Afternoon in Cocoa Beach

We drove out to Cocoa Beach to go to an art fair, walk on the beach and visit Kelley's friend Marie (from AT&T).  The beach won out over the art fair.  Pelicans were all over the place!

It was a very windy day, but that didn't stop the kids from running into the ocean.

It wasn't quite as warm as Clearwater Beach, but that didn't stop the kids either.  :)

We didn't stay very long.  Owen was still really sensitive from the sand & salt water in Clearwater roughing up his skin, so we headed to Marie's sooner than later so he could take a shower.  Marie had shrimp ready for baiting hooks so the kids could fish off her dock in the backyard into the canal.  Papa was kind enough to bait the hooks for the kids.  Thank you, Papa!

The kids didn't catch anything.

But they had fun fishing and watching the bobbers jump as the shrimp were sneakily eaten by the fish underwater.

Chloe was a little chilly, so Marie's daughter loaned her a sweater.  To wear over her swim suit.  And Marie's son DJ helped the kids with fishing and baiting their hooks, too.

Afterwards we enjoyed a great dinner together with Marie's family.  Awesome day all around.  Until Todd drove us back to Orlando and his navigator fell asleep in the back seat and he drove an hour out of the way.  Whoops.  Sorry honeys!

Happy Thanksgiving

Our second Thanksgiving in a row spent in Clearwater Beach.  The weather was every bit as gorgeous as last year. 

 We enjoyed a late brunch at the same restaurant with the most delicious food!

Afterwards, we walked over to the beach and enjoyed the sound of the waves and the warmth of the sun.

Owen enjoyed playing catch with his Daddy on the beach.  Yes, we did drive hundreds of miles for our holiday.  But the boy loves catch as well as time with his Daddy.  It's rare that he can combine both at the ocean.  Such a special treat!

The girl child was in and out of the water.  Building castles, digging holes and jumping waves.

The boy did come out to jump the waves, too.

It was so much fun watching the both of them take such joy in the simple pleasures.

Doesn't it look like Owen has angel wings?

My camera go high-jacked.  Not often I end up IN the photos :)

We drove back to Orlando mid-afternoon to put the turkey in the oven and start prepping the other food.  Couldn't ask for a better Thanksgiving, surrounded by family, warm temps, fantastic views and delicious food.

Afternoon on Clearwater Beach

After staying up so late, we all slept in and took our time getting ready in the morning before leaving Orlando and driving to Clearwater Beach.  We stopped for lunch at the same restaurant we at at on Thanksgiving day when we first got into town.

The kids were happy to be out of the car and breathing fresh air again.

Once we finished with lunch, we changed into our swimsuits and ran to the beach.

The kids hopped waves.

Such a fun day with absolutely perfect weather!

After coming out of the karate camp all revved up with the Tae Kwon Do spirit, they were all doing karate kicks into the waves.

There was definite chilling going on in the surf while watching parasailors and boats in the distance.

 Soccer balls were brought out into the ocean.

As was a football.

Chloe had to stop to build a sand castle.  Because that's what my girl does when she's on sand.

Chloe made a friend on the beach and they played together for an hour, building sand castles and jumping waves.

Todd and Owen played catch.

And it wouldn't be a good day without cartwheels from our cartwheel-lovin-boy.

This boy is so silly and was doing a weird frankenstein walk.

I love this out-of-focus shot of Owensk.

We packed it up close to 4pm and headed out of this little beach town for our hotel in Tampa.  Such a relaxingly wonderful day listening to the ocean and lounging on beach towels!