posts without points are difficult to title

this will be a random post.

i plan to attempt stringing thoughts together in a cohesive and entertaining fashion but i make no promises.

there are days when events and feelings tumble forth into a beautiful post that has a theme, context,

and (if we're lucky) a point.

not today.

today is a bunch of random stuff on a page kind of day.

and my spellcheck isn't working.

good luck to us all. :)

palm frond fort...

this backyard fort was built the first full day of the florida adventure and was torn down on our last day. palm fronds make excellent shelter. there was a general outcry to bring a sample home for our backyard but alas, the fronds were meant to stay in the tropics. although a part of me would have loved the idea of driving across the midwest with palm fronds strapped to the top of the van. :)

hanging out in the backyard in our fort.
getting loved on...

being served edible flower stew...

and crowned queen...

i talked them into letting me wear my queen jewels on my neck instead of my head. grayson said i looked booteeful. ari told me to rule wisely... and that i could be queen for 2 minutes and then it was back to her turn and i could be the servant again.  

water fights
this 2 minute water fight was highly anticipated as our neighborhood is in a drought and excess use of water is punishable by stern looks from your neighbors and probably some sort of fluorescent warning sticker.

speaking of water in the backyard... have i mentioned that there is a secluded outdoor shower for sandy bum clean ups?

it's like the garden of eden out there.

notice the well placed modesty branch.  :)

morning bike rides on the path...

that leads to yoga while the fishing boats come in from their early morning runs... dreamy.and possibly should be more embarassing than i find it to be.

the iguana
we saw him several times down on the rocks. iguanas are not native to florida. so more than likely he is an escapee or someone just let their pet go. that happens a lot down there. iguanas on palm beach. lionfish in the ocean. giant pythons in the everglades. people--- keep your crazy pets. k? thanks. 

ice cream & babies

luci's first ice cream was snuck to her before momma could see by a guy who's name rhymes with happy.

she liked it... cappy gave her more and then took it back...she had strong feelings about that... 

walks to the fire station to get fire hats... only in sleepy beach towns does life get this chilled out and awesome. seriously.

afternoon trips to the jetty...

beach day.

i don't think running boardwalk pictures could possibly ever get old.

wait, let me check...

nope. :)

this child is half mermaid. she would take off for the waves every single time a back was turned or a book was thinking about being perused.  

you would think that a few well supervised waves to the face would sour her desire to be neck deep in salt water. that would be a faulty estimation.

 

she would head straight back in. every.single.time. i would try to feign annoyance and get her to stay up on the sand as beach walkers would marvel at the water logged baby. but deep down i was so proud of her i was bursting at the swimsuit seams. that is a girl after my own heart right there. she was willing to take the splashes for the thrill. she saw the object of her heart's desire and she was in. all in. i dig it. i have been known to shun reason and sense in favor of throwing myself headlong into an oncoming wave. i get it lulu..and i like it. :)  

dance party
so we were down at the marina on a rockin saturday night for our quiet evening stroll when a party boat pulls up. picture this... thumpin music that makes you feel a little disoriented with every beat of the base. bikinis, beer, lots of tattoos, fake cowboy hats. do we have a clear picture of the fantasticness that is now in front of me? i mean.. it's not the party i would want to attend.. but i do love a good spectacle. so when ari expresses her desire to crash said party i counter with a why don't we make our own party and they will want to come to ours?? cheers from the 5 and under crowd and we race home to get our 'outfits' together. all outfits were ari inspired and approved.  :)

rachel getting our party play list together. she is looking pretty excited that i said of course i'm taking pictures of this. :) 

arianna said she was 'just so irish'. that was her theme... and grayson said he was a stingray. he did a lot of really choppy arm movements and very serious facial expressions. arianna somehow channelled riverdance without actually ever seeing riverdaance. it was a sight to behold.

these are his stingray stingers.

the babies were generally impressed.

did we get into it?? um heck yes. :) and you know what?? i think the party boat was jealous.. in a subconscience kind of way. :)

now... a giant gold star will go to the first commenter correctly guessing the song which we are rocking out to..

it happens to feature this road..

AKA beachfront avenue. :) 

classic. 

and while i'm on a roll with embarrassing pictures... i promised certain people i would in fact put this up. i don't have to explain why it is awesome to tape palm frond strands together to make a mustache right? hello obvious. :) rachel wanted me to put on my wise and ancient face. sooo.. this is it. :)

and since it would be criminal to leave you on that note... let's top it off with an evening at the marina.

this is a mahi mahi.. or dolphin fish.. not to be confused with dolphin the mammal.  

i had been hoping for a pelican in the sunset shot the whole trip...

and some things are certainly worth the wait. :)