We Experienced Winter (Finally)

Well not Winter the season, but Winter the dolphin from A Dolphin's Tale.

Winter lives at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium since her rescue and tail amputation several years ago.

It was an overcast chilly day in Florida  ~ perfect day to visit the aquarium (with the rest of the city).

This is a no frills rescue facility.  The workers explained how they nurture dolphin calves that have lost their moms and train them to do tricks and behaviors that help the staff monitor their health.

The kids began asking about the pool from the minute we drove to Grammy & Poppy's condo.  It was chilly out, but the pool was heated.  It was the getting out of the pool into the cool breeze that was bone chilling.  The kids didn't seem fazed after they were wrapped in beach towels to warm up.

Grammy & Poppy are "snowbirds" for the first quarter - escaping the cold winter of Indiana.  Their condo has a beautiful walking path where we saw egrets, dolphins, pelicans and manatees.

On our last day in Florida, we finally made it to the beach.  We found this fun playground on the sand.

The kids played on the playground for almost an hour before we ventured to the actual beach!

The water was a chilly 64 degrees, but again that doesn't stop a child.

They were jumping waves, building sandcastles and collecting shells for the next two hours!

Although our winter never arrived to make snow angels, the kids made Sand Angels instead.

Personally, I think the sand angels are WAY more fun than snow angels!

Ahhh - a picture of us.  What you can't see is that I got super sunburned on that arm - Isn't that the case - mom sunscreens the kids and forgets herself :)

Grammy & Poppy of course were there, but managed to evade all my picture taking!

Thanks for a wonderful escape from winter to see Winter!!