Florida Keys: Day 4

Saturday during our Florida Keys vacation ... no work for Andi day!

We woke up early (thanks Tory!) and lounged around the villa for a few hours. Between baby snoozes, Andi and I had coffee and a big breakfast of eggs, bacon and hash browns on the patio overlooking the ocean. Originally we'd planned to visit Bahia Honda State Park which is about 30 miles south of Duck Key, but it was pretty windy outside and we didn't want to subject Tory to the weather. Plus, there's the whole Baby Hates The Car Seat thing and we weren't up for the scream-fest if we wouldn't be able to enjoy the day there. So, we headed to the pool instead to relax and enjoy the sunshine. Tory settled in and took a long nap in my arms (so unlike her!) and shortly Andi fell asleep too. I sat there next to my two loves and people-watched. I tried to be present in the moment; to enjoy a day at the pool with my little family of three. There will never be another time like this. Life just gets too busy. Although, I have to admit I was a little jealous of Andi's nap taking.

After the pool, we came back and made artichokes for lunch while Tory took another nap. Then we packed up the car and headed to a closer state park - Curry Hammock - just down the road from our resort. Half way there, I realized I'd forgotten Tory's sunhat and the baby sunblock so we had to turn back and endure double the baby screams. Once we finally got to the park, we realized it wasn't so great for babies. There was a small beach, but mostly mangroves you could kayak through. Not something I think Tory would particularly enjoy. So we loaded up the car once more and drove down the road to Sombrero Beach which was much better. Just as the sun was setting, Tory dipped her toes into the ocean for the very first time.

 And we watched the sun set together ...

On the drive back, we stopped at a local seafood shop to pick up stone crab claws for dinner. The Florida Keys are known for them, and Andi lives and dies by crab so it was a must-do. We came home, I put the baby to sleep and came downstairs to find a romantic dinner by moonlight on the patio. "We can eat dinner in front of the tv anytime," Andi said, "let's eat by the ocean tonight." So true.

Dinner by moonlight ... and the glow of the baby monitor

So we ate. We talked. And Andi beat the crap out of those stone crab shells with a wooden hammer on the patio floor. Classy.

As everyone back in Minnesota braved the first snow of the season, we enjoyed a sunny day in Florida. Life is perfect sometimes.