Ft. Lauderdale, Everglades, Keys

 So here's a few more photos from our trip to Florida.
This is Iris on the balcony one morning.  The sun rises right over the ocean, right into the hotel room. Tom got up early with Iris one morning to watch it.

 

We also saw some beautiful moon rises.

 Our last day in Ft. Lauderdale, we went to the International Swimming Hall of Fame.  This is me and kids by the swimming statue (Mark Spitz?) and in front of their pool. That day was a big pre-Olympic diving competition with some of the world's best divers.  Tom really enjoyed the HoF. I'm really glad we fit it in.

 

Clark (the Original Gumbo) on the Gumbo Limbo Trail in the Everglades NP

 We also go to visit the Everglades National Park. We went to the visitors center and went on a guided hike on the Anhinga Trail. We didn't see an Anhinga (a bird) but we saw lots of fish and a tiny alligator.  Then we did a quick and shady and mosquitoey trail - Gumbo Limbo Trail. Iris loved it and got 18 mosquito bites.

 Then we drove down HWY 1 on the chain of little Islands known as the Florida Keys. We stopped to refresh ourselves at  Harry Harris Park in Tavernier. It had this great pool. The water came from the ocean and fish were swimming around, but it was portioned off as a swimming area. It was perfect for Clark and Iris

Sunset on Key West and a Ship

We visited Key West and went to the Southernmost Point, as well as Mile 0. Key West is like a hot, beachy New Orleans. 









On the way back north on our way out of the Keys and Florida, we stopped at John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo. Most of the park is underwater and awesome for snorkeling and scuba diving. We didn't do either, but we did do some wading with our babies.  They have glass bottom boat tours, which we vow to do next time we come through!

Florida Keys

We went on our annual Florida trip for the last time earlier this May. We spent a week in Lauderdale By the Sea at the Sea Lord Hotel which is completely awesome.  Then we drove to the Everglades and then down to the Florida Keys. My Aunt Carla lives on Summerland Key. We were just there a weekend, and here's some photos from it.  We are so glad we took the time to go down there, and would love to do it again (maybe faaaar into the future)

Iris and Clark being cuties in the Ft. Lauderdale Airport

with my cousin Kelly

Southernmost Point of the USA

And again

Kids enjoying some ice cream at a shop in Key West

Kids REALLY enjoying that Ice Cream!

Tom, V and Clark Kayaking off of Cudjoe Key

in my brother's narrative:

WEIRDO: "HA HA HA !....LOOK AT THESE TOO DELICIOUS LOOKING CHILDREN!"

Children: "We promise to eat our green beans. Please SAVE US!"   

WEIRDO: "They're slow and easy to catch around this stream. I GOT TWO!"

New York!

I had had had had had had to get out of the house. Seeing that we had a 3 day weekend in our future, I contacted Tom's Uncle Ray and begged that we could come up to his house in Long Beach, NY. He and Karla were happy to welcome us in.

On Saturday morning, we took a bus from Bethesda, MD to Manhattan, NYC. Then we took a train to Long Beach (the Long Island Rail Road) it took about 5 hours to get there, we got to eat, pee, and hang out on both bus and train. We could hold the baby and no car seat was needed (how dangerous was that???!?!?! Why aren't there laws about that?!??!). So we were all happy and hanging out and the traveling hours flew.

We arrived in Long Beach and hung out at Ray and Karla's house. Clark got a million licks from their dogs Japser and Django. On Sunday we hung out in Long Beach. Karla made a yummy pancake in the oven for us to have for breakfast. I went to church with Uncle Ray in the morning, we sat around and ate a French lunch of cheese, bread and fruit, we took a walk to the beach in the early afternoon, we took naps in the late afternoon, we had a yummy dinner, and went to mass that night. On Monday, again had a delicious breakfast, we took the LIRR (train) into Manhattan.

We had lunch at Carnagie Deli with a friend of mine from Tulane. Then we walked around Central Park.

We then went to Ray and Karla's apartment in the Upper East Side. We hung out there for a couple of hours listening to "Wait, wait, don't tell me." and talking about our lives while Clark napped. Then we went to a delicious Sushi resturant for dinner. We went back home on the train and slept very well. The next morning, we ate NY Bagels and got back on the train to go home. Clark was amazing through the whole thing and had a blast! This is him keeping busy while we waited for the bus to pick us up.

It was a wonderful vacation, with no agenda except for relaxing. Ray and Karla are wonderful people, smart and funny to be around. We will definately make this trip again, and hopefully soon!

Congrats Ray and the White House

Clark is pratically a big boy now!
He can fit into some of his larger clothes now (9-18 months) Here he is in an adorable outfit from Uncle Ray. He is flying through the sky!!!



Clark and the rest of us Greenwells would also like to congratulate Ray on his engagement to Angela!

CONGRATS BIG BRODER!!!!


Clark can sit up pretty well now. He hardly ever falls over. Here is him sitting up and chewing on his crib!



Clark and I went to the White House on Wednesday morning with another alumni from Tulane. They don't let you take pictures inside, so I have included some pics from outside. I wasn't allowed to bring a stroller, nor a bag, so I wore some sexy cargo pants with my pockets full of diapers, wipes and links. Thanks for the hot look, Homeland Security!

On the front porch where Bush gave Obama the keys.


Some pillars and the wheelchair ramp.


And the big old house.