Florida Family Reunion

Every year for the last ten years my mom's family has gotten together in Cocoa Beach the first part of July. Last year was my Aunt Betty's 90th birthday, so a "surprise" party was planned for that week. For the first time in 25 years we went to Florida to be a part of the celebration. You might remember that THIS is what happened:

We promised Jeff if he was a good boy and wore his broken-neck brace for the three months he was supposed to we would go back to Florida this year for the vacation he missed last year.

And, yes, he did have a much better time this year. He literally paddle-boarded or surfed 8-11 hours a day, every day except Sunday and the day we MADE him go to Universal Studios. (It was such a trial.)


 
He taught my cousin John to SKUPboard and I think he has a new convert!

John's daughter Kayley also picked it right up.

I reconnected with my cousins Anne and Bert. Also my dear cousin Carol Beth, but the picture of us was hideous (me, not her!)

Maddie realized her dream of visiting Hogsmeade and Hogwarts in "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" at Universal Studios.

She was as giddy as a child and "just wish[ed] it was all real."

 It WAS pretty cool!

A GIANT "thank you" to Aunt Arline, Aunt Betty, and Mom for making it happen!

We hope to go again in 2015 when a certain unnamed aunt will also turn 90! Doesn't she look GOOD?!