Gail and Sarah and I had fun exploring the town, especially since we were within walking distance of everything downtown...
Sarah and Gail at the smallest bar in Key West...our favorite spot was the Hogsbreath Saloon though
The area in front of our rental house was a pretty wasteland that was used by residents and visitors as a park...we met this sweet dog there while walking one morning...
Gail got jazzed by all of the cool historical information scattered throughout the downtown area...
I loved the free-range chickens that are everywhere in Key West...you can hear and see them at any hour and in any part of town...
I liked this guy fishing while a pelican watched, all in the shadow of a huge cruiseship...that's Key West!
Ben loved the pool, and spent time in it every day...
It was a nice spot to read and hang out...
Our house was near to Zachary Taylor Fort and State Park, close enough to bike there on our rented bikes in just a few minutes...we went there a couple of times, getting there early in the morning before other people arrived...
The fort was really cool, and Ben learned the difference between a cannon and a mortar...
This was the view of sunset from our house!
We visited the aquarium, which is great fun...
Maybe the most fun was watching Anti-Sarah get a serious case of the wiggins when faced with a pool filled with sharks, right at her feet...
This octopus was incredible to watch move around in his tank...
Back at ZT state park and beach, on a perfect morning!
Ben loved climbing around on the stone jetty and exploring the beach for shells and wee-beasties...
A nice reach-around shot taken by Gail...
I brought one of my hammocks along, and we strung it up between the 2 best trees on the beach (we were the first ones there, so we grabbed the best spot)
Ben loved hanging in the hammock, and watching the sun and sand and waves...
Gail read to Ben while he was hanging around...
That afternoon, we went on a sunset cruise on a sailing ship, and Ben was able to help them hoist the sails...
They also let Ben pilot the ship (a couple of times...he really liked do it)...
It was a beautiful afternoon/evening...
It was a little chilly for the wimps among our group, but luckily the ship was laden with fleece blankets...
We had a great time!
Ben loves boats...
The following day was Anti-Sarah's Birthday, so we all got tattoos (of course)...
Ben got an awesome dragon tattoo on his belly, that danced when he jiggled his belly...
The family that tattoos together...sings "MOO" together...
We went back to ZT Beach the next morning, early, and had a great time reading and walking and hanging out (I also gave blood at the southernmost bloodmobile in the US while there)...
Gail came to love the hammock as both a lounger and a chair...
She's a convert now...
Ben loves this park, and wants to come back again if we return...
Ben loved riding the bicycle built for 2 as a means of getting around...
Ben and I playing in the pool, practicing karate and doing some sparring...
Ben serving up the time-honored Bruce Lee-esque "Come at me and I'll open up a fresh can of whoop-ass on you!" gesture before trying to light me up...
Ben and I talking backstage with one of the performers at Mallory Square...
Once we got back home, to Lake Clear, we had another round of Xmas...
We all got presents, including the dogs and cats, and although we had a wonderful time down in Key West, it was wonderful to be back home...
Cedar and his bone...
Ben got a microscope, and we spent some time setting it up and then noodling around with various slides...
Ben had fun figuring out how to use the microscope...
...and had some genuine, "SCIENCE!" moments...
It was a great Christmas vacation...sorry for the delay in sending out these pictures...
