To Florida and back!!

We were to fly out last Monday to Orlando to celebrate our daughter's 30th birthday and our grandson's first birthday. It didn't happen.

All flights for the airline were cancelled, all across the country. The following day they flew us on another airline. No explanation was ever given. They just cut our visit one day short. 

Just a few hours after we arrived, while eating dinner Sarah called from work to tell us to go outside. There was a rocket launch at Cape Canaveral. She had taken off for the day we were to arrive, but not the day we actually arrived. Working for a TV station, she knew just when the rocket was launching. The picture doesn't really do it justice.

Her backyard has an orange and a grapefruit tree. Unfortunately for us, they weren't quite ripe yet. Neither was the banana tree.

The live oak tree in her back yard is covered in Spanish moss and an azalea was still in bloom.

 Across the fence in the neighbor's yard was a hibiscus in bloom.

It was great to see so much greenery even if some was too much. The blacksmith helped Rusty trim their split leaf philodendron at the pool.

While we were there this little guy learned how to pull himself up to a standing position. He will be walking real soon.

I've never seen a little guy so interested in Micky Mouse. It's a good thing they live close to Disney-world.

Yes Connor is a TV nut. Play this video and watch how he dances to the theme song of Big Bang Theory. He will dance for it over and over as we rewind. If he's playing in the room and the show comes on, he comes crawling to the TV.  Amazing that a one year old can recognize a song. 

One day we went antiquing. I saw this awesome display of vintage ornaments. Sadly, I probably have that many, if I just had the table space to display them. We also saw this chicken strolling outside the shop. It seems chickens run loose in the town of Oviedo.

We went downtown for dinner at  Schumann’s Jäger Haus.  

The food was awesome, as were the desserts. 

Connor enjoyed our spatzel so much that next time his mother might order his own plate full.

Saturday, the day of Connors first birthday, came quickly!  Here he is modeling the shirt that I made for him.  Well actually it was the second shirt. The first one was a 12 month size. After washing it was too small. This Grandma got smart and washed the 24 month size first and THEN appliqued and embroidered it. 

Here are the many gifts he received, including a hand made rocking horse from his other grandfather. 

Just note how clean the shirt is. It will never again look like that! 

Let's just blame it on the bakery. With the big cake purchase they offered him his own "smash" cake. 

That was all it took! The shirt is now permanently stained green!

Here Grandpa enjoys some one on one time with the big one year old!

I too, got to do my share of the spoiling, but I also enjoyed the record breaking highs of 86 and 87 degrees every day! It was quite the shock to get off the plane in Missouri to 17 degrees and a snowy, icy runway.

 We paused for a grandparent photo before our week was up. 

This my friends, is how you shop for a Christmas tree in Florida. Seriously, do they know what they are missing in Missouri?  Snow, sleet, ice, and freezing temperatures.  Think they care?

It was a great week in Florida minus one day, thank you very much Allegiant Air. We can't wait to go back for the great company and warm weather!  Also, to spoil that grandson some more.