Summer Adventure - Day 3
This morning we got a little bit of a late start. We're having a hard time getting on Eastern time so even though we're up at 7am Utah time, that's 9am here and I feel like I've wasted the morning! But we got up, ate a quick breakfast and then the kids swam while Jeff & I figured out our plan for the day.
We were out the door by 11am and headed to Sawgrass Recreation Park near Weston, FL. Again we had a little trouble getting there but this time it wasn't my fault. Their address isn't findable on google maps. But we found it after a quick phone call to their front desk. We ate our picnic PB & J (we're trying to stay on our food budget. We can't eat like "vacation" if we're going to be gone for 24 days!) at the picnic tables at the entrance. The birds were like vultures....literally! (There actually were vultures in the parking lot). The kids had a great time throwing their crusts to the crows and other birds who had no fear of humans. Then we headed over to the airboat tours and bought our tickets.
The airboat ride was seriously awesome! It was crowded and commercialized and only 30 minutes but we saw wild alligators (2) right up next to the boat! I got some great pictures and the kids got a little more up close and personal than a few might have wanted at first. But we were in a big metal boat so we felt pretty safe. It was so hot and humid that we were literally dripping with sweat when we didn't have the wind from riding in the boat. I loved how it seemed like we could go anywhere and over anything in the airboat because there is no propeller under the water. We would just mow right over the shorter grass and then look behind us and it was popped right back up like we'd never been there before. I don't know how they don't get lost out there with very few landmarks and everything looks alike but I did notice PVC pipes sticking out of the water so those must be the trail markers. The water was marshy but clear and still when untouched. The reflections of the clouds in the water were really amazing. It was totally worth it!
After that we went to their little animal exhibits. It was a small, local nature center and they had a handful of interesting animals: komodo dragon, cougars, florida panthers, bobcats, pythons and baby alligators. We even got to hold a baby alligator! (They tape its mouth shut with electrical tape first).
We decided to try and hit Costco for a few groceries and cases of water before heading to the beach. We stopped for treats on the way out and Jeff went to take the little boys to the bathroom. They were running ahead so he just followed after them. After helping the little boys and even using the restroom himself he was washing his hands when a woman came out of a stall a few down from the one Jeff had used. She immediately started yelling at him "You can't be in here! You can't be in here!" She was a wrinkly, chain-smoking Costco worker who apparently thought he was in there on purpose. He tried to explain that he had no idea it was the women's restroom and that he had just followed his sons in, but she would have none of it. She scolded him up and down and chased him out of the women's restroom. As he was walking out another woman was walking in and screamed! He caused quite a ruckus! Later we saw the same Costco worker and she just glared and shook her head at Jeff.
As we were leaving Costco a young couple (probably a few years younger than us) spotted Jeff's BYU shirt and called out to us. We talked to them for a few minutes about the church in the area and asked for a suggestion for a good family beach. They suggested Dania Beach and gave us directions so we headed East for the beach. We swam and played and looked at fish underwater with our goggles and tried to boogie board. There weren't really any waves to speak of. Apparently there are only waves in Florida in the winter so we're out of luck for this trip. Bummer! We stayed at the beach for over two hours. There's not many things better than just playing in the ocean waves, especially with little kids who just LOVE it!
We washed up and tried to minimize the sandy mess the kids dragged from the beach to the car and headed back to the house. The kids went straight from the car to the pool again. You have to walk past the pool to get to the house. They never make it to the house. I don't really blame them. They're already in their wet swimsuits and it's 95 degrees with 90% humidity. It doesn't really take convincing to just jump in. Jeff and I cleaned up and made breakfast for dinner while the kids swam.
After dinner I swam laps with Calvin and the kids swam some more before heading inside for Calvin's devotional. He showed a Mormon Message and we talked about it. They are perfect for a family devotional -- interesting, short and captivating and offer great starting points for family discussions! Now the kids are vegging with a little "Phineas & Ferb" before going to sleep.
