even Noah could go in before it got too hot and after getting used to it he enjoyed it, too. Being smiley as always :-D

 

My Darlings in the morning. They are just the best
little boys in the whole wide world!!!

Oh, yes!! Playing with one of the Christmas gifts with Cory

Marlee insisted to sleep with his new "carry on" that
he got from farmor and farfar...

Dec 9
Our very last day in Miami!!! We decided to  make Marlee tired and went to Pinecrest garden with Lucas, Lucia, Alex and Jorge. We had a very goo day with them there. After the park we had to go home and pack. The plane left the same night...

Visiting the peting zoo with Lucas.

Dec 10

Arriving home to Sweden and the winter!! After a loooong trip we finally made it back home to Sweden with all our bags!!!!!!!!! Marlee was not feeling good at all when we got home. He had a cold when we left Miami and it just got worse during the trip home. Poor thing! The only thing he wanted to eat was the fruit pur'es farmor had gotten him in Miami. Good we had them!

 

 

Dec 15
We had hardly gotten rid of the jet lag when me and the boys took the car down to visit my sister and the newly arrived cousin, Ailo. He was born in the end of October and about two month younger than Noah. It was the first time for us to meet him and that was exiting!

The Drive to Skåne, where my sister lives normally takes about 7 hours. It took 11 for us due to the weather, the children and not having a working window cleanier on the car.. But we made it and we arrived safely! The trip back home took "only" 10  hours...

Winter Sweden!

Ailo and Noah

Noah in his bed

Sleeping Ailo, playing Noah

Ailo, the little man

Brother love!!!

Multi tasking!

 

Noah at 2 am. Still jet lagged and not ready to go to sleep...

 

 

 

Dec 20

Back home and ready to play  in the snow!!! It has been great since we got back, I think. With lots of snow and just a few degrees below freezing.

 

 

On the kitchen floor

 

Dec 22

Visitin Sofia, Aman and Mobi. Baking Christmas cookies.

 

 

Marlee and Mobi are helping Sofia

 

 

Fairchild garden

The children and I went with farmor to Fairchild tropical botanic garden today. It is a very nice garden with all kinds of plants and they also have a butterfly "house", which was our goal for the day. It was really nice!! There was even small Hummingbirds with the butterflies.

Marlee looking at the pupas



Marlee found a friend to check out the
butterflies with. They both had their
little chart with the different species on.



A Hummingbird



Different butterflies and orchids that we saw



They let some more butterflies
out while we were there

Chocolate plant with cacao beans

A pineapple plant

Going to Pinecrest garden

Today I took the children to Pinecrest garden. A place where they have a petting zoo, nice playground and a "rain forest" with a lot of fish and turtles. Marlee got to pet some animals and we all had a good time!

After a late dinner I left with Noah to do some shopping while Alex went to see a friend. Marlee stayed home with farmor and farfar.

Piggy at the petting zoo. A really FAT pig!

And sheepes

Mr goat was also pettable

Watching the Christmas decorations

Some fish are checking out Marlee's hand

Visit by Nancy

Alex's friend Nancy (that he got to know in Brasil) came to visit us!! She spent two days here and we made a nice trip to Shark Valley (no sharks only gators) and a boat trip to Key Biscayne. I am really happy that she had the chance to come visit us and next time I hope that Joel (her husband) can come, too. At the moment they live in Virginia.

We also had Alex, Jorge and their children Lucia and Lucas over for dinner this weekend. It was nice for Marlee to get to play a little.

Hello gator!!

Well, I did not feel like reading that sign anyways!

Alex, Marlee and Nancy in Shark Valley

Nice birdie in Shark Valley

Boat trip to Honey moon harbour (Key Biscayne, Miami)
Mario is chilling with Noah

Noah is enjoying Nancy's company

Part of Honey moon harbour. I could live here...

Marlee has gotten obsessed with Angry
Birds and Nancy was so kind to
download it to her tablet.

Swimming in Honey moon harbour

Swimming in the pool and street art

Wednesday and Thursday last week.

Marlee sleeping
(I can think a few ways that would be more comfortable...)

My blanket!

Good swim in the pool!

Noah hiding from the mosquitos and no-see-ums

Street art!! Marlee is adding (drawing) some jam on the pancake :-)

Great finish (on the weekend)

The day after the birthday we all went out on the boat. A GREAT day with good company, good swimming and even some fish on the hooks! We had a very good time! Marlee got to drive the boat!!! He also helped Leon and pappa with the fish they caught and on the way home we saw dolphins!!!

I hope to get some pictures from farmor and farfar too from the boat trip to add later

My princes sleeping in the morning

Capatain Marlee on duty

Fishing with Leon

Helping pappa to take care of the fish (throwing it back)



Albert joined us on the boat so we had
our own trubadur with us :-)
Doreen on top



Watching dolphines with pappa

Noah slept most of the trip, one short break for eating

Today has been a very nice day so far. It looked like it would be rain this morning but then the sun and the blue sky appeared. I walked to the playground with Marlee and Noah. Just bought a wheel board for the stroller for Marlee to stand on so we tried that out. Worked good even if I am not completely satisfied with how it is mounted on the stroller. Farmor, farfar and Cory arrived to the playground after a while and kept us company! Marlee had "super duper fun" (as he would put it) with Cory :-)

Notice his new Lego Crocs :-)

Cory and Marlee on the "BIG slide"