Thursday in Florida

When we woke up Thursday morning, the weather seemed a bit cloudy and cooler.  We looked at the weather report and both Thursday and Friday were questionable.  We decided to take advantage of our Aquarium tickets and save our last day for the beach.

Oliver telling me about the sea horses.

Oliver with the Jelly Fish.  He explained to us that their tentacles will sting you but their tops won't.  Thank-you Finding Nemo. 

Checking out some Crabs.

Oliver touching some crabs in the Touch-and-Feel tanks.

Big Fish

Sharks!

Sharks!

and MORE Sharks!

In Kellan's opinion, the only way to see the Aquarium is from the comfort of a stroller.

Oliver "petting" the Rays.  At first, it was a one finger touch.

Then he got more confident and would pet the top of them.

Kellan watching Oliver pet the rays.

Checking out the Sea Turtle.

We didn't see any Sea Turtles or Manatees in the wild, but we saw both at the Aquarium.

Dolphins.

We did see dolphin's in the wild.  One on our boat tour and a whole pod of about 10 while we were on the beach.  They swam right by where we were sitting about 20 feet from the shore.

Kellan taking a cat nap at the Aquarium.

After lunch, we came home so the boys could take naps.  We told Oliver we would go to the beach after nap time.  They woke up to rain.  Fortunately, it passed after about an hour.

This is Keith and Oliver coming back in after the rain-or-no-rain report.

"The rain stopped, Mom.  We can go to the beach!"

The beach was gorgeous.  The skies were clearing up and the beach appeared very clean and fresh after the rain storm.  The tide was WAY out and Oliver could walk, on his own, all of the way out to the sand bar.  The sand bar, which was usually almost over Oliver's head was below his knees.  Oliver and Keith came back with pockets full of shells.

Kellan stayed on the beach with me and we watched from afar.

Keith and Oliver out on the sand bar.

Keith and Oliver, still out on the sand bar but the camera is on super zoom.

Oliver showing me his big finds in the sea.

Oliver loved exploring the beach and hunting for shells.  He told Keith "We're going to find all of the shells in the ocean."

These shells he calls Rocket Ship Shells.  I love his imagination.

This shell still had the critter living inside.  Oliver and Keith brought it in to show Kellan and I and then they released him back into the ocean.

They went out for one more quick search-and-find and then it was back in for dinner.

We were going to eat at the pool side cafe, but because of the earlier rain they were closed for the evening.  We opted to order in pizza instead and watch Finding Nemo.  Oliver was so tired, he could hardly stay vertical to eat his pizza.

Oliver on his bed.  He would say "Abra Cadabra Couch Turn into a Bed" every single night.