We had a wonderful Christmas break! The boys have proven themselves to be excellent travelers this year. They both are most happy when they are outside all day. So, riding bikes 7 1/2 miles to a sunny beach each day was just perfect. They played in the waves, built sand castles and created cookie factories where they sifted the "flour" and "sugar" to make sand cookies. When we got back to Grandpapa and Grammy's house in Clearwater, Florida, they built fairy houses in the back yard with dirt, sticks, and palm leaves and adorned them with shells collected on the beach.
Meg, on our front porch, carving some mahogany for a Christmas present.
The Florida Christmas tree.
If Oliver can't go to the beach, he's happy to just play in the dirt.
The boys with some Florida Christmas decorations.
Fun with a camera, palm trees and a sunset over the water.
Jumping in the waves.
Papa and Jon Ray playing with the boys' Christmas presents.
The rackets soon found a better purpose: digging and sifting sand.
The boys happy to be at the ocean.
Meg, Grandpapa and Grammy.
Gardners on the beach.
Solomon and Oliver joyfully letting the waves wash over them.
On Clearwater Beach, Pier 60. (I love Grandpapa and Grammy in the background of this pic.)
Salty, sandy, and very happy.
Finding shells on Caladesi Island.
Caladesi Island on an overcast day.
Papa and Lisa.
Strolling the beach.
Solomon finding shells.
The gang on bikes. We rode 15 miles every day. Here we just got off the ferry from Caladesi Island and we're ready to head back home.
Making chocolate chip cookies.
Last day on the beach.
Oliver.
Oliver telling me how much he likes the beach.
Solomon.
The boys in action on the last day at the beach.
Oli and his shadow.
Meg and Jon Ray.
Yeah, us again.
Papa and Oliver riding bikes.
Two peas in a pod.
Baba and Solomon pulling up to Papa and Lisa's house.
Loving a bike ride.
Solomon and Baba.
The boys...
Merry Christmas!
