Explore Tampa Day 5

No exploring week would be complete around here without a trip to the beach. The one we went to today was delightful, with a sandbar and tide pools and the amazing sand this area is known for. We all loved this island beach!

And as usually happens at the beach, the best pictures will always be in my mind. Where they belong, I suppose. Because if I was taking pictures of all the moments, I wouldn't be living the moments, would I?

Explore Tampa Day 4 {Thanksgiving}

I told the children this morning that going to Pastor Mark's house was like our Explore Tampa days were still going on even though it is Thanksgiving Day. Our pastor and his wife live very close to us, and less than a handful of minutes from the 8-lane-across main street running through the suburban sprawl that is our town. 

And yet, when you get there, it's a bit like you have entered Jurassic World...

So we spent the better part of the afternoon (after the entire pumpkin pie that Silas made was eaten) exploring and digging and climbing and generally getting dirty. All reasons for a kid to be thankful.  Which reminds me, the thankful list made by the children yesterday included:

God 

Jesus, that He died on the cross

Toys

Our Food

Mommy and Daddy

The Statue of Liberty

Treats, fruit, and our calcium

The entire world

Our dogs

So there you go. A reminder that there is always a reason to be thankful. 

From our family to yours, in everything giving thanks...

Explore Tampa Day 3

We took a slight hiatus from exploring Tampa this morning to sleep in and take some time to prep for Thanksgiving. Silas and I made a pumpkin pie. And at lunch I asked the children to name some things for which they are thankful. Their responses are always sweet and funny. 

But this afternoon we returned to exploring. Nice that it was in the 70s the day before Thanksgiving. And Shane got to spend the day with us, too. So we headed out to a state park close to us in hopes of seeing alligators. There weren't any alligators in sight today but the children loved seeing all the birds in the swamp-lands, climbing amongst the tree roots, and playing in the sand. 

We are tired and thankful tonight. Personally, at the moment I am thankful for baths and a little bit of Disney Jr. before bed. 

Explore Tampa Day 2

Well. Today was fabulous. 

I had planned to take the kids to a manatee viewing place but heard that the water really needs to be cooler to guarantee the manatees have come in to this area where the water stays warm. So instead we went to Ballast Point. I was so glad we did! Our friends from yesterday were going there earlier in the morning so I thought we would miss them, but they were still there when we arrived so the girls got to play again and we enjoyed some company for a while. 

This park is down Bayshore Drive which is a gorgeous road along the bay. At Ballast Point there is a long dock where you can walk out over the water. It was amazingly windy today, the waves were great, and the children loved watching the birds fishing. 

You can see downtown Tampa in the background...

 

We then spent some time playing at the playground and had lunch. 

After lunch the kids were begging to play in the splash pad. I had their swim stuff because there was a splash park close to us yesterday and I thought we might want their suits. Today it was 75 degrees and sunny but windy! There was only 1 other family that had kids in the water and they didn't stay long. Everyone probably thought we were crazy northerners! My four half loved and half froze but had fun and were thankful that I said yes...

I did lock my keys in the van (thank you friend's AAA for the quick rescue) and I ignored the GPS one time which took us on an out-of-the-way boring highway drive for a bit on the way home. But regardless, I loved today and the kids agreed!