BEACHES AND GATORS AND FORTS! OH MY!

So we had a great trip to Palm Coast, Florida. The boys and I usually travel alone and it was nice to have a group this time. We did a lot in a week and could have easily stayed another and filled every day. I've uploaded a ton of pictures, so I'll keep the descriptions short...

Here is the group:
Captain Master Uncle Wes, Emilee, Pop-Pop,
Lolly, Bob and the 'punkins. we made it! off to the beach!
the natural coquina beach. it was beautiful...lolly didn't think so. it was fun to watch her give the rocks dirty looks. I think she might have even flipped a boulder that seemed to mocking her a bird...
things did get a little tight when the tide came in, but that didn't stop us. the boys loved the snails and shells.
the pool was groovy, too...
he just looks so big!
pop-pop and harrison had a dunking contest. with harrison's counting, he won. notice sully in the background talking to a kid three times his age? he was challenging him to a race. his mickey mouse suit makes him look very muscular, but in a turtle sort of way. maybe he thinks those muscles are real?
another point for pop-pop...unless harrison is keeping score.
sully got his race and he lost by about 20 feet. when he finally puffed his turtle-looking self to the steps, he yelled, "we tied!" I guess the boys have gotten the "play to win" message we try to instill...just not the no cheating and be a good sport message!
one very tired pop-pop...
the next day we went to the alligator farm. it was incredible. I guess alligators are as easy to grow because they were everywhere!
scary alligator faces...
lunch time! thawed white rats! this, too, got the
signature lolly dirty look...
there were lots of beautiful birds...


and some cool reptiles...
harrison took this one!
like I said, alligators were everywhere...
then we went to the lighthouse...

lolly took this from the top. you can see us on the walkway. I'm saying, "look up!"...they didn't.

then we went on a trolley tour of st. augustine. it was beautiful. I would show more pictures, but I think this is my longest post ever...

the next day we went to kennedy space center. harrison took these- just a note- leave your gps in the car
because it is quite a hike back...

and hot! we took a break in the imax
after a little fun and a crazy lunch.

harrison took the next three, too. he thought the reflections were cool and the bathtub was funny....I don't see the humor....can anyone help me out with this one?

then we took in more sights...
the best playground in the world!!

robot scouts was our last stop. they kicked us out. I was so sad...not really. it had been a long day. the boys had a great time and have added astronaut to the long list of careers they hope to pursue and halloween costumes they hope to acquire...
the next day, we went a mile down the beach where the rocks had been placed in neat little rows. lolly was much more accepting of their being there. it made a nice little sandbar, but a wicked little riptide. don't fight it sounds good in theory, but not so much when you are floating on your back and it feels like someone is dragging you through the water by your ankles... but all's well that ends well. lolly gave the water lots of dirty looks and us a few I told you so's...

the boys ran in and out of the water a thousand times. we had a small float and boat. it was so much fun. I would post more pictures, but I want them to go with us next year and I don't think they will if I start posting bathing suit pics...

bob made this fort for the kids. they loved it and played for hours until the tide washed it away. the sides were so strong you could sit on them...

look closely and you can see the boys at the bottom in the fort...
ooohhh...wish I was there now...
the next day we went to the fort in st. augustine.
you guessed it...here are the pics:

ummm...uncle wes...harrison would like your man card.

we got to see the canon fire...
and people get shot...
not really, but it was funny. they screamed and fell into the water.
then it was time to go. one last look at the ocean. we saw dolphins almost every day. lolly even saw a shark...no she didn't give it a dirty look...she thought it was a dolphin...

and the boys got in a little last minute fishing...
I didn't get any pictures of the man in his white boxer-briefs on the beach in daytona. he was in the water, but luckily didn't turn around. I didn't get any pictures of when the van sunk in the sand and we had to push. I didn't get any pictures of the woman freaking out in the restaurant when sully flung a toy worm in her hair...

but I do have one more thing to share...
this is my battleground and I conquered it once again.

So Captain Master Uncle Wes-
you can call me General Freakin' Tree Hugger now!BOO-YAH!

SO ARE THE...

beds made???

NOPE! breakfast eaten, vitamins taken and dishes cleared???

NOPE! children in the backyard playing nicely...
two of them still in pajamas???

YES! so who really cares about all that other stuff?!

If you are wondering what is going on in the photo-Troy is a trainer that Carolyn and Harrison hired to teach them the art of combat with an extension rod for a paint roller and an empty 2 liter bottle stuck to one end. Carolyn and Harrison have cell phones so they can call 911 when the trainer gets out of control. Troy spotted me taking this picture and I had to run before he realized that I was inside and not entertaining them. I could read his mind...