Another Business Trip - Destin, FL

At the end of January, I had a conference in Florida.  It was very nice to get away from the Syracuse winter.  The conference lasted all day so I didn't have much time for sightseeing, but the resort that the conference was at was really nice.

View from my hotel room

The hotel was on the bay side

Beautiful sunset view

One of the nights I had oysters for the first time.  They were delicious!  I was so amazed at how much I enjoyed them.

One night I went over and checked out the beach

It looks like a nice beach, but I didn't get to spend more than 15 minutes there.

But in those 15 minutes, I did get to see a lovely sunset.

The next morning I went for a quick run.  Out on one of the piers there were a bunch of pelicans and other sea birds sitting out on all of the pylons.  It was pretty cool.

Florida, Day 5

Our last day in Florida started off a little bit chillier (low 60s), so we decided to go for a walk for a while.  We hadn't been over to the other side of the complex to see the canal yet, so we decided to wander over that way.

Luckily, most of the way over there were balance beams (aka curbs) to walk on, so that made it extra fun for the kids.

Who doesn't love a good balance beam?

Near the pool on the other side of the complex.

Kiddos snuggling with mama on the dock of the canal side.

Family picture (in the wind!)

Cam's idea was to put the camera on the bench that we were just sitting on and take a picture of us in front of the canal.  The background didn't work out so well put it is still a pretty cute family picture.

I can't remember what she was crying about it was so random and so dramatic that we had to take a picture.  What nice parents.

Cameron wanted to take some jumping pictures at the end of the dock.

I think they came out great!  He could have done this for hours if we let him.

Walking back through "the jungle" (as the kids called it)

Our flight was leaving out of Sarasota Airport around 6, so we planned to have a late lunch/early dinner at 2 or 3.  Before that, the kids wanted to get in one last swim.  Of course, Daddy went with them in the pool.  You can see by the lack of people on the pool deck that the weather had NOT warmed up at all from the morning.

Dunking Leah!

Cam showing off that he is tall enough to stand on the bottom of the pool in the shallow end and be able to have his head above water (just barely).  He was pretty excited about this revelation.

Leah going for a diving stick on the steps.  She wouldn't swim down for it at all, but if she could dunk to get it, she was all for it.

More swimming by one of my little fish.

I love the pool!

Mama did NOT go swimming with Daddy and the kids today, it was too cold for me.  I dipped my feet in a bit, but mainly took pictures and watched.  When Cam and Leah got too chilly in the pool, I was on the side ready to wrap them up like little burritos.  Here they are, each wrapped in their own towel and then with another towel (or two) on top.  They wanted to sit on the same chair so that they could snuggle together and keep warm.

Back up in the condo, a few last pictures.  This one is a little bit washed out, but it shows the coffee table that Cameron spent all of his inside time at.  He brought his hockey guys with him to play with and this table was the perfect ice rink for him.  He spent hours playing games on the "ice."

Kiddos with some of the toys that they brought - Cam with his hockey teams and Leah with her princesses.

A great picture of everyone

I love this picture of the kids with Omi and Opa - so cute!!

Our flights home were pretty easy, nothing delayed or too bumpy.  The kids slept for the entire last flight from Atlanta, so that made it very nice for Mama and Daddy to also sleep/relax.  Nana and Poppa picked us up from their airport in the cold, snowy weather.  Another wonderful Florida vacation!!

Videos from Day 4

Here are a few more videos of the kids in the pool - our favorite place to hang out during the day!

Here is Cam jumping in and swimming to the camera.

Here is Leah jumping in to the pool.  She was so funny - she wouldn't jump unless she was holding at least one of our hands, but she had no fear going under water and was proud of herself for kicking up to the surface.

And finally, here is Cameron diving for a ring at the bottom of the deep end.

Florida, Day 4 Morning

Monday was another warm day so we knew that we would be spending the day at the beach and the pool.  And that is exactly what we did. :)

Tim and Cameron playing soccer on the beach.

Sweet Leah Bea

Cam had a BLAST playing soccer - he probably would have played for hours if Leah didn't get tired of being on the beach.

I took this picture of Cam but it turned out pretty cool by accident - check out his sunglasses reflection - Tim on one side and Leah on the other.

After we were done at the beach we headed up to the pool.

Above the water picture

Below the water picture

Above and below at the same time

More diving for hockey players

Trying to swim under the float

Checking out the pool light

Leah going for the ball - she did such an awesome job going under water for it!

Daddy and kiddos!

Leah did not want to be part of the underwater picture.

After swimming it was time to go back up to the condo for lunch and naps.  Cam took Leah's hand to show her some of the little lizards that run all over the place.

And then they kept holding hands the entire walk back.  It was so cute.

Cutest kids ever!

Cam checking out a banyan tree.  He was looking for the little lizards that live in there.  If you looked close, you could see a dozen camouflaged in the bark.

Today Tim took pictures of one of our favorite routines.  The condo has a key fob entry system and the kids took turns being the one to swipe the fob in order to open the door.

Then they also took turns pushing the elevator button - one pushed the button on the outside of the doors.

And the other pushed the button on the inside.  Leah wasn't quite tall enough to reach the 3 button so Cam had to help.

After lunch most days, Mama and Leah took a nap.  Cameron occasionally laid down for a bit and Tim mainly just read.  On this day Leah decided she didn't want to nap in her bed so she joined Mama for a "snoozer." (Leah would get upset if you said she had to take a nap, but if you said she had to take a snoozer, that was okay.  What a silly girl!)

More fun after naptime....