Happy Birthday, Bryan

We celebrated Bryan's birthday in the Keys this year...

We decorated the RV...

Started by heading over to Sweet Savannah's for yummy birthday cupcakes...

We bought a delightful assortment of deliciousness in a pretty pink box!  I think the Key Lime cupcake was the birthday boy's favorite.

We may or may not have eaten all but this ONE cupcake on the birthday eve ;-)

We spent some quality time as a family, exploring and enjoying the beautiful weather...

We laughed...A LOT...We think we're hilarious!!!

LOL...seriously, we crack ourselves up.

We lounged by the pool...

We fell asleep in the sun for a little mid day siesta!!!

We went to The Grassy Key Outpost for the birthday boy's dinner & our waiter surprised Bryan with a birthday cheesecake!  It was a fun- filled day & night!

Sooooo, we celebrate entire birthday weeks and birthday weekends in this family!!!  The fun continued into the next day...  (after a good nights sleep cause we're getting old!). We went out for appetizers & drinks on Sunday!

 

Look out, he's a live one!

The weekend went too quickly and before we knew it, it was time to walk the dog & get ready for the week of school and work ahead!

Florida Keys- Week Two

We love this place...

Time is flying by here in the Keys.  Week two consisted of lots of fishing, snorkeling, exploring, learning and enjoying this beautiful place!  

We took the boat out and explored the waters near our park...

It was amazing to see right down into the crystal clear water- we saw stingrays, sea turtles, assorted fish, queen conchs, sea urchins...it was like cruising around in our own private aquarium!

Flipping awesome! (Haha- see what I did there!)

Check out this gigantic sea star!

Our handsome "not so little anymore" dude!

Stopping for a snorkel near Curry Hammock State Park!

This is how we explore when not fully immersed in the water...spot something cool (check), stop the engine (check ), grab dads's feet as he plunges his upper half into the water (check), dad grabs that something cool if possible (check) and then pull like hell on dads's feet so he doesn't drown!  We've got it down to a science!!!

Here's a sample of the "something cool" (don't worry, we quickly returned it to its original home!)

Another "something cool"

And yet another!

Check out this eagle ray!!!

Snorkel stop!!!

We had the whole place to ourselves...

These boys were on the lookout for sea creatures...and shallow water!

Beautiful for as far as the eye can see!

Ahhhhhhhh....

Fun in the sun with my honey!!!

Tammy bought a key lime pie and she shared and we gained 100 pounds...the end!  No. More. Pie.

We try to catch the sunset when we can and we do a little nighttime fishing, too!

Aaron and I visited the Art Studio in Marathon for an afternoon of Art!

We painted and spent quality time

time together...should've taken a picture of us, but we were too busy painting ;-)

We decorated for Thanksgiving ;-)

We bought a Florida State Park Pass so we can visit all the parks!  Here we are at Bahia Honda State Park!  We started our Florida State Park Junior Ranger Packets today :-)

Ready to explore...

Braden's been practicing his filleting skills back at our park...

He's almost a pro!  Thanks Mr. Mark for your guidance!!

This yummy spot is two minutes from the camp.  We've been twice so far!

That's all for now!!!  

Florida Keys- Week One

This place is magical.  The weather is magnificent, the breeze off the water is salty and warm, and we have a pretty awesome community of people here at the RV park.  So far, our days have been filled with fishing, snorkeling, swimming, and some sightseeing.  Bryan has been working hard so that we can enjoy all that this life has to offer- and we are thankful.  

Here's a peek into our first week...

There we are...the white rig in the middle

Our view from our windshield :-)

A crystal clear pool...very refreshing after an afternoon of fishing!

This bird (I've named him

Oscar) fishes day and night with us!  He is rewarded with our fish occasionally!

Lunch!

Fishing is his number one priority.

Check out this Cow Fish!

We love fishing with Miss Tammy!

Aaron's fish!

Barracuda!

I am proud to say my son successfully taught me to bait my own line AND take my own fish off!  

Mr. Mark taught Bradwn to filet his fish the proper way.  

He's getting very proficient at it!

And he never forgets to...poke out the eyes!!!! Ewww!!!!

It's seriously like fishing in an aquarium!

Lobster!

Nurse Shark!

We spent Tuesday at the Dolphin Research Center with our good friends, the Dugans!  Mr. & Mrs. Dugan live in the Keys and Dawn & Daniel ( their daughter and grandson were visiting from Maryland!!!) We were very excited to be able to see the whole family! 

Look at that cutie!

It was awesome to be able to get up close & personal with the dolphins!

Dolphins are so smart!

We even learned all about Sea Lions!

Aaron, Bryan & Bodie on our boat!

We're off to have more adventures!  Check back soon to see what we get into!!!!