Miami Part 1 - Halloween and Other Fun

At the end of October, Nate had a conference to go to in Miami (Hacker Halted), and we made a family vacation out of it.   Nate was gone at a class and then at the conference for 6 of the days, but Karina, Snoopy, and I had fun at my parents' house.  

When Morfar was home, one of Karina's favorite things to do with him was pick up sticks in the front yard and throw them away.  She took her job seriously. 

Karina made a tall lego tower with Mormor's help:

If I remember right, we couldn't get Karina to smile for the camera, so she was told to show her teeth.  Unfortunately, showing teeth and smiling aren't quite equivalent. 

Halloween was very exciting.  Karina was a fairy this year, with wings and a wand.  Like last year, we went to a local park in Pinecrest where there were lots of stands sponsored by businesses, positioned around a track field.  Each had candy to give to the trick-or-treaters, and it took about an hour to make it all the way around the track and get candy from everyone because it was crowded.   We liked that better than trying to go door-to-door since Karina is so little. 

Here is the fairy, ready to grant all your wishes if you say the magic word:

Snoopy was not allowed on Karina's bed, but that never stopped him from repeatedly trying:

Nate was a pirate this year, and my dad wore an Indiana Jones hat as his costume.  Besides an ugly wig, I wore a shirt that Nate got for free at his conference, that says "I'm with Stupid" on front.   The back has an internet security message.  I have forbidden Nate to ever wear it in my presence (or Karina's), but he didn't seem to mind that I wore it.  

Everyone taking their turn to be "Stupid".  

At home we spent a lot of time outside on the patio.  Snoopy learned how to use the two doggy doors to get both out on the patio, and also to get into the back yard, and he spent much of his vacation time sunning himself.  Both Karina and Snoopy seem to like my lap:

Karina also perfected being able to get up on the patio chairs without any help.  She climbed on everything and was pleased with her accomplishment.  

Here we are playing piano:

Just like at home in Maryland, in Florida, Karina was fascinated by Snoopy's leash.  She tries really hard to walk him, and gets frustrated when he doesn't go in the direction or pace she had planned.   I am much more sympathetic to Snoopy and I always try to protect him from her.  Mormor and Morfar on the other hand only think of Karina, and so Snoopy frequently fell victim to having to be leashed inside the house for no reason except to entertain the princess. 

On one of our many walks:

Karina loved trying to drink water out of a water bottle.  Unfortunately, she isn't very good at it, and usually gets her shirt all wet, as shown here.  It is still fun to be tickled by Mormor though:

One day we went to Pinecrest Gardens, where the Parrot Jungle used to be before Hurricane Andrew.  None of us had been there before, but we all enjoyed walking through it.  Karina loved the huge fish in the turtle ponds.  I don't think she ever really noticed the turtles, but the fish were loads of fun for her.  Karina spent the whole afternoon running around at top speed along the nature trails.  

I like this next picture of Mormor, Mommy, and Karina, as well as the subsequent ones with just Mormor and Karina.

Family shot:

After a couple hours of constant running around through the trails, looking at fish and lizards, seeing sheep and a goat in the petting zoo, going by a lake with swans, etc, Karina was exhausted from the fun.  Sometimes it is nice to be sleepy in Mormor's arms.