Wed, February 25th
We arrived in Coral Gables a little late, but elated to be there at all. We caught the last flight out of Atlanta before ice storms moved in to shut down the airport. As always, we are met by the smiling faces and embraces of Caroline and Nolan. Joining up with Mike we head out for German food at the Fritz and Franz Bierhaus. Oddly Deb loved it (how can you not love pounded, breaded chicken breast schnitzel?) and Tim left with a solid "meh" rating. Nolan kept Grandpa up and running before and after the meal with several games of "Chase Me"! On the way home we are initiated into the new favorite sing-along-song of AC/DC's "Thunderstruck". Thunder! Thunder!
Thurs, February 26th
Before he heads to school Nolan peeks in early for some iPad play and settles comfortably in Grandma and Grandpa's bed.
Mike and Caroline work their way through the day at their respective jobs. The kitchen table substitutes as a desk in Tim's "office" until we finally break away mid-afternoon for a shot of Shake Shack. Then it's on to The Biltmore School for a dose of Nolan. He's initially a bit skeptical about this pick up arrangement but perks up when we offer a park outing before heading
home. Armed with chocolate milk and crackers we rely on the two year old for sketchy directions to the park. Swinging and sliding are favorite activities and soon we are sweating in the lovely Florida humidity.
We aren't hungry for dinner so the Decker's dine on their favorite take-out chicken. The evening is spent playing in the dirt box, goofing around, catching some tube, then bath time and bed for everyone.
Mike and Caroline work their way through the day at their respective jobs. The kitchen table substitutes as a desk in Tim's "office" until we finally break away mid-afternoon for a shot of Shake Shack. Then it's on to The Biltmore School for a dose of Nolan. He's initially a bit skeptical about this pick up arrangement but perks up when we offer a park outing before heading
We aren't hungry for dinner so the Decker's dine on their favorite take-out chicken. The evening is spent playing in the dirt box, goofing around, catching some tube, then bath time and bed for everyone.
Fri, February 27th
Road trip! We are all headed to Key West by 1pm in a rented van. The lunch stop is a quirky outdoor restaurant, Robbie's of Islamorada, where we can feed the tarpon. Only when a pelican sneaks up and grabs a fish out of Mike's hand do we realize how savvy they are in beating the tarpon to the punch.
Loaded up, we head out to collect more tiles for everyone's Strut app. Our Key West accommodations for the next two days will be Parrot Key Resort and we find the heated saltwater pools to be just the refresher needed before heading out for dinner at a forgettable bar/restaurant near the water, Turtle Krall.
Mexican Train Dominos have been lugged down with us but sleep seems more appealing tonight so it's a fairly early bedtime.
Mexican Train Dominos have been lugged down with us but sleep seems more appealing tonight so it's a fairly early bedtime.
Sat, February 28th
We head to Pepe's for breakfast after Tim and Caroline get their fix of caffeine at The Cuban Coffee Queen.
Turns out Pepe's is a popular local/tourist destination and as we wait to be seated several fireman oblige Nolan with some bell clanging as they climb in their trucks to start their day. After breakfast and another nice swim we settle in for nap time. For Nolan that is. The adults hang out until it's time to grab dinner before the famous Malory Square sunset.
Mike picks Charlie Mac's BBQ. We drop him and Nolan off to save our table while the rest of us go in search of parking.
Caroline is demonstrating that we had to scale walls to get back to the restaurant but it was totally worth it. I would return in a heartbeat for their pulled pork sandwich. Yum! Best I've ever had. A quick post dinner walk/trot for several blocks and we arrived at Mallory Square just in time for the wonderful southernmost sunset in the U.S.
Beautiful!
Buskers entertain us on the square until our dinner has settled enough to start a "Quest for the best....." Key Lime Pie.
A stroll up crowded Duvall street opens our eyes to the various types of entertainment available - mostly bars, some upscale retail stores, and nice restaurants. Eventually we park ourselves on benches outside "Kermit's - The Best Key Lime Pies" for a slice (well, several actually) of tart, very limey pie. We rest our tired feet (and Caroline's back) and enjoy some people watching. Gloriously we figure out our car is parked a mere three blocks away. Back at Parrot's Key we settle in and chat about the day before heading off to bed
Turns out Pepe's is a popular local/tourist destination and as we wait to be seated several fireman oblige Nolan with some bell clanging as they climb in their trucks to start their day. After breakfast and another nice swim we settle in for nap time. For Nolan that is. The adults hang out until it's time to grab dinner before the famous Malory Square sunset.
Mike picks Charlie Mac's BBQ. We drop him and Nolan off to save our table while the rest of us go in search of parking.
Caroline is demonstrating that we had to scale walls to get back to the restaurant but it was totally worth it. I would return in a heartbeat for their pulled pork sandwich. Yum! Best I've ever had. A quick post dinner walk/trot for several blocks and we arrived at Mallory Square just in time for the wonderful southernmost sunset in the U.S.
Beautiful!
Buskers entertain us on the square until our dinner has settled enough to start a "Quest for the best....." Key Lime Pie.
A stroll up crowded Duvall street opens our eyes to the various types of entertainment available - mostly bars, some upscale retail stores, and nice restaurants. Eventually we park ourselves on benches outside "Kermit's - The Best Key Lime Pies" for a slice (well, several actually) of tart, very limey pie. We rest our tired feet (and Caroline's back) and enjoy some people watching. Gloriously we figure out our car is parked a mere three blocks away. Back at Parrot's Key we settle in and chat about the day before heading off to bed
Sun, March 1st
The swimming pool calls to us to enjoy it a little more before our noon checkout time. We pack up and move out in time to head to breakfast at Blue Heaven.
There was nothing to not like about eating outdoors, being entertained by the wandering roosters and their chickies, and pitting their mellow, meringue topped key lime pie up against Kermit's. (We will need to taste test another piece of Kermit's to declare a winner, of course.) Post breakfast we head to a bike shop and then Sandy's for another shot of Cuban caffeine. We take a driving tour of the island (mostly to pick up Strut tiles but also to see the sights). We see President Truman's summer White House and the original Pan Am building, the cemetery (which begs for a return trip to take a walking tour) with iguana's guarding the monuments, and the marker for the Southernmost tip of the continental states.
Finally it is time to pick up Cubano sandwiches back at Sandy's and point the car north. We arrive home to grab takeout Chinese food from downtown.
There was nothing to not like about eating outdoors, being entertained by the wandering roosters and their chickies, and pitting their mellow, meringue topped key lime pie up against Kermit's. (We will need to taste test another piece of Kermit's to declare a winner, of course.) Post breakfast we head to a bike shop and then Sandy's for another shot of Cuban caffeine. We take a driving tour of the island (mostly to pick up Strut tiles but also to see the sights). We see President Truman's summer White House and the original Pan Am building, the cemetery (which begs for a return trip to take a walking tour) with iguana's guarding the monuments, and the marker for the Southernmost tip of the continental states.
Finally it is time to pick up Cubano sandwiches back at Sandy's and point the car north. We arrive home to grab takeout Chinese food from downtown.
Mon, March 2nd
I work the laundry room getting ready to depart tomorrow and Tim does his Monday conference call thing. For lunch we head to Lime Fresh Grill, then to grab The Wee One from school. Today instead of the park we head out for yogurt at a nearby shop. Nolan decides once the gummy bears topping from his strawberry yogurt are gone it's time to eat the Reese's PB cup crumbs from Grandma's chocolate yogurt. Mmmmmm. Yum! Anthony's meatballs are the dinner of choice tonight and a peak at the first two episodes of "Last Man on Earth". It looks like a promising new comedy but time will tell.
