Vacation Day 5

We started the morning outside on the deck with some watercolor painting - not me of course.  Matt had a small watercolor set that he brought from home, and he was painting with it the first day.  So don't ya know, the kids were quickly whining that they wanted to paint too.  Matt went into Walmart one day and brought them each a watercolor set.  They definitely don't get this "art" gene from me.  You will notice that none of them want to sit and write stories...

Next we decided to do some kayaking.  In the several years that we have been coming here, I have never attempted kayaking.  Matt has tried it a couple of times.  I'm not sure why it has intimidated me in the past - probably the sharks.  I have seen shark week one too many times.  Anyway, I was feeling adventurous, and Matt and Dad went out first and came back alive.  So I figured it must be fairly safe.  If they could do it, I could do it.  The kids were super excited and wanted to kayak too.  We gathered the life vests and headed to the beach.  Like I mentioned Dad and Matt went out first, to test the shark appetite.  When they came back, they gave the kids some quick rides.  Then Mom and I went out with low expectations.  Our goal was simply not to tip over.  Well as it turns out, it was really fun and fairly easy.  We traveled way down the shore line and ended up out in the boat lanes.  We had to make our way closer to shore to avoid some of the wakes.  We saw some fish jumping and some birds fishing.  Thankfully we didn't see any gators or sharks.  You think I'm paranoid?  Well people fish right off the shore and pull in sharks everyday.  Yesterday someone saw a four footer from the shore.  Uh huh...you see, I don't want to be mistaken for a yummy meal.  And last year they pulled a 12 foot alligator from the sound.  So I'm a justifiably paranoid.  Ok back to our vacation adventures.

After a morning of kayaking and the kids playing at the beach, we headed back for some lunch.  Hannah and Emma took naps, and then we biked down to the marina do some shopping.  The kids got to pick a prize for good behavior.  Yes, we believe all good parenting includes bribery.  Hannah always picks out one of the cheap little rings every year, and she wanted one again this year.  Laura and Emma wanted one this year too.  Laura also picked a shark tooth necklace, and Hannah picked....wait for it....another stuffed animal.  Of course you are completely shocked.  Do you see why the stuffed animals are over taking me?  I'll have to secretly get rid of a few when we get home.

We grilled out for dinner.  Matt made his near famous smoked brats, which did not disappoint again.  He also made us grilled vegetables, and we had salad fresh from Dad's garden.  It was all delicious! 

The girls have been trying to catch a gecko since we've been here.  Last night Laura and I led a gecko hunting expedition with Emma wielding the net.  Hannah and Emma started ahead of us, and we started quietly searching the bushes and the edges of the house.   We spotted one that we couldn't catch down in the bushes.  Then we found a fairly large one on the front of the house.  I grabbed the net from Emma and tried to get him with it.  Laura circled to the front of the porch and grabbed him.  Victory! 

At sunset we headed down to the beach for a walk.  It was extremely windy but yet so scenic.  We took some good pictures and enjoyed the evening. 

I wonder what kind of adventures we will get into today....