Florida 2014

Reese, my Mom and I headed to Florida last weekend to visit my Mimmie.  We had a bit of a stressful start with my mom getting stuck on 65 because of an accident then sitting on the plane for about an hour before taking off so we arrived late and the next morning was a bit rushed getting to church, returning the rental car and breakfast but after that it was smooth sailing.

Reese was a fish in the pool.  Definitely polishing her swimming skills.

She only almost fell off the back of the golf cart once...

We had hamburgers at the clubhouse Sunday night then Reese and I put our toes in the pool while the Mimmies chatted.

On our first trip to Robert is Here!

She loved it, because how could you not.  And it was awesome to see her celebrity response to seeing Robert working at the counter.

We played a lot of princess uno!

The on Tuesday we headed down into the keys!

First stop: The Shell Man

Then Largo Cargo...

Then, the Rain Barrel...

And our last stop was Islamorada Fish Company and the Wide World of Sports store.

She used her water to wet down her hair which looked a little weird but she sure knows how to pose!

Sailing skills on Hemingway's Pilar.

There was a lot of drawing at the kitchen counter.

Wednesday started with impulse purchases at the Dollar store and Roberts.

This red ball was a blast until it was caught in the tree for the second time.

After it hit me in the face, then on the way down from the tree it hit the cactus and that was the end of the red ball.

So Reese and I headed to the Alligator Farm.

We loved the air boat ride into the everglades!

We got soaked.

And were very close to some gators.

Reese with the air boat and our captain!

My super wet butt.

Then we went to see the baby gators and the clouds opened into a down pour.

We so headed back to the house.

And played chicken foot.

And Reese's curls came out in full force.

Thursday was chilly after the big storm came through so we spent most of the day reading.  

Then we had dinner at Alabama Jacks.

Photographer Reese took this one.

My little girl and her Mimmies - Regular and Great

Reese loved the key lime pie so much she licked the plate and because I had drank some rum punch, I let her.

Friday was a little chilly so we headed over to Biscayne National Park for a picnic and exploring.

We stopped in the visitor's center and picked up a junior ranger workbook and Reese wanted to buy a Florida Critters book.  (She wanted one with no pictures and had her heart seat on an underwater archaeology book but thankfully I walked her into the critters book.) 

We explored along the water and even were able to walk out into the mangroves.

Reese was a bit of a cruise director.

Then we headed back into the visitor's center so that Reese could take her oath as a junior ranger.  She was a little shy but took it very seriously and is super proud of her new job.  She is currently wearing her badge on her pajamas if that tells you anything.

Then we walked along a canal outside the park because the ranger had told us about a place where you can usually see some manatee and we did!!!  It was the perfect topper to this trip.  I tried to convey to Reese how cool it is to be able to see them.

Then we walked back to grab a couple caches and head back to Mim's house.

Saturday morning we picked up our rental car then Reese needed to get out some energy so her and I went for a walk.  Little did we know that they were having a kids olympics at the clubhouse and Reese was the only kid to participate.  She ran the course four or five times so she received a medal, water and candy.  It was perfect timing.  Then it was off to the airport and back to snowy Indiana.  

It was a wonderful trip full of warmth and family.  

I'm so glad I was able to take Reese to a place I hold so dearly in my heart.