Sea World!

We took the boys to Sea World a while ago. Landon was about 2.5 years old and Dylan was about 6 months. We met Gabe's grandmother there so she could be with the boys and Landon fell in love with Sea World. Ever since then Landon has always talked about Sea World.  When we found out we were moving we told him we would be near Sea World since he loved it so much. However, because we told him that, he asked every day when we would be going to Sea World. We made it about 3 weeks here and then we drove over. It isn't a bad drive at all and one we know we will be doing more of. Dylan loved it. We found out that they have an Elmo show and Dylan could not have been happier.  The boys had a great time and a huge thanks to Nona for our season passes!

Sea lion show

Cookie Monster

Grover

Elmo

Dylan with Elmo...so happy!

Ice cream time

Cute daddy!

Carousel time

Sitting on Shamu

Landon did NOT want to go home!

Exploring our new city

When we first got to Tampa, I was so nervous. We had no friends and no family....but it turned out to be very peaceful. We were so fortunate in Atlanta to be surrounded by all of our family and friends that we were busy ALL OF THE TIME...we NEVER had down time. I know I could have said no but just didn't feel right or want to. However, when we got here, we had no obligations, no showers or parties...we had free time together as a family to do what we wanted. We tried to do something different every weekend. We went to the Lowry Park Zoo, Sea World, the MOSI, Busch Gardens and the Glazier Museum. There is quite a bit to do here and with Orlando only an hour a way we have even more options. We have not done LegoLand yet but it is on our list. It was just so nice to go explore on a Saturday and on Sunday we really just relaxed...something we have not done a lot of in quite some time...makes you appreciate your family that much more!

Here is our first visit to the Lowry Park Zoo. It is an older zoo but has some great animals and an amazing kids play area with 5 or 6 rides for little kids...all paid for with admissions to the park. We even got both boys to ride a mini roller coaster which Dylan wanted to do and Landon had no interest in, but he rode anyway...well because I told him if he did ride it he could get his toys out of time out...Ha!

Dylan on the lizard!

Bald Eagle

D.

They had a baby rhino...so precious!!!

Dylan feeding the giraffe...Landon wanted nothing to do with it!

Landon riding the carousel!

Our "new" house...at least for a year!

Here is the house we are renting in New Tampa for this year. The house has plenty of space for all of us to live and sleep and for me to work. However, it is all builder grade so I will be very happy when we get to the next house with some better quality finishes! Most important, the neighborhood is great...we are in a gated community on the water, with sidewalks and 3 parks...it is PERFECT for the boys! I am so glad that we found it when we did and that it is working out so well!

Our house

View from our back patio

Another view...very peaceful!

This is the view from my "office"...things could be worse!

The beach park...boys love it!

Playing in the sand in mid-January...very nice!

The beach house in between...

After we left Atlanta, we went to the beach house. It was going to be 5 days from the time our stuff was picked up until it was delivered because of the New Year holiday! We went down there to relax as I also had the week off work which was very nice. Gabe worked some because we were in his territory and the boys got to be with Tink and Poppa. Gabe left on day 5 to meet his mom who was kind enough to come down and help us unpack. I didn't want to take the boys to the house in chaos, so the plan was to get everything unloaded from the truck and at least have the boys rooms put together before we arrived. The boys and I stayed at the beach house for a few more days while I worked and then we headed over to our new house...which I had only seen one time! I remember saying good-bye to my parents before we left and you would have thought I would have never seen them again...I had not cried once since we got the news of our move combined with the stress of work, selling our house and packing...but boy did the waterworks come on...I got it together for the boys and we did the 3 hour drive from Jacksonville to Tampa to meet Gabe!

While at the beach, we of course had to have some of our normal fun at the beach, zoo and just around the house. The boys LOVE the beach house and we are very glad that we are only 3 hours now as we plan to go every month this summer!

Dylan loving life...still no hair cut :)

Going away party!

Again, going back 3 months, Gabe and I were very fortunate to have a fabulous going away party. We combined it as a holiday party and enjoyed seeing family and friends and saying, "See you soon". It was nice to have a long night out and knowing that the boys were in good hands!

We really do miss our friends back home, but we are also really enjoying making new friends in Tampa!

My favorite cake of all time!

Our good friends Adam and Ines!!!

With Liza (my twin), John, Michael and Jennifer

Best work friends!!!

My pod-mate at work...best ever...Love me some Valerie!!

Amazing friend, Jen!!!

Monique...childhood friend from 6th grade!!!

My beautiful cousin Sarah and her husband Bill!

Krazy Kristen....love her to death!!!

Michael and Maya...love them to pieces!!!

Amazing Autumn...she is such a kind soul and has been our saving grace!

My soulmate...Amanda!

Blair, Fleming, Bryan and Jordan...not a party without them!!!

My incredible family!!!

The best sister I could have ever asked for!!!

Back tracking to family pics...

I mentioned in a previous blog that we had family pictures taken for our Christmas card...unfortunately, they didn't work for the card but I now have them and LOVE them....

I found this girl while at a wedding shower and she was so sweet and so kind and I could not have been luckier...

I sure love my boys!

The ENTIRE Jonas family!

This is one of my favorites...precious!!!