Florida 2010

We're back from our winter trip to Florida - it's usually a nice change from the rain and fog in California, although this time the weather didn't always cooperate. Luckily we packed a few sweaters, and had plenty of reminders from people from up North that "at least it wasn't snowing". Since Daddy had to stay behind, we stayed with Gangi & Grandpa Marshall in Everglades City. We had plenty of visitors to keep us busy, and so many things to see on the edge of the Everglades - like this thing, at the Rod & Gun Club:

What is it? Most veterinarians are biology nerds who realized they've run out of patience for lectures on the migratory habits of elephant shrews and would like to earn a living instead, so you would think I could identify this piece of taxidermy. Sadly, I have no photos of Brennan with the giant alligator in the Seafood Depot.
Brennan enjoyed going to out to eat - french fries seem to come with EVERYTHING in Florida - but I think he liked his Grandma's cooking best of all. And when it came time for his bedtime story, there was just one person he wanted to read it:

Last year, we spent a lot of time in the pool, but because we had some wet and/or chilly days this trip, we had to get creative when it came to burning off the little monkey's extra energy. Pushing the stroller down the Big Cypress Bend boardwalk worked pretty well.

It wasn't all clouds and swamp grass - Auntie Kris flew down from Atlanta for a few days, and on Saturday I took advantage of having a free and incredibly reliable babysitter (thanks, Mom). Kris & I took an early morning ferry from Marco Island down to Key West for a little sight-seeing. Now I finally have a picture at the Southernmost Point that I don't have to crop an ex out of.

We did the usual stuff - shopped on Duvall St., had some drinks, ate key lime pie on a stick and then felt sick, stopped at the Hemingway House, got flip-flop blisters, etc.

We didn't get to see the Sunset Festival at Mallory Square, since the ferry left at 5 pm, but we did get to see a nice one while we travelled back north through the gulf.

Bren got a little boat time also, although these days his attention span isn't really geared for sailing. Instead we motored around the river, which gave him extra opportunities to use the 2 words he learned in his week in Florida: Boat and Bird.

Brennan had lots of fun in Florida - stealing french fries, going for bike rides, running out onto the porch to shout "boat" at every fishing boat or airboat tour that went by. The only bummer was we missed his Grandma Lorna & Grandpa Owe - they came out to San Francisco while we were away - he's hoping to get another chance to see them soon. And he's hoping to be too big for the baby life jacket on his next trip to Everglades City.