Busch Gardens

A few weeks ago we went to Busch Gardens for the day. Since we're Florida residents now, we can pay for one day and get passes for the entire year! So it was really nice to go up for a few hours with the knowledge that we could go back any time. Matthew loved, loved, loved the animals. We got to watch the lions getting fed which was really cool. They were right on the other side of the glass the entire time. Matthew thought it was funny to roar at them :o)

After looking at lots of animals, we went to the Sesame Street section of the park. Matthew wasn't quite sure about the characters, but we did manage to get a picture next to Big Bird. He also went on a car ride all by himself, and another ride with Brian. I think Brian may have enjoyed himself more than Matthew!

Mote Aquarium

One of the days that Brian was off after New Year's we went to Mote Aquarium. Matthew absolutely LOVED it and was literally jumping up and down saying "I see fishes!" We also saw some penguins, sharks, a dolphin, and a manatee. If you ask Matthew about that trip now, he'll tell you two things. One, that he touched a starfish and it fell down in the water. (There was a touch tank and he was a little too rough touching the starfish - hope it's ok!) Two, that the dolphin goes click click click. The dolphin that we saw kept opening and closing it's mouth and making a slapping sound. To remember the rest of the trip, we took some pictures :o)

The Top 5 Moments of 2011

2011 was a great year for our family! We had so many amazing adventures with family and friends, but here are 5 that greatly impacted our lives.

The Top 5 Moments of 2011...

5. Our little boy turned 2 on May 26th! It seems like just yesterday that he was born. It's amazing to watch him grow and learn new things every day, but I do wish time would slow down a little bit.

4. We reached the light at the end of the tunnel when Brian accepted a job at the Eye Associates! Here he is signing his contract.

3. Scott and Catie got married! We were ecstatic to welcome Catie to the family, and Matthew, Brian and I were all a part of their wedding ceremony which made the day very special.

2. Our house was finished and we moved to Florida on July 1st. We are so happy to be back! It has been great reconnecting with old friends and being able to see family on a regular basis.

1. Caroline Jane was born on April 27th at 1:11pm. She brightens our lives every day, and we can't imagine life without her!