On the water

We went again yesterday to the Thousand Islands, just west of cocoa beach. I felt a bit jumpy, considering my alligator research the night before. We paddled out a bit to a canal, and something leaped out of the water just a few feet from us. I shrieked. It was. .. not an alligator. Not a shark. It was a dolphin!

Then I saw a whiskered snout poke up from the middle of the canal. It was a manatee!! Oh, joy! We paddled up and down the canal with the dolphins following us and leaping in front and playing little games with us. It was incredibly cool. We spent an hour with the animals, although my camera shutter speed is way too slow to catch the beautiful creatures.

On our way back to the dock, I followed behind Terry. I kept feeling bumps on the bottom of the boat and I thought I was running over branches. Terry had a perfectly smooth ride, so we have deduced that I either paddled over a manatee or a dolphin was checking me out.
The only thing strong enough to take away my terror of predators lurking in the water is the joy of discovering playful, peaceful dolphins and manatees.

Kayaks

It seems that I have stumbled upon a new activity for our family. Terry has always loved kayaking, and when we were in Utah, I mourned the fact that we had never been on a boat in the time we lived in Florida. Upon our return, we began looking into an affordable boating style that would benefit our family, including encouraging an active life style. We've been researching kayaks and renting from the local "Village Outfitters" and decided to go for it. My brother, Kyle, has been coming out and kayaking also. There is talk of Kyle and Terry building some kayaks in our garage for fun.

So we are now the proud owners of a Twin Otter 14' Old Town tandem, and a Perception Carolina 14'. They're both blue, and Terry paddles the tandem with Grace and AJ in the front seat. Well, we jury-rigged a jump seat for AJ. Angel joined them today. She is a nervous little dog. I paddle the Carolina alone. And it is bliss.

We went out to Pine Island with the rentals the other day, at the suggestion of the kayak company. We trekked all the way north of 528 to find what we hoped would be beautiful scenery, manatee, and perhaps some dolphins. Instead, some kayakers had found "another dead body" just an hour before we arrived. This article mentions the first body that was found at the end of November. Results of the autopsy have not been published as of yet. The kayakers who found the second body rented from the same place we did--and this article identifies the woman.

This is an area where many alligators lurk close by. There is a lagoon that is quite popular with boaters, but the rivers that feed into it are filled with predators. It makes one wonder if a large 'gator hasn't found new prey? Or is it a serial killer on the loose? Or an environmental group gone extreme?

I will avoid this area with my children until we have a better grip on water safety. I still feel a wee bit wobbly in my kayak when I first get started. I was googling kayaking with alligators and found some articles about people who accidentally kayaked or canoed over a gator in shallow water. That sounds like something I would do. There are also some cases of alligators and sharks tipping over kayaks. I should probably learn how to get back in if capsized. I remember getting back into a canoe to be quite difficult at summer camp. I did it, but I HATED it.

With that said, if we kayak intelligently, all should be fine. Grace fell off the boat dock the other day, thanks to a little push from AJ. Terry jumped in to help her and thankfully the water was shallow enough for her to stand. I hope that my children have learned their lessons!!! No pushing! Stay out of the road while we're unloading the boats! Don't go on the dock or in the water without mom and dad's explicit permisson!! Keep Scuba Steve in the boat! Avoid pulling each other's hair! Stay seated in the boat! Look for birds! Look for alligators! Don't get out of the boat even if it's so shallow the boat is scraping on the bottom!

We've been on the water Saturday, sunday, monday (that would be today). Terry'd like to go tomorrow, too, but I need to go grocery shopping, clean the house, exercise Eve, etc. Perhaps Wednesday would be better. Besides, my arms are sore! A day of rest might not be such a bad thing for my body.

For a non sequitur, I have found that I love using an Mp3 player at the gym. If I can't make it to a SPIN class, I load up my mp3 playlist with inspirational music that I love and do my own SPIN workout. It's a great feeling.

AJ was stuck.

grace and aj at seaworld 002

Originally uploaded by staciplonsky

AJ loves to put boxes, baskets, hats, capes, etc. on his head. Perhaps he will stop putting baskets on his head now that he got stuck!!! Terry had to come home from work and find the wire cutters to un-stick the Easter basket. Now the pretty pink basket is handle-less. So sad.

AJ was quite pathetic waiting for Terry. He sat on the couch and watched TV (he wasn't injured or in pain), whimpering, "Come on, Daddy, where are you?"

And yes, I did try to get the handle off myself. It's not as easy as it looks.

My favorite picture

grace and aj at seaworld 001

Originally uploaded by staciplonsky

We went to Sea World the Monday before Christmas. This was the best time I've had yet with Grace and AJ. They were well behaved, funny and cute. I love this picture I snapped of them outside the "Pirate" show, as they call it. (it's the Sea Lion and Otter show. . )

Only in Florida

Only in Florida can you kayak on a beautiful Saturday morning in mid-December. Only in Florida can the kids get out of the kayak and play in the water without getting chilled. Only in Florida can I go to my family's condo and enjoy a swim in the pool and get a tan in December!!! (That was minus children and husband. Girls only!!! YAY!)

Of course, it's turning chilly today. I'm sooo glad I soaked up the rays while I could!!!!

The Dove

We went to this incredible restaurant Friday night for my birthday. My sister, Kellyn, spent the night and babysat for Grace and AJ.

We decided to go for the chef's 5-course special, and went for the extra fee that covered a glass of wine with every course. Words don't describe how much we enjoyed ourselves, but I will attempt it. The restaurant owner served each course and gave us our wine.

