Summer Fun!

Well, we've actually done a few things since returning from Florida. Nothing exciting, of course, but we've had some good playing outside weather. From Grandpa Frank and Grandma Ginger the kids got an amazing gift - a Jump N Slide. As you can see, they are all eager to get in!

Whee! Milena flies down the slide.

Just another picture of this beast of a toy. Amazingly it inflates and deflates in about a minute, and pretty easily rolls up and fits into the included bag. The kids love this thing. I think we'll print out tickets for it and charge the neighbor kids to use it.

Unfortunately, sometimes you can have a bit too much fun.

The kids have also spent some time playing in the backyard and getting wet. Here Koleman acts like the kind, responsible big brother that he is.

The Slip N Slide! Kelson shows a method that is not included in the manual.

Now that's more like it!

My Last Florida Picture Post

This is it, the last of my pictures from Florida. That didn't take long, did it? Here's Kelson swimming with Grandma. It took him a while to really get into swimming, but he did finally start enjoying it.

Koleman, Milena and Mommy on a Trolley Ride!

Koleman shows how he has learned to actually swim. Guess he doesn't need those lessons that start next week.

Bombs away!

Kelson and Milena playing with the world's greatest bath toys - Tupperwear.

And this is it. Our last meal at a Frenchy's restaurant. Nothing left but packing, travelling, and then returning to the incredible hardships of Minnesota life.

East Shore Resort

Here are some pictures of the East Shore Resort, where we stayed in Clearwater Beach. This is looking out from our room, with a nice view of my boat.

And here is one of my pelicans.

Here is a picture of my tree, in front of my apartment.

A better picture of my apartment. With my swimming toys drying in my porch

My flower.

The front of my motel.

My rental van.

My parents' rental gangsta car.

The site of my future winter home. The tiny lot next to the motel was for sale, at the bargain basement price of $1.4 million dollars. Seems a bit pricey for a little bit of dirt.

The Many Faces of Mommy and Kelson

This is just a series of photos of Kelson and Mommy, taken shortly after the traumatic Water Fountain Incident.

More Florida Pictures

Here is another group of pictures at the playground at Clearwater Beach. It was really rough - all we could do was swim at the pool, play at the beach or play at the playground. These pictures were taken on a Sunday, two days before we left. Koleman was attempting to hide from the camera, but here he misjudges how big he is.

Koleman does eventually agree to pose for a picture.

A small portion of Kelson's face.

Ah, there he is!

And it's Kelson again!

Now it's Milena's turn in the tunnel.

The kids were all really hot after playing, and needed a drink. The water fountain was kind of difficult for the little ones. They needed someone to turn it on and then hope to catch the stream in their mouths. Mostly they caught the water on their faces and shirts. But whose fault was it?

Grandma! (of course)

Playground, Pier and Beach

A short walk from our hotel was Pier 60, which has a big playground for kids, a pier that has people selling stuff in the evenings, arts and crafts, and a beach. Koleman poses for the camera.

Isn't that sweet?

Milena got beads put into her hair. She was extremely proud of her beads!

A couple of young chicks.

Milena needs a bit of work on her sand castle building skills.

Kelson carries his watering can very carefully.

Eli really enjoyed the water at the beach. He liked to jump over the waves and run in and out, splashing all over the place. Of course, my 400 pictures don't include him doing that, so I'll just show him holding a bucket. You can imagine the rest.

Two Pictures, No Commentary

Mayaka State Park

On Friday we drove south towards Sarasota to visit Mayaka State Park. It's a lovely park that houses lots of birds and alligators. We took a trip out on the lake in this boat.

Eek! A gator! We learned that we were safe, since alligators feed only at night. (although I'm pretty sure it was daylight when Indy made Mola Ram fall into the river in Temple of Doom - but maybe those were crocodiles?) Anyway, the point is, feel free to swim with any gators you see.

This is a stick. The tour guide said it was the most photographed stick in the park. Eli told me to take a picture of it.

Another ice cream break!

After visiting the lake, I took Kelson on a drive, and Michelle took the camera and went on the canopy walk. So named because you go above the forest canopy. Ahhh. The children were not scared going across bridges.

Time to take a picture break.

This is how high they climbed.

And this is looking straight down.

And looking out over the park.

Milena says, "It's not scary!"

Eli says, "It's not scary!"

A picture after the successful completion of the canopy walk.