Ft Lauderdale - Day 4

 All of the days here have been wonderful, but today might be the most perfect day. The only thing that might mar today is that we have discovered something that James and I do not, can not, agree upon. A point where, no matter how much we try, we cannot get in sync. Tandem kayaking. 

When we first arrived we asked everyone what their vacation goals were. We knew we didn't have much time so we wanted to make sure that everyone would have a chance to do the thing that mattered most to them. For Will, that was eating Korean hot dogs. So this morning, shortly before noon, James took everyone but me out to Lauderdale by the Sea. This boardwalk and beach had exactly what everyone wanted, a nice beach, souvenir shops, amazing smoothie stalls, and a Korean restaurant.

Lauderdale by the Sea

Cool dudes

A shop after Jon's heart

Umai - a Korean donut and hot dog shop

Christian and James greatly enjoyed the drinks at Fresh Coconut Smoothie. James found a Mango and Tajin smoothie that he hasn't had since Mexico. The seller asked if he was sure because not everyone knows what to expect with that flavor. And Christian loved the place so much he helped make a commercial. Watching this gives me so much joy. 

Camille and the boys also got to do a little shopping before they all returned with boxes of food from Umai. Mostly they brought home variations on corn dogs, but weird variations, spices, chunks of potatoes, and other unrecognizable things. Will also brought home a cheesy dish that kind of looked like mac and cheese with two over easy eggs on top. But I think the large "noodles" were really made of rice. It wasn't bad, though I found the texture a little strange.

While they were all shopping I had stayed home to read a couple more chapters of the Odyssey until I fell asleep on the couch. I thought I got enough sleep last night and we have been relaxing, but I am still tired. It is very nice to be able to rest and sleep when I'm tired though. And to be able to just sit and read.

Relaxing after a hard read

After lunch we all split up. Will went for a swim, Jon and Christian took a bike ride, Camille went to relax, and James and I went kayaking. The owner of the house has a garage with two bikes (which Christian has been using, a paddleboard, beach supplies, and a two person kayak. James has been kayaking since college and he and I enjoy going out when we can, although it has been a while. We canoe sometimes too, but we've never done a two person kayak before. 

Jon and Christian set off

Always be wheelieing

The water much lower than the yard but there is a jet ski dock that we were able to launch from. My shoulder has been hurting so I took the front. The start of our trip was a little shaky, we hadn't been in a kayak in a while and the large canal that ours fed into felt pretty big. It wasn't a very busy day on the water, but there were still some huge boats and some fast ones that left us rocking. 

Setting off

One thing we noticed as we paddled along was the landscaping of the various houses along our canal and the large waterway. Lots of these houses are expensive, all them have boats (some giant!) and many of them were highly decorated. But so few of them had any trees! Nothing to shield their backyards or living rooms from the gaze of passersby. This made me appreciate our rental even more because the owner has short palms and bushes which let us relax and swim in privacy. 

James' view

On the large canal

So many beautiful houses

At one point in our exploration we had to cross the opening to a small lake. The current and wind made the crossing very difficult and this is where we first realized our fundamental problem. We have no rhythm. Or rather, we have different rhythms. We can't paddle in sync. It doesn't matter who starts it, I can't match his pace and James can't match mine. It is similar to our different paces when walking or hiking, but there is it easier to make allowances. Here, no matter how we kept watch, our paddles always clashed. Ultimately, unless we really needed to cross a channel or avoid a boat quickly, we just had to give up and take turns paddling. 

Our kaying view

Pelican

We went up past the drawbridge to the beach we had driven over on Saturday and we were able to see it open again for a large sailboat. On the way back we saw a car racing up the water! Truly we are in the future. We were very tired by the time we made it back but the promise of a swim in our pool kept us going. 

A car boat!

Drawbridge

Jon joined us in the pool when we got back and the water was so warm! Almost a hot tub really. It was pleasant, relaxing, and we had a really good time talking and hanging out with Jon. Christian meanwhile was biking all over the neighborhood. He has really had a blast this trip.

Christian found a nice place to watch the sun set

James made grilled chicken for dinner and then he and I went out for ice cream and a walk on the beach at Lauderdale by the Sea. I'd forgotten that it is St. Patrick's Day and the boardwalk was very busy. But we found a good place for ice cream and escaped to the quiet of the beach. The sun had set so the beach was practically empty. But it is hard to walk on sand! Is NH sound more packed than it is in Florida? Despite our sandy struggles, it was really the perfect end to the perfect day. 

Tomorrow we send Will and Jon to Orlando so they can visit their Nana and biological father. And the rest of us are packing up here and flying home. It was really a wonderful trip and I very much hope we can come back to this house again. I love it and this area. And perhaps next year I'll set a goal to finish two books... 

Ft Lauderdale - Day 3

 I have accomplished all my vacation goals! I finished my first book on the first day and today Will and Jon played multiple board games with me. Alas this is going to be a terribly uninteresting post, but I'm mainly writing this for the memories and for future James to read. (Hello, my Love!) 

