This year we headed back to Florida for our February week off. Last year we were fortunate to spend two weeks in Hawaii over this break from school and work. Hawaii was amazing and remains our #1 vacation destination. All 3 of us can't wait to go back. But for now, travel in the continental USA is what our budget and time constraints allow.
It was so cold when we left Boston! At 430AM it was minus 11 degrees!!!
So we bundled up for the trip to the airport.
Ally was so cold on the airplane she wore her gloves! It was so cold that the water truck was frozen. They couldn't get potable water on the plane. So no water for coffee or hand washing. After about 45 minutes they brought on bottled water and hand sanitizer and we finally took flight.
There were clouds forming in the harbor over the ocean. After the usual 3 hour flight we landed in Tampa, rented a minivan and drove down to Siesta Key.
Soon after we arrived Ally was in the pool.
Becky enjoyed a beer in a goblet.
Mom and Aunt Martha went out with friends to celebrate Valentine's Day and we ordered a heart shape pizza.
The next day we headed out to the beach.
My how Ally has grown:
2008
Every year Becky plays with Ally in the sand from 2011:
Another 2010 picture.
After the morning at the beach Ally and Mama headed to the pool. 2 hours at the pool and Ally was ready for lunch.
Throw back to 2009
That was a pelican!
Then it was off the mall for some shopping.
I love this picture of my mom and Aunt Martha waiting for Ally to model her new clothes. They look like twins not just sisters. Aunt Martha was very generous and bought Ally a bunch of new clothes for Valentine's Day.
And to look back to 2012:
I have a cold this week, so no swimming for me. I promised Ally by the end of week I would get in the pool. Maybe Friday before we fly home.
Tuesday, Ally and Becky were at the pool most of the morning.
Then we headed into Sarasota for a boat ride around the harbor.
The boat had actual live palm trees on the upper deck.
We saw some amazing waterfront homes, lost of sea birds, and even some bottle nose dolphins! No pictures of the dolphins.
Just call her Popsicle girl! The boat ride was a little long, 2 hours is a long time for an adult oriented tour for a 9 year old. Ally was great as usual, but after the boat ride she was tired out and sitting for dinner was not her thing.
So Becky and I took turns before and after eating taking her to the park next door to the waterfront pub we ate at.
Monkey bars were all it took to put a smile back on her face and make her feel like herself again. 9 is an interesting age. Ally commented to me how odd it felt to her to be a big kid at the park, and when she saw little kids with their parents, she remembers us helping her and talking to her that way. But now she is a big kid and it's different. She said it weird to be older but still a kid.
Big kid or not she still likes to chase birds
That was a pelican!
And my favorite picture of the trip:
Ally and me, snuggling to keep warm on the boat ride in the wind.
We are having a great time.
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