Tales of the Flowers: Christmastime with the family in Florida

Happy Christmas! Every year we flip flop between families for Christmastime, and this year it's time to hang out with the Michigan family. Except it's really cold in Michigan. A better idea would be for everyone to come out to Florida! Since we can't squeeze 16 people into the RV, Theresa was looking months and months in advance for a rental house to hold us all. The family has gotten even bigger since the last time we did this, so we're heading to a new rental resort a little further from Disney, but closer to our RV. Welcome to Windsor Island Resort!

Because everyone is coming to Florida, and we're already here, we were in charge of buying and prepping most things that were going over to the house. Our RV was a bit crowded in the days leading up to everyone coming. Since most rental properties we've been to don't have everything you'd need for a week there, we nearly cleaned out the RV to bring everything. I'm talking pot and pans, utensils, water filters, tables, extra chairs, all the blankets in the house, dishwashing detergent, soaps and TP for all the bathrooms. It was quite excessive, but made everything a bit easier for everyone coming. I'm glad I had the truck to shuffle everything over. It took a few trips!

The kids have just finished up their presents as well. Looking good! I'm excited to see what they are!

Everyone has started to arrive! The first wave made it to Orlando and are having lunch before check-in time.

While Theresa and I do one more round of shopping, this time at H-Mart (the newly opened Korean grocery store).

The first wave of food coming in, and our first time seeing everyone! Welcome to Florida!

A nice pool and hot tub in the back yard. That's sure to get some use.

Always good to see the grandparents!

One of the things that we always do over Christmas break between Theresa, Tyler, and I, are puzzles! Usually we'll have one on a table during the visit and get through 1 or 2 in our time together. I hit up a couple Goodwills in the weeks leading up to Christmas, but wasn't having as much luck as I hoped in finding the puzzles I liked.

Theresa hopped on eBay, found someone with good prices and local pickup and one Saturday after gymnastics, we stopped by and picked up 5 puzzles, plus the seller gave us 2 extras for free because they were missing a piece and no one on eBay would want them! Sweet!

And so, the first morning in the house, we commandeered a table and made it the dedicated puzzle table for the trip!

We definitely like these kinds of puzzles! Very defined sections and you can work on complete portions without messing anyone up.

Puzzle 1 - Lake Time complete!

And in very short order, Tyler was already getting pieces sorted for the next puzzle!

While I got some of Grandma's spiced tea cooking and making the house smell like Christmas.

The boys headed out to a nearby golf course. Gotta enjoy that warm Florida sunshine while you're here.

Grammy went through a round of giving everyone haircuts.

And the puzzling continues. These $1 Goodwill trays I found though have been great for puzzling! Instead of having pieces loose on the table, you can pass the trays around and keep pieces better organized.

Did I bring the pizza oven, 5 pizza peels, and a 30 pound tank a propane to the house? Of course I did! I prepped 12 extra large pizza dough balls ahead of time (thank goodness for my new mixer that can handle a quadruple recipe).

I was making pizzas outside by the pool...

While Theresa and Rita were doing all the toppings inside, always having a new one ready for me to cook. In the end, we got through 12 large pizzas in about 90 minutes. Pretty good for feeding a big crowd.

And that's Puzzle 2 - I Had One of Those completed!

Donald always takes a few moments to rub his hands over the top. It gives him a lot of joy and satisfaction.

But not for too long, because it's already time to start on the next one!

This one is called "I Love the 80s". Tyler found a piece that said "DON" (belonging to Donkey Kong) and gave it to Donald to hold onto until he could put it in.

The great big house had been nice. Multiple living rooms where people can just hang out. The kids took the upstairs where all the games were.

While the adults were pretty content downstairs with the big couches and kitchen nearby.

The "kids" though are getting pretty big. Remember when Aubrey would hold you? Now you can carry her!

Both of them!

Seeing as how it's Christmas Eve, it's time to open the first gift! You know the traditional Christmas Eve gift right?

Pajamas! Always pajamas. The kids were especially excited. Alli has some cute Pandas on hers while Ian got more Harry Potter pajamas.

Then everyone headed off to bed.

Well, almost everyone. After doing our nightly reading (the kids wanted to make sure everyone was asleep) these little elves headed back downstairs to set up a Christmas surprise.