January in Siesta Key

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My parents are treating us to a long weekend in Siesta Key, Florida. We arrived yesterday afternoon, and, already, I'm adapted to the warm weather, lush vegetation, and humid environment. Vacation enduces such contentment.

The kids were really well-behaved on our nonstop flight to Tampa. They slept for our hour and half drive south. Our destination was the Siesta Key Bungalows. We jumped on a Groupon deal, and my parents got our bungalows for half off. The complex is laid-back and exudes some beach bum elegance (is there such a thing?). We're right on a a salt water lagoon (Heron Lagoon) that is teeming with jumping fish and pelicans.


There was a light rain last night, and Andrew and I sat outside of our bungalow in our white, wicker chairs, soaking it all in (literally). When the rain stopped, we could hear the fountain and crickets. They were the sounds of summer but in January! Before the kids' bed time, we walked the 30 feet to the lagoon. Oliver dropped some seashells from the seashell parking lot (similar to a gravel parking lot, with the obvious difference). The water was so clear that we could watch them fall to the bottom. The owners set up a nice, sandy seating area overlooking the lagoon. Oliver decided it was the beach and sat down to play. Jo apparently decided that the sand was molten lava and wanted nothing to do with it. My mom walked with Oliver for a bit. He played with the fine, white sand and told her he was making a pizza.

For the first time in months, neither of our kids woke up before morning. The sound of rain and the crickets and the birds must have soothed them into a deep sleep! When they got up, I took them outside to blow bubbles. We saw a brown lizard, and Oliver picked up palm tree seeds and "planted" them under the mulch. I love vacation.

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Photos

Heron Lagoon
Oliver's overlooking Heron Lagoon at the Sieta Key Bungalows at sunset on January 18.

The Kids and Me
We're on a dock at Heron Lagoon. The bungalows we rented are right on the lagoon.

Turtle Bar & Grill
We had the whole outdoor patio to ourselves for dinner!

Dinner at Turtle Bar & Grill
located in Siesta Key, Florida

Chasing Bubbles
Oliver enjoyed blowing and popping bubbles during our first morning in Florida.

The Kids, Dad, and Bubbles
They had fun.