So last November we took a family trip to Key West (I was not lying when I said I had SO much to catch up on blog-wise. Words in all caps = serious business.) Mima PopPop, Uncle Michael, Aunt Steph, Cousin Evan, Mike, Jack and I all rented a house and spent a week down in
Cayo Hueso enjoying quality time together in rememberance in one of our dearest and most missed loved ones. Our main purpose in being there was to scatter the remains of Jack's Aunt Linda over the beautiful and calming waters of the Gulf of Mexico. In all of Linda's life the one place we all remember as being her "happy place" was Key West. And we had no doubt that in saying goodbye to her she would like nothing more then to see us all in her "happy place" celebrating her life in true Key West spirit! And celebrate her life we did. Joel and Arlene also made the trip to celebrate Linda's life with us and it meant more then they will ever know to have them there with us.
This trip marked Jack's very first trip on an airplane. I know - huge! Can you even believe that it took me so long to blog it? Me neither. Here is our first-time flyer preparing himself for take-off during the pre-flight safety speech:
And completly ignoring the scenery moments after take-off:
Our actual conversation:
Me: Jack LOOK! Look out the window! Do you see us getting higher and higher? You are FLYING!
Jack: (looking out the window, then at me) Actually mommy, the PLANE is flying.
Um - seriously? Outsmarted by a 2 and 1/2 year old. Again.
JGif in the rented minivan on the drive from the Miami airport to Key West:
And JGif's daddy during the same ride:
We had to wake them both up for lunch at the Lor-e-lei once we reached Islamorada. Here is Mima and PopPop happy to be at one of their favorite little restaurants in the universe:
Jack enjoying a cold beverage on island time:
The house we rented had a pool. Check out the RE-DIC-U-LOUS outfit I purchased at the Key West Walmart and made Jack wear anytime he was within 20 feet of said pool.
But wait - it's gets worse!
Poor kid!
Can I just tell you how much I LOVE this picture of my beautiful boys?
The cousins getting reacquainted shortly after Uncle Michael and Aunt Steph's arrival:
Highlights of Jack's Key West experience included the playground down the street from our house:
Putting his toes in the waters off Smather's Beach:
Riding bikes with Daddy:
Honking noses:
Reading with Joel:
And Uncle Michael:
And with Aunt Stephanie (the boy loves books!):
Paying his respects at the rooster graveyard at
Blue Heaven:
If you are ever in Key West you must - MUST (remember, all caps = serious business) eat at Blue Heaven. It's a bit off the beaten path so bring a guide book or ask a local for directions.
I think Jack's favorite highlight was meeting Cleo the dog at Mallory Square's nightly Sunset Celebration. Cleo was one talented dog:
After Cleo's highwire act he'd go around to people in the crowd to accept tips. Here is Jack giving Cleo a dollar:
Cleo would then take the dollar from his adoring fans and place the dollar in a nearby bucket. His owner would then give him a treat providing Cleo motivation to collect more dollars. Jack was eating graham crackers at the time and decided to share his snickity snack with his new BFF Cleo. As you can imagine Cleo's owner was not a huge fan of Jack as his snack sharing was cutting into Cleo's tip collecting. Cleo, on the other hand, HUGE Jack fan. Huge.:
Ain't nothin' cuter then a tight rope walking dog wearing shorts!
JGif-a-roo also enjoyed dancing to the musical stylings of the live band outside of "El Meson de Pepe" the Cuban resturant right on the edge of Mallory Square.
El Meson serves the best.mojitos.EVER. Of which Jack had none.
Uncle Michael on the other hand, he might have had one or two. Check out his smooth moves:
Go white boy go white boy GO!
Evan had the honor of playing with the band.
He schooled then Dezi Arnaz style.
And we all enjoyed watching
Dominique the Cat Man's amazing circus cats:
Yes that is a cat jumping through a ring of fire. Isn't Key West just the greatest?
We also visited the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory:
Jackie even caught one to take home with him!
KIDDING! That is a paper butterfly they give you on your way out. It sticks onto your shirt and most people walk around with them looking like a butterfly is sitting right on their shoulder. Pretty neat looking - and great advertising for the conservatory.
After the Conservatory Mima and PopPop took Jack back to the house for a much needed nap and Mike, Uncle Michael, Aunt Steph, Evan and I went and toured the Hemmingway House. Ev took a little dip in Papa Hemmingway's pool!
One of the many six-toed cats that reside on the museum grounds.
There are over sixty cats that live there, about half of which are polydactyl, which is a fancy word that means they have extra toes.
Papa's writing studio. That is the actual typewriter used when working on To Have And Have Not, For Whom The Bell Tolls, and Death in the Afternoon among others!
The church where we had Linda's funeral service/blessing of the remains was simply stunning. Amazingly stunning. Beyond words amazingly stunning. So I guess I should quit with all the words and let the pictures speak for themselves.
Here is our little running back on the flight home. The view was a bit more enticing to him this time as it was dark and he loved seeing all the lights out the window:
Tired little running back:
That somewhat creepy looking hand sticking through the seat is actually Mima's hand. So, not so creepy after all. They were sitting directly behind us.
See!
A lady sitting nearby was travelling with a toddler and an infant and had a crazy supply of toys in her purse to keep them occupied. She had an extra little tub of play-dough and she gave it to Jack. He and I used it to make a little Play-dough daddy! Amazing likeness, no?:
I will end this insanely late and insanely long recap with one of the few pictures in which I actually make an appearance. And what a lovely appearance it is:
Arggggh matey!
