Miami

We arrived in Miami ready for some Florida sunshine and time to play in the pool.  Derek was excited for a different reason... He was planning on searching for snakes both in the Everglades and at Mimi and Mormor's house.  The first morning after we arrived, Mimi took me and the kids to Shark Valley in the Everglades.  When we went there a few years earlier (in comfortable February) we saw many snakes along the walking path, as well as alligators.  

The muggy weather seemed to only bring out the mosquitos.  Karina, Lydia, and Mimi quit the hike early, but Derek and I trudged on.  We did spot some alligators, but they were hidden in the water, instead of sunning themselves on the path, like is common in the winter.  

There is an alligator in the water in the photo:

We spotted a group of baby alligators and admired them for a while.  

Unfortunately, we never did find a snake, which was disappointing.  At the visitor's center, we got to touch the skin of this huge python captured in the Everglades.

The pool was fun as ever.

Synchronized jumping is fun too.  We were impressed how comfortable Derek is in the water and jumping in.  It took a while, but he brought his skills to the next level.  The girls have already been experts in the water.  I still can't get them to open their eyes underwater without goggles on though. 

After some days in Miami, we went to Stuart for a family reunion of Nate's side of the family.  After that week (see another blog post), we arrived back in Miami.  

Fortunately for us, the snake purpose of the trip was successful after all!!  While we were swimming one day, I spotted a snake by the screen!  It was a small ring necked snake.  They are non venomous.  

The little snake was terrified of us.  We were trying to help it escape the screen, but it was playing dead as a defense mechanism.  Eventually, we let it do its own thing, but followed it at a distance, and it was able to find a hole under the screen metal and escape.   I felt relieved that the 'finding a snake' goal had been fulfilled.

We also had fun in Miami playing games like Battleship, Clue, Chess, Construx, etc. 

I finished my paint by numbers kit which I found relaxing to do.  

When we arrived back in Maryland, we were just in time for back to school events for the kids.  Karina was starting high school, so she didn't want to miss the chance to walk around the school, see where her classes would be, and meet teachers.  Lydia got to do the same, but she was already familiar with her middle school.