Sanibel Lighthouse, can't climb it, not to pretty either, but a nice little car ride for Jake to take a nap.

Jake and I visited and toured two war ships -- two thumbs up, he said!

Marie stayed in the hotel watching TV with Daddy, she had no desire to go. There were two boats we toured. This is one that was in a lot of wars and had some real battle scars. Jake thought they were both cool, the other, a Coast Guard boat, sunk a submarine and Jake thought that was really awesome.

When we got to the gun room, he couldn't believe the bullets were almost as big as him. He zoomed through these ships without fear, climbing up and down the tiny ladders and going through the narrow spaces. He told me he was in charge and I was to follow him. He also thought the bedrooms were really small and when he saw where the sailors slept, just in walls of cots he thought it looked fun.

He wanted to be a weatherman, who flew planes and helicopters. After our tour today he said maybe he wanted to be a captain of a ship, since they have to know all about the weather, they can still fly planes and helicopters to get on their ships but then he would also be in charge of a big giant battleship.

At the end of the tours he asked if he could fire the gun or see a battle in real life -- the answer was no of course.

The submarine (lab)

Jake has been anxious to go on a submarine. We haven't found one to ride, but a Eco-Discovery tour (free on Key West, perhaps the only free thing in Key West) had a replica of a Submarine Lab, Jake had a really great time playing inside it. The windows looked real and he could see the life at different sea levels. He loved this place so much, we went back a second time and brought Marie along. She was not as impressed as him, but she did have a good time on the scavenger hunt.

Key West

We got Daddy from the airport yesterday and arrived in Key West. Its a funky little town.

We went to the beach yesterday, but the first 2 feet of water are covered in sea weed. Marie and I emerged from the Ocean looking like sea monsters - it was pretty gross on the beach. I am told most beaches are like that on Key West, we have another beach to try today. The pool was great, it had floaties for us to play with and it was refreshing.

The kids spotted a playground on the way to the hotel, so after we had quiet time, we ventured out to the playground. They had a lot of fun, its all sand under the playground, so they played for a while and just had some good old fashion fun with the other kids.

Then we came back to the hotel, they scarfed down most of a pizza, watched a little TV and went to bed. They are very happy to have their Daddy back.

Hopefully I will manage to take some pictures today.

Pictures from the Dolphin Research Center

Both kids were extremely excited about the Dolphin Research Center. We did the Dolphin Dip. Marie got in for a little bit, but was grossed out by slimy fish. Jake hopped out a few times, but participated and had a great time. When we were about to get in with the Dolphin, Jake said, "Pinch me, I think I am dreaming". He was so excited he was shaking.

The first picture, we are asking the dolphin to swim like a shark.

The second picture, we are having a splash fight with the dolphin.

The third picture, Jake is shaking hands with the dolphin.

It was a lot of fun, both kids pet the dolphin several times. Marie thought he felt like a soft wet boot.

Marie and Jake at Sombrero Beach Digging for Treasures

Digging for treasures

Marie and Jake at the Dolphin Research Center

The Rooster who Greeted us at the Dolphin Research Center

I was not even sure who was chasing who, where the kids chasing him? Or was he chasing the kids? It was a little of both.

Marie is posing at the Dolphin Research Center

Jake is very excited this morning, he is ready to be a dolphin trainer.

Dinner anyone? The burnt pizza.

I put the pizza in the oven and set the timer. I think our oven cooked a little fast, what really floored me, is Marie said, I don't know what happened, I checked on it a few minutes ago and it looked really yummy and cheesy. Luckily we purchased two, and I cooked the second one in half the time :)

Marie making a sand angel.

Jake making a castle.

Marie at the beach

Marie discovered how wonderful the ocean breeze is to blow through your hair and just relax.

Jake is turning into Sandy Guy, he made up a sandy guy song.

The awesome ocean.

They made an X marks the spot and spent a lot of time digging for treasures.

The playground by the ocean

This was a really cool thing at the playground, the kids could climb all over it, but it also could spin. In this picture someone is spinning it and Jake is trying to balance himself.

Marie climbed to the top, she said it was a great view of the ocean.

Everglades Safari Park

We did the airboat ride. Marie liked the first part, but then got hot - the sun was shining right on us and there was no shade. Jake gave the airboat ride a thumbs down, he said it was too loud, too hot, and too long. Regardless they smiled during parts of the ride, had ear plugs in and both loved waving at the people on the other airboats.

The second part of the park was an Alligator show. Both kids loved the show. The trainer said before I go in the cage with the 6 alligators, does anyone have any questions. Marie shot her hand up and asked, "Is it fun to go in there??". He said "Yes! And safer than playing on a DS". Marie wants a DS for Christmas, I wonder if she will rethink her request :)

I held Snappy the Alligator - he was big!

Neither Marie nor Jake would even touch the alligator. Marie finally agreed if I held it she would take my picture. Jake watched, very worried. The alligator was named Snappy, he was bigger than I expected, cool to the touch and it was kind of fun.

We ordered room service, the kids thought that was really awesome.

Marie enjoying room service as well.

Flowers in the lobby of the hotel, Marie took this picture, they are about 3 feet tall. It was almost one in the morning when she took this picture, the airplane was pretty late. The kids were troopers, but boy did we sleep good that night.