Today was another perfectly relaxing and pleasant day. I didn't sleep well at all, so even though I slept late I was still very tired this morning. After another relaxed breakfast, a board game, and discussions of what to do, it was decided that James, Camille, and Christian would go on a boat tour down in Miami while Will, Jon, and I stayed at home. Camille has been wanting to do this boat tour for years so I'm glad she has the chance to do it on this trip. 

Lizards also enjoy our dock

Those of us at home split up for a bit to do our own relaxing. I took a dip in the pool and read the Odyssey, read some more in the sun, then fell asleep reading on the outside couch. The temperature here is perfect for staying outside at all times. Warm in the sun, comfortable in the shade, with just a little playful breeze so the air is never stifling. I love NH but when the air is perfect for laying about and reading, there are always bugs. 

Drying off with a good book

Will floats in the pool

The boys and I all had more time in the pool this afternoon, though never together. Jon bumped his head and got out just as I was getting in, and then I finished a chapter and got out right as got in. But we made dinner together afterwards and then the boys both played Splendor with me on the outside table. I am really happy and thankful for the time I have been able to spend with my kids on this trip, especially with the older boys who are so quickly growing into men.

Splendor is one of my favorite games

James, Camille, and Christian had a good time on the boat trip. They saw many gorgeous homes, the skyscrapers of Miami, and ships as large as small cities themselves. Afterwards they ate at a Cuban restaurant, the La Carreta. It was absolutely delicious.

Christian and Grandma on the boat

Flying into the sun

One of the many mansions

Seagulls in the city

A ship or a city?

Tonight James and I ran some errands and I got to talk his ear off about the Odyssey, which is exactly why I married him. Then we came home to watch another movie outside with Camille. James got to watch it from the pool which is just the ultimate in luxury. We have one more full day here and I'm not sure what our plans are, but I am so happy with the vacation we've had so far. 

Ft Lauderdale - Day 2

 Parenting is hard. There is so much room for doubt and so many opportunities to make mistakes. Are you being too tough or going too easy? How do you impose meaningful consequences on children who are almost adults? And when should you stop trying? I worry about some of the decisions my children make, and above all that I worry that my own sin and failures will, or have already, caused more harm. Parenting is hard, or maybe I'm just bad at it. But this blog isn't about that! 

On the whole, today was a good day. We had a nice slow start again, none of us are early risers now. Christian did still wake up earlier than the rest of us and begged James to help him set up his fishing pole. He had fun casting for a little bit until he accidentally snagged the large boat that belongs to the owner of the vacation house. Oops... Grandma also tried a little fishing, by tying a blue Taki to a piece of string. She didn't catch anything but the little fish loved it.

Lizards on our neighbor's dock

Christian has also been spending every spare moment riding a bike. When we are at the house he is out of it half the time. While the rest of us were making breakfast (really more of a brunch given the time) he came bursting into the house red faced and panting. He'd left the neighborhood we are in and ridden a mile and a half down the road until he found a Ferrari dealership, then he got lost on his way home! But he was very smart, stayed on the main road, and asked someone for directions to the Hilton hotel which was a landmark he knew. He got the directions and made it safely back to us. I am so proud of him! 

Most of his bike trips are fairly short. He goes out to check out the fancy cars that are all around and asks them to rev their motors. He came home again this afternoon telling us all about how many of them were willing to rev it for him or do burnouts. He's been told he shouldn't ask for burnouts, the police don't like it, but I think a lot of the men driving these cars enjoy showing them off. And Christian is an appreciative audience. 

Christian never stops checking out cars

After a lazy breakfast we decided to try the beach. Pompano Beach is just a few miles from us and this house has beach towels, chairs, and an umbrella for us to use. (Have a mentioned that I love this place? Because it is just amazing!) We packed everything up and then proceeded to spend the next two hours driving up and down the coast looking for parking. In hindsight, Saturday at midday was really not the best time to try to get to the beach. We didn't want to park too far out, Camille has a harder time with long distances now, so once we failed to find parking at Pompano we decided to drive up the coast to the next beach. 

Beautiful houses on the canal (Christian's picture)

Houses on the canal

It was a lovely drive. We couldn't see the ocean but on our left was a large canal lined by mansions and filled with large boats. Unfortunately the drive was for naught because the next beach was also full. So we turned back and decided to find some lunch in our town. Honestly the drive was pleasant except for the large number of drawbridges we had to cross (often twice!) and we had to wait at every single one for it to be raised and lowered. Every. Single. One. 

Our most consistent view

Jon and Will hanging out at lunch

It was 3 by the time we finished "lunch" so we tried the beach again. And we found a space! It was a beautiful day, warm but windy enough to be just perfect in the shade. I was all set to read my new book on the sand but James and Will convinced me to come play in the waves. It was so much fun! The three of us hung out in waves that were just large enough to be fun but not so big as to be scary. I did get to tell Will my story of the wave at Green Sand Beach.

