Blessed.

Although this Christmas season was quite different from Iowa, it was one we will never forget. I got my work schedule at the beginning of December and was luckily to not be working over Christmas so we decided to head toward Miami to spend Christmas with K&K. As usual whenever you have plans after work you tend to have to stay later than expected. This happened to both Rick and myself.. but we still made okay time and were on the boat by 10 PM. K&K have a little home away from home and they did a great job making Rick and I feel like we were sitting in their house in Madrid for Christmas. They even had a tree and the boat was decorated with Christmas lights (yay)

When K&K had visited us a few weeks ago we discussed Christmas and the options for taking their boat on a little trip. Numerous ideas were offered including staying at a marina in downtown Miami, Dinner Key, Islamorada, North toward West Palm and I offered the Bahamas (haha). When we arrived at 10 on Friday night K&K were not disclosing the trip itinerary. So Rick and I went to bed wondering what our Christmas weekend had in store. Due to weather conditions that would not allow for optimal boating Saturday was spent lounginig around the boat. In a previous post I had mentioned that I should have just gone to Target instead of the mall the last time we were on mainland USA. So Rick and I pondered and planned our attack of Target. Apparently our chatting lead K&K to believe we would do something crazy and ruin Christmas Day. So Christmas came early with K&K-- and they surprised us with gifts. Rick is now apart of the smartphone society and is rocking an iphone 5, while I am thoroughly enjoying my new Kindle. Unfortunately, K&K and Rick didn't chat prior to Christmas because he also had gotten me a Kindle that we now need to send back (whoopsie). It was a good thing Christmas came early on the boat because spent our lounging Saturday figuring out our new toys. Rick is very proud of the apps he got including a pretty funny one called Beardify.

Bentley even got to open gifts.. the lovely green items in his mouth are poop bags :) 

He also got a green frog.. it has 5 squeekers!! He has destroyed 3/5  but the frog is still intact. 

Rick's new toy :) 

SQUIRREL!!!!! 

The marina view where K&K keep their boat. 

Bentley loving boat life :) 

Sunday morning we awoke and started on our boat trip. There is a lot that goes into taking K&K boat out because it is an aft cabin, which means it has a big butt that gets blown around in the wind. Their boat is pretty stock when it comes to toys.. and by toys I mean many larger boats in Miami have powerful diesel engines and side thrusters that help to control the boat in the ever changing tides and winds. K&K's boat does not have these so they have to be very very aware of the winds and the tides so they can adjust the departure and arrival approach of docking. I made myself helpful by controlling the dogs so they were not in the way during the departure from the dock. After a few strategic removals of boat ropes we were off.

Keeping Zuri from being in the way.. she is really hard to control :) 

Down town Miami

When we are on K&K's boat it is usually not about the destination so much as it is about enjoying the ride. We took our time.. listened to great music, chatted and had a few beverages. Mainly Kurt's favorite drink Bahama-mamas. We even had a little show of Dolphins.. I only snagged one image

There were two but the second one is just under the railing so you can't see it. They swam with us for only a few minutes before they found a boat going faster that they could play in the wake. 

As we approached down town Miami K&K revealed we were going to be staying in a marina downtown. The marina is by Bayside mall as well as the Miami Heat arena. Rick and I were both excited because besides the Bahamas this is what I had wanted to do. Our boat ride took us past the marina we were going to stay and out into Biscayne bay where we found a pretty canal and looked at amazing homes.

Had to open a bridge on the intercoastal.. fancy:) 

Downtown Miami from the bay.

Riding on the boat in the Bay.. B dog was a little nervous but he got the hang of it. 

My future pirate boat. 

B dog freaked out right before this picture was take.. the front of the boat is slick for dogs :) 

We spent a two nights at the marina in downtown Miami. Christmas eve day we laid on the back of the boat or if you were Rick you laid in the dingy...

The white building is the Miami Heat Arena. 

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K&K's boat was the only one with lights in the whole marina. 

Christmas Eve, besides lounging around in the sun, Kim  made a fantastic Christmas dinner. It was turkey, gravy, green bean casserole yum yum yum!! Christmas day we took a leisurely trip back to K&K's marina. I had to be back in KW by 5 due to some work responsibilities.

I have spent the last few days reflecting on how incredibly lucky Rick and I are. We are extremely blessed on so many levels especially because we have wonderful, amazing families and friends that we love and are loved by unconditionally... Thank you for all of the Christmas cards, texts, and emails. Thank you to K&K for making this Christmas very special.

Love you all, come visit SOON!! 
XOXOXO

Rick and McKenize