Tip Toe Through the Tulips

This year the weather cooperated enough for us to make it to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point. Mark was off work, the weather was a bit breezy and it was the perfect day to go! We decided to rent a golf cart (the ONLY way to go) and we had a blast. The tulips were beautiful! There were SO many and lots of different kinds. The kids loved hopping on/off the cart and running from place to place. It was an awesome family home evening! 

Sissy was an awesome helper!

Sunnies- it's how we get down as Williamsons. This is our selfie from the golf cart. 

Cruisin together

The Lawrence family cruise of 2016 was a grand success (THANKS MOM AND DAD!!)! We (Bree, Ty, Mark and I) were a little worried we wouldn't make the ship but, once we were on, we could relax and enjoy ourselves. We had an EXCELLENT time. It was such a much deserved break after a rough 2015. We flew into Tampa early in the morning, boarded the ship and headed to Key West. The weather was amazing! We left rain and cold for sunshine, warm ocean and beaches.

We shared a room with Bree and Ty, had dinner together every day, played mini golf, layed in the sun, watched movies on the ship (saw my first ever Star Wars), at lots of our "favorite" foods (the pumpkin seed rolls were awesome), I walked every morning on the boat, ate lots of Coconut Rangers, slept, read, and just chilled. The kids got to stay with Alex, Mary Ann and G & Chris. They hardly missed us I am sure. 

Key West was the first stop- we learned that the island is mostly man made. It is only two miles wide by four miles wide- so a strong hurricane could basically blow it into the ocean. We had Haagen Daz ice cream, shopped and just enjoyed being outside and not freezing to death. 

Amazing sunsets every night on the ocean. 

Our luxury suite that we shared with the Thomases. They graciously slept on the fold out beds the entire trip. 

Sisters in our $1.95 Key West hats. 

I walked into a store in Key West and a lady placed this little stick on butterfly on my shoulder. I  immediately started to cry. Ash was with me the whole day!

All aboard the Conch Train! We had a good time coasting the manmade island of Key West with our tour guide Bruce (26 years of experience). It was actually pretty fun. The ocean breeze was perfect and that took up some of the day. Tyler or "Tom Cat" as we lovingly called him, opted to prowl the island and return for food when necessary. 

Ernest Hemingway's house. 

Feeding the Nurse sharks at the Aquarium. 

The aquarium in Key West.

Brayden was able to join us in Key West (Missed ya, Brayd!)

Mark teaching us to play a Conch.

Here we have the 2nd place winner of the "Sexiest Man on the Ship" ( I totally made him enter)- Mr Tyler made himself a few geriatric lady friends. It was pretty funny, everywhere we went, someone knew Tyler and would tell him that he was "robbed" for not winning the contest. 

Brilliance of the Seas

Paradise Beach, Cozumel.

Cozumel was a blast! We spent the morning on recommendation at Paradise Beach. For $21/per person, we had access to all the beach equipment, snorkels, kayaks, paddle boards and the beach. I had the best nachos and guac of my life and really just enjoyed sitting there, watching the ocean. We snorkeled and saw Barracuda and brought home coral from the ocean floor.

We chose to do a Submarine excursion while in Cozumel too. It was pretty cool. I didn't realize how clear the ocean is. It almost looked like an underwater desert. There were huge fish, stingrays and a sunken ship they had purposefully sunk to provide more growth for habitats. We went super far down and saw the 2nd largest reef in the world. Pretty amazing. 

 We had too many awesome face swaps and lots of laughs at each other's expense which is what makes family trips so magical.

Tyler and Dad

Mom and Dad

Chilling in the sun.  

I could get used to this. 

On our last day in Tampa (before we flew home) we stopped at a Manatee habitat but didn't see one manatee. Oh well.