Tampa, Florida

Brad was lucky enough to get approval to go to a PE conference in Tampa, Florida so Ellie and I decided to tag along. (I mean seriously, wouldn't you?) We arrived in Florida safely and Ellie was a pretty good traveler, but wouldn't fall asleep until the last 45 minutes of a 4 hour flight! She just wouldn't give in - STUBBORN! She never started "crying" but got fussy and didn't want anything for a while. Thank goodness I had Brad to help with her. She loved the video we brought for her to watch on the laptop, and kept the headphones on pretty good, but I packed my camera with our luggage and didn't get a picture. The flight was pretty smooth, but the last 35 min or so were pretty bumpy - Brad was NOT feeling his best. He looked a little green around the gills by the time we exited the plane! We sat next to a NICE lady, and she even held Ellie a few times. It turned out that I knew her sister from when I worked at Kings in Logan many moons ago. She was going to the same PE conference as Brad - so they had a lot to chat about (and chat she did!!)

Once we landed and got our luggage, we took a cab to our hotel. Ummm, it was interesting. The cab driver was driving so fast, that on one turn, I had to hold my hand out to stop the stroller from toppling over me! We very nearly missed (I'm talking mere inches here!) side-swiping about 3 cars, and then he had the nerve to honk at a guy going through the intersection. He wasn't even close to cutting our driver off, but apparently our driver didn't think so! And our drive to the hotel wouldn't have been complete without our driver driving on the grass/gravel along the freeway exit ramp to pass a couple of cars! We did make it safely - and Ellie was oblivious to the crazy driving. (although it probably didn't help Brad's naseau too much)!

The weather was nice and sunny the whole time we were there. Low to mid 80s everyday! I wish we could've brought it home with us! Being right next to the bay, it was a little humid and I was afraid that by the end of our trip, I'd end up looking like Monica from Friends! (I told my family not to be surprised if I came home with cornrows and beads!!! Augh! Never!)

Brad had a great time at his conference and Ellie and I had fun just relaxing. It was so nice to sit and read a book all day if I wanted...and not worry about what to fix for dinner...and not feel guilty for eating all the licorice myself. I did miss my kiddos, but they were having so much fun with my sister and brother-in-law that I don't think they missed us too much.

We found some fun restaurants to eat at, and I even got Brad to "branch out" a little on his dining choices. Don't get your hopes up, I didn't reinvent the wheel with him, but he did try a few new things! Progress!

Well, I'll let these pictures speak for themselves! We had a fantastic time, and I'd love to go back again!

Our hotel - the Sheraton Riverwalk. I think my picture-taking ability on this photo is particularly "postcard worthy"?! ha ha The water you see in the picture is the Hillsborough River, it feeds right in from Tampa Bay.

She carried her "lovey" around with her everywhere at the airport. I know, I know, totally disgusting, but you do what you have to do to make the little one happy. I just had to grit my teeth and pray that she wouldn't get sick from all the disgusting germs!

Yeah, all clean! No more disgusting airplane germs on me!

Totally LOVING the grass on her feet! lol

She loved crawling along the ledge and splashing all over herself.

"Playing" in the hotel

Of course the garbage would be the funnest toy!


Brad was so embarrassed when I took this picture - so "touristy"! But I just couldn't pass it up - these window washers were so far up, and the wind was blowing them all around! YIKES! I hope they got paid well!

Loving the feel of the flower petals



She pulls some of the funniest faces!

Just waiting for our dinner - all the restaurants by our hotel had these fun outside dining areas! We took full advantage of the beautiful weather!

Brad "vacationing" (he was actually doing homework...poor guy)

What a fun game to play: pack...unpack...pack....unpack...

I'm so cute Mom! And there's a little girl who looks just like me, she's great too!

Uh, I think I'm full now - but that licorice was tasty!

On a bridge overlooking the Hillsborough River

I took a LOT of these types of pictures of Ellie in her stroller. Brad wasn't with us for a lot of the time, so while Ellie and I were vacationing and walking around, I didn't have anyone to hold Ellie in the pictures. "Ellie sweetie, hold still and look at Mommy. Say cheese! No, no, no, don't stick your head through those bars, you could fall through and land in the river, what a silly girl?!!" I was trying to avoid any situation that even resembled that! :)

My precious little Ellie Belle!

Our last day in Florida, killing some time before we headed to the airport.