We were out the door by 11am and headed to Sawgrass Recreation Park near Weston, FL. Again we had a little trouble getting there but this time it wasn't my fault. Their address isn't findable on google maps. But we found it after a quick phone call to their front desk. We ate our picnic PB & J (we're trying to stay on our food budget. We can't eat like "vacation" if we're going to be gone for 24 days!) at the picnic tables at the entrance. The birds were like vultures....literally! (There actually were vultures in the parking lot). The kids had a great time throwing their crusts to the crows and other birds who had no fear of humans. Then we headed over to the airboat tours and bought our tickets.
The airboat ride was seriously awesome! It was crowded and commercialized and only 30 minutes but we saw wild alligators (2) right up next to the boat! I got some great pictures and the kids got a little more up close and personal than a few might have wanted at first. But we were in a big metal boat so we felt pretty safe. It was so hot and humid that we were literally dripping with sweat when we didn't have the wind from riding in the boat. I loved how it seemed like we could go anywhere and over anything in the airboat because there is no propeller under the water. We would just mow right over the shorter grass and then look behind us and it was popped right back up like we'd never been there before. I don't know how they don't get lost out there with very few landmarks and everything looks alike but I did notice PVC pipes sticking out of the water so those must be the trail markers. The water was marshy but clear and still when untouched. The reflections of the clouds in the water were really amazing. It was totally worth it!
After that we went to their little animal exhibits. It was a small, local nature center and they had a handful of interesting animals: komodo dragon, cougars, florida panthers, bobcats, pythons and baby alligators. We even got to hold a baby alligator! (They tape its mouth shut with electrical tape first).
We decided to try and hit Costco for a few groceries and cases of water before heading to the beach. We stopped for treats on the way out and Jeff went to take the little boys to the bathroom. They were running ahead so he just followed after them. After helping the little boys and even using the restroom himself he was washing his hands when a woman came out of a stall a few down from the one Jeff had used. She immediately started yelling at him "You can't be in here! You can't be in here!" She was a wrinkly, chain-smoking Costco worker who apparently thought he was in there on purpose. He tried to explain that he had no idea it was the women's restroom and that he had just followed his sons in, but she would have none of it. She scolded him up and down and chased him out of the women's restroom. As he was walking out another woman was walking in and screamed! He caused quite a ruckus! Later we saw the same Costco worker and she just glared and shook her head at Jeff.
As we were leaving Costco a young couple (probably a few years younger than us) spotted Jeff's BYU shirt and called out to us. We talked to them for a few minutes about the church in the area and asked for a suggestion for a good family beach. They suggested Dania Beach and gave us directions so we headed East for the beach. We swam and played and looked at fish underwater with our goggles and tried to boogie board. There weren't really any waves to speak of. Apparently there are only waves in Florida in the winter so we're out of luck for this trip. Bummer! We stayed at the beach for over two hours. There's not many things better than just playing in the ocean waves, especially with little kids who just LOVE it!
We washed up and tried to minimize the sandy mess the kids dragged from the beach to the car and headed back to the house. The kids went straight from the car to the pool again. You have to walk past the pool to get to the house. They never make it to the house. I don't really blame them. They're already in their wet swimsuits and it's 95 degrees with 90% humidity. It doesn't really take convincing to just jump in. Jeff and I cleaned up and made breakfast for dinner while the kids swam.
After dinner I swam laps with Calvin and the kids swam some more before heading inside for Calvin's devotional. He showed a Mormon Message and we talked about it. They are perfect for a family devotional -- interesting, short and captivating and offer great starting points for family discussions! Now the kids are vegging with a little "Phineas & Ferb" before going to sleep.
Helping Dad make sandwiches for our picnic lunch.
Electronic-free!
Picnic at Sawgrass Recreation Park.
Ready to go on our airboat ride.
Up close and personal!
Calvin loved being the photographer!
The wind in our hair!
River of grass
This baby alligator's name was "Smiley." Smiley was 2 years old.
Swimming laps for his daily workout.
Catching one of the only waves of the day.
Isaac absolutely LOVES the ocean. He loves everything about it: playing in the waves, running on the sand, collecting shells and bits of dead coral, looking at fish with his goggles. He could stay all day. I love just watching him. You can just see from the smile on his face that he is in heaven.
I'm loving these posts. Sounds like you are having a divine time.
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