Clearwater Beach Vacation....Day 5

Wednesday, July 24th

Today I spent time in the pool.

Jenn and the boys were at the house as well...they joined me for a little pool time...

 Jenn and Noah

I visited a little with my mom

Tammy and family and Josh and Hayden went to 

Clearwater Aquarium

 They shared this picture with me.

Clearwater Aquarium is where the dolphin Winter is ...from the movie

A Dolphin's Tale

A true story where the dolphin was rescued, lost his tale and given a prosthetic tale.

From their stories I believe they all had a good time.

That evening my cousin Lonnie came to spend the weekend with us.

Once she got to the house we decided to walk to Pier 60 and watch the sunset and see the activities.

While there we ran into a pirate....Liam loves pirates!

Here the pirate is showing Liam how to sharpen your sword.

 and then the pirates gun

 Noah got into a little pirate fun too

 Pirate and my cousin Lonnie

 Pirate and me

Pirate man and Jenn

I guess we had a little pirate fun too!

 this pirate dude has it made...comes out before sunset, lays his pirate hat on the ground and makes money while taking pictures with your camera....

I will say he spent a lot of time with us (Liam) and took lots of pictures and lots of poses...

He was worth $20

 We walked the pier and shopped the local vendors

 Jenn with Noah and Liam on Pier 60

Liam got a cool spider man picture with his name on it

 On the way back we stopped so Liam could make a huge bubble...this man was on the corner selling these bubble wands or for a tip you could just give it a try...it was worth $1

 Once back at the house we had dinner and visited with my mom...Jenn cleaned up to get Paul from the airport and then do a late dinner.

It was a very laid back kinda day.

The Vacation Continues

I think this day of vacation is 

Tuesday July 23rd

I went with Jenn and the boys to Lowery Park and Zoo.

When I was a kid this place was just a small park like amusement place.

Today it's a huge zoo with rides and a water area.

Also voted #1 children's zoo by Parent magazine.

I think Tammy and family went to the beach and fished and Josh and Hayden went shopping.

It started to rain once we got there but didn't last long and then we were off....it was a very hot day.

 This was my favorite thing at the zoo....watching the boys feed the birds.

 Jenn with the boys...once Liam got the hang of it he was having a ball.

 Noah and I near the zebra's and giraffes.

We went on a tram tour through the Africa part to see the animals and they mentioned they were able to have so many animals from Africa cause the Tampa climate is similar to that of Africa.

No wonder it was so dang hot, we were in Africa.

 After visiting some of the zoo we stopped for lunch and then the sky opened up. We stayed waiting it out but didn't look like it was gonna let up so once we had an opening we headed to the gift shop and then to the car.

Heading back to Clearwater the sky was getting sunnier and sunnier.

Once back at the house it was pool time.

Tammy, Kyle and the kids were already back at the house so we joined them for some pool time.

Pool time was my most favorite part of the trip.

Hanging out with the family...watching the kids play...playing a little squirt gun myself with the kids and the just good ole' relax time.

 Above Tayler and myself....

Below Tammy...who became the photographer with my camera while I was in the pool.

She also had a few drinks and was very relaxed and a little funny too...Just FYI...Tammy doesn't drink.

 My twins...Tayler and Liam...not really twins but as close as we'll get as they are 3 days apart.

 And my favorite part...a pool, a floaty, a drink and just a chill....

I'm serious...I'm gonna get a pool, you just wait and see.

 Colton loved the pool...jumping in and going under water...diving under for things at the bottom...he did a lot during our stay in that pool.

 Kyle and Tammy chillin'

 Miss Hayden getting a little braver each time she got in the pool.

 Just havin' some cousin fun

 When we got back from the zoo...Jenn had put Noah down for a small nap.

When he joined us for pool time I thought let's do a picture...

came out pretty good...should of left my glasses on though, had no make up on...oh well.

Not very often you can get all 5 looking at the camera.

 Noah in a float...he really didn't like it and wanted out

 but I think he really wanted to chill in the pool like this, on his grandmas float...from this moment on this is how he wanted to be when we were both in the pool.

He stayed on me like this or sitting up in my lap for a good hour if not more.

When we went in the pool we were in it for a long time.

It was the best part of the home and was a lot cooler.

 As most things, pool time came to an end and it was time to do dinner (thank you Jennifer)

My mom with Hayden, Noah and Liam.

 Tammy and family chilling waiting on dinner.

And then it was time to call it a night.

Clearwater Beach Vacation Continued

So on Monday again we woke up with the A/C issues....

You can read that review at

Clearwater Beach Cabana

Tammy and family had left....Josh was sleeping....so Jenn and I took Liam, Noah and Hayden and walked to Pier 60 and took the kids to the beach park.

It was a hot day...really more humid than anything...my Houston peeps, we ain't got nothing on their heat...it was a booger.

Here are some pictures of the kids having a play date.

Hayden and Liam met a Pirate along the way

Noah and Liam loved the sand

It took Hayden a little bit to warm up to the sand but when she did she loved it.

And when we got back this is what I did...for 3 hours...I relaxed in the pool...had me some

Blue Chair Bay 

I forgot about my cares and just relaxed and enjoyed...I must say I fell in love with the idea of a pool.

So different having one to yourself than sharing at the hotel.

I think I'm gonna get me one of these things.

That's it for this day...except for family visiting this is all I got.

More in the next post.