Dinner at the aiport

Happy kids eating hot dogs at airport. We rode the train first even though our gate was right next to our next gate :)

Before takeoff

Marie is studying the safety manual and Jake is studying the jet engine out the window to see if it's on fire.

Chickey in her new dress

Hi, I am Chickey in my new clothes!

Jakes solution to Daddy's toots.

Jakes solution to Daddy's toots.

Instructions for the pancakes we made

Marie followed the kid cookbook and read the recipe to me!

Butterfly gardens

Home sweet home for tonight

Going Camping Today!

I decided to take the kids camping today. We are going to Krause Springs, its just around the corner from here and has a couple of nice swimming holes and a rope swing. Maybe just one night, but possibly two, we will see.

We hung at the house for most of the day and then we went for a few hours on the boat with the Schwitters, always a good time. They then watched Jake and Marie for a few hours so Bill and I could check out the craziness called AquaPalooza, there were a few thousand boats, the aucoustics of a floating stage are not optimal, and the ride was really bumpy, but it was definitely a site to see.

Marie has a little bird named Chickey that she loves. Two nights ago when she put him to bed, she put him in a drawer, when she got up in the morning he wasn't in the drawer. Marie has really been perplexed by this. She had two theories, he either came to life while she was sleeping or she sleep walked. She drew a storyboard of pictures of both these scenarios. Then she decided to test her theory about Chickey coming to life, she placed Chickey very carefully in the kitchen on the ventahood above the stove, looking out at the room before we left for the boat. When we came back from the boat, she went right to the ventahood and he hadn't moved. She said he didn't come to life and now she thinks for certain she sleep walked. I have no idea how Chickey moved, I think Marie did it, when she woke up in the morning half asleep. Regardless, I love that she came up with two hypothesis and tested one of them, she has the other experiment for sleep walking set up for last night and she is still sleeping.

Happy Sunday!
Julie

Chickeys in a hula skirt, Marie made all these outfits.

We saw despicable me yesterday and this morning we went to iHop for their movie specials.  This guy was hanging from the ceiling.

I can't believe school starts next month!

Someone said that to me yesterday and I went o noooo!!! We still have a good chunk of time, but the summer is certainly flying by fast.

Yesterday was a nice lazy day, after swim lessons we came back to meet the carpet repair guy and then Kirk and Ben came over for a play date. Jake sure loves the giant chess and checkers game at the swimming pool and Kirk plays with him everyday, yeah Kirk!

The swim lessons for Marie are really good, she and Ben are in their own class and making great progress. Jake isn't learning anything much but he is having a great time since he knows all the skills the teacher is teaching. He swam off once during class but he turned around and swam back. I will definitely have to keep an eye on him.

I will never be a teacher, doing homework with the kids each day is not very fun for me but the kids love it. When I taught adults, if they didn't understand they hid it because they didn't want to be embarrassed, Marie cries and Jake gets mad. The silence was easier....

Jake is turning into such a happy little kid, I even caught him singing to himself yesterday, "Make new friends but keep the old...". He still has his anger streak but he is smiling when he sits in the car and just hangs out and I even told him I was going to start calling him smiley because he smiles all the time. Jake is starting to look forward to going to Kindergarten because he gets to learn how stuff works. At the book store yesterday, he choose a real FAA flight instruction manual as his book. He had me read about 150 pages of the pictures and paragraphs around the pictures. All very dry - but I did learn that each jet engine or prop engine has its own set of gauges, who knew. I also learned there is an "attitude" gauge...its a typo in the book but it had me roaring with laughter.

Anyways, we have a play date this afternoon for Marie, I hope, I did not hear back from the Mom yesterday.

Happy Thursday!
Julie

Back on Schedule

Yesterday we had a normal day. The kids did a little homework, we played inside a lot. Went to see Toy Story 3, it was good. And then the kids could not wait until 7pm, when the new Sponge Bob episode was on TV.

Our Tivo broke so now the kids are experiencing watching TV when the shows come on. It worked out great, I said hurry up, bath time, we want to be ready for the show and we had no complaints. Jake took a shower because he wanted to be really shiny clean.

We all went to bed early and had a nice relaxing day.

Today, swim lessons start!!
J

Yesterday was a LONG but fun day

We started the day with Marie being in the parade. We were very tired but Marie had a good time being in her first parade, she couldn't wait to see Mima and Papa at the end of the parade and had an extra candy set aside for Papa.

We took a little rest then went swimming in the park with Kirk and Ben and Ray brought out the jet ski and gave kids rides. Jake was grinning from ear to ear, a little scared, but he had a great time. I think Marie had the most fun jumping off the docks with the boys. One of the funniest moments of the day was Ben kept chasing Marie around in the water saying come here and finally Marie said, "No, you are either going to pee on me or kiss me and I don't want either" and she swam off.

For dinner I ordered Chinese take-out and Jake ate part of an Egg Roll and he had chicken in sauce. WOOHOOO, he tried two new foods and liked them. I told him the Egg Roll was a Chinese french fry.

Last night we packed up the mini-van, loaded the kids and went down to the park to watch the fireworks, the kids "camped out" in the back of the van with pillows and blankets. The kids thought it was very cool, but were so tired when we finally went home, Marie fell asleep before we even left.

Today we tackle Schlitterbahn!!! WOOHOOOO

Happy 4th of July
J

Marie in the parade.

Marie and Chickey.  She drew a picture of Chickey and her hands.