Happy Faces

So, part-way into this gloriously sun-drenched vacation, my parents made their grand entrance into our lives to join us for the last hurrah. And after a day poolside with other friends from home, who just happen to be here as well, with our little free spirit exploring her shy side by overtly avoiding the big waterslide until the moment we said it was time to go... and then she made up for said avoidance three times over, my husband and I high-tailed it out of dodge and are now listening to the cappaccino machine's whirrrr and shhhhhh, while barristas hand bleary eyed, yet happy, customers their strong black drip topped with mountains of white foam.  The aroma of fresh brew is fully permeating the air. But we're not here for the coffee, though that fact doesn't mean I'm not sitting next to my current fall obsession... a grande soy chai latte.  No, we're here so that I can watch that perfectly pink line of the Flickr uploader make it's merry way across the page. Can I just say that our resort internet sucks?  Because it does. But really, that's the only thing about this trip that makes our happy face turn upside down.

Because these finding-the-good life enthusiasts are having the time of our lives.




Beginning with curious eyes and short little legs sauntering their way through the maze of airport terminals until we count down the numbers and she triumphantly exclaims that she's found D52 and then fires off rounds of "Is this the Florida airplane?" "Where are the other airplanes going?" "Is everyone here going to Florida?" "That plane there, where's it going?" "California?" And before we can even finish answering the firing squad style blast of  questions, she's made new friends, who are also, most definitely, going to Florida. Let the next round begin... "What are their seats?" "What are our seats?" "Can we all sit together?" "Then can I sit with them?"



She teaches me to love and explore everyday. Have I mentioned that before?

And one of the great things about visiting Florida? Our friends that live here. Dinner on the patio... in flip flops at the end of October. Meeting new littles and passing them back and forth. Having adult conversation peppered with bouts of hands don't go in our friend's eyes and eat the food that's on your plate please.

And those were just our first weekend's beautiful bookends perched atop this vacation's grand maple shelves.  The kind that are almost too lovely they outshine the books wedged between them. But I assure you, each and every story in the middle is just as magical, and quite possibly even more so.

Like our trip to SeaWorld, a marvelous encore to my girl's first time and a glowing premier encounter for my littlest little.






We made it though a day in the park tear and tantrum free.  And guys, that makes it one giant WIN for mommy and daddy.



And the face painting, oh the beloved face painting. According to my little sprite it feels so good... and also? It's a great excuse to look in the mirror every 3 minutes.





But since mommy didn't have a mirror stuffed somewhere in the diaper bag between a pack of wipes and bottles of water, the iPhone worked as a great substitute.



Just about the time that our little cubby cheeks was ready for a break from the overwhelming excitement and nestled himself right up into the crook of my neck, baby girl got a second wind.






And after her fill of mapping and climbing, well, naturally it was dancing.




And dance she did, with Shamu and the giant polar bear who shall remain nameless, because this mama can't remember his name.



Just as the sun began to bid us adieu, the moon began whispering it's sweet hello making it's grandiose appearance... hovering low and just out of finger's reach.



And if that weren't enough, our weekend continued to unfold stories of playtime at the pool, digging for dino bones, and lego car races...







And really, there is so much more, but I'm being beckoned by a family missing their mommy.

More to come.  Much more to come.