Keys Vacation 2011

What a fabulous vacation Jackson and I had in the Keys this past week with Mimi and Pops, Aunt Lauren and Uncle Rob, Aunt Suzy, Uncle Bill and Michael!  The only thing that would have made it even better is if Daddy could have joined us but maybe next year we will have the old gang back together to conquer Mini Season!

It was a week of firsts for Jackson...it started off with Jackson going on his first plane ride..........Tampa to Key West which he thought was pretty cool and I have to say he was an absolute angel the entire flight!! Then Jackson went snorkeling for the very first time which he thought was awesome and he looked for "Nemo" the entire time!!!

Then came the start of Mini Lobster Season Wednesday and Thursday........And Despite the wind blowing hard and the rough seas team Bowman and Buckland pulled off another great mini lobster season!!!  Great Job guys!!!  Although it was a little too rough for Jackson to go lobstering so Jackson and I headed to Bahia Honda Beach both days and had a great time filled with swimming, building sandcastles and eating ice cream!  But count us in for next year Jackson will be getting his own lobster and will count for six more!!!  It was a great week of fun in the sun with amazing people!!!! I naturally took over 130 pictures so here are some favorites that highlight our trip! Enjoy!

Checking out the view from his seat on the plane!

Getting ready for our first flight!

I'm ready! Can I get in yet or what?

Jackson and Aunt Lauren snorkeling

Michael showing Jackson a lobster

Snorkeling with Uncle Rob

Pop and Jackson going for a walk on the sandbar!

Handsome Boy!!

Having fun with Pops!!

The Fishermans Center dream team!!!

Sweet picture!

Jackson playing with the lobsters!

The Bowmans minus Ryan :-(

Jackson wanting to touch the lobster

Cute picture of Jackson and Mimi

The lovely Buckland family!

Jackson, Michael and Lauren with the grouper and Buster in the background eyeing it!

Jackson holding the grouper with Aunt Laurens help!

The happy Couple!

Nice Lobsters Aunt Lauren and Uncle Rob!

The dream team makes Lobster season happen again!

Jackson and I holding a lobster

Great picture of Pops and Jackson holding one of the big lobsters

Jackson feeding a Key Deer 

Jackson and I at the end of mini lobster season!

Jackson showing off his catch!

Pops, Jackson and Uncle Bill fishing like crazy!

I want another fish Pops!!

What a Cute little guy!

Playing football with Aunt Lauren

Oops a little splash!!

Playing football after two grueling lobster days and Tia joined us today all the way from Australia!!!

Fun in the sun on this Beautiful Day!

Aunt Suzy and Jackson taking a  walk on the sandbar!

Jackson The Climber!!!

Jackson's friend from Rainbow Garden Preschool, Kostas had his 3rd birthday party today at My Gym and was sweet enough to invite his buddy Jackson!! Of course Jackson always has a blast wherever he goes but he especially loves My Gym since he has been going there since he was 10 months old! Wow that seems like a long time ago! Anyway, Jackson has always been a climber (hence when he started climbing out of the crib at 18 months old) so why would it be any different today! Jackson loved climbing up the rope and the rock wall was a huge hit! All the dads kept saying "WOW! he is quite the climber huh!?!" And that he is!!! He had all the kids beat even the older ones although he was giving his mom a scare!  What a great time we had at Kostas birthday party and here are a few pictures of the expert climber!!

Climbing the rock wall all by himself! Determined to get to the top!

Almost to the top!

And coming down!

At the top of the rope climb....told you it was high!

Another favorite...the zip line!

Aquarium Fun with Good Friends

Today Jackson and I went to the Aquarium for a family fun day with the Pepins, LaBruzzos and Pincus Families!! What a great time we had!  The only thing missing was Daddy since he had to work :-( but we will just have to have another family day so daddy can come next time!!  The kids all had a fun time walking or as Jackson does it "running" thru the aquarium! Jackson was most excited about seeing "Nemo" and the alligators!  After our run thru the Aquarium we headed to "Explore the shore" where the kids played on the pirate ship and had a blast playing in the water! It was such a beautiful day with great friends!!!   Here are the only two pictures I could get as I was running thru the aquarium as well!!

Gone Fishing.......

So we found out that Jackson is quite the little fisherman!! He has been talking about having his own fishing rod ever since we went to Dick's Sporting Goods shopping for Daddy for Father's Day!! So Aunt Suzy, Uncle Bill and Michael made the cutest Gator fishing rod with Jackson's name on it just for him!! So of course we had to give it a try!  Pops and Jackson spent all morning and most of the afternoon fishing and they had a blast!  Jackson caught at least 10 (or more we stopped counting) Mangrove Snappers!!  I think we are going to have quite the fishing fanatic on our hands since he hasn't stopped asking to go fishing since we got home!!! And its sad but clearly fishing is not possible at our house!  Enjoy these sweet pictures and a huge thank you to Aunt Suzy, Uncle Bill and Michael for Jackson's awesome new fishing rod!!

So proud of his first catch!

Showing off his fish!

Checking him out!!

Look what I caught!

Awesome catch!

So cute!

Happy Birthday America!!!

What a wonderful weekend we had celebrating the 4th of July with family and friends!!!!  So the weekend started off with a cute Jackson story which fits perfectly into this wonderful Holiday weekend..........on our drive to Jupiter Jackson asked me what that big flag was flying on a flagpole as we drove on I-4 and I said it's the American flag to which he replied "Happy Birthday America!!" Priceless! I think he learned that at camp this week since the theme was "Let's Celebrate the USA!" So naturally all weekend at Mimi and Pops house Jackson would shout "Happy Birthday America" when he saw an American flag or saw fireworks, which everyone just loved!

It was a fabulous weekend filled with lots of fun activities including boat trips, swimming in the pool, paddle boarding and rope swinging at sand mountain, fishing, Jackson's 1st tube ride, fireworks, and an awesome barbeque with family.

So Happy Birthday America and as the Zac Brown Band sings...Thank God for my life, for the stars and stripes, may freedom forever fly... let it ring, salute the ones who died, the ones that give their lives so we don't have to sacrifice all the things we love.........

Jackson riding his tractor at Mimi and Pops house

Pops and Jackson hanging out on this rainy day

Rope Swing!

Jackson's Landings made mom nervous!

Swimming with Uncle Rob

Playing football with the boys!

Fishing with Pops!

Daddy trying to help although Jackson didn't want it!

Family picture!

Close up!

Uncle Rob, Aunt Lauren and Jackson!

Cute!

Mimi and Jackson!

The guys smoking cigars!

Playing in the sand!

Learning how to snorkel with aunt Lauren

Yea!!! Aunt Holly is here too!!

Uncle Tom, Aunt Holly and Jackson!!

Everyone playing football in the water on this gorgeous day!!

Aunt Julie showing Jackson how to paddle board!

Getting the hang of it!

Aunt Julie and Jackson how sweet!!

Sparklers with Aunt Lauren!

Jackson's 1st Tube Ride was with daddy!

Not sure yet!

Having fun we think!

Faster Pops!!

Having a blast!!

Now with Aunt Lauren!

Look mom no hands!

Still having fun!

So much fun!!

Last loop around the river!!

Surfing in the pool!!!

Happy 4th Of July Everyone and God Bless America!!!