Florida Part 1: Getting Away

Here I am, so far away from the biting winds and icy streets of Utah that I have mostly forgotten how completely they inhabited my life just a few short days ago. Today's high was about 72, and yesterday we were sweating, sweating, while wearing shorts. Ahhh, Florida winters.

Anyway, we had a great, and uneventful, trip here. Despite getting up at 5 a.m. to leave for the airport, the boys were all filled with tons of energy. No one slept, sagged, whined, or cried (much). Well, Zeke did take a short nap on the second leg of our flight. Zeke and I also had a chance to meet with some wildlife in the Denver airport while the rest of the family navigated the moving sidewalk system.



We got to Tampa, settled in to our tiny hotel room, and headed out for dinner at the local Sweet Tomatoes restaurant. We found a coupon online for a free adult meal, and decided we'd look for a coupon for every dinner out while we're here. So far, we're good: pick-up discount from a local pizza joint, online coupon for Boston Market, and a free meal tomorrow at Ikea. We never eat out this much, but we're even finding places that serve vegetables, which makes us feel a little less bloated than living on McDonald's and free hotel breakfasts. (Mmm, waffles and pastries! Not that we're skipping those, mind you.)

On the second day here, we decided our hotel room was too small so we moved to a place up the road that offers two-bedroom suites (a MUST for traveling with three small children). We left $15 worth of groceries behind in the fridge at the first hotel, sadly. Then we went to a local street fair, the Children's Day of the Gasparilla Pirate Fest. We all had a good time, but it was not enough pirate and too much vendors selling food and souvenirs, in my opinion. Sammy thought it was boring, but everything else was bugging him that day too. Not enough sleep, perhaps? The best part of the party was watching the Navy Special Ops parachuters land right in front of us. Very cool. Oh, and the older boys each scored a free bike helmet, so we figure it was a day well-spent.



After that we went swimming in the hotel pool. We quickly discovered the downside of visiting Florida in the winter: unheated swimming pools. The day was nice and warm, but nights are cool enough that the water is icy and way too cold for me (unless I have a wetsuit on and plan on swimming at least half a mile). Bruce got in with the boys, who all shivered like mad but wouldn't stop swimming for anything. I have to distract them for a few days so they'll forget to make me take them back.

On Sunday we had a great day at church--I love going to other wards, especially when we don't know anyone. The kids were miraculously well-behaved. (See--having Sacrament Meeting FIRST instead of last is the true key to a quiet congregation.) The ward was very nice and we enjoyed visiting. Then we had lunch, had some quiet time, and headed to a great little park. Okay, it was not little, it was huge! Rain started pouring down just as we were getting in the car--the wind and clouds will be gone by tomorrow morning and it will be sunny again. Then sandwiches in the hotel, stories, and kids in bed. Sigh. I think everyone has worked out the exhaustion they felt from travel and not getting enough sleep. Now on to the rest of the trip, hopefully with very happy kids!