Our annual FL trip this year couldn't have come at a better time! Temperatures in WI were dipping into double digits BELOW ZERO (and that wasn't even including the windchill)!! Waking up at 3:30am was never more welcome than when you know in a few short hours you are going to escape the cold!
The boys were AWESOME travelers. I know I always say that, but it is true! No complaining when we had to wake up so early, just excited chatter from the backseat of the van on the way to the airport. The older boys both navigated their own suitcases inside so I was able to check in 5 bags and a carseat all while pushing Ben in the stroller while Max was parking the car :). The lady in line behind me asked me if I was very brave. LOL I told her that my husband was travelling with us too -- I can't imagine doing all that by myself!
We flew SouthWest this time, and although the airline is fine, I am not a fan of their boarding procedures. Basically, they give you a number when you check in -- that number is directly correlated to when you check-in in relation to the other passengers. A1 is the first number and C60 is the last. Basically, they start boarding with A1 and you get on the plane and pick your seat. If you are C60, you are pretty much SOL and have to find the last seat on the plane. I checked in EXACTLY 24 hrs before our flight and got A60, B1, B2 and B3. Seriously? But even if we hadn't gotten such 'high' numbers, they do allow 'Family Boarding' at B1. I just laughed and said if there weren't any seats together by the time we got on the plane someone else was going to have a very 'magical' flight. But, there was no problem, and we got a row with 3 seats across (Mom with lap Ben, Sam and Max) and then big Max sat by himself. The arrangement worked out perfectly in the end. I'm sure big Max (who got some nice alone time on the flight) would agree.
As you can see from the photo above, the olders behaved great on the flight. I'm surprised no one actually fell asleep, but they didn't start to get restless until the last 30 mins, at which point the anticipation of landing was getting everyone on the flight restless anyways, so we fit right in.
Ben, on the other hand, took the opportunity to catch up on his zzzzs. So I enjoyed a little snuggle time/
When we arrived, there was a NINETY-FOUR degree temperature difference! Holy!
The boys took advantage of the warmth to enjoy a dip in the pool. They sure love the water!
Grumpy took them down to the dock and cast his net and pulled it up chock full of mullets!
Apparently they didn't smell too good :)
And apparently Sam likes to imitate fish...
Then they checked the crab trap, but nothing was in there.
The next day, the temperatures took a little dip. I hesitate to say it was cold, because it was still warm for us, but all the FL natives were bundled up in winter coats and hats and gloves, LOL. We took the opportunity to go to the Fort Myers Imaginarium. We went there 2 years ago, and not much had changed, but with the boys being older this time they enjoyed it much more.
We played around in the touch tank for awhile...they had starfish and hermit crabs that you could touch.
Then we got to touch the stingrays when they opened the stingray touch tank for a short while.
Granna and Grumps took the boys up to the hurricane simulator.
And then we checked out the aquarium and reptile room. Isn't this baby alligator cute?
So is this baby alligator :)
The rest of the museum was pretty fun also. They had different stations where you could experiment with different things like magnets (as above), puzzles, gravity, etc. It was a lot of fun for the boys and even for us adults! Overall it was a great day and a great way to spend a 'chilly' day. :)
