Naples - May 2013

A trip we attempt at the end of May every year had a new attendee in 2013. Scarlet Catherine! Emerson has been to Naples at least 6 or 7 times in his 4 years, but this was ScarBaby's first trip! And what a trip it was. We spent 8 days in swimsuits and sandals. Our biggest decision of the morning was to go to the beach or the pool. And if the pool, which pool? We ate well. The adults drank well. And we all came back to civilization with a new perspective. For now.

Two kiddos, ready for a very early flight outta Dodge.

Wheels down. To the pool within an hour!

We settled in, found surprises from Poppy, and made lots of return trips to the pool, which included frog hunting with Auntie Jeeka.

And my boy after my own heart...a true fish in the water. He really only left the pool for mandatory sunscreen breaks, during which he gobbled down a snack and drink. Most mornings, we were there on the first trip by 9 am. And with a short break around Noon, returned for an afternoon visit which usually extended to just before dinner. He must have dived, jumped, and cannonballed his way into the water more than 1,000 times.

This is what Emerson looked like most mornings when waking, before immediately asking when we were going to the pool. And this is what he looked like during the sunscreen breaks. Gobbling cheese, grapes, and crackers, nary a second to take off his goggles.

Once we'd finally had our fill of sun and chlorine for the day, we enjoyed down time in the evenings with books, games, fishing, and fireworks for Memorial Day.

The evenings and afternoons we did breakaway from the pool included putt putt, our favorite restaurants, and of course, Royal Scoop ice cream (Scarlet's first taste of ice cream!).

We did actually have some exposure to salt and sand during this trip, just not as much as we usually would, since one sweet little 10-month old likes to eat said sand. And we're all happier at the pool for the bulk of the day! Something that you just don't get at the pool, though, is a manatee swimming 3 feet from you. A very cool sight.

We also found an afternoon to go to Fifth Avenue for a little girls' outing for shopping and lunch. (Mia would have eaten up this time with daughters AND granddaughter.)

We did head back to the beach our last evening. We try to do this every trip. And apparently, Scarlet had enough of Emerson in that last photo. No manatees this trip, but we did see a pair of dolphins swimming down the shoreline.

Until next time, Naples.