Kayaking in Crystal River

Sunday morning we went out for a kayak trip.  It was a lot of fun.

These pictures are not so good because the underwater camera I got ended up with water in it - go figure! So, Matt bought a disposable underwater camera...  Hey, we got some pictures at least!

Anyway...  We went out for a couple of hours and knew the areas to head for that had manatees the day before.  We found SEVERAL spots that had manatees (the big boats with swimmers in the water was also a dead giveaway!) and we were able to float around them and enjoy them again.  

Me...paddling away.

Kara and Ricardo

Me ... and I think that is my mom trailing behind me

Look how clear the water is!

CHEESE!

This is Santa...he is on vacation!  Santa and Mrs. Clause stayed at our hotel and we saw them at breakfast. We got some pictures of Santa and texted them to Papa John to show Lilah.  I even got to sit on Santa's lap!  We sent that picture to Lilah, too! 

Big guy!

This is a great picture Matt took!

Me, Mommy and Kara!

Kara

Sunday night we went to see The Avengers - it was really good - and in the "mall" that had the theater had a Hurricane Simulator!  Ricardo climbed in and got to experience wind speed of 78mph.  The wind was straight down on him so I'm not too sure if it is "REAL" hurricane wind experience!  We laughed and enjoyed watching him in the machine though!

DOLPHINS! Crystal River

We all went out on a boat "tour" of Crystal River with Captain Doreen (she was AWESOME).  Some enjoyed wine while other enjoyed 'sparkle juice' (sparkling grape juice).  It was a BEAUTIFUL afternoon and we all dressed up.  I actually dressed my mom and Sandie in my dresses!  They wound up taking the dresses home with them because they looked so good in them!  Shortly after Captain Doreen pulled away from the dock she spotted a pod of dolphins!  We initially thought they were hunting fish with all the splashing around they were doing, but then realized they were doing the "love dance/swim".  We watched them for about an hour - Kara and Ricardo even jumped into the water to swim with these beautiful creatures!  The dolphins would swim up next to the boat and check us out, swim under the boat and start their splashing again.  It is something that we'll never forget!

Captain Doreen pilots us away from the dock.

Time for wine!

Kara lookin' stylish in her new top! 

Ricardo sippin' on sparkle juice

Handsome man, Matt!  How'd I get so lucky?!

Sandie

Captain Hank was originally going to take us out, but got Doreen to fill in..  Thankfully we got her and she found the dolphins!

Matt and me

The gorgeous couple...again!

Mommy and Sandie

We had eaten here, Ale House, earlier in the day for lunch.  It was really good!  

There are signs EVERYWHERE reminding boaters to watch for manatees.  

Kara showing off the nuclear plant...

Breathtaking, isn't it?  

Now...THIS is breathtaking!

Kara and Ricardo

Kara and Ricardo with the nuclear plant behind them (look closely and you can KINDA see it)

DOLPHINS!

They were splashing around and giving us a show.

Shakin' a tail

Peek-a-boo!

Kara and Ricardo swimming over to the dolphins

It was so shallow they could stand

Coming back to the boat

Speak No...

*kiss*

See No....

Cap. Doreen, Sandie and Mommy