Florida: Round Two

We were fortunate enough to travel to Florida again this April while Matt took another class to upgrade his license at his union school. We decided to fly this time instead of drive and Marek did great during the travel which included a layover that we couldn't avoid. It was so nice to spend some quality time together as a family and 12 days seems like the perfect amount of time. We were looking forward to staying over a weekend when Matt didn't have class so we could go on some adventures together but the weather did not cooperate for us to go to the zoo like we planned. We ended up going to the Miami Children's Museum instead, along with every other 2-10-year-old in the city! We were all pretty overwhelmed at the chaos but Marek loved watching all the kids running around we left right at that sweet spot between excitement and melt-down where they crash five minutes into the drive home :)

Most of our time during the week was spent hanging out at the pool and eating with Daddy while he was on breaks (we do a lot of eating there!). Marek and I ventured out a few times together. We visited a nature center where we walked on a long boardwalk that took us through a pristine mangrove wetland. We saw fiddler crabs and other little crabs digging in the mud and heard the "pop pop pop" of the snapping shrimp. I was so bummed that I forgot to charge my camera batteries!

We also visited the Flamingo Gardens which was the perfect "zoo" for a toddler to visit because we could see everything in just a couple of hours. There were birds of all kinds, even some that you could walk right up to and feed! I have to admit I was a little freaked out by the sign that said, "Birds may land on your shoulder" (Maureen, I was thinking about you the whole time!). Marek sat calmly interested in his stroller the whole time but got really spooked by the talking parrots on our way to the car. The parrot actually taught Marek to say, "hello!" But then it flew right up against it's cage on Marek's level and started squawking and scared the bijeebers out of both of us. Those things should stay in the rain forest where they belong! Freaky little devils.

We made a few visits to the beach in Hollywood on some perfect sunny days. Marek loved playing in the sand but reverted waaaay back to his "I have to test everything in my mouth" days. I spent most of my time chasing him and fishing cigarette butts out of his mouth. He was also more daring with the water and thankfully (for me, I hate swimming in the ocean!) there was very little wind so the waves were mild.

Marek was the only child at the school for most of our stay and he was certainly the star of the show. He jibber-jabbered to anyone and everyone he saw and had so much fun finding rocks, seashells, and trying to catch lizards, butterflied and birds. We will be going back probably two more times within the next year or so and one of those times we hope to take a mini vacation-within-a-vacation to the Florida Keys!

Matt had to leave again the day after we got home from Florida for NR training in San Diego.  Last week, he got to work and stay aboard a Navy destroyer and observe as they tested out all of the ship's capabilities in preparation for an upcoming audit.  COOL!  He also had lunch with Ron Paul.  You know, no big thing.  :)  I'll have to post more on that later after he sends me the photo of him and the Doc.

Marek and I are missing Daddy this week but we are staying busy and enjoying the Wisconsin spring.  I planted most of my garden yesterday and we visited the opening of the farmer's market today.  We are still uncertain as to when Matt will be leaving for work again but should know more next week.  We know not all of his vacations will be a busy as this one and that this is just a stepping stone to his ultimate goal of obtaining his DPO (Dynamic Position Officer Certification), Master's License, and a shorter, more predictable rotation.