Memorial Day Fun!!

This past Memorial Day, we did something we never do...we went to the beach.

As you know, we are BIG TIME beach fans...but we tend to stay clear of days and times that the beaches are crowded...preferring them to empty and all "ours".

But we decided to break tradition and head up to John U. Lloyd State Beach in Ft. Lauderdale. Jason (miraculously) had the day off, and we thought it would be a fun family day. We figured if we went early enough, we could beat the crowds.

John U. Lloyd is typically a very empty and quiet beach...and we arrived shortly after the gates opened, but there were already several families there (and some had even started grilling!!). Still...it wasn't AWFUL...so we decided to stick it out...claim some sand, and have some fun.

The red and purple flags were up, so we had the kids stay in water that was only waist deep...and they really had a blast playing in the waves, which are an extremely rare treat in our neck of the woods.

That is, if you can call 2 foot swells "waves"...

When they got tired of rolling and tumbling and being dragged around by the undertow, they constructed oversized sand forts and in honor of Memorial Day, they had a "war"...

All the while, Dad and I "observed". We were asked a couple times to go out in the water, but frankly, we were very content to lounge in our chairs and watch our kids have a good time.

We stayed a couple hours...leaving when the kids got hungry (because SOMEONE forgot to load the cooler...no names, but he looks really hot in Aviators, so I forgave him), and by time we left, there was a line at the beach gate that stretched on for almost three miles...even up to the freeway off ramp.

WHEW!!

I'd say our timing was just right.

The rest of the day was spent watching patriotic movies, grilling brats and burgers, and playing a couple rousing games of SCUM...

...it was a perfect, wonderful, relaxing day.

Kaitlyns 17th Birthday

I have been so busy writing about Spain that I have not been able to keep up with the everyday family stuff...and now I am going to play catch-up with that.

The first big family event that I need to go back to is Kaitlyns 17th birthday. Kaitlyn actually had her birthday WHILE we were in Spain. I know, I know...bad parents...we missed it to go overseas.

But actually, Kaitlyn was okay with us missing her birthday...that is, as long as we brought her back a REALLY nice present.

When we returned (and after we showered her with a large book highlighting the art collection in the Prado and a beautiful pair of damascene earrings from Toledo), we celebrated her birthday.

Since this year is a "family outing" year and NOT a "birthday party" year...Kaitlyn chose to spend her birthday at the beach. So we packed up some extra nice beach food and headed for the sun and sand.

We took Papa and Yaya, Kate's boyfriend Pedro, and our neighbors, the Charrons, and headed to one of our favorite South Florida beaches, Haulover Beach in Miami.

The kids played in the sand and water...and Brigham (as usual) dug himself a hole to be buried in. But this time, Brigham did not take into account that Papa was at the beach, too...and...

...well, I'll let the pictures tell the story...

Yup...so much for best-laid plans...especially when there is a 69-year-old KID at the beach...

After the beach, we headed home for cake. Pedro took Kaitlyn to a salon for her birthday to get her hair cut...so you get to see her short and super-cute new "do"...

After cake, we gave gifts...and as if the presents from Spain weren't enough, we gave her some new make-up, and Yaya and Papa gave her a gift certificate to Charming Charlies...but the main event was a much-needed and desired brand-new cell phone!!

This birthday has been kinda hard for me...I cannot believe that my first-born baby is already 17 years old. It's even wierder when I consider that I was just 17 years old when I had her.

I just cannot imagine being pregnant at that age.

I don't even want to THINK about Kate being in that situation.

So Kate is now half as old as I am. I won't be half as old as my mother for another 14 months.

The world is a very strange place.

I actually shouldn't worry about that...because Kaitlyn is NOTHING like I was at her age. She's motivated, driven, and smart. I'm not saying that she's immune to the pitfalls of youth...but she's got a big world in front of her...she'll be a senior at Miramar High School. She's been voted as Vice President of COTA (the Drama and Arts Club on campus), as well as the Music Head. She's still on the Homecoming Committee. She has been invited to join Varsity and Show Choir. She's already taken her SAT's, and takes her ACT's later in June. She got a part-time job at our local frozen yogurt stop that she starts in a week. She is still working with the non-profit organization she started, Pads for Paws...which makes special washable pads for the bottoms of cages in animal shelters. She applies for college in the fall.

She'll be all grown up in no time. And she seems to be holding it all together just magnificently.

Hold on, please...I have to go cry...

The Trip of a Lifetime...The Hotel Arts, Barcelona

 As you know, my husband and I had the opportunity to travel to Spain this month. He had earned the trip by being one of an elite top 10% of his companies General Managers...and the trip was the companies way of saying: "Thank You for working 80+ hours a week".

The trips are always amazing...we stay in the best hotels, visit the most beautiful places, have access to exclusive excursions and experiences, dine at world famous restaurants with menus specially designed by the worlds best chefs just for us...and it is all FREE...

We started our trip in Barcelona, Spain. We stayed at the Hotel Arts, which is a Ritz-Carlton property...right on the beach by the Mediterranean.

The view from our room...

 There were several things I LOVED about the Hotel Arts...it's very very modern...lots of art and original flower arrangements (i was very fond of the bright purple pussy willows in giant stone pots that lined the hall to the elevators...and felt obligated to touch them every time we walked by...)

In our room were several very modern luxuries as well...like this cool "control panel" by our bed that allowed us to make executive decisions regarding the lighting and ambiance of our room while still beneath the sheets.

