Memorial Day Weekend

Where do you go over Memorial Day weekend when you live in Jacksonville, Florida?? Well, you head about 2 hours to the south-west and hang out with dolphins and other sea creatures, ofcourse!!

We decided to take full advantage of having a 3-day weekend, as the past month or so has been nothing short of NUTS (busy that is). A story for other blog posts, I have just started a new job -- still with Fidelity, but a big promotion that comes with quite a bit more travel and responsibility! We packed up the truck and headed to Orlando to spend 1 day at Discovery Cove, 1 day at Sea World, and 1 day doing nothing but relaxing by the pool at the hotel. It was WONDERFUL! See the attached link to kodak gallery, so you can see all the pics. -- http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?sourceID=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee

Our first day at Discovery Cove was amazing! This was our first visit to the park, and we will most certianly go again. The day was "all inclusive", so all drinks, food, scuba gear, sunblock, and wetsuits, towels, etc. were included! We simply brought our camera and swimsuits. We checked-in for the day at about 8:30, and headed right to the breakfast buffet; eggs, bacon, breakfast breads, pancakes, hash browns, juice, milk, were all on the menu. After a good breakfast, we headed to the lockers to put on our wetsuits and sunblock, and quickly found the lazy river that paths all the way around the park (was HUGE!). We played in that for a while, and then headed to the salt-water "observation" pool where we put on our snorkels and were able to swim with mantarays and all kinds of tropicial fish in a natural reef. Chad and Tylar liked this best... Caitlynn didn't much like that half the fish in there were as big (or bigger than her). Before we knew it, it was lunch-time so we headed back to the cafe for a good meal. Then... the centerpiece of the day -- we were able to spend 45 minutes with a dolphin trainer and got to play, swim and ride a dolpin! See pics below...

Our second day of vacation was spent at Sea World. While we have been to Sea World before, the park seems to continue to grow and the shows get better and better! Check out the link to the other photos to see that day in great detail.

Kenny & CJ the dolphin

Caitlynn kissing CJ the dolphin

Tylar talking to CJ the dolphin

We all got to pose for a family pic

At the begining of of our family vacation -- Memorial Day 2011

Feels like Summer!

I know that Spring has just "sprung", but the past few weeks in Florida have been in the 90's... making it feel as if Summer is already here!

And we love it!! Last weekend was our first official weekend at the beach, and what a beautiful day it was to hang out with friends, soak up the sun, build and dig in the sand, and splash around in the warm ocean. I can't wait, and seems neither can the kids, to go back for round 2... I have a feeling we'll be trying to figure out where to go when the weather is consistently hot -- will it be the beach, or will it be our pool (which is a pretty nice option too)? Okay, so not such a rough decision to make :)

Caitlynn making sure her tan is even -- time to flip over! :)

A few jelly's washed onshore -- kinda scary, certainly have to watch where you step. I've always heard they can sting you even when washed up, I don't think I want to test to see if that is true!!??

Tylar riding a wave in... he says he wants a real board -- perhaps this is the year for surf lessons?

Waiting for the wave to take him away...

(guess I did these backward...) Tylar headed out to catch a wave in.

The boys dug a few holes... even found water as they dug deep enough! The hole then served as Caitlynn's own little "hot tub" :)

Diggin' ditches... hopefully not a sign of things to come :)!!

Monica and Caitlynn playing with the bubble wands -- She LOVES her "auntie Mo"!

Not sure how Caitlynn got stuck carrying the boogie board back to the car -- oh well, she's a trooper!

Mixing business with pleasure! -- adventures in St Pete...

Question... what do you do when your kids are on Spring Break?

Answer... go to St Pete, FL on a work trip with your husband!!

Okay, so probably not what most parents do, but when you've got an adult son and his wife who are willing to play "mom and dad" for an extended weekend, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE DID!! I've been participating in a year-long leadership training endevor, one that has taken me on many trips away from home on about a monthly basis. It just so happened that for the March session, those travels took me directly across the state to St Pete. And the best part, we were able to sync it up with the kids spring break and get Chad some vacation time so he could tag along with me!

So, last weekend we departed Jacksonville, Fl on Saturday morning at the crack of dawn, and arrived in St Pete, Fl in time for breakfast at a local Cracker Barrell :). We then headed to our hotel to check in, change and make a beeline for the beach! The weather was simply gorgeous! After about 4 hours at Anna Maria Island (and a slight sunburn later), we joined one of my co-workers for a sunset dinner cruise into the Gulf of Mexico. Sunday was truly a day of pampering... we spent the morning at the hotel spa getting massages, facials, and manicures/pedicures. Then, yet again, headed out to soak up the sun at the hotel pool.

