76 Golf World Family Fun Center, Florida

On state route 76 in Stuart, Florida, is 76 Golf World Family Fun Center. In addition to a driving range and two mini-golf courses it has a lot of other attractions for children of all ages. J and L and their cousins went for an afternoon of fun. The first thing they tried was the "world famous" bumper boats. The four cousins had the waters all to themselves and after some navigational practice were able to bump into each other deliberately.

Bumper boats

J and L try to make a connection

"World Famous" according to the boats themselves

Head-on collision

Congestion on the waterway

J and L in new boats on their second try

Another big hit with the kids was the inflatable obstacle course. The course wasn't very long but it had a fabulous slide at the end. After a climb that was challenging but conquerable by even the smallest cousin, the slide was a great reward. They tried a couple of times to slide down at the same time with mixed results.

Inflatable obstacle course

J shows his cousin how to climb

L starts early in the synchronized slide event

More asynchronous sliding

From the obstacle course the cousins went over to the go-kart race track. Sadly the youngest cousins were too small to ride on their own. J and L had the track to themselves. After a few trial laps, they made it around with no trouble at all.

Getting ready to race

L's early crash

L recovers quickly

J on the move

Next up was a bouncy castle. J decided to try Spider Mountain, a climber that looked very difficult (as in I didn't think I would be able to do it). I was a little nervous to see him ascend, but up he went with his usual dauntlessness.

Spider climber!

J near the top

Our final attraction was the trampoline basketball courts. In spite of the ball being there, the kids used it only as a trampoline. What's more fun than jumping up and down on something that makes your jumps bigger?

L doesn't do basketball

J jumps but doesn't shoot

76 Golf World was a lot of fun even if we didn't ever golf!

St. Christopher Church, Hobe Sound, Florida

While visiting the grandparents we went to St. Christopher Church in Hobe Sound for New