2017 Winter Getaway Day 4: When in Rome

Day 4 of our vacation to the Florida Keys was much of the same as the day before...

It started with another early-enough morning to view the sunrise (or as much as you could see with the clouds in the way).  Then, as we waited for the pool to open, Eric and the boys headed over to the swings and the beach for a little while.

Cloudy Sunrise

Once the pool opened, we headed over for some swimming.  It was a very windy day, making it feel quite a bit cooler than the day before, but that didn't stop the boys from enjoying the pool to its fullest extent.

Jump!

Swimming with Daddy!

Avery was getting much braver in the water by mid-week.

All Together Now: One...

Two...

Three...

Psych!  Avery tricked the other two! :)

My Three Loves! <3

When we were done at the pool, we headed over to the beach for some fun in the sand and an interactive lesson (by the resort) on the local marine life.

Grandma & the Boys

Asher making a sand angel

Avery, Asher, Eric, Mom & I learning about the local marine life.

Holding a sea urchin.

Asher & I checking out a strange type of star fish

Asher looking at an arrow crab.

Asher & Avery checking out some conch shells...

...and trying to hear the ocean in them.

Mom, Avery & Asher looking at a little puffer fish

Asher learning more with the magnifying glass

The face of a tired little monkey who still wants to see all there is too see.

Playing in the sand...his favorite.

Asher just floating around in the ocean.

Asher, Aver, Mom & I hanging out at the beach.

Avery trying to push me into the water.

After a morning in the sunshine, it was time for lunch and naps.  Since we needed some groceries though, Eric and I took advantage of the kids sleeping and had a little "date" at the grocery story and then the local gas station to get some drinks.  When we returned, my parents had their own little date and went for a walk together while we stayed with the boys.

Seriously, who drinks from a 100 oz. mug?!

Mom on her walk with Dad.

Once everyone was awake, we headed over to the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.  Originally, I had hoped that we could do a glass bottom boat tour but due to the wind all boat excursions were canceled.  Then, I figured we could still go to the park to enjoy looking at their aquarium, but the website only said the park closed at 6pm.  It did not say that the visitor center (where the aquarium was) closed at 5.  We arrived at 4:50 and the man working in the center was very quick to tell us that they were "closed".  It was a bit of a disappointment (especially after already paying the $10 park fee), but we still enjoyed ourselves exploring the park and playing on the playground and at the beach.

Asher checking out the kayaks, even though we couldn't take one for a ride.

We could pretend to go for a ride though!

The boys with Grandma & Papa "riding" in a kayak

My cool little dude riding the slide.

...and my cool BIG dude.

Even Grandma & Papa had fun at the playground!

Asher and Avery splashed in the ocean a bit and played with the foam from the waves.  I spent the time trying to let them have fun and not think about what makes the disgusting looking foam on the shores....then we washed hands REALLY REALLY GOOD!

Look Mommy!  Sea Foam!

Tradition.  Every beach for the past 16 years! <3

A warning near the beach for Crocodilians!  Yikes!

Asher climbing a tree as we wait for Daddy to go get the van.

Windy!

When we were sufficiently freezing from the harsh wind, we all climbed back in the van and then found a place (Jimmy Johnson's Big Chill) on the opposite side of the island to enjoy the sunset and some dinner.

Sunset view from our table.

Cutie waiting for dinner.

Asher & Avery messing up each others' hair.

Reading the menu with Grandma

Asher saying goodnight to the sun.

Avery & Daddy walk on the pier as we wait for our food.

After our dinner, we abided by the travel advice of "When in Rome..." and topped off the evening by enjoying a local favorite: Key Lime Pie.  Then we had a little fun dancing to the restaurant's band for the evening before heading back to our hotel for some much-needed sleep.

Dessert! Yum!

The face of a happily full little boy.

Asher & Avery on the dance floor.

This lady was dancing on the floor and saw Avery when she was about to leave.  She thought he was "adorable" and proceeded to pick him up and dance with him.  It was an awkward moment of not wanting to be rude, but also not wanting this stranger to hold my boy.  He wasn't overly thrilled either.  He did not cry but refused to look at her and as soon as she realized he wasn't enjoying himself and put him down, he ran to me and hid behind my legs.  I felt really guilty that I didn't rescue him sooner and that night we all had a little talk about Stranger Danger! :(

Dancing with my little loves!