florida fun

while it is true that our favorite thing to do last week was swim in nana and papa's pool, we managed to do a few other things during our time in florida. there is nothing quite so freeing as running out the door in shorts and flip flops right in the middle of winter-bundle-up season. we ran out the door in flip flops to go to lunch, to go to the play ground, to ride bikes, to spot dolphins and eat ice cream and hunt for shells at the beach. it was a good time.

ramona had another (and final) birthday party. turning 5 is a long process, and thankfully, it is a process full of chocolate cake.

there were morning bike rides,

and afternoon bike rides.

james learned to use a key, and the world is now a less safe place.

we looked for birds and dolphins from the pier,

we shared ice cream cones,

 

and we watched this guy play around for a while. ramona named him squeaky.

sand cakes and messy stews were concocted on the beach,

and cozy warm sun bathing was interrupted more than once by this wet, sandy, sticky wild beach animal.

climbing walls were climbed,

oldey-timey sugar presses were explored,

maps were interpreted, 

and cats were snuggled.

all that activity, plus hours in the pool every day? it's tiring. we did a lot of sleeping.