Key Largo for Sarah's Birthday

Boys.  They are so funny!  How is it that poop never loses its appeal for humor?  Tuesday, the boys stay at school until 5:30 for soccer and study hall.  We figured we had time to go to the Keys.  Key LArgo really isn't that far from where the Bazails live.  Maybe an hour?  Initially, I had planned to stay overnight Saturday night in Ley Largo with Tricia and the boys, but we abandoned that idea because of the dogs.  Just for fun, we pulled into the hotel I had booked to see what it was like.  Surprise!!  The parking lot was FULL of iguanas.  Someone was feeding them bananas.  We happened to have some bananas, so we got in on the action.  These little critters were so curious and friendly.  And pretty, too!  I could have rounded up a whole bunch of them to sell as pets in Utah!

See how they're all over the parking lot?

Handsome devil, isn't he?  The iguanas were uber social until a tiny little chihuahua came out.  The iguanas scattered in an instant.  So funny!  Who knew the parking lot of the Hampton Inn in Key Largo would be the top travel destination of the trip?  Alex and Lincoln were dying to see the iguanas, which is why we chose the Keys as our weekend excursion later...

Traffic was good, we we kept going to Islamorada and beyond.

I was sending pictures to Scott, wishing he was there!

Tricia bought me this darling headband.  Please excuse my cleavage.  It was the sunglasses' fault.  Notice the beanie boo tucked under my arm.  Classy!

Kitsch it its very best!

Our destination was this restaurant that Tricia and I had been to with Ruby when we were there 2 years ago.  Wahoo's.  Delicious and you can't beat the ambiance.

"It's a keys thing."  Ptolemy enjoying the laid-back lifestyle of the Keys.

More vintage signage.  I like to send these pics to my friend Angela.  She is an artist and sometimes paints them.

This stop along the beach yielded oodles of bottlecaps for Ptolemy's collection.  I love this image.

A google search of "Top ten key lime pies in the keys" led us to this place.  Their crust is regular pie crust instead of graham cracker, which was so much better.  Generally, key lime pie is way to sweet and way too not chocolate for my taste.  But this one was perfect!

It was Sarah's birthday, so while she and Roland were celebrating on their Mediterranean cruise, we sang and blew out candles on a tiramisu.  Alex was the party master!  Happy birthday, Sarah!

I love these boys, and I am so thankful for the time I got to spend with them.  They are wonderful boys.  Being their godmother gives me a special connection to them, one that I don't have with any other people in the whole world.  They are special, and I love them very much.

The Everglades

Monday: breakfast and then dropped Alex and Lincoln off at school.

I was sad they couldn't go to the Everglades with us, but school is school.

Tricia treated us to an airboat ride, which was amazing!  I was thinking of The Rescuers where the mice are chased by Madame Medusa is the airboats.

Our guide was perfect.  Loud voice, wry sense of humor, knowledgable, somewhat crazy driver.

We saw tons of baby alligators

The airboat ride came with an animal show.  Scorpion, ew.

But the alligators were intriguing to see up close.

REALLY close!

 Really, REALLY close!  Ha ha.  Alligator sandwich.

This is in Everglades National Park proper.  You know I had to use my National Parks Pass.  The park is boring compared to all the outfits around it who do airboat rides and animal shows.

But we did see a grasshopper.

Next stop:  Miccosukee Indian Reservation.  They have a fun museum and outdoor area where vendors set up native crafts, etc.

Isn't Tricia cute?  She is always up for an adventure!

Doesn't this kinda scare you on a primal level?

This Miccosukee guy wrestled alligators while telling us about them.  He put his hand in the mouth.  He tried to put his head in the mouth, and said, "If this doesn't work, the show is over."  I thought he was joking, like the show would be over because he would no longer have a head.  I wanted to yell, "That's OK!  We don't need to see that!"  Fortunately, the alligator wasn't in the mood to open his mouth that wide.

I was asking myself why I didn't hold the baby alligator at the first place we went, so I made sure I did this time.  This little guy didn't have a band around his mouth, but it didn't seem scary.  His belly was soft.  He was heavy and relaxed.  He was almost cuddly!  Look at those cute hind legs flopping down.  Awwww!  I guess alligators are actually quite docile, probably due to their tiny brains.  The guy said that everything they do is motivated by the need to eat.  They have no other motives or emotions.  Their brains are too small!

Tricia even dared touch him, and she is totally scared of reptiles.  Way to be brave, Tricia!

We were back from the Everglades in time to pick up the boys from school.  Tricia helped Alex with his long division and the boys cooled off in the pool.

Tricia was on dog duty, thank heavens.  Betty Lou is a full-time job!  The old dog, Bosco, is way more mellow.  They're both silly and adorable...

Just like Ptolemy.

Since Tricia's car accident, when her heel was crushed, she has had this handicapped parking pass.  I am IN LOVE with it!  Not only can you park in handicapped spots, but you can park anywhere for free for 4 hours.  Any meter!  You have no idea how much easier this makes life.  I want one!

There's a Chipotle-style restaurant the boys love called Lime.  We dined al fresco and enjoyed the outdoor mall area.  Ah, life in Miami is good!  At least when you're on vacation!