Beach bums

The week before we left, the weather in Florida was unseasonably cold. Of course, "unseasonably cold" in Florida is downright balmy compared to Chicago in January. Temps returned to normal our first day—even better!—so we were determined to spend a day at the beach. It was warm and breezy in the sun. As Will would have said a few years ago, it was a perfect "digging day." For some brave soul, it was a perfect kite boarding day. See that little dot (Click on it. I dare ya!)? That's a guy leaping into the air, propelled by a huge kite being pulled by the wind. It made for great entertainment! We also saw a school of dolphins maybe 30 yards from shore. Ellie kept busy digging, shelling, and playing in the chilly water. And I do mean chilly. I was not interested in so much as wading, but Elle was a daredevil.

Will and Dad kept busy, fetching water for castles and moats.
I was the self-proclaimed royal decorator, landscaper and moat reinforcer.
We had a great day; I even had a teeny bit of a burn. Hopefully it'll be enough to sustain us for the next two months!