Violin Recital

Andantino, played by Isaac Siebelink (The family Virtuoso).

Key's Style Christmas

It's different here, in the Keys. That's why we come here: the weather is guaranteed warm, palm trees and water everywhere, and the pace forces you to slow down. I've noticed that I walk much slower here - a good sign.

Stella says, "Look, I see Christmas!" when seeing decorations of any kind but especially lit. The public corner on Key Colony Beach has many decorations that Stella comments on every one of the 40-50 times we have passed on this vacation. Her favorite is the penguin that moves
in and out of his igloo. She calls him Pablo, after the book "Pablo - the Penguin That Hated the Cold", very fitting. My personal favorite is the banner in the middle of everything that reads, "Let it Snow". Lisa's favorites are the palm tree light wraps.

Lisa and I have never stayed away from celebrating holidays and institutions in non-traditional ways: Vegas wedding, Thanksgiving in NYC, Christmas in KCB. This year the contrast from a white Christmas seems more dramatic, maybe because of the Bowen visit over Christmas time.

This year, Christmas Eve / Day activities consisted of the following:

- Watching the Key Colony Beach Christmas Eve Parade (fire
trucks with lights and carolers)

- Opening presents with family and with Bowens

- Touring the lights, including Pablo

- Fishing in the canal with Bowens

- Hanging out at Sombrero Beach

Accomplishments

Accomplishments are goals achieved or newly achieved acts. Here is the accumulation of accomplishments over the past 2weeks:

Isaac & Stella: Learning and enjoying chess, yes chess
Isaac: Swimming the full length of the pool (12ft to 3ft) via combo (forward doggy paddle and back waddle)
Lincoln: Full-on walking, becoming a walker-squawker
Lincoln: High-fives with big laughs, especially after he walks
Rob: Relieving months of stress via warm weather and quality/quantity time with family
Rob: Learning first kite trick with the help of the abundant wind in the Keys
Stella: Confident bike riding (with training wheels)
Stella: Being 5 years old
Lisa: Beach and sun time

I'm Walking !!!

Lincoln is off to the races.

He's been flirting with taking solo steps for a couple weeks now, but his first official steps were on Christmas Day. Since his crawling speed and style transports him everywhere he wants to go, he hasn't realized much value in walking. When he takes a break from all his other busyness and with much encouragement from both Lisa and Rob, he takes a few token steps for us.

Today at the park, during our last adventure with the Bowen girls, Lincoln took ~4-5 steps [2] separate times. He seems to be starting to understand his accomplishment, but has not fully embraced this new style of transport.

Cousins & Family Fun

We just saw the Bowen family off on their adventure back home to NC, with many hugs. All the cousins enjoyed their time together: in the swimming pool, over [2] cuban dinners, park toys, catching fish, exchanging christmas gifts, and don't forget golf. Even Lincoln was extra excited when Sadie and Grace were present.

It was added fun to meet friends at the pool in the afternoons or build sand castles with on the beach on Christmas Day.

Our combined adventures included Key West, where we scored some free parking, took in the sights on Duval street, met Mozart, bought some Key West memorabilia, and watched some fun street performers.

By the Sea

Lisa has been "doing school" with Isaac and Stella by the sea at Sunset Park, down the street from our condo. Isaac plays his violin outside there and both Isaac and Stella practice math and counting with sea shells.

This locale should be very memorable to them, at least through the winter and early spring months

Lisa mentioned that the learning environment is remembered first by the student, then the lesson. Whatever they learn, their memory should put a smile on their face.

Keys Weather

By the numbers, the Keys weather doesn't change much: temperature variance of 8 - 10degrees, always a chance of rain, and windy.

The experienced weather does change more dramatically, but always welcome. It's amazing that the weather is so consistently good, no matter the rest of the country (except for hurricane season of course).

Keys Fishing

Isaac wanted more than just get his line wet this year, so I stopped at the local bait store. Luckily the kid behind the counter had fished the Key Colony Beach canals before and hooked us up for $5.

The trick: Fresh shrimp (i.e. living or recently living due to sectioning) and no bobber.

The result: Stella caught the first pin-fish (kind of a saltwater bluegill) within 3 minutes. We ended with [2] each - Stella, Isaac, Daddy.

Later that day when I retrieved one for fillet/grilling, there were only [4]. As I was grilling a sample of our catch and had not yet cleaned up, Stella cried out, "Daddy, the pelican stole a fish from the stringer". Mystery solved...

Keys Vacation Update

Current Location: 240 10th street, Key Colony Beach, Florida

Status: End of week 2 of a 3 week vacation, starting to take a vacation from our vacation.

Notable Items:
> "Daddy, our condo felt like a different country last week, but now feels like home", Isaac
> Isaac converted on those swimming lessons by doggy paddling between the steps at the Cabana Club pool.
> Isaac enjoys jumping into the pool by himself - only 3ft section of course, but even, "Look at me, backwards".
> Lincoln immitates the sea gulls perfectly and requests everything in this method with increasing volume until he gets it.