Weather is a bit fickle but we manage to squeeze in a lot of fun.

We try kayaks for everyone.  Willa, Hazel and I in one tandem, Kent and Brian in a second and Mike and Tracy the third.  We cruise a loop around Curry Hammock State Park through a curly mangrove tunnel and a stop on a quiet beach to build sand castles.  By midday the sun is really blazing down and the cool ocean feels nice.  Hazel just loves the beach.  Willa takes to the deeper water with Mom.  It is a fun, full day.   We get back home just in time for dinner.

Willa painted with a dolphin at the Dolphin Research Center.  She and Mom held the canvas and Sandy wielded the brush with bright pink and purple paint.  It was fun to watch too.  There were other dolphin training sessions and we enjoyed ice cream treats.  Hazel didn’t have the best day.  She was a real trooper and napped much of the day on Granpa between mummers of “it hurts” and “ouchee” because of what must have been really painful diaper rash.  Back home, it was pool time in the afternoon.  Willa learned to swim.  Granpa picked up some super Butt cream at the grocery.  Hazel started feeling better within just minutes. We posed for family Christmas pics on the beach.  Played whipped cream games and toasted the Holidays with a bit of bubbly.

Nana and Granpa head to the Aquarium with the girls.  Touch tanks were a hit.  Hazel touched a stingray and Willa a star fish.  We watched spiney lobsters gobble down calamari rings, fed fish tails to the rays, and food pellets to bright blue colored fish and pelicans.  There was time for a little cookie baking.  Willa did the rolling and both the cutting out and later icing.  Fun and delicious.  We close out our trip with dinner out at Sparky’s Landing.  Food was delicious.  We tried another version of key lime pie.  Seating was out along the water (jackets required tonight) and there was even live entertainment. We discovered another Hazel favorite, cocktail cherries.  Once home, Willa checked the pool temperature.  She’d been pleading to swim just one more time before we left.  Her call, its warm enough.  Granpa, Tracy and Willa don suits and head on out.  Hazel askes for a bubble bath and had just gotten in when they return.  It had been fewer than 10 minutes.  It is tooooo cold.  They just barely got wet.  Warm bathes and they are both off to bed.

Willa is up at sunrise watching from her bed.  Sunrises are glorious seen over the ocean and how convenient to see them from your bed in your jammies.  Suddenly its “Oh wait, today is Christmas.”  “Let’s get up and check on Santa.”  She first checks on the cookies and carrots.  Yes, Santa has been here, let the party begin.  As the rest of the house rouses, Willa patiently checks out the stockings and confirms presents that belong to each.  More gifts have arrived.  Everyone is up.  The opening begins. The girls are pleased with the single serve pickles (Willa) and olives (Hazel) included in their stockings.   There is a quiet afternoon and dinner then a tooter concert by all.  Once the kids are off to bed there is the exchange of “phantom Santa gifts” between the adults.  Thanks for the idea, Tracy.  It was fun.  A 3-D picture display (Brian to me), A Raspberry programmable module (Mike to Dad), classic Lego kit (Mom to Mike), a getaway to New Orleans (Tracy to Brian). A heated vest (Dad to Tracy).