Spring Break 2021

After our forced hiatus in 2020, it felt great to be back in Florida with Grandma and Grandpa for Spring Break 2021.  We had an awesome week of fun!  It was great to spend some quality time with Mom and Dad after a long few months of separation.  Thanks for a fun vacation, guys!

I had heard Spring Break crowds were terrible at the airport, but it wasn't bad when we went.  Phew!

Couldn't wait to get out into that Florida sunshine

On the dock on Sunday morning for some fishing

We had cooler weather the first couple days, so we took the opportunity to visit the Florida Aquarium in Tampa.  First time there!  It was great.

I love pelicans!!

We started sending Kristin pictures of things saying hi.  Hehe.

Scattergories time!

On Monday we took a visit to Busch Gardens

Turtle on top of that gator

Claire loved these parakeet friends - they crawled all over her and she was thrilled!

Watching the Cheetah Run

Our new favorite St. Petersburg restaurant!

The unforgettable Brian Lenenschmidt!  I bought his CD - yes, a CD.

My Mom:)

The new St. Pete Pier is fab!

Matt rented a boat for the week to keep at the house, it was so fun!

Dying Easter eggs

Haircut!

At a nearby sandbar

 

This is vacation!

Hawaiian shave ice treat

Luke and Grandpa cribbage on Grandpa's birthday!

Quick trip to downtown St. Petersburg beach while Dad and I walked Dudley

Luke and Matt then went parasailing in St. Pete Beach

Met up for lunch at the beach

Mom needed to rest after the beach day, so we took Dad out for his birthday in downtown St. Petersburg.  Great dinner!

always fun to play in the trees 

Hide and seek

tree climbing

sunset watching

Time to open presents

Singing Happy Birthday

celebratory cigar and after dinner drink on the lanai

He caught a blowfish in the bayou!

Boat excursion with cousin Michael

Bird island

Boat dog

Fro-yo

Boat trip to Shell Island

exploring - finding shells and seeing horseshoe crabs and urchins

That time that Matt almost didn't make it trying to swim towards a wind-blown boat with an untied anchor in his hands.

Rack-o with Grandma

What an idyllic place this is

Mom's Birthday dinner!

Yahtzee!

Birthday cake and presents

Cheers to the birthday girl!!

Our last morning

pseudo Easter egg hunt

Lovely morning of coffee and avocado toast on the lanai

Trying to break open the coconut from the tree in G&G's yard

Delicious coconut water!  Just like in the tropics.

Having someone paddle you around is pretty nice!

Shrimp lunch from 4th Street Shrimp

Chess with Grandpa

Flying home - another week gone too fast!  Thanks for the great vacation!

Got home to these fun tidings in the mail.  I feel like I JUST served on a jury, but that was in 2012. Back at it! (I ended up getting picked for a jury AGAIN when I went to this, thank goodness it was a quick driving under the influence case, though.)