Annual Jr. Orange Bowl Parade.

There are so few things down here that make it feel like the holidays. The weather certainly doesn't and there are so few traditions but without fail every year the Junior Orange Bowl Committee has a parade and every single year without fail we go to it. Sometimes it is magnificent and sometimes it is lacklustre at best but we don't care because we always have fun.

We started going when Lily was 3 or 4 and we haven't missed one since. We normally go with our friends Richard and Shara but this year they couldn't go and it was the first time in 12 yrs that they have missed it. Lucky for us Hollis and the girls were down for the day and they wanted to join us.

A big bunch of crazy happy waiting for the parade.

ATT had a booth set up and were giving away freebies, I took 4 of the girls over to it because they wanted some stuff. On the way back some nosey man wanted to know how come they got so much and I told him because there were so many of them but he pointed out that Rosie had 2 bags and that wasn't fair so I then said she was carrying one for her sister who was sitting down waiting for the parade to start. He looked a little shocked that there was one more so I flippantly said, hey you've never heard of the Von Trapps? He left me alone after that and we took our seats as the parade was about to start.

I think I may have mentioned before that parades in Miami are different than parades anywhereelseintheworld, they have their own unique flair, yeah, that's it, flair. Hollis and I were laughing our bottoms off at some of the oddball stuff that made it into this one. But since we went for the kids I took photos of things that the girlies would want to remember.

Ron Magil from Zoo Miami, if there is a parade anywhere in Miami, Ron and a snake are in it....ALWAYS

I am not sure.

A marching band and this one the girls actually looked happy to be here.

The float from Miami Childrens Hosp. What can I say that hospital holds a special place in my heart.

Oh my that's blurred, the Shriners

More Shriners

This horse was gorgeous but was right on top of me before I saw it.

The actual Jr Orange Bowl float

Arghhh, Pirates

Little Cutie

Gang of bikers, not sure if they were meant to be in it or if they crashed the parade.

The winning float. There never are many floats.

Flag twirlers. These girls were so good.

We had a great time. There weren't as many marching bands as usual which was a shame but it was a good parade. For the first time ever they were throwing things off of the floats and the kids thought it was brilliant. I was appalled at some of the people who would run towards the floats get the goodies then charge back to their seats and then get more. Whats up with you folk? It's cheap crap that you really don't need, stop being greedy. Five days ago it was Christmas and you got beautiful things that you actually wanted not plastic doo-dads with advertising all over it. sheesh. The girls laughed and had fun and thought they were part of the biggest parade in town...that's what counts, well that and spending time with good friends.

Splash Park

Hollis and I were hoping to get away for a couple of days with the girls this summer but it doesn't appear that it's going to happen. Instead we have decided to get the kidlets together here doing fun stuff. Yesterday we took them to a water park. I love water parks, I really do. This is just a little one but it is still a lot of fun. We haven't spent much time together lately and we miss each other and the girls really miss each other. Lily spent the night with the girls at an unsleepover on Monday.

The 3 bigs

one of the littles

both of the littles

the bigs having fun

I LOVE this one

weeeeee

chilling

Joie, here's the photo I promised you would show up on the blog

awww, Treva's! I can call you that cos you call me Dawny!

Happy faces, happy girls

The un-sleepover actually involved sleep!

They didn't wake up until 7.30 and no one was more surprised than me. I guessed that my early bird had woken everyone one but I was wrong, it was Joie's turn to be the alarm clock. Considering they were still holding court at 11pm and they usually get up at 6., they did pretty well.

They spent a very leisurely morning playing board games, watching telly and playing Wii when I decided to shake it up a bit and suggest we go out for a while on the bikes, scooters, jeeps, pogo sticks, you name it they could have it. I have an insanity gene that allows me these mad thoughts without a second of remorse. What was the worse that could happen? One of them could run me over but other than that I had it all under control.

After a quick safety briefing they were off.....at full speed with nary a glance over their shoulders. They tore this neighbourhood apart. Our clubhouse has a bike path that goes around it so that is where we headed to. I knew they ( and the rest of the world) would be safe there.

At first I decided that H's girls could not ride the electric scooters. They aren't familiar with them and H wasn't with us. I rode them about on them for a few turns and then called an executive decision and let them have them. We have enough safety gear to kit out the British Army but of course we didn't use a lick of it. No, no, no, I am such a great friend and responsible person that I just threw them to the wolves, so to speak! I couldn't stand watching Joie squash herself into the Jeep for another second, she needed a toy with some pizzazz that didn't cut off her blood supply. A quick tour of what button did what and they were gone. Peals of laughter filled the air as they raced around the path.

Racing fools

I'm not sure why Rosie looks so forlorn hereSpeedy
maniacs

Trevi on the Bum Wiggle Scooter. It may, possibly, have a different name than this but this is what you have to do to make it move.Lily on her Daddy's electric scooter
Now how did you two end up sideways on a perfectly srtaight sidewalk, huh?
Oh, just look at that concentration.
funny girls

All good things must come to an end and this playdate/un-sleepover was no different. Hollis was greeted at the front door by Lily saying in a disgusted and sad voice, oh no, it's your mum. (have I mentioned lately that I am working on her manners. LOL)

4 F's

Friends, family, fun and food.

When Hollis found out that my sister and Andy were coming for a visit she immediately said she wanted to see them again. Today was that day. It was really nice being able to take Sally and Andy to her house since the last time they saw each other, well the first time they saw each other, was at my Fathers house this summer, in England.

Even Hollis' 3 girls agree that she really is Crazy Auntie Sally.

Unfortunately Sally was up most of the night with a migraine so the crazy was a little subdued today. Shortly before we left she started to feel like herself, thank goodness.

I think I have mentioned before that Grace loves to cook!A Wii bit of fun
Trevi thinks colouring is much more fun than Wii
Fun
Trevi took Rosie outside to show her how to scooter. Trevi is really good
Rosie, not so much.


Being able to share my family with our best friends is truly fantastic. Hollis is like family to us so really it was just an extension!

Birthday un-sleepover

I am not sure how Lily managed to get through the day today but she did and the second she flew out of the school gate she said, "arethegirlshereyet?" I had to tell her that no, the girls were not here yet but would be soon. No sooner were we in the front door she grabbed a snack got changed and started that familiar chant all over again until they arrived.

Once Joie, Anlei and Trevi arrived they all took off together playing and were only seen when they needed sustenance. Surely having 5 children in a house should be loud but it isn't. Occasionally I could here a guitar or drums being played very loudly but that was it. Girls are quiet. After lots more playing, a much needed bath and a movie maybe in a few hours they will go to sleep. But then again probably not.

Getting their Gangsta on
budding musicians

the 2 youngest made a house in the cupboard under the stairs and played there for hours.

Lots of fun
S'mores

this made me nervous but they were great.
seconds
umm, tasty
I handed the cameras to them and told them to have fun. They took a lot of these shots themselves.

These just make me laugh.

Egads, I rocked out so hard my head turned all the way around

A chocolate-less s'mores
I have a great idea, you take a picture of me taking a picture of you. I bet no one has ever done it before!
I tried to suggest that they go to sleep before midnight cos tomorrow they have a fun and busy day...I bet they laughed heir heads off when I left the room.