Friday, January 15, 2010

Florida Girl in Florida

I've missed you-- and you me?

It's summer vacation in Australia. We left Sydney the beginning of December, now I sit typing this email from the inside of a swank Virgin America airplane, at an approximate altitude of 30,000 feet.

This trip the jet lag was more severe. I was so tired I practically had to drag myself to Marshalls and TJMaxx. Can you imagine?

We had a New Years Day party at our house in Ft. Lauderdale, then a few days later we went to Orlando and hosted a massive reunion for our old friends from our days in the cruise business.  We have had such a wonderful time!

But now, six weeks and 28 Disney trading pins later,  all I have to show for it are the photos below and this lousy t-shirt... and actually, there's no t-shirt.

Our time in Florida (cliff notes version):


Florida Trip 2009

The kids ate their first Costco hot dogs, this may be obvious by my four year old's technique (note the interesting pattern on the top of his dog).


Florida 2009
We went to Jaxsons in Ft. Lauderdale and had massive ice cream sundaes.


Florida 2009
After having his adult teeth behind the baby ones for over eight months, we finally tied the teeth to a door and slammed it. Just kidding, we took him to my childhood dentist and they extracted them. For full effect please note the occasion appropriate t-shirt.


Florida 2009

We buried each other.


Florida Trip 2009

I got REAL SLICED TURKEY from Publix, where shopping is a pleasure. It is not possible to get anything remotely like this turkey in Australia and that makes Florida Girl very sad.


Florida 2009

We decorated the house for Christmas. Just kidding, we're quasi-Jewish and even if we weren't who has the time for this kind of Extreme Christmas Chaos?



CIMG0104

We played Star Wars with Auntie Jill (my sister).




We got us some Mickey Mouse.


And some Pluto.


We met the super music producer Scott Storch. Ok, that's really my six year old, but here's the real one...

http://urie.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/scott-storch.jpg
Too funny-- I actually know him from way back in the day, so it's cool.


And lastly, we got word that our new Rutland Manor Australian Labradoodle puppy "Andie" will be joining our family two days after our return to Sydney.  The day after she arrives Beverley Manners will be personally be coming to our house in Sydney to do some training!

Untitled
Update June 2010: This is the puppy who had the congenital heart birth defect PDA, we no longer have her and to say the situation was a disaster would be an understatement.  Click link to read that drama.


The plane is about to land in Los Angeles, ciao for now!



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22 comments:

lilDdownunder said...

Jealous of your new puppy! Looks like you guys had a great trip back home and that "Scott Storch" picture of your son is too funny! Safe travels!

Erin Maggie said...

Oh how I've missed you Laura! Becca and I have decided that you and Ana are NOT allowed to travel out of Australia at the same time next trip. I've missed my girlfriend!

I'm so glad you've had a great time. I loved the photos, but the captions are what make them special. I didn't see a picture of the crappy t-shirt. ;-)

Looking SO forward to catching up when you are settled in. I also can't wait to meet Andie Elizabeth! I'll bring her some treats!

Safe travels 'home'... xoxo

(Oh yeah, who's back to blogging? ME!)

Marvin said...

How fun! Did you freeze your collective asses off while you were here? We sure did. If it kills the iguanas, though, that's the best thing about the cold.

Nice to see you posting.

ChiTown Girl said...

Looks like an awesome trip. Enjoy the rest of it!

PamelaRose said...

All I can say, my little Florida Girl in Sydney is...what a wonderful time it's been and really went by way too fast for my taste. Please give yourself a big hug from me and ginormous smooches to the boys from me,too. Sydney is very lucky to have you 24/7!

A Free Man said...

We were just the other way wondering what had become of you. Glad you guys had a good time back in Fortress America. But turkey? Really? Is turkey not just turkey?

SuperMindy said...

I can't wait to see the new puppy!! We need to make plans!!

hastamañanabanana said...

Yes we missed you. Good to see you blogging again was wondering what happened!

I LOVE the way your son eats his hotdog, so outrageously weird/creative!

riesdownunder said...

Welcome back!
just wondering.... did you drive on your visit home? If so, was it weird to stay right, or does it all just come back naturally? I am just starting to get used to driving on the left and wondering what it will be like when we go back to visit.
I sure miss costco. And Tylenol-PM. The lady that works at our pharmacy here in Newport has asked us to bring some back for her next time we go back ??
:-)

Brutalism said...

Your boys are so cute. Looks like a fun trip. (I love Publix, too. We don't have it in the DC area...but when I visit my sister in West Palm I love going there. The first time we went, she told me there was an entire aisle of prune products and of course I did not believe her...and of course, there was...)

formerly fun said...

Glad you're back and congrats on the new doogie. Names?

Unknown said...

L U C K Y... Australia & now Florida? You have a really hard life! LOL...hope you enjoyed yor time at home... I totally forgot youworked on cruise ships... what company were y'all with?

Corrina said...

You need to have someone send you some turkey on a regular basis. Poor thing!

And I want your puppy!!!!

People in the Sun said...

My Honey worked in a skate shop in Soho (the London one), and Paul Frank was designing some monkey stuff for them, so she met him and introduced him to me in a party. Can I use that as a claim to fame?

Welcome back.

Kristie said...

Oh my gosh that puppy is precious! I was wondering where you were. I thought you left us all out here in Blogland. Glad you are back. Love the photos!

Anonymous said...

Jaxsons! Boar's Head! What more could a FL girl ask for?!? Looks like you had a great time!! Glad you're back!!

Anonymous said...

That first picture is fabulous - some very happy looking children!

Kate said...

Glad to see you posting again! Looks like a wonderful trip. I'm so not showing my kids the picture of your puppy - they are desperate for a dog.

Unknown said...

i had been wondering where you'd drifted off to!
holidays look great... must be nice to visit home :)
the puppy is adorable... send him down to canberra for a play!
xx

Here In Franklin said...

If I turn left and go a mile I have one Publix, if I turn right and go a mile, I have another. Both chock full o' Boars Head. Can deli meat be mailed? I'd be happy to send you some.

Marketing Mama said...

Yes, I missed you! So glad to see you posting again. love the pics. Um, did they knock your kid out before taking out his teeth? OMG.

Welcome back! :)

Laura said...

Thanks for all the notes from y'all. Unfortunately the puppy didn't work out-- that's putting it mildly. I just posted an update on our puppy drama, it took me a while to put it into words. :(