Exploring with Grams!
You know that big trip we were preparing for with Airplane/Airport School? Well, we took it and got back Monday! I took the kids to South Florida and visit Grams and Grampa. LittleBear had been there before, but didn't remember and LadyBear had never been there, so it was well past time for them to go. Warning, this post will have a ton of pictures!
Watching the airport workers get our plane ready...
The kids did great traveling by car, bus and plane! They followed our airplane rules for the most part and seemed to greatly enjoy the experience. I totally recommend JetBlue and will check them first whenever I need to fly...they were a wonderful airline!!
Airport fire trucks!!!!
To keep the kids busy on the plane, I packed their backpacks with different games, toys and books that I hoped they would like as well as some special snacks that I knew would be welcomed (applesauce pouches, fruit snacks and bunny cookies). We had their favorite blankets, sticker books, magnet doodlers, books, games and the iPad with Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood episodes if things got desperate. In a moment of Mommy worry, I also made bracelets for the kids with my cell phone number in case we got separated (thank you, Pinterest!). I probably over-prepared, but whatever...I was thankful for all of it :)
Magnet Doodlers for everyone!
We did all sorts of fun things while we were visiting. Oh my goodness, did we stay busy! One of the things we enjoyed was a park located very close to my parents' house, which I remember enjoying very much growing up. The kids loved running around, conversing with the ducks, playing on the playground and saying hi to whomever we passed.
Running through the park together...
Lightning safety!
talking to the ducks...
The kids also really enjoyed playing in their swimming pool and asked to swim every day. Thanks to LittleBear's swim lessons this summer, he felt comfortable in the pool and LadyBear loved zooming all around the pool and even figured out that kicking her feet helps her go faster and farther!
Playing around...
Being silly...
LadyBear checking out the deep end...
My littlest fish...
We also got to go some really fun places!!! Our first field trip was to ZooMiami, which was extra fun for me because we met up with my friend A. and her youngest son E. It was wonderful to see them!!!!!!!!! I have missed her a ton. The kids enjoyed seeing the animals, riding the monorail and playing a short time in the splashpad there at the zoo.
LadyBear checking out the turtles...
LittleBear found a giant feather in the aviary!
Watching the waterfall with our friends Miss A. and E.
Another favorite field trip was going to Butterfly World! Grams and the kids really enjoyed it as well and I'm really glad we decided to add this one to our itinerary. We saw caterpillars, chrysalides, hummingbirds, some Lorakeets, tropical gardens and walked through a very large enclosed area with butterflies flying all around us. They also had a bug museum, which the kids enjoyed. Grandma, you were remembered and LittleBear said he wished you could have been with us :)
Looking for more butterflies...
Butterflies!!!
This was another one of my favorites...
This Blue Morpho was LittleBear's favorite...it had brown spots on its underside and bright blue wings on top!
Feeding the Lorakeets...
Bug Museum!!!
Yikes those are big...No thank you!!!
Grampa had promised to take LittleBear to the Gold Coast Railroad Museum and LittleBear was not about to let Grampa forget it :) That was another fun field trip that everyone enjoyed and we got to take a real train ride on a big train! They also had several other train cars we could look at including a Zephyr, the Ferdinand Magellan and two Nasa locomotives. The model train room was another favorite with the kids and adults alike.
Train Museum!!
Going to take a train ride!
The kids were soaking it all in!
Model trains!!!
Playing with the train tables at the museum...
One of the biggest reasons we took this trip was to meet Cousin Z. and see Auntie D. again (they live in Hawaii, so we don't get to see them much)! LittleBear LOVED playing with his newest cousin and LadyBear enjoyed getting to meet her as well. I am so thankful we got to see them!!
Reading with Auntie and Cousin Z!
Happy Grams and Grampa with their Grandkids!
LittleBear playing with coasters with Cousin Z and Auntie!
We ended our time in Miami with a short trip to show the kids the ocean at sunset...
The trip back was ok. The kids did well for the most part. LadyBear kind of lost it in the airport at the end of the trip, but I was very thankful she waited until we got off the plane and she hadn't had a nap at all that day, so it was totally understandable. All in all, the kids did great. Daddy had lots of love and even a sign waiting for us when we got home!!!
Mommy and her two favorite bear cubs...
After that, it was time to head back home...
Watching the busyness of an airplane getting ready to depart...
The trip back was ok. The kids did well for the most part. LadyBear kind of lost it in the airport at the end of the trip, but I was very thankful she waited until we got off the plane and she hadn't had a nap at all that day, so it was totally understandable. All in all, the kids did great. Daddy had lots of love and even a sign waiting for us when we got home!!!
We missed you too, Daddy!
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