FLORIDAYS

Silly Anna and Katie showing off some of their layers

Picture of Mom taken by Jia

Jia's new "jacket" let's not tell her that it's a bathing suit cover up.

"I am umbillically connected to the temperate zone, It brought me life it's brought me love I never have outgrown"
-"Everybody's Got a Cousin In Miami"
Jimmy Buffet

Okay, so today WAS the cold day. When Jia and I went to school this morning it was 36 degrees Fahrenheit. That is beyond cold for South Florida. Some of you from "up north" will laugh and say this is nothing, and I will make jokes about how many layers of clothes we all wore. In reality it is devastating to Florida farmers, especially citrus growers (the juice freezes in the oranges and leaves them tasteless and ruined), in these economic hard times I say a prayer for people who make their living in this industry.

My history lesson:

I moved to Hollywood, Florida, (right outside of Miami) in 1968 solely because of the weather. My parents were from a very small town in Pennsylvania. My father's company transferred him to Puerto Rico and he made a solo flight south to check out the situation, he hated Puerto Rico but Daddy had a layover in Miami and he fell in love. This was the over the top, tacky, glamorous Miami of the 60's, live flamingos in the lobbies of the hotels, shabby art deco buildings fading into ruin and gorgeous, warm sunny beaches. He quit his job and brought his wife and two young children south to live on the beautiful beach that he always dreamed of. He never regretted this decision and fully reveled in it till the day he passed away.

So that is why 41 years later I consider myself a native Floridian, don't remember anything else. I grumble about the humidity and how my hair is always bad in the summer heat, I no longer cook myself in baby oil for hours at a time on the beach, in fact, I rarely have time to go to the beach (but the important part is--I know its there any time I want to see it) Florida is my home, it is a large part of who I am, and on days like today, not only am I a little "off" but the whole (temporarily) cold world seems a little strange.

A Game: Pick the Canadian

Choice A: Looks very happy in the cold.

Choice B: Jia's Assistant Soccer Coach

Choice C: hmmmmm..this oneis kind of pale

Choice D: An Asian Flair...

Choice E: Couldn't possibly be (notice the really cool pink kitty cat blanket, stolen from a small child)

Above you will see several pictures of our family. Please look closely and choose which person grew up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The temperature here in SOUTH FLORIDA was around 45 degrees.

Baby, it's cold down here!

Okay, everyone in the northern climes can have a good laugh at our expense, but let me tell you the blood thins out when most days are 90 degrees and the same humidity!

The temperature in South Florida dipped into the 30's last night (an extreme rarity) and it was in the low 40's when it was time for school this morning. (the schools issued a severe weather report and "robo called" all the homes of each child to tell them how to dress)

Parnham family attire:

Jia: 2 shirts,1 jacket hood up of course, sweatpants, socks and sneakers
Katie: one long sleeve shirt, one short sleeve shirt, a sweater and a jacket
Anna: three shirts and one sweat jacket, and 2 pair of socks
Lesa: one shirt, one sweatshirt, leggings, jeans big jacket 2 pair of socks
Drew: (who believe it or not minds the cold more than any of us) shirt, sweatshirt, jacket and his quote "my hands were froze"

An interesting aside, people in South Florida look like vagrants or victims of some unfortunate clothing accident when it is cold, none of us have much winter clothing, and what we do have we bought 10 years ago and have worn on the 1-2 cold days ever since...the only person I saw looking good today was my friend Diane and she is from Alaska!

I only have one picture today. Jia's new school had a teddy bear sleepover tonight. Each child had to bring their favorite bear to school this morning accompanied with bear pj's a blanket, a suitcase, toothpaste and toothbrush (thank goodness for build-a-bear). They put the bears to sleep when they leave, tomorrow morning they will find their bears all over the room and a big bear mess! (God bless those Kindergarten teachers) Jia was thrilled and she is so happy at school, it is too soon to say, but I think her move was a good one. Teddy Bear sleep overs were a little more what I think Kindergarten should be about!

Before I close I would just like to say that I am filled with humility and gratefulness for all of you that follow our blog. I started this as a way to keep in touch with far-flung relatives, I never imagined I would get so many readers from so many places. I have heard from places as far away as the Australian Outback to people that I don't personally know right here in Pembroke Pines. Thanks for the kind words about our life and our children and please keep reading! I appreciate all of my new friends in the blogger world.