Today I signed Alexa up for preschool for the fall. It doesn't seem like it should be time for that but it is. Next fall preschool and the next year kindergarten! Alexa is not sure she wants to go to school yet but I am sure she will change her mind by fall. She is growing up so fast!

Alexa and I just returned from a five day trip to Florida to see Grandma and Grandpa. We had a wonderful time and we are both exhausted. I have to share a few pictures though. The weather was a little cool for Florida for this time of year but much better than home. Yesterday I was walking along the beach in my swimsuit and a group walked by and asked me if I was cold. They had on long slacks and jackets. I laughed and said it was much warmer than home!

Alexa loved everything - especially being outside and exploring the water. It was too cool to actually swim but we did get our feet wet.

This is a little orange tree that belongs to Grandma and Grandpa's neighbors. (Alexa corrected me every time I called them Mom or Dad - "Mom, he is Grandpa - don't call him dad. That's silly")

Our first day it rained early then cleared up to be a beautiful day. It was cool enough for a sweatshirt but still okay to wade in the water. I was scared to let go of Alexa's hand because she wanted to go into the water so much. I let go long enough to snap one picture.The next day was a little windy but the ocean never looked more beautiful. It was a gorgeous green color. Of course my little one made it an even better photo!

Here Alexa is hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa while Mom made a quick trip down the beach by herself looking for shells. And I found a couple interesting ones.

Yesterday for lunch we went to Sea Critters and ate outside. Alexa had a great time watching the boats and birds. I enjoyed a wonderful blackened grouper sandwich - the best of the trip (and the other two were pretty good too).

Then we got home and the high today was about 34. At least it didn't snow like last year!

Saturday was the local FCC (Families with Children from China) Chinese New Year dinner. Alexa was very excited that there was another Chinese New Year event. She has been talking about the lion dance every day for two weeks. She has even been practicing doing the lion dance. Her "costume" is a towel. She drapes the towel over herself and does the lion dance. She does a very good job! Sometimes she requests that I be the back of the lion! So needless to say the lion dance was her favorite part of the evening.She had to check out the costume.When it was time for dinner Alexa grabbed a pair of chopsticks from the center of the table and started eating her noodles. I had never seen her eat with chopsticks before. It was amazing to see. I have not given her chopsticks since we were in China and then she did not eat anything with them. I am guessing that Erika has given her chopsticks a couple times when she took Alexa out for Chinese food but I will have to ask. She did very well with them.And of course I have to include one more picture of Alexa in her beautiful outfit. I am not sure if it will fit next year or not.