2016

2016

Monday, March 14, 2016

Leaving Winter Behind Us!

Sorry for the brief absence of our adventures this year to date. Winter has definitely brought some travels and adventures.

January saw the celebration of Mama's birthday with a fun trip out of cold Indiana to warm, sunny Mexico. (Really, it was Daddy's obsession with Phish that brought on the trip.)

On our way!

Last U.S. stop. Sushi to kick of our fishy adventure!

We're here! 

Night One

So much magic!

The stage right on the beach


Mojitos in the Morning...


We took a couple of day trips. One to Xel-Ha which was a natural water park. Since we did not have water proof cameras, there is no photograph proof of our snorkeling, zip lining, or rafting on a natural river. It was so much fun though! We swam with sting rays! Another day, we went to the Mayan ruins of Tulum. We had our best meal from a real Mexican street taco stand. And enjoyed the historic site.

Native pole dancers. 















Coatis!

Much fun and magic was had by all on this trip. A trip of a lifetime!
Meanwhile back home in Indiana, our little monkeys had a great time with Grandma and Grandpa. Only one child ended up in the ED that weekend with a dislocated elbow, care of his brother.




ALSO THIS WINTER...

 Fort Building




Even Bowie thinks he can get in on the action
 Playing at the YMCA



Schweinsteiger playing some fussball
Studying hard at school


Really getting the reading thing down!

Mama and Daddy having a night out for hemophilia


Valentines!

Emmett made Ninja Turtles

Elias made Narnia-inspired messages. (His new favorite book series!)

What else should your do with your Valentine stickers?!?
 A our first warm day that hinted of Spring brought on a bike ride for some Fro-Yo.


Mama played on a Blessed trivia team to raise money for CFI. Second place finishers.

Wrestling has become a regular thing around here now.

As is going to the bakery around the corner from our house.
 Mama and her fellow Mamas got an afternoon to listen to and meet a most fierce mama from the Interwebs - Glennon Doyle Melton from Momestary. We warrior women belong together.



The boys are really into music right now - mainly Michael Jackson and Sigur Ros. Well raised little boys I think.

Lastly, what is not a weekend without LEGOs when you have brick obsessed boys. Elias especially has been super obsessed with making his own master-builder creations these days. a trip to back world has only fueled this fire. 


Playing a robot

"I creeper you."

Spring is just starting to awaken here and I am sure it will bring us many new surprises as well as adventures. Stay tuned!

Friday, January 1, 2016

Rounding out 2015 with Holidays and more....

The holidays of 2015 were fun and simple. We staying in snow-less Indiana during a very warm start to our winter. Let's just say that we never got our our heavy winter clothes quite yet...

We have had so many amazing sunrises and sunsets this Fall-Winter. 

We started Family Game Nights which have been all sorts of fun!






Don't be fooled. This is the only white stuff we seen this Winter. And it melted within the day


At least it gave us an excuse to have hot chocolate!

Mama Bears taking their cubs to the movies!


The Little Dinosaur was a hit!

The Flora men all entered a Thanksgiving Day race the morning before stuffing themselves with all the bounties of the holiday. It was a fundraiser for Hemophilia of Indiana. Emmett finished his first Kid's Run, Elias came in 6th overall for the 1 mile, and Daddy finished up the 4 mile well. (Mama of course just cheered everyone on.)



Emmett crossing with Daddy

First medal!

Elias making it across. 6th person, 2nd hemo kid, youngest crosser!

Daddy making it home! Second race in a year!


Mommy also ended a very important chapter in her life. After more than 3 decades of dedicating her life, her craft to dance, she finally took her final curtain bow with her friends of Motus Dance Theatre during their production of Maze. It was bittersweet but everyone who has been a big support were there to share in this final experience. 

Credit: Michelle Craig of NUVO


December twas' a fun month. It was filled with all the things that make it a magical time at Christmas.




St Nicholas brought so many goodies!

Annual Nutcracker trek

Celebrating Opa's birthday

Mailing letters to Santa


Emmett's field trip to the Trains at Garfield


Visiting Santa at Grandma's

The new YMCA has been our hang out.


Elias' field trip to the Circle

Learning that the colors of the bulbs represent the branches of the military


Mama and Daddy at the Downton premier

Star Wars Ep. VII premire. We saw the movie twice opening weekend

Saying goodbye to our Mexican amigos

Took a train to see Santa at the North Pole
 




Then took a "sleigh" ride around downtown

Game night

New Dr. Who LEGOs

Ringing in the New Year.


2015 was a filled with so many great adventures. We hope that 2016 will do the same.