Christmas in Florida

Our cruise got back into Tampa Christmas Eve morning, and Brian's dad picked us up.  We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas day together at their house having a great time in the nice warm 80 degree weather.

We just love their clubhouse pool.  It is always the right temperature, full of older people just shooting the breeze and lots of relaxing Florida sun.  There is a resistance pool, a lap pool and a hot tub too, which keeps it extra fun.  We had lots of fun spending time at the pool. 



 Papa built a really cool RC car that they drove around for a while.  He also drove his RC boat on the lake behind their house.  Papa builds fun toys!
 Christmas Eve was also the first night of Hanukkah, so Mimi taught the kids about their Jewish heritage by lighting the menorah, making potato latkes and playing some dreidel.  
 The kids were the peelers, and Brian was the shredder.  Then Brian and his mom fried them up.  They were super yummy!




 Jenny played dreidel with the kids too.

 The next morning the kids were excited to open presents!


 It takes lots of patience waiting to open presents for everyone to be ready, but the kids were great sports.


 Debra gave Haley this epic MLP hoodie.  

 Uncle Steven drove over from Boca Raton for the day.  It was fun seeing him and tossing around Grant's new nerf balls. 

 Haley and Mimi played many, many rounds of Canasta.


 
It felt a little odd having it be so warm for Christmas, but it was a great visit with family.  The next morning we woke up at 4 am and drove the 13 hours home.  Brian drove while we slept and then we switched drivers.  Since we left so early we didn't hit a single accident or traffic!  It was great!  2016 had it's challenges, triumphs, but we feel so blessed that we could end they year on a good note.  

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