Trip to Florida June 2015 - Tubing

Thursday - Whenever we head to the boat, we know it's going to be a good time. Well on Thursday, John took us a mile or so up the river, dropped us off in tubes and let us float back down to meet him. I obviously couldn't take a camera with me, so all the pictures are thanks to John.

We had some rope so that we could tie our tubes together and stay in a group, which sometimes we did and other times we didn't. I had told everyone to bathe in sunblock and wear a t-shirt. Xela did not want to wear a t-shirt; she wanted to get some sun. Ya, we'll see how that works. :)

This river is crystal clear and the temperature is a constant 72 degrees all year. We went swimming in it last year and have seen tubers before, but floating down was lots of fun. Occasionally one of the younger kids would get bored and want to be done, but then something would happen or be said and they were back in it again. We also played the occasional game of musical tubes. Other times we would not lazy river so much as be of assistance and do some kicking. I had an opportunity to work out a little after all the tubes, but I think one, were tied together and then I pulled them so we could get done "faster." My faster wasn't much faster, but I appreciated the momentary increased heart rate and getting in the water to cool off.

Everyone tied together and blissfully floating.

Even YOU can see the bottom of the river!

Someone wanted a little bit of space.

Please note that a game of musical tubes
has taken place. It was funny to watch
the exchanges while the participants
tried to NOT get ALL wet.

Nate is on the far left laying on his tummy
and paddling with his hands.

Another round of musical tubes and
Aurora is in the water.

Please note Xela's lack of a shirt.
Neta is in the tube that has a bottom in it.
Nate is in the largest tube.
Graigry seems to be
tube sitting Ro's abandoned device.

"Want to get in the boat?"
"Ummm...Not yet!"

Aurora and Xela are not in the water.
Not sure where Nate is.

When we finally met back up with Uncle John, we put tubes into the boat and climbed up to the restaurant there on the river to enjoy some shark bites, french fries and rootbeer. Then we loaded in the boat (after getting a few shells there on the riverbed and deflating the tubes a bit) and headed back to the dock. We were all tired and some of us were more red than others.

Now what did Mommy say about a t-shirt???
I know one person who is
NOT going to be comfy come bedtime.

Not sure what that face was saying. 

A little less than a mile from the slip, John's boat stopped working. It would only go in reverse (as I recall), when it started. I need to check my recollection with the kids (younger minds and better retention), but we had stopped briefly to look at and/or listen to something and then when John started to boat up again, the engine didn't sound and work correctly. I was feeling bad for him; after such an enjoyable afternoon and his constant willingness to share the boat with us, I hated to see the boat potentially out of commission, and if it was the engine, potentially the last ride.

We got the attention of another boat who towed us back to John's slip (begrudgingly as we had "flown" by him and disturbed his fishing). We were able to wiggle our way into the right spot, tied the boat up, unloaded and headed to the truck to head back to the house. I (and I'm sure the kids) were saying little silent prayers that the boat would be okay; that it would be a simple fix.

Upon arrival back at the house there was much of aloe rubbing and much less swimming for the rest of the afternoon. Xela had a painful time moving until we got back to Indy.

Trip to Florida June 2015 - Helping Hands

Wednesday the 17th: We always have the kids do something to help around the property while we're there. Monday it was the bird feeders. Tuesday it was cleaning out Nuts' goat house and putting in clean hay. Kids helped, with a little complaining because, being the fish that they are, their scales were drying out, but if they want to play, they have to help first. That's typically been our rule.

Graigry pulls down the cobwebs while Xela rakes out old hay.

"When we're helping, we're happy..."

"...and we sing as we go!"
Nate's turn with the hay.

"For we like to help the Nassers;
for we all love them so!"
Neta also likes "driving" the tractor. 

Pushing the fresh hay toward the back

After Nuts had a new bed of hay and  cobweb cleared ceiling, kids loaded up in the cart and we headed to Diane's garden.

Ro making a pose while Graigy rubs "sweat" from his brow.
Everyone waits for instructions.

The wind blows down random small branches and leaves so we picked up what twigs and sticks we could find around her front garden.

There was some playing among the large rocks and bushes
as well as working.

Finally, with jobs done, now that they'd built up a little bit of a sweat, it was time to swim! As soon as we were back in the house, it took only seconds for them to put their suits and start splashing.

Graigry anxious to jump into the deep end.
All the kids loved the tire tube.

Did you know that Ro can plug her nose with her lips?
How many people do you know that can do that?

Nate smiles for the photo.
Graigry is probably telling Neta to get out of the way.

Pool Pals
Last year I got a picture of the kids on the deck.
This year they're in the pool's deep end.

As always, a break for lunch.

Watermelon is a favorite.
Everyone had drippy red chins.

Graigry enjoys a mouthful, multiple times.
I think he finished whatever
watermelons weren't cleaned off.

If the kids weren't in the pool, they were reading, playing the Wii or watching a little television. One of the great things about being with John and Diane is it is truly a relaxing, family time vacation: no stress, no to do's (aside from the daily helping hands which is fun because it's not chores like at home), no agenda. And we do things together. Yes, there is the squabble here and there because someone is not being treated fairly (welcome to life, dearies), but overall, everyone has a good time, cherished memories are created and no one wants to leave when that dreaded time arrives.

