Spring Break

There is a LOT to catch up on so I will mostly do this in pictures.  This will be Part 1 of the catch up.

On March 1 my mom flew down from MA and spring break was under way.  My dad and the Shawn Braces drove down, arriving on Thursday afternoon.  Meanwhile Ricky and Ana got into town Friday evening.  The Brace clan was back together!  It wasn't quite (okay, it wasn't AT all) like the cruise was last spring break but whenever we are together, it's still a terrific time!

Let the fun begin!

Sabbath picture. 

I recruited Camille to lead out in some songs for Adventurers on Sabbath afternoon.

The cousins and Colby got to work on the honor which was sand art.  I was teaching it so it was especially easy to include them.

Earlier in the day, we had the aunts, Uncle Dick, and cousin Randy over for lunch and fellowship.

Sunday morning it was off to Key Largo (part of the Florida Keys for those not familiar) for the next five nights.  We had two, 2-bedroom units. 

They had some nice paths for the Nature Hunters to explore.

The beach at the hotel.

On Monday we did some geocaching at various locations around the hotel.  It was the first time the Brace kids had done it and they all had a lot of fun. 

Went to a nearby bird sanctuary which was a very interesting place.

Photo op at the bird sanctuary.

These are great pictures from Camille. 

Stopped for a little treat treat at McDonald's. 

Tuesday morning we travelled a little over an hour to the Everglades.  I was there as a kid but my kids had never been.  With our national park booklet that we have now, we are all the more motivated to get to the parks.  

It did not disappoint.  We went on an hour long walk/tour with a tour guide and saw dozens and dozens of gators, some only a few feet from us. 

The parents-to-be.

The boy sure loves his Papa. 

He'd put my dad's hat on over his face and have my dad say "Where's Colby? Anyone see Colby?" and then Colby would take the hat off and surprise my dad, giggling like crazy.  And then he'd say "Again!" over and over again.

Buddies 

After the Everglades, we ate and then went to the Alligator Farm in Homestead.  After our time there, we realized that the alligators must actually be on the farm to be raised for slaughter (is that what you call what happens to gators?) Love the cousin love here.

Airboat ride.  Love that little face.

Wednesday was Duncan's birthday.  And we were off to the beach about 1.5 hours away.  Good beaches are few and far between on the Keys.  This one was called Bahia Honda.  

The kids worked on a sand castle and moat.  Brady totally cracked us up.  He kept telling everyone they were doing a good job, as if he was the foreman.  But he was sure to remind them, "I'm not the captain. We're all captains."  I had a lady come over and tell me afterwards that she was so impressed with his leadership skills and how encouraging he was to everyone.  

Snack, snack, snack.  These two.

My parents watched the kids that evening so the three couples could go out to celebrate Duncan's 39th.  We went to the Old Tarvernier Inn Resturant and were very impressed with the ambiance and food although the waitress was a little strange. 

Thursday some of us did pool time. There was also a hot tub that Duncan, Shawn, Camille, and I went to hang out in one evening.  No sooner did we get in then a couple of old ladies lit up their cigarettes.  Needless to say, we didn't stay.  

Duncan and Calleigh went paddleboarding.  She looks so grown up. 

My mom, Ricky, Ana, Shawn, and Camille went snorkling.

We left Key Largo on Friday morning to return home but first stopped at Biscayne National Park which is just south of Miami.

Too small to see it here but you could see the Miami skyline from this vantage point. 

Brady and Aubree kept climbing all the trees.  Brady declared himself the "climbing brother" while Colby was the "jumping brother."

Most of the park is underwater but we did take a short walk on the part that wasn't.  It was very pretty with all the mangrove trees.

Sunday morning soccer started back up again.

The family LOVES crepes so we introduced them to the Crepevine. So delicious. 

On Monday I woke up feeling pretty awful...appeared to be coming down with a cold. Thankfully the rest of the family took the kids to the Science Center with them so that I could recuperate at home.

Tuesday we took advantage of a homeschool deal and went to some attractions on I-Drive including Madame Toussads wax museum.

I don't know where Brady comes up with these ideas!

Calleigh had never heard of nor seen Michael Jackson and she honestly couldn't believe he was a man.  

We also went to the Sealife Aquarium in the same complex.  It was relatively small but nice.

We couldn't go to I-Drive without taking them to the World's Largest McDonald's.

After lunch we did the Orlando Eye which I call the London Eye pretty much every single time.

My mom and the Shawn Braces left on Wednesday morning although just barely as a big storm had come through the day before.  My dad stayed through for a few more days (gotta love partial retirement).  Ricky and Ana had left on Sunday.  A great time was had by all!!