There was even a button that alerted the staff if you needed housekeeping or if you wanted to be left alone...all by turning on a light just outside our door...WAY better than hanging that little "Do Not Disturb" sign on our doorknob...

There were bowls of anise seeds placed around the room that gave it a delicious, spicy smell that had a strange (but much appreciated by Jason) effect on me...

 And lastly, I was enamored by the magazine racks. I really think I want some in my bathroom...

 We arrived in Spain in the afternoon, and had a few hours to kill before our presence was required at a Welcome Dinner served poolside. We decided to spend those few hours hunting up some food (we were STARVING) and relaxing by the sea.

So we changed into our beach gear and headed to the sand. We made a quick pit stop at a deli on the boardwalk that ran along the hotel, picked up some delicious bocadillos, and hit the sand.

We knew our whole trip would be busy and jam-packed, so we were really looking forward to this time where we had NOTHING planned but enjoying a Spanish beach by our hotel. We wanted to take lots of pictures...but had trouble taking any that didn't include a naked someone...

...gotta love those European beaches.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the beach...and I even remembered to collect several water bottles of sand.

From the beach, you could look back at our beautiful hotel and see a giant sculpture, called "Fish", that was done by Frank Gehry (yes...THE Frank Gehry...of Guggenheim Museum fame)...

The fish sits right over the pool area of the hotel (The Hotel Arts is the tall blue building on the left).

This was a great way to start our trip...after a long and cramped plane ride, and the with the knowledge that this vacation had nothing to do with relaxation, and everything to do about adventure...to sit back and enjoy the perfect 75 degree weather on the icy blue Mediterranean...

...which...by the way...was colder than expected...although not unbearable. I went swimming in the water, turning quick laps through the little bay. I even conned convinced Jason to get in, as well...although he high-tailed out of it after I started splashing him (big baby).

Kissy, kissy!!!

International Coastal Clean-Up Day 2009

Part of being a Scout is being a Good Citizen...and part of being a Good Citizen is helping keep your planet clean. On Saturday, we had the opportunity to help in International Coastal Clean-Up Day. It's a day where people all over the world get together to collect trash off the beaches and record what was collected to help educate the public on the dangers of littering. WE were helping at two separate sites on Key Biscayne...Bill Baggs State Park and Crandon Park and Nature Center.

I was able to take not only Girl Scouts, but a couple Boy Scouts as well. In fact, it was a family event, so I took my whole family!! Even little Nicolette was there to help!! And I wasn't the only one...Karen (my co-leader) brought her kids, the Tylers had their whole family, as did the Rosales'! It was GREAT!!

I was really excited to go...not just to help out, but also to try some new tricks with my camera. Kaliayah was ready to go, too.

"C'mon, guys!! Let's GO!!!!"



Savannah was ready to work, too...giggly even early on this stormy morning. There was lightening...so we had to wait for the storm to stop before we went out on the beach.




Abi and Savannah played games with the kids while waited for the lightening to stop...Red Rover, Tightrope Challenge, and I Spy.



Michelle and Jessica were really just happy to sit and chat.



Once we got started, though...my Girl Scouts really went to town. They were dedicated and committed to "Making the World a Better Place" Here is Oriana hauling a bag of trash off the beach.


Of course...some weren't as helpful...mainly the teenagers that need the service hours to graduate. Karen was supervising...but as you can see...Karen was REALLY in need of some Cafe con Leche...so while my girls toil away in the background, Kaitlyn, Emily Tyler, and Alex Perez hang out and chat a bit.

While Karen and Heidis' group toiled away at Crandon Park, the rest of us were gettin' crackin' at Bill Baggs.

Girl Scouts ROCK!!!!

While cleaning up at Bill Baggs, I was able to play with the macro feature on my camera. I took this picture of a giant banana spider. This guy was about as big across as the tip of my middle finger to the base of my palm. I wanted to put my hand next to it so you'd have a comparison, but although I'm told these giant spiders are "gentle" and hardly ever bite...I was too chicken to get that close. A couple of my Girl Scouts offered to do it, but I refused. Can you imagine me explaining that to someones mom?!?!?!?

This is no ordinary pile of sand...it is a sea turtle nest. And as you can see...it's occupants had just hatched the night before. We saw these nests every few feet up and down the beach...all with shredded leathery turtle eggs and tracks leading out to sea...

Again...I used my macro to take some close-ups of the eggs. The kids were amazed to pick up the shells and feel that they were soft...sort-of like a deflated balloon...

Serving others and your community is really it's own reward...but having another incentive isn't bad, either...and our incentive was free passes to the Miami Seaquarium for all International Coastal Clean-Up volunteers!! It was SO HOT and humid that we headed straight for the Dolphin and Killer Whale show in hopes of getting splashed!!

At the show, I got to try out the Sports feature of my camera...where it takes several shots ion a few seconds...so I got some great ones of the killer whale and her trainer showing their stuff!!

Here's another one...

After the show (and a good soaking), we wandered around the park and looked at the various aquariums and exhibits. One highlight was the manatees. Abi was VERY happy to see them..as "Manatee" is her camp name (she earned it for being so sweet and gentle).

All in all...yucky weather included...it was a great day helping our community and environment. I'm so proud of my Scouts and my family and the families of those that participated for being so socially conscious and setting a good example of service!! Together, we can "Make the world a Better Place!!"