This past week we headed to Miami, Florida with Trever's company. Family Heritage has two national meetings per year that agents can earn for themself and their spouse. It was a good experience for us and our first vacation since our honeymoon.
The first night we arrived in time to clean up and head to the awards banquet. They recognized many of the high rollers in the company and we got to meet lots of new people.
On Tuesday, Trever was in meetings until 5 p.m. I went for a walk around our hotel and then headed to the spa. I got a massage and a facial and then headed back to the room for a nap and to get ready for our dinner cruise.
The group we were with had two cruise ships for the evening. We got all dressed up and had a great dinner and did a little dancing. It was a little chilly to be out on the deck, but we still enjoyed the view.
On Wednesday we headed to Cardon Park Beach. We had the entire day to just relax on the beach. They grilled out and had all the beer and pop you could drink. There were a few games of volleyball but for the most part we just relaxed. The temperature was in the 60s but to me that was perfect. I don't mind wearing a sweatshirt to the beach!
After our day at the beach was the part of the trip I was dreading the most...the Pirates of Caribbean costume party. Some people went all out and others not so much. We had gone to Good Will to come up with our costumes, but lots of people had professional costumes. Here we are with Nikki, Trever's friend from Sales School, Howard who is the head honcho of Family Heritage, and Kris, Nikki's husband.
This is Trever's crew. It's only a portion of them, but all that were in attendance. Michelle, Kevin, me, Michael, Trever & Roen.
On Thursday we walked to Subway for Breakfast and then headed to the Everglades for an airboat tour.
At the park where we got our tour there were over 200 "pet" alligators. I'm not convinced this one was alive.
After the Everglades we did a little shopping at an outdoor mall area near our hotel. For dinner there was a Tapas party. We had some pretty good food. There was gazpacho (sp?) or cold soup in a shot glass, shrimp, potato salad, roasted vegetables, greek chicken, and some rice and seafood concotion.
After dinner we took a bus to South Beach. It was an experience that we had never had before, but it was enjoyable. We walked past tons of restaurants, all of them begging you to come in. We went to three bars. Fat Tuesdays was pretty low key and was playing some pretty good music. Then we went to Mango's where they had girls and guys dancing on the bar and a much bigger crowd. We also stopped at the Clevelander but didn't stay long. We got on the midnight bus back to the hotel so we could head to the airport early Friday morning.
We had a good time but we were both ready to be home. I have already put a trip to Memphis in July and San Antonio in December on my calendar!
The preacher caught Claire drawing on the wall with a crayon so she let us use some of this newsprint. Claire has been addicted to tracing her hand on paper thanks to Papa Wayne, so when we told her to lay down and we'd trace her whole body she laid SO STILL! She thought it was so cool that she tore it in to confetti!
Grandpa Kuipers with his birthday cake. Not too shabby for 90!
4 generations of Kuipers. 
He had a very nice turn out during the 2 hour open house. 
And Claire slept for about an hour and a half of it. That's her on the floor covered by daddy's coat. 
And a picture of my good lookin' husband. 
