All things Funk: Welcome to Miami (I'm hearing the Will Smith song in my head)

Watching all the pelicans & other birds

There is so much to say I don't really know where to begin...I guess I will start by saying my mom took Oliver & myself to Miami for 5 days while Dusty was on a business trip in Albuquerque, New Mexico. So here is a list of things I noticed/learned while in Miami or to & from. (this will be long due to pictures at the end)

I missed my husband. I missed snuggling w/ him, talking to him, seeing his face & I really missed the help he offers on weekend & nights!
I am blessed to have a Mom willing to take off a week of work to spend with me so I don't have to stay at home alone. And then she even took us on vacation!!!
Single parents have a lot on their plates, whew it was exhausting being w/ Oliver 24/7 except for a shower here & there :0)
Modesty is a very interesting thing!
Not knowing everything is nice sometimes, Thurs. Miami airport closed due to bombs & they said there werent going to open till 9am the next day! We arrived on Fri. at 8am not knowing a thing! Thankfully everything got cleared up & they were open :0)
I realized that back home I really do not know anyone off the top of my head who is "immodest" after being in Miami
Not all black men dressed in big baggy clothes (their particular style there) are 1. scary & 2. going to hit on me. I actually made a lot of "friends".
Being comfortable in an elevator doesn't exist when you have to back in b/c of a stroller each time :0)
The over priced items of a hotel "grocery store" there a can of diet coke 12 oz $1.64 the machine on our floor a bottle of diet coke 20 oz $2.00....hmmm...
We were blessed by hurricane Earl. It gave us LOTS of wind, BIG waves, cool temps & some nice clouds...The last day there was almost no wind & clear skies...I got fried :0)
Babies can have a friend even when they don't speak the same language
It is such a blessing not having to be in the same room as my sleeping child
Did I mention modesty??? It is such a thing of where you live & what is the "norm" I was in khaki pants & a dark gray shirt the day we got there & let me tell you, I might as well have put a bag over me I was so out of place!
My rebellion wasn't even a rebellion there (I painted my nails a very dark purple)
Oliver & his friend Nacho got tattoo's to fit in w/ the rest of Miami, I thought I shouldn't so I would be a good example :0)
Trust the reviews for hotels :0) chances are it won't be different for you
"I need to go shopping, I need a new top. You know like one with no back & no sides with a little ruching in front" this was one of the first conversations I overheard waiting for the elevator...My mouth just kinda dropped, what a culture shock! The modesty issue again
Last but not least, do not put boxes of food in your suitcase to save & take home...chances are security will rip both sides open & then cont. to disperse the food all over your suitcase getting everything crumby. This made for a fantastic welcome home gift!

First plane ride he had his own seat which after the benadryl he slept across his seat

Our view from our room

We went for walks on the beach in the morning trying to find sea shells, not much luck :0(

Our days were spent at the pool for the most part, this was a chore for me since he would go between both pools constantly I was happy when he would stay in a on place for a minute!!!

Oliver discovered how to be a big cheese! He is showing off his hair due the "gel" we use is called sun screen :0)

Sitting in the sand, he didn't love it too much until I built him castles to destroy he did love being in the waves though

On one of our walks

Oliver got a tattoo! :0) So did his friend Nacho except his was a monster, Oliver wanted the barb wire to be rough & tough. Unfort. I do not have a picture of Nacho...