Happy New Year

Happy New Year!!

Mike had to work in South Florida the week before New

Years Eve.  So of course the boys and I went with him and

turned it into a mini vacation. 

Usually the hotels we stay at are near the beach, but being

New Years Eve week they were very expensive.

So for Wed and Thurs nights we stayed at a hotel the boys 

really liked because our room was 2 stories.  

Stairs are an easy source of entertainment.

There wasn't anything around us to do, since it was in the 

middle of a business area.

And right next to the train tracks.  

Caleb especially loved watching the trains go by.

Every time he heard the distance rumble he'd run to the

window and look out at it.

So we decided to surprise them and take them on it.

The Tri Rail runs from Palm Beach to Miami. We took 

the south bound one from Delray Beach to Fort Lauderdale. 

Then had a 20 minute wait to go back. 

We recently watched Polar Express at Christmas and this 

train reminded of us that.  So we pretended we were on the

Polar Express and walked to the very back of the train and

looked out.

We sat on the top level and then the bottom level.

We'd love to take the Amtrak north to Boston someday.

That was so fun!

On Friday Dec 31 we switched to a hotel we stay at often.

Mike used his Marriot Rewards points so our room was free.

 The weather was wonderful and the boys enjoyed swimming

and trying to soak their dad. They know better than to soak mom!

When we pulled out the sleeper couch we found a 

bottle of whiskey!  Too bad neither of us like whiskey.

The city closes Atlantic Ave for a big party during the holidays.

It was huge. There were games, a maze, bounce houses,

rides, food, a 100ft Christmas tree, and fireworks.

I took this picture of Caleb then realized where

his hand was placed.

So I had him take another one.

 We got to walk inside the tree too.

It had moveable dolls in displays.

One of the games was mini golf, so of course

we played it.

They even got to paint a car. 

Thankfully the paint is washable because as Caleb was 

walking with his full paintbrush he brushed the back

of some guys pants and left paint smudges. 

At 9:00 they had a firework show for the kids,

then it was adult time. 

We walked back to our hotel and played Wii games

till Midnight.  From our room we could see the midnight

firework show.  The boys had no problem staying awake.

We drove home on the 1st.  Only to turn around

and drive back down on the 3rd. This time to 

Port St. Lucie.  Caleb likes this hotel because it

has a mini putt putt next to the pool.

They could swim all day, and almost did!

 We came home the 5th.

Yesterday we rode our bikes to the park and played

tennis.  Play maybe not quite the right word here.

 We served the ball back and forth is more accurate.

 Dec 16th Mike was in a car accident on I-75.  A woman in

a big BMW side swiped him and tore up the drivers side.

 She took full responsibility for it and we were able to

get our whole car completely redone.  Not a dent or 

scratch anywhere!  

Feels like we got a brand new car.

Kids start back to school on the 10th.  Christina has been working like crazy the past several weeks. 

Her schedule will slow down a little once she is back in school.  Then she will work about 20 hours a week.

I hope that 2011 is a wonderful year for our family and friends.