Trip to Florida June 2015 - All About the Agua

First thing Monday morning (June 15 if you want a specific date), John took us out on the boat to look at all the birds on the island there on the river's nature preserve. For as many times as he's told me the names of the birds, I can't remember them right now. They come annually to next and by mid-June most of the birds were heading out. It's so neat to listen to them, I don't want to say cackle because that makes me think of chickens, but I can imagine when it's the height of the nesting season, the sound would be deafening.

I think the kids were more interested in the boat and hoping to see an alligator. :)

A little pre-loading prep at the dock.

And we're off!

How many birds do you see in the tree?

Nate sporting the studly shades!

Nesting Grounds

Little Miss Sunshine!

DRIVE TIME!!
Graigry has improved since last year
(the additional height
might have something to do with that)

After some fun on the boat, we helped John refill the bird feeders around the house...

Driving the cart, with the bird seed, out back

...made friends with a lizard...

Trying to catch the critter

Nate holding the gecko,
at least I think it was a gecko.

Graigry's turn!

Time to free the reptile

...and then went SWIMMING!!! The three younger ones spent the rest of the day in the pool, taking a break only for lunch and the bathroom.

Pool play time!
They were mostly nice to and with each other

They're fairly creative at making up games.

AIR BORN!!
(I love it when I catch this on camera!)

1, 2, 3....JUMP!!

Uncle John had a remote control boat;
the three younger ones took turns driving.

LUNCH TIME!!
Gotta input some calories so you can burn them off in the pool!

Xela stepping out of the pool to chill
in the shade with her book.

My little mermaid.

After a full day of swimming, they found a little energy to eat some ice cream and watch the Stanley Cup hockey match (it was that or one of the women's World Cup games) before going to bed.

They also made good use of the Aloe, coating their shoulders, necks and ears before sleeping. Them kids were a little toasty; their skin wasn't used to that hot summer sun. :) Day one of Florida fun...CHECK!!

Trip to Florida June 2015 - Drive Time

Yes, this is three months overdue, but that's just kind of how my life rolls. Be grateful I'm actually doing this instead of taking care of the sink overflowing with dishes or the laundry that needs rotated or going to bed. :) I'm hoping I can get caught up by, or during, General Conference in October.

I needed an escape from reality and we hadn't been to Florida for over a year. Eric said he couldn't take time off or afford the trip. I have paid time off to use or lose and I felt like we needed to make a personal visit with John and Diane. Barb agreed to cover the Fishers front desk for a week and I took the kids to Florida, doing the 14 hour drive solo. Not something I'd ever done before, but was willing to endure to give the kids and I a break from our summer of work and responsibility. We were going to leave Friday night and spend Saturday and Sunday with the Walkers in TN. The leaving Friday night would depend on my state of being come Friday evening.

I decided we would leave Saturday morning, if that tells you anything.

Kids were anxious to go, but the Elders Quorum was in charge of cleaning the building, so we stopped there first to help out (you never know who is going to show up). We left June 13th, around 10:30 and had a six hour drive - all day light - which is a good thing. We arrived at Walkers around 4 o'clock Tennessee time so the kids had some time to burn off the pent up energy.

Jumping on trampolines are a favorite!

Bouncing buddy - cousin Samuel

We enjoyed Saturday pizza, a movie, night's sleep and church with the Walkers. The original plan was go come back to their house after church, have lunch, visit and then leave for the remaining eight hour drive around dinner so that we wouldn't have to buy gas on Sunday. Well, their plans changed due to a local cousin's birthday, so we left after making sandwiches at church. I was thankful to be driving a lot with daylight, but knew that we'd run short on gas before Sunday was over and discussed with my co-pilot, Xela, what her thoughts were.

We got stuck in an hour long traffic jam just outside of Atlanta. One of the kids had brought a white board and so Aurora decided she would communicate with the car behind us. Her first question was: "Do you like bacon?" She got a thumbs up. We all came up with different questions to ask and shared some good laughs, especially when she wrote, "Is that your wife? She's pretty." She held it up for a split second and then realized it wasn't a "she" at all. "THAT'S A DUDE!" So funny! That car eventually found it's way around us, so Aurora asked her bacon question of the next lucky person to be stuck behind us. Mental note - take small white board on road trips.

Eventually night hit and I needed some sleep. We pulled off at a rest stop and I tried for an hour to sleep, but the kids were not tired (that's what happens when they sleep while the driver can't). They tried to be kind of quiet, but when you're not in a comfortable position, sleep doesn't come easy and the extra noise (aside from the rigs' rumbling in the parking lot) makes sleep that less likely. Finally, I gave up and told Xela she had to keep me awake.

We did make a quick stop to get gas at one of the credit card tanks, I think around 11 (which was before the rest stop/try to sleep station). I didn't want to press my luck and get stranded. Yes, there was someone at the counter in the station, but the machine would have worked without them there. Nate was a little upset about not keeping the Sabbath day holy, but I wasn't sure what else to do.

The last 10 miles, at one o'clock in the morning, was the longest. My eyes were really heavy and the last long road, Dunnellon, before we turn on to Citrus Avenue and John and Diane's house, I thought would never end. We finally pulled into their garage, turned off the car and started to sleep, around 2 am.

It probably wasn't too long after that when there was a knock on the van and I saw John and Diane standing by the van inviting us to come inside to sleep. Kids got up, gave hugs, and then fell into their assigned beds.

We made it!!