The week-days (Mon & Tues) were "work" days for me. That didn't stop Chad from enjoying the hotel amenities, and ofcourse we were able to spend our evenings together having great dinners at some local restaraunts. We departed on Wednesday afternoon... and actually felt like we were ready to get home to our kiddos and our own beds. It was a really fun few days to spend together in what felt and looked like paradise :)!! See pics below...

Had to throw a pic in with my work "peeps"... These are 7 of my best work friends, I've spent the past (almost) year working on leadership skill development with... they are an amazing group of people!

The pool at the Vinoy Hotel & Spa (where we stayed)

The view of the marina right outside of our hotel

Chad and I on the Sunset Dinner Cruise

The most beautiful sunset -- Gulf of Mexico, view from the boat

More photos from Tylar's birthday weekend...

Tylar opening presents... this one was from Dave and Monica and was his very own iPod Touch!! Doesn't he have the BEST Florida Family :). Look at Caitlynn's face, her expresion about sums up the excitement Tylar had when he opened it!

Pics from the Bowling Alley.... Brandon and Karol :)

Tylar's friend's (Justin & Erin) and Caitlynn trying to get in on the action!

A good view of the "luxury" lanes!

Caitlynn after bowlng a STRIKE (we had bumpers :))

Kenny, after his strike!

Ty and his friends again

Tylar Turns 13!

Tylar Joseph Martin turned 13 this past Friday on March 18th!

Friday... the fun begins...
A fun filled celebration weekend started on Friday when we suprised Tylar with a round of golf. It was a suprise because we had him get up, as he would any Friday, to get ready for school at about 6am... then, just as he was about to walk out the door to leave for his bus, Chad sprung it on him that we were giving him the day off and that we were scheduled for a 9:30 tee time to go golfing! He was so excited, it was actually one of the things he wanted "SO BAD". Chad, Brandon, Tylar and I made the foursome... was a lot of fun to spend the day with some of my most favorite boys :).

We got home mid-afternoon and that evening we went to Daruma, a local Japanese Steakhouse, for his family birthday dinner. This is the 2nd year in a row he's chosen that venue for his birthday dinner... and if memory serves, is a favorite of Brandon's as well for his birthday dinner. For finiky eaters, they all enjoy the habacci! The only family member missing was Brandon, he had to work.

Saturday... the fun continues...
Saturday morning Tylar was able to celebrate his birthday with is friends at Latitude 30, a new "Luxury" bowling alley alley. He invited his friend Erin and friend Justin. So, with all our kids and the two friends in tow, we headed out for 2 hours of bowling fun!

After bowling we headed home for pizza and birthday cupcakes, and invited a few of our friends (our Florida family) over to celebrate with us SOME MORE!! We opened presents and had an all out competition on Wii Just Dance. So competetivite in fact, that our good friends the Lupcho's went to Walmart this morning to get the game for thier Wii collection!! I am thinking there will be some pretty intense dance-offs in our future :)

Sunday was actually a day of rest... and boy oh boy did we need it!! Below are a few pics from the celebrations on Friday. I have to hunt down my camera to get the pics from Saturday loaded as well... stay tuned for those!

Kenny, Tylar, Caitlynn and Karol after dinner at Daruma

Tylar, excited to be 13!

This was the golf scoreboard after 9 holes... yea, we stopped keeping track on the back 9 :)

Chad & Ty headed out to the course

Brandon & Ty chillin' in the cart

My little Tiger (golf comparison only...)

Showing off the driver

A few fun videos... the first is Tylar catching a shrimp in the air, the second is his "Happy Birthday" song and blowing out the candles (hopefully this makes everyone feel like they are able to celebrate with him)!

After 11 years in Florida... the Martin family has a BOAT!!

Okay, okay... so it isn't a yacht, it isn't a sailboat, and it isn't a rowboat, BUT it is a boat nonetheless!

I guess the official kind of boat that it is, is a "Pelican Bass Raider". Not sure what that really means, but I DO know that it is about 8 feet long, 3 feet wide, has seating for 2... and MOST IMPORTANTLY fulfills Chad (and the kids) need to get out on the water to do some fishing :).

They've already taken it out twice since getting it on Saturday, and lucky for us they don't have to travel far as we have about 4 small lakes right in our neighborhood!

Chad, Tylar, Caitlynn and Kenny right after buying the boat

Tylar striking a pose... we are in the process of naming the boat -- Tylar's suggestion "BASS HUNTER".

Gander, where boating dreams come true...