Florida

After NY we fly down to Florida to catch up with the other half of the family there.

We have 2 days in Tampa area before Jeff and the boys arrive and then we will all drive across the peninsula to Hobe Sound.  We arrive in the afternoon, get settled and the kids are in the pool with cousins as soon as we can find the swimsuits.

One of the days,  we are off for a side trip to Universal Studios, why you ask??? Harry Potter world and WANDS, the rumor is the wands pick the kids and our two want to see what they will get. Jackie and the kids decide to join us after much debate on their part, and we leave before sunrise to get past the traffic before rush hour.  Really Jackie is coming for Friendlies, after the park.  Into the park and first stop is Harry Potter world!, rides and butter beer, and wands!, very cool part of the park.  Now that we have been to Hogsmeade for the butter beer, played quidditch, and toured  Hogswart; we can go experience the rest of the park.  After a full day we do indeed eat dinner and more importantly ice cream! at Friendlies.

Again in Tampa, Rob and I take advantage of the support system (just like we did in NY) and run errands, pick up things that we need or could not get in Cambodia.

Friday night is Johnny’s birthday at the indoor soccer place not far from home.  All the kids (the big ones too) had fun playing soccer and dodgeball for a few hours and then we ate treats and ice cream before going home to sleep.

Leaving for Hobe Sound where we will spend Fourth of July on the beach.  All the kids are sleeping in the guest house (garage) and the grown ups each get their own space… we each will cook for a night and play in the water and read and karaoke and run errands (ok that is Rob and I more than anyone else).  Together we discover Nick’s Tomato Pie a fun family style Italian restaurant where the waitress remembers all 16 orders amongst the questions and changes.   We also try  Harry’s Crab Shack in the rain close to the beach house one night, but the best dinners were the ones we cooked at home.  Fireworks on the beach for the fourth and then the week is over.

We return to Tampa for a day before back to NY and then off to Hawaii!