Sunday, March 18, 2018

Enjoying Spring Break with the kids

IMG_7787

Bryce and Hannah escaped the cold and snow of Michigan to spend a week with us in warm and sunny Florida – good choice – they had a beautiful week!

We kept them fairly busy . . .

Watching the Lippizaner Stallions perform

DSC_0149

Such beautiful, amazing horses!

DSC_0171

DSC_0164

One of the most interesting things we learned about the Lippizaner Stallions is that they are born black or dark brown, and turn white as they age. 








The new baby!

New Baby

One of the younger stallions came out to demonstrate the early training process – he was pretty feisty!

They're born black or brown

The shows they put on here at their training facility focus on the history of the animals and the family that brought them to the US, and demonstrate some of the skills that they were bred for, and what they now use in their shows.  Each day is different, and you really never know what you are going to see. 

Tom and I came last year, and were really impressed.  On this day, one of the trainers was not there, so they could not perform everything they usually do, and a very new trainer was filling in the empty spot.

Three Generations

Gabriella’s 9-year old granddaughter participated in the show with her mother and grandmother, and did a really good job!


Exploring the Riverfront area of downtown Bradenton

IMG_7753

IMG_7747

Riverfront Marina

IMG_7748

Their vacation is off to a great start!

IMG_7751

Enjoying a tropical vacation!

Silly Bryce!

Bryce is going to play in the sprinklers!


A day at the beach on Anna Maria Island

Sunday was another beautiful day, so after church we packed up lunches and headed out to Anna Maria Island to spend the day at the beach.

So beautiful!

BEAUTIFUL!!

IMG_7780












The kids were looking forward to getting a little color . . .

At the beach

they were successful, but Mr. “I don’t need no stinkin’ sunscreen” got a little more than he planned on!  He was still whining when we dropped him off at the airport!

It was an amazingly beautiful day!

Great day at the beach

IMG_7784

During the week, I got back to work and the kids were on there own for a couple days – they did some hiking, and some window-shopping at St. Armand Square, and Bryce had gotten tickets to a Tigers – Pirates game for Hannah’s birthday.  The Tigers lost, but the kids had a fun afternoon!

On Monday, Tom and I went to the Ringling with our friends Bill & Linda, for an evening of music on the bay.

Back patio of the Ringling

IMG_7791











It was a beautiful evening, and the music was very good!

IMG_7804

IMG_7809

What a beautiful sunset over the bay!

IMG_7806


Roadtrip to Gainesville and Paynes Prairie State Park

On Tuesday, we all took a drive up to Gainesville to visit the University of Florida – Bryce is interested in their Physical Therapy School.  After our visit and tour, we stopped by Paynes Prairie State Park to look for alligators and wild horses at the Alachua Sink.

Alachua Sink

Paynes Prairie - Alachua Sink

IMG_7889

I had seen online that the trail beyond the boardwalk was closed due to high water, but we were amazed at how high the water was, and how different it looked from when Tom and I were here last year!







Last year, the sink was just a small pond surrounded by marshland . . . and we saw tons of gators hanging out around the banks!

Alachua Sink

Alligators all around the edge of the pond









We didn’t see a lot of gators, but the ones we saw were really big!

Spotted a gator












IMG_7846

We sure were glad the gate was closed at the end of the boardwalk, with this huge gator hanging out just a few yards away!

Huge!!!

Had to make the kids pose with a gator!

See the gator!!??!!

On the way back along the boardwalk, the wild horses were hanging out in the water.

IMG_7860

Watching the horsesWe watched them for a while, until they ran off . . .

Running off

Everybody was hungry by then, so we took them to an eclectic little pizzeria in Gainesville – they have really good pizza and really good salad!

It’s definitely an interesting place . . .

Water Fountain

Trophy Wall

One more photo op!

Satchel Pizza

On their last evening with us, we went to dinner at Cody’s Roadhouse with our old neighbors, Harriett & Rita.  It was a delicious dinner with great company!  Hannah had a birthday while she was here with us, so after dinner, she was treated to a birthday brownie sundae and the typical embarrassing rousing version of “Happy Birthday” from the wait staff!

IMG_7903

We loved having the kids spend their Spring Break with us, and hope they had fun, too!  I think they did!











1 comment:

  1. Glad you had the chance to share Spring Break with Bryce and Hanna.
    Weather has been strange all over the place this year and according to the Forecasts it's not going to settle down any time soon.
    Glad you and Tom are enjoying the Florida Weather.
    Be Safe!

    It's about time.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for reading! We'd love to hear your comments!