Christmas – Day 1 – Orlando

We finally made it to Florida. The flight was OK, thank GOD for the kindness of Rick’s co-workers. I had Mallory, Mallory’s carseat, Mallory’s diaper bag, Mallory’s little cooler with a lunchable and milk, Mallory’s backpack with her toys, and Mallory’s mom’s laptop bag, stuffed with magazines and books. So people were great, helping schlep my stuff off the bus and on the plane, and back off the plane. To my surprise, Rick was waiting on the tarmac when we landed in Florida. On my first trip in 2004  – he screwed up big time. The busses pulled up in front of the hotel in California and everyone else’s husbands were down at the street waiting to greet them. But not my new fiance…he was up in the room taking a shower. So luckily he learned a lesson and has done way better the past three years. Anyway, as soon as Mallory saw her daddy she was done with me, which was just fine. I told Rick that after my early morning, that I was officially off duty for a few days.

Everyone was complimenting Mallory on her pretty dress, saying she looked just like a Christmas tree. She enjoyed checking out our hotel room – and the rubber ducky that came in her crib, even giving kisses. And in the next three pictures she thought that the soap was a phone (don’t worry, the soap was wrapped). Seriously, why did we buy any toys?

The “young boys” (the student managers who work in the equipment room) are so cute – I find it amazing and adorable that college boys can get such a kick of a little girl (or maybe it’s creepy and I should be nervous?). But they love it when Rick has her at work and love it even more when Rick gets her giggling. They tried to play with her after dinner but after a long day of traveling she was having nothing of it. I keep thinking that in 15 years when Mallory sees these pictures of her and the young boys from last year’s bowl trip, she is going to be so embarrassed :-)

Off to bed ~ we have an early breakfast with the Disney characters.