TRACE'S PLACE: June 2022 Gatlinburg, Miami and Islamorada

Well as usually, these pictures all loaded backwards. Ugh...that drives me crazy but would take forever to correct. June was a great month! I'll go in reverse but on June 13th we flew to Miami and stayed at the JW Marriott Turnberry in Aventura, FL. Jim and Sylvia were supposed to go with us but he got a blood clot a few weeks before we were to leave so they weren't able to travel after that. We loved the JW Marriott in San Antonio so much we thought we'd try a new one in a city we had never been. It didn't disappoint. There was a water park, beautiful pool and golf course. One afternoon, the boys went to play golf and Keatyn and I walked to the Aventura Mall across the street from the hotel and discovered the Apple Store. Needless to say, Trace wanted to go back after golf. It was a beautiful city and we drove over to Miami Beach and down to South Beach one night to look around. The traffic in Miami is insane and I don't ever want to drive there again but it would be worth it to go back!

After a few days in Miami, we drove about an hour and a half to Islamorada in the Florida Keys. It was crazy, you went from insane Miami traffic to a 2 lane road in and out of the Keys. Totally different vibe. We had plans to go all the way to Key West one day but it was another 3 hours so we nixed that and just enjoyed Islamorada. Trace has been talking about scuba diving since 6th grade. So we signed him up for a test dive before he went full force with it when we got home. He loved it and came home and got certified! We had a great room that literally walked off into the sand at Amara Cay Resort. Even though you couldn't get in the water in front of the resort, we loved relaxing on the beach and watching that beautiful view. I love traveling and making memories with my crew!

Kyle from Islamorada/Florida Keys Dive Center was fantastic teaching Trace to dive. He literally stayed with him the entire time, which made me feel SO much better as we all snorkeled about him. It was a really fun day for all of us!

Christmas Card 2022 picture made in June! WOOHOO!

View from our patio...

So many pina coladas...

This was the yard outside the pool with string lights, corn hole, Jenga, and a fire pit.

The first night we were in Islamorada, I decided we all needed to do the "free" canoes at the resort. It was a disaster and I fell into a hysterical/terrifying laughing fit when we got seperated, I lost my shoe, some fell out of the boat and we nearly lost one because it was floating away. It was a laughable, memorable moment now, but Jimmy was ready to kill me. Lol!

Our room...

Our view from our room in Miami...beautiful room and skyline!

South Beach...

On our way to South Beach, we googled celebrity Miami houses and drove by Cher, Jennifer Lopez, Evander Holyfield, and Lebron James houses. I couldn't believe they just publish their addresses for anyone to find. They were mainly all in one area and it was so cool to see!

Tidal Cove waterpark at JW Marriott Turnberry...

Best filet mignon (and most expensive ;( we've ever had!

Apple Store at Aventura Mall...

Jimmy has watched videos of Haulover Inlet pass for years and cried real tears laughing at boats that go through there in these huge waves. It is terrifying to watch and some actually turn over. So you know we had to go down there to see it in person. The wind was really dead that day so not much action to see but it was beautiful and fun to see where all the action takes place. My kids thought their serious faces were called for with this view. Lol

Nooga Splash with sweet friends...

In early June, Keatyn and I went to Gatlinburg with her Chattanooga Chaos basketball team for the Rocky Top Invitational. The basketball part was UGLY, but we sure had a good time when we weren't playing. Lol!

This may have been the funniest thing I've ever seen. Ashley (Sloane's mom in the back) got the handles confused and thought the gas was the brake. She had them pushed down the entire time thinking she was braking but it was really full throttle on that Alpine Slide. Sloane was screaming bloody murder and they flew down that thing at lightning speed. They went by the automatic picture taker so fast, it was nothing but trees. Lol! Hearing them retell that ride when they got off was hysterical. I pulled the brake the entire time and couldn't get it slow enough (Keatyn was so mad at me) and to think they went down at full speed is mind blowing. We laughed until we cried. That's one Ashley will ever live down. LOL!