Course 1: Pasta fagioli soup. Very good, as always.
Course 2: Shrimp Oreganata. Awesome. Crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, with oregano, garlic and bread crumbs.
Course 3: Lobster tail with pasta in garlic and oil. Wonderful.
Course 4: Lamb chop with a balsamic reduction, served with potatoes and onions finely shredded. I've never been a baby sheep eater, but I was that night. And I loved every last bite.
Course 5: Veal marsala with steamed broccoli. Again, not a philosophical fan of veal, but it was gooooood. Tender, flavorful, delicious.
Course 6: Beef au poivre, tender and flavorful. Served with a side of rice. Still excellent the next day.
Course 7: Godiva chocolate cake with chocolate mousse. And coffee.

Dad

My dad had hip replacement surgery a week ago. He expected to go home last Friday or Saturday, but here it is, 7 days later, and he's still in the hospital. He is susceptible to blood clots, and he has some in both lungs currently. The hospital has been WONDERFUL. He's getting excellent care, the staff has been great, and they've acted very proactively to treat the clots. Dad is bored. He wants to go home. But they don't even want him out of bed until the clots dissipate--there is a chance they can travel and do terrible damage if he gets up and walks around.

Party Central

I should probably mention that I've been away this weekend celebrating with friends more than I usually do in a few months! I went to a friend's baby shower Fri. night, and then the same friend's surprise shower Saturday morning. I didn't want her to feel badly that no one from our group could make it Friday night and I'd heard not many people from her church group were able to make it. I met Terry and the kids at a parade Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening we went to my friend Tracy's to celebrate her Kate's 4th birthday. Pizza, wings, and Polar Express. :) Sunday we skipped church due to a stupid motorcycle thing that happens every year and blocks the MAJOR road off which our neighborhood is located. Then, well, I already told you about Sunday night.

We always go to the park on Mondays to spend time with our friends, typically staying about 2 hours. I always come home with a sore throat. It's fun to spend two hours talking with my friends.

Oh, What a night!

I went out with my friends to the Melting Pot last night for the December Birthday Club (3 of us have Dec birthdays). I tried a drink called the "Love Martini" and man, it was good!!! It didn't even taste alcoholic!! YUM!!!! Plus it had strawberries floating in it. How cool is that??? And of course, the fondue was excellent. Cheese appetizer, salad, chocolate dessert. MMMM!!!

THEN, said friends and I dropped by a salon's Holiday party. It was packed with people, fancy finger food and champagne. We all entered the door prize raffle. My friend Cindy put in our friend's name, Janice, because she was expected at any minute. She didn't make it in time for the raffle, and guess who won the grand prize? Janice!!! So I pretended to be Janice. It was so weird, everyone saying, "Yay, Janice!" and "Congratulations, Janice!" They took my picture with Santa and I suppose my picture will be up at the salon now as "Janice."

Cindy and I split the prize. We won: 3 hour 10 person limo ride (perfect for our families--we have to find somewhere fun to go for the kids!); 1 night stay at the executive suite at the Radisson Hotel, and a $75 gift card to "The Dove", a fancy Italian restaurant on Satellite Beach.

I think I'm going to let Cindy take the hotel, and I'll take the restaurant card. We can always stay at the condo on New Smyrna Beach.

Then, Janice finally arrived and we took our party to Carrabba's bar. We feasted on their Chocolate Martinis (the best drink ever--made with homemade hot fudge around the rim, and creme de cacao and baileys' and other fabulous stuff) and shared a plate of Pasta Carrabba. We swapped stories, and it turns out that I'm not the only one whose dogs locked themselves in the van by stepping on my purse and pressing "lock" on the key remote!!!! What are the odds that someone else would have that happen to them??

So fun.

Home Group and Cranky Daughter

Grace knows the rules. It is very clear that she must rest/nap/read quietly in bed in order to go to home group. I especially felt this was important when going to a brand new place. She didn't follow the rules. She stayed up and whined and cried and yowled for 2 hours instead of resting.

Imagine her surprise when I left her home with Daddy!!

AJ tooks a GREAT nap, but I didn't think he'd go nicely by himself without his sister. So he played with his Daddy and didn't realize that he'd even been invited.

Next time, I bet Grace takes a nap.

Let It BE

After 5 years of mothering, I've finally figured something out.

When your three year old is lying in bed, crying and screaming because he doesn't want a nap, but is over tired, DO NOT GO IN!!! He does not need to be disturbed, he does not need to be comforted. If he gets out of bed and comes out of his room, that is a different story. But if he is staying in bed, LET IT BE!!!!!

He cried himself to sleep. And we will ALL be better off for it.

Now I will let the sleeping child lie.

church

Grace and I checked out a new church yesterday. We haven't been to church since we moved back to FL, and I had a dream where my pastor from Utah said, "It's time." Heeding that, I told Grace on the way that this is a new church and I want to hear her opinion when it's over, whether she liked it, how she felt, etc. I had been on the church's website and looked at home groups, looking for those with child care and those that were close. I found two that looked promising.

We arrived at the church and Grace went to her class. I sat in the sanctuary and as it filled up, a man sat next to me. We exchanged pleasantries and then the service began. When it ended, he introduced himself and invited me to his home group. It was one of the two home groups that had child care and was close to our house. What are the odds that of the thousands of people who attend this church regularly, the home group leader would end up sitting next to me and invite me to his group?? I think it's a God thing.

Then, when I walked to Grace's classroom, she met me with a smile and said, "This is the one I want."

I didn't know what she meant at first, and then I realized, "Oh, you mean you liked going to church here?"

She nodded with a big grin, her hands full of a harp made of cardboard and rubberbands, and a bag with all of her coloring sheets and a little toy.

We're bringing the boys next week.