Christmas Highlights

Hola--

Just thinking about our Christmas vacation...I cannot believe we are at the end :(  That alarm clock went off pretty early in the morning Monday.

(REMINDER: if you click on these pictures, you can see them BIGGER.)

We went to Florida, to visit Grammie D and Poppa Dave.  They have a pretty small congregation, so we all gave talks in Sacrament Meeting.  Our topic was "Strengthening the Family."

TALKING TO OUR MISSIONARY.  The highlight for me was to get to see and talk to David on Skype, on Christmas morning!  He called about ten in the morning.

David in Italy, the rest of us in Florida in 2 different rooms of the house

We talked about his new area, his new companion, and his living arrangements.  They don't have a dryer, so they hang their laundry out to dry, every time they wash it.

Chase (David's friend in Massachusetts) took care of our pets while we were gone.  Teresa got him on her iPod and held it by the computer where David was, so Chase and David got to talk a few minutes too.

Chase, in Massachusetts

VEGETABLE GARDEN.  Poppa Dave has a beautiful vegetable garden!  We had fresh vegetables pretty frequently.

REEL AND ROD.  Of course Teresa and Kara fished off of the dock, in the canal behind David & Diane's backyard.  That canal leads to Lake Okeechobee.  They caught a TON of fish!  One night they kept what they caught, then Poppa Dave cleaned the fish and we had filets for dinner.  Not too often the girls get to provide fresh fish for dinner, for the family :)

fish for dinner :)

HUNTING FOR SHARK;s TEETH.  We spent one day at the beach...we drove close to Venice Beach, where they have lots of shark's teeth.  Did you know that sharks lose teeth regularly, and they grow new ones when old ones fall out?  One shark could lose 2000 to 3000 teeth in his lifetime!

in search of shark's teeth!

So much sand...so little time

shark's teeth to be found on certain beaches

Another day we found out about the Seminole nation, Indians who live there in Florida.  We went to their museum and learned that they went to war with the U.S. military 3 times, ending in a draw each time.  They never signed a peace treaty with the U.S., so they are still an independent nation.

We took a buggy ride through the swamp, and then an airboat ride.  We saw lots of 'Critters" that live in Florida!

friendly neighborhood gator

Oh, the girls got to swim some, too.

Now, it's back to reality.  What?!?  Already??!  Yep.  Bedtime :)

Have a great week!  Kari