James and I honeymooned on the Big Island of Hawaii. While we were there we took a trip out to Green Sand Beach, a beautiful little beach cove with the aforementioned green sand. It felt like the end of the world, over a mile away from any road at the southernmost end of Hawaii. The waves were high and there was a dangerous undertow, but James and I were so excited to swim on this stunning beach. We had a fantastic time until a giant wave arose and crashed down upon us. James says it was at least 15 feet high, but I've no idea. James chose to jump up and ride the wave which lifted him up and dropped him on his feet all the way up the beach. I decided to dive under the wave as it broke, hoping it would pass me by. It did not. The wave slammed me down to the ocean floor, pinned me, and dragged me along the sand. I couldn't swim, couldn't reach the surface, couldn't even move. The only thought I had was that at least it was bringing me to shore. James meanwhile was standing on the shore looking for his wife of only five days who had completely disappeared. When the wave finally receded there I was on the beach coughing and rather beat up. Volcanic sand is not soft, and while green isn't as bad as black, I had huge scrapes all over my body from the rough sand. It was quite an adventure!

At Pompano Beach

Jon and Christian said they also checked out the water but unfortunately I never saw them. They were both sunning themselves by the time the three of us came out of the waves. I did get to read a little of my book while James took a walk down the beach. He found a large Portuguese Man O'War which is quite a beautiful creature. It's hard to see in the picture but it had a long tentacle which he was able to warn other swimmers away from. 

Man O'War

Under the pier

After the beach we came home to relax in the calm and much warmer water of our swimming pool. It was glorious. We put some music on the outside speakers and played and floated around for another hour. 

Relaxing in the pool together

Will and Jon in the pool

The next part of our evening was a little rough. We had a tough parenting situation and when we split for the evening we had some unhappy children. James and Camille went out to do some shopping while I stayed home with the kids. After some time though and a good but emotional conversation, the mood at home lifted. Christian mostly chilled by himself, he was sunburned and exhausted, while Will, Jon, and I watched Buffy together. It was a really lovely time. 

James and Camille also had a great time. They drove down to the Aventura Mall which revived Camille's spirits and they got to see the third largest statue in the US. Which sounds a little crazy. They had dinner at a 24 hour diner (which is actually not open 24 hours) and had the best pancakes and French toast James has ever had at a restaurant. They came home very late but happy and with lots of packages and chocolate (which made me happy). 

The 3rd largest statue in the US. 

But now it is very late and we have a strenuous day of relaxing ahead of us so I should probably go to bed. Goodnight!

Ft Lauderdale - Day 1

 It has been a very long time since I've written. We've been on a few small trips here and there but life has changed a lot in the past few years, and we've got more changes coming up. So this trip is a very welcome break. 

Camille has taken us all down to Florida for a long weekend. Last year she brought us to Miami for a few days in March. We had a great time but I wasn't up for blogging and so alas my pictures will sit forgotten in a folder while my memories fade. Anyway, it was lovely so we've come down again this year for some time in Fort Lauderdale. 

We left Thursday night and our flight was unremarkable. Which was actually quite wonderful. The last few trips have been on airlines which seem cheaper but nickel and dime you and those experiences were dissatisfying on almost every level. But this time we went back to JetBlue and it was like we'd traveled back to a more pleasant time. Complementary snacks and beverages, kind flight attendants, free movies at every seat, and sufficient leg room. Small comforts but they made a world of difference. 

Christian's view

Late night flight

We left late on Thursday, after James and I had both finished working, and it was almost 2am before we arrived at our vacation home. This place is small but lovely, beautifully furnished and cozy, with everything we need plus a pool, 2 bikes, and a 2 person kayak. I wish I'd taken pictures of it before we made ourselves comfortable... but in my defense it was 2am. 

Today has been absolutely wonderful. My goal on this trip is to read a book and play a game. Very small goals but I have already accomplished the first one. It sounds terribly lazy to write it out, but I spent all day reading. Out on the patio, inside on the couch when it got too hot, back to the patio as the sun turned, over by the canal, then sitting with my feet in the pool, etc., it was perfect. I did take breaks from this strenuous day to nap, ride a bike with Christian, and eat lunch, so it wasn't ALL reading. But it has been a glorious day. 

My view when reading

Christian with the Rizz

Camille relaxes in the living room

The pool and canal

We've all had a relaxing day. We all slept in and each of the boys has taken a dip in the pool. It is heated by a nice little waterfall on the side and ended up perfectly warm by this afternoon. There is a TV out on the patio and a bluetooth speaker so Christian has been listening to his music while swimming. The neighborhood is very packed so he can't play it too loudly, but he's enjoying it. 

Christian also loves the bikes that are available for us to use. He's been riding up and down the streets of the neighborhood all day, showing off his wheelies and admiring nice cars. Will went out with him for a ride and so did I this afternoon. Bike riding is so pleasant when there are no hills! His dream for this trip is to fish from our dock.

The patio

There isn't much to tell today. We love this house, I would stay here again in a heartbeat if we ever return. And it has been truly wonderful to relax, to be lazy, to really rest. James hasn't been quite as relaxed, he's currently on his 2nd shopping trip with his mom and the boys. Soon they will be home with dinner (and hopefully a fishing pole) and then we'll watch a movie before bed. And maybe I'll have time tonight to play a game with the kids or start my second book. :-)

Outside movie