It has certainly been a busy few days for little Miss Pearl, swimming, exploring, and digging in the sand, along with hanging out with Nana and Bumpa.
We are in Key Largo at Sunset Cove Resort, the same place we came last year around the same time. It's amazing to think of all the changes Pearl has made in the past year, last time we were here she was a 6 month old blob trhat really didn't do much. This year she is a 1 1/2 year old toddler that runs around everywhere, likes to play in the water, and explores her surroundings. If this turns out to be a yearly event, which Kim and I think would be a pretty swell idea, she could be snorkling next year (she'll be 2 1/2, wow). I really can't think of a better place to make an annual trek with Pearl, she may even start to look forward to coming down here. Kim and I went to get key lime pie today for dessert after our dinner of grilled NY Strip Steak, Yellowfin Tuna, and Shrimps. While we were driving there was even talk of the possiblilty that we would move down here after I complete my EMT training, I was accepted into the program (more about that later). If we move here we would have to find another place for our yearly vacation tradition, may be back up to Orlando to go to Disney.
Nana and Bumpa arrived on Friday of last week, and actually spent 2 nights in the hotel that I work in (but not for, long story). Pearl was a little shy at first, but I think she remembered who they were and warmed up tp them quite quickly. Now they are all like peas in a pod, hanging out and exploring together. It's really great that they were able to come down here for a visit, I wish they lived closer so they could see Pearl more often. Webcam is really no substitute for hanging out and being with their grand-daughter, though it is a nice thing to have (sort-of a second best thing). Pearl does have her Mimsy around all the time, but having her Bumpa and Nana around as much would be a very keen thing for her to have. I know I say that quite a bit, especially when they are here.
When they are here I am reminded of the fact that they get to spend such little time with each other and it makes me a little sad. I have pretty cool parents and they should be able to spend a lot more time with my little munchkin. I mean they don't have to live next door or even down the street, but it would be nice if they were in the same state at least. I think that once I finish EMT training it will be time to seriously think about moving either to the Keys (if we want to stay in Florida) or somwhere closer to where Nana and Bumpa decide they would like to move (they want to get out of where they live too).
Key Largo has been very nice so far, and the weather has been perfect. Yesterday we didn't do much besides swim, we get to swim literally 20 feet from the front door of our room, that's very swell I think. I snorkeled around a little bit and Pearl floated in her little boat. Bumpa went and spent the day out in the ocean snorkeling by the reefs, so it was just Kim, Pearl, Nana, and I hanging around the Sunset Cove. We went to dinner right next door at this little Italian place with one of the biggest menus I have ever seen, there specials menu was a separate and full menu in itself. The food was good though, other than the piece of calamari I ate that was not so good. Today we got up a little earlier (Kim, Pearl, and I. Nana and Bumpa were already up and had breakfast) and went to this place where they take in hurt birds and either fix them up and release them or, if they are too badly hurt, take care of them for good. Pearl seemed to enjoy seeing all the birds, it was pretty cool there aside from the horrid smell emanating from the habitats or the surrounding wetland area. There were pelicans hanging out on the boardwalk, I think Pearl was really into seeing those guys up close. Pearl liked the Parrots too,
she kept pointing at them and saying "oooh" and "kack kack" because that's what ducks say and all birds are ducks still. We left there and came back to the room to cool off a little bit, it was quite warm out there in the sun Pearl's cheeks got all rosy. Then we headed over to the state park to swim on the ocean side of the key, it ended up not being the open ocean after all but fun anyway, to go swimming over there. I did a little snorkeling but there was not much too see, mostly algae covered plants and a few fish, not very exciting. Pearl did her first dunk in salt water, I don't think she minded that at all though she did cling on to me quite strong. We stayed in the water for quite a while there just hanging out with Bumpa, Nana stayed up on the shore most of the time.
For dinner we stopped at Publix and got some NY Strip Steaks and some charcoal so we could grill out back here at the Sunset Cove (there are a bunch of grills here). We got back to the room and I at the fried chicken I got so I could have a little lunch, being diabetic and all. Then Pearl and I took a nap together for a couple of hours while Kim laid in the hammock and read her book. Peal and I got up and went outside and explored together for a few minutes, a little Daddy/Daughter time, and then went to find Mommy. Kim and I decided that we needed to go gat some key lime pie for dessert, so we left Pearl with Nana and Bumpa and went down the road. We came back with key lime pie, yellowfin tuna, shrimps and 2 presents for Pearl. She got a stuffed pelican from Mommy and I got her a cool looking shell.
I think the plan for tomorrow is to be lazy all day, drink some beer, do some swimming, and then drive home at about 10pm...
Nana and Bumpa arrived on Friday of last week, and actually spent 2 nights in the hotel that I work in (but not for, long story). Pearl was a little shy at first, but I think she remembered who they were and warmed up tp them quite quickly. Now they are all like peas in a pod, hanging out and exploring together. It's really great that they were able to come down here for a visit, I wish they lived closer so they could see Pearl more often. Webcam is really no substitute for hanging out and being with their grand-daughter, though it is a nice thing to have (sort-of a second best thing). Pearl does have her Mimsy around all the time, but having her Bumpa and Nana around as much would be a very keen thing for her to have. I know I say that quite a bit, especially when they are here.
When they are here I am reminded of the fact that they get to spend such little time with each other and it makes me a little sad. I have pretty cool parents and they should be able to spend a lot more time with my little munchkin. I mean they don't have to live next door or even down the street, but it would be nice if they were in the same state at least. I think that once I finish EMT training it will be time to seriously think about moving either to the Keys (if we want to stay in Florida) or somwhere closer to where Nana and Bumpa decide they would like to move (they want to get out of where they live too).
Key Largo has been very nice so far, and the weather has been perfect. Yesterday we didn't do much besides swim, we get to swim literally 20 feet from the front door of our room, that's very swell I think. I snorkeled around a little bit and Pearl floated in her little boat. Bumpa went and spent the day out in the ocean snorkeling by the reefs, so it was just Kim, Pearl, Nana, and I hanging around the Sunset Cove. We went to dinner right next door at this little Italian place with one of the biggest menus I have ever seen, there specials menu was a separate and full menu in itself. The food was good though, other than the piece of calamari I ate that was not so good. Today we got up a little earlier (Kim, Pearl, and I. Nana and Bumpa were already up and had breakfast) and went to this place where they take in hurt birds and either fix them up and release them or, if they are too badly hurt, take care of them for good. Pearl seemed to enjoy seeing all the birds, it was pretty cool there aside from the horrid smell emanating from the habitats or the surrounding wetland area. There were pelicans hanging out on the boardwalk, I think Pearl was really into seeing those guys up close. Pearl liked the Parrots too,