Clearwater Beach Vacation .....From the beginning

I'm gonna start this blog on a happy note and from almost the beginning...I did write 2 previous post prior to this while on vacation but starting on this one I'm gonna start fresh and hopefully I can remember what exactly happened on this vacation.

But pictures I can share with you.

So we arrived on Saturday July 20th...
Pictures on this post begin with Sunday July 21st.

I left that afternoon to go pick up Josh from the airport and then to go and pick my mother up. Hayden joined me for the drive.

So today ended up being a laid back day. I chose this day to unpack.

When we arrived back to the house the Sheard family were already in the pool.
Below my beautiful daughter Tammy and granddaughter Tayler.

Hayden wanted to join her cousins in the pool. At first she was a little nervous of the water and was nervous with a floaty but by the time our vacation was over she had no fear...below Hayden and Josh.

And there they all are

The pool was used every day and every evening...it was the best part of the house and served as a family gathering place...My favorite part of the vacation.

I'm actually thinking about getting a pool.

Check Out The Review

I haven't finished blogging about my vacation but I have just created a blog review regarding my issues with the rental property and management.

Please feel free to go and check it out....leave comments...suggestions on where to post this so maybe it will help others....I want the word to get out.

I'm trying to create a place where this review won't be deleted by management so that is why the blog.

If there is another traveler as myself who likes to search and search regarding places to stay and things to do on vacation then I want them to be able to read this as there aren't really that many reviews on this property and now I see why.

My main issue is with management more than anything.

So go and check this out.

www.clearwater-beachcabana-review.blogspot.com

Share the above link on your blog, you facebook, where ever you can.

Stay tuned for more vacation blogging coming soon...there were fun times on this vacation.

Family Vacation Saga....

Good Morning!

Yesterday was Monday and Day 3 of our vacation but I considered it to be Day1.

Day 1 ...consisted of arriving...getting settled...watching 5 grandchildren while the girls went shopping and just being cranky from a long drive and from a warm house.

Day 2... was getting up...unpacking...getting Josh from the airport and then picking up my mom and again dealing with the warm house.

Day 3 ...Going for a walk in the heat with a 4 year old and then being cranky (not me, the 4 year old but then...I did become cranky...lol )dealing with issues in general (what's a family vacation without issues...right?)...hopefully all resolved...and then again dealing with a warm house.

So....to me Day 3 is my Day 1 of vacation because I decided I can let the warm house consume me and ruin my vacation or NOT....so I decided it was time to spend time with Kenny Chesney in a bottle (Blue Chair Bay Rum) and relax like I said I was gonna do on vacation

and that's exactly what I did...in the pool for like 3 hours...pruney  but relaxed...oh and I need another bottle of Blue Chair Bay Rum.

The rental company did end up sending someone else out last night...he did seem to be a better a/c person than what they sent out yesterday morning...he was a joke and I basically told him so.

He's suppose to be back out this morning to check on what he thinks it is so we shall see...I really don't have much faith in this whole ordeal but I have chosen to not let it ruin my vacation.

Wonder what I'll do today on Day 2 of my vacation? That floaty is lookin' pretty good!

The Family Vacation

This morning I sit here as today begins our 3rd evening of our trip.

Earlier this year I had decided to bring all my kids and my grand-babies to Florida for a family vacation. My mom has a hard time getting around being in a wheel chair and it has been sometime since she has been able to see her grandchildren let alone the great grandchildren.

So since my mom lives in Tampa I thought Clearwater would be the perfect place to vacation. Close enough to pick my mom up to come and stay with us...2 blocks from the beach so everyone can have fun doing things on and around the beach.

Rented a couple homes together that share a pool and hot tub...plenty to keep us busy if we choose and a nice place to relax if we choose.

Jenn, Liam, Noah, Hayden and myself arrived Saturday afternoon. We drove from Texas and had left 4 am on Friday.Tammy and her group took off Friday night around 11 pm. Jenn and I stopped over night in Tallahassee and by morning when we left Tammy and family were only a couple hours behind us.

Once at the house we were informed we couldn't get in to all the homes (2 and a cottage) because the group before us had trashed the homes out so we could only get into one.

It was a little disappointing but  understand somethings happen beyond someones control.

And then....the a/c units in  both homes is not working correctly...one worse than the other...finally cools in the middle of the night, is fine in the morning and then by 11 am steadily going up and by afternoon the units are froze over.

The agent seems nice but still I feel something isn't right and by now the second night I'm feeling like I'm getting the run around.

The a/c guy is suppose to be here this morning...not sure why he couldn't come before then...I'm sure it has something to do with island time and the weekend...but still....when you pay this amount of money and you have a big group you want things fixed and working...it's hot here...we're in Florida...just like Texas...it's HOT!!!

I have decided that if today it's not fixed not so nice and understanding Robin is gonna come out to play.

So...yesterday at 4 I picked up Josh from the airport....Paul will arrive Wednesday night and my brother who lives in Jacksonville will be here Friday morning....my family will be complete and hopefully cooled off.

I forgot to mention my cousin came to the house Saturday after we checked in ( I have lots of family in Tampa) and fixed dinner for us. She'll b coming Wednesday night to spend the weekend with me. 

Not sure what I'm doing today but ready to get out and enjoy the day...

Above is Tammy with 4 grocery baskets the night we got in ....her and Jenn did the shopping for our group of what will be 13....thank goodness I didn't have to do that...I have a hard enough time shopping for one.