Last January we made plans to have a fantastic trip to Florida with Ed's family. We bought plane tickets, booked a villa at a resort in the Keys and were counting down the months then weeks then days until our trip. Unfortunately last minute, Ed couldn't come due to a work emergency. We were SO UPSET! We had to decide if we wanted to cancel and reschedule or go ahead as planned. We had made these plans with Ed's brother & family and his parents long in advance and it was too hard to try to reschedule. So, we decided it was best if I just went ahead and took the kids to see his family alone. It was quite an adventure and we had a blast but there were so many times each day that "Daddy should have been there".
The girls and I flew to Ft Lauderdale first and spent one night at Ken & Kristin's house. The next day we all drove down to the Keys to spend 5 days at Hawk's Cay Resort on Duck Key. It was a 3.5 hr drive but extra exciting for me as I lived in the Keys long ago. Things have changed in the last 30 years but I think I recognized a few places.
Dad - is this the marina where you kept your boat?
Plantation Key Elementary School. I went to Kindergarten & 1st Grade here!
The resort was EVERYTHING it promised to be! We rented a 4 bedroom villa that sleeps 10 and we didn't want to leave. The villas are all privately owned and resort-managed, so each house is unique. Ours was so comfortable with a great kitchen and a private pool! We were in a gated community and just a 10 minute walk to the actual hotel. Everything was spread out anyway, so even if we were at the hotel, the marina was one way, the spa and beaches another direction. There were trolleys and golf carts to get around but we mostly walked everywhere.
Here's our charming villa. Juliet & I had the room in front with the balcony. Amelia slept with Olivia & Mia in the other front room in bunk beds.
Best Cousins Forever...Amelia & Mia!
Juliet & Abuela Forever! They were hand in hand most of the trip.
Kristin & I after a few Pina Coladas!
Ken & I! We went on the Booze Cruise (I mean...Sunset Sail) with the whole family and saw the sun set while enjoying cheap beer.
Here are all the big girls, dressed up for the boat ride. Baby Ava came too but she's only 12 mos old - too little to hang out on the back of the boat!
I took this screenshot on Google Maps on my phone while we were headed out to the snorkeling site by boat. That sandy patch at the bottom is where we went. Yay for modern technology!
Being a 'single mother' on vacation with the girls allowed me to really get to know my kids even better. They had only me to answer to (except when awesome Uncle Kenny helped kids get to bed with military precision and Ed's mom kept the kids' bellies filled). Amelia really impressed me on this trip. She helped me haul suitcases through the airport, said Please & Thank You like a good Southern girl, and also helped out so much with Juliet. She was quite the adventurer, going sea kayaking with me, kinda sorta of sneaking into the dolphin adventure area (shh!), snorkeling in the resort's salt-water lagoon and eating Mahi Mahi every single day. Juliet was just happy to swim at every chance and chase her older cousins around. She also loved riding on my back in the Ergo on our walks everywhere (including through the airport...who needs a stroller?!).
Here we are after landing in Ft Lauderdale!
I expected traveling with 2 kids, 2 suitcases and no stroller would be hard but it was great! I wore Juliet and Amelia happily helped with bags!
Sleeping Juju after a walk from the lagoon back to our villa.
My new favorite travel buddy! Love you Amelia!
After our adventure in the Keys, we spent 4 more days at Ken & Kristin's hanging out with cousins, second cousins, and uncles. Amelia slept with Mia each night and then played with Mia the rest of the day. I really didn't see much of her except at meal-time or when a referee was needed.
Ken & Abuelo took the 3 oldest girls fishing one morning. No one caught anything but they sure had fun. It was Amelia's first time!
One final goodbye before we left their house. It was so sad...they all get along so well and we won't see them again until next summer (hopefully!).
On day 10, the girls and I drove 3.5 hrs up north with Ed's parents. We spent the last 4 days of our trip at their house before flying home. During that visit, we were able to visit 2 different beautiful beaches, go to the museum, and feed flamingos at the Sarasota Jungle Garden.
Being silly on our drive home with Abuelo & Abuela.
We went to Sarasota Jungle Gardens, which was like a small zoo. The girls got to feed flamingos and Amelia had a parrot sit on her arm.
It was REALLY REALLY hot there, so we sure felt like we were in a jungle! The entire trip in Florida was great weather, except for this one location!
On a walk with Abuela one day, we came across a little amphitheater with stage. The girls ran up there to put on a quick show.
This was taken at the South Florida Museum. Also part of the museum is the Manatee Aquarium and the Bishop Planetarium. The girls sat through an entire 30 minute show in the planetarium without complaining. Amelia asked at one point if we were in a space ship.
This is the beach in Bradenton - so pretty! It poured rain about 20 minutes later and we had to run quickly for cover.
Most nights ended like this...snuggled up with Abuela!
Thanks for an awesome visit!! We miss everyone already!
It was a fantastic trip but not the same without Ed. Luckily, we're taking another trip WITH him later this summer...we can't wait!
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