Just Beachin'

The trip to Florida was amazing and just what we needed. We stayed at a great resort and had a room on the 12th floor with an ocean view and a balcony that got used a lot! The 1st night Lane and I easily spent more than an hour watching and listening to the waves crash after we put Eriks down for bed. It was also great to have some adult time talking which we don't do much at home because we are so busy and rarely together (except when we sleep).

The 1st night we had dinner at an amazing Japanese restaurant. We did hibachi and Lane and I also shared the best sushi I've had in a VERY long time. No joke. I have been craving it since that night. We had what the restaurant dubbed a Florida Roll which contained lobster, cucumber and roe (fish eggs for those that don't know) wrapped in rice and seaweed wrap. It seriously was to DIE FOR!!! Eriks was thoroughly entertained by the cook who really was amazing at what he did and did an excellent job making us laugh.

The 2nd day we spent time on the beach soaking up sun. I had on SPF 50 sunblock and still turned red from about 90 minutes in the sun. The sun was warm and the water probably in the 70's felt great. I usually don't swim in water that is less than about 84 degrees.
Eriks was body surfing on the board we bought him at one of the many tourist shops. He loved it. Well, except for the not listening to keeping his mouth shut so he didn't swallow salt water. I couldn't help but laugh at him every time he came up choking and spitting out salt water. Kid, if you would just listen and keep your mouth shut it wouldn't happen!!

We had dinner at a place on the Tomoka River. Of course Eriks was trying to order lobster and they didn't have it. We decided not to tell him that there was crab on the menu. However, he noticed that some people inside were eating crab and we got this:

Check out that face??? He was so upset that he didn't get to eat crab. Well, it's expensive and it wasn't on the kids menu. Lane ordered conch chowder and when it was brought out Eriks responded with an, "Eww...yuck!" We made him try it. We make him try everything at least once no matter how much he opposes. Yeah, well he couldn't get enough of it. And then of course the typical parent response, "See, I told you that you'd like it."

That night we hit a miniature golf course because they're are so few of them in FL (insert sarchasm). Eriks has one thing to learn - it's a miniature golf course. You're not driving it hundreds of yards down the fairway. He still didn't do too bad. I think it's just typical that kids his age feel like they have to hit as hard as possible to make it go where they want it to. We stopped and got custard afterwards and then called it a night.

Below is our amazing view.

One of the really cool things being on the 12th floor is that the pelicans fly right by your balcony. So close that you can reach out and touch them. We were in a corner room too so we had a nice semi-panoramic view of the beach. So if we were inside the room we could look to the right and watch them coming.
Below are 4 out of a line of about 25 or 30 that flew by. It was cool watching them fly by.

On our last full day at the beach we headed out to Ponce Inlet to check out the lighthouse. I didn't actually go up in it because I was not climbing the 203 stairs to the top. I just wanted to see it because I think they're pretty cool. As a child I didn't take many vacations but when we did my dad made it a point that there be some history lesson involved as well. And though I probably groaned when we hit some museum in D.C., a fort in South Carolina and some historic little town on the Chesapeake Bay, it has made me want to show my kids the same things my dad showed me. Anyhow... Lane and Eriks made the climb and I sent him with the camera.

I love the photo he took below. He said he took it about 1/2 way up the lighthouse. So very cool.

The outside. I so love the bright red color. The grounds were really cool.

After the lighthouse we had lunch and then headed back to the resort for pool time and a walk on the beach. We didn't want the vacation to end but we had to get back so we can start getting ready for Emi.

I can see why Simply T loves living in FL and why Colleen loves visiting paradise as she calls it.

We're praying for PA soon so we can put Emi's picture up on our blog. I know so many of you want to see it. Keep your fingers crossed and pray for PA to come by the end of the week!