The weather in the Pacific NW has been rather… well… crappy. We have had rain off and on (mostly on) for May and June. To add to the rain we have also had unseasonably cold temperatures that have averaged 10 degrees below average (50s and 60s). Before I sound too down on the NW let me make it very clear that when Mother Nature agrees it IS amazingly beautiful. There are days where you are astonished by its beauty: days when the sky is crystal clear and Mt. Baker’s summit is unmistakable, days when the San Juan Islands seem within reach and the eagles gracefully soar through the air.
However, with the rain (and more specifically THE COLD) I was ready to get the hell out of dodge. My body was begging to feel the heat from the sun and sweat roll down my brow. So, with the help of Carol AKA CiCi, we booked tickets for the kids and I to fly to Florida.
We spent 9 days in paradise! It was amazing!!!! (I am just a tad bitter that it is still cold in the NW— it was ONLY 58 today!)
We swam and swam, visited with old friends and family, explored the beach, stayed up too late talking (which is always a good thing),saw Shrek 3 and had a private group tour of the museum.
We took an air boat ride in the Everglades where we saw two little alligators and some really neat birds.
On the air boat is where my body thanked me for providing it with typical summer sweat. Although, if I am honest, when I was on the boat in the 94 degree weather with a sweaty infant strapped to me and a mouthy preschooler beside me I was wishing for the air-conditioning or at least a pool.
We took a ride in CiCi’s boat and I was able to meet up with some of my Florida friends.
We spent some quality time with the Porter family. Sadie helped teach Wilson to swim and Lucy loved on baby Nora. They are such a fantastic family and I enjoyed getting to know them better and watching what wonderful ladies the girls have become.
And one of the best parts of our trip….
Melissa and I have always made Ft Lauderdale our vacation spot, visiting every year during college for spring break and coming down three years ago with our husbands and our new babies (Clara 8 months, Wilson 4 months).
June 2007
Believe it or not, we didn’t plan on having our children be so close in ages but we both feel blessed that it has happened. 
Clara Sue is 4 months older than Wilson and Charlie is 5 weeks younger than Nora.
Melissa is a wonderful mother. A mother who I admire and take note from. It is so nice to be on the same page and know that the other person is concerned about the same things you are.
Our big kids needed to be well feed, take naps, and be kids while our little ones needed to be in the shade and nursed frequently.
We enjoyed every second together. We soaked up the sun and picnicked poolside. We laughed and shared stories.
The kids slept in “their own room” which to them was one of the highlights of the trip. But one of the most exciting things for me was Clara (and Sadie) teaching Wilson to swim! Wilson had not had much experience with the water before our Florida vacation. I have only taken Wilson to a pool a handful of times
The kids slept in “their own room” which to them was one of the highlights of the trip. But one of the most exciting things for me was Clara (and Sadie) teaching Wilson to swim! Wilson had not had much experience with the water before our Florida vacation. I have only taken Wilson to a pool a handful of times
Wilson is a total observer. He gains confidence when he is able to watch others before trying something new. After watching everyone at the pool he will jump from the deep end, submerge his head completely in water, and swim from one side of the pool to the other.
He was a little fish!!
He became a stronger swimmer every day we were there, gaining in confidence with each trip to the pool.
In fact, our last evening he even swam to the edge of the pool without his floaties, sure I was a little nervous because no one was in the pool with him, but he did it… thankfully.
Our kids, I hope, have started to establish a foundation for a friendship that they can rely on for years to come.
Wilson and Clara LOVE each other and Wilson has asked (and cried) for her at least two times since we have returned to WA.
All in all, our Florida vacation was wonderful. From start to end it was filled with lasting memories and… HOT and SUNNY weather.
Like any trip with good friends and family it passes too fast. We miss you all and look forward to seeing you next time!
2 comments:
We're so miserable with heat right now that a trip to the NW sounds great! Glad you enjoyed the heat in Florida.
Great blog and beautiful pictures...we miss you guys too! We went to my grandma's today to visit and Clara showed her all of our wonderful pics! We love you guys! Clara is going to LOVE looking at your blog when she awakes from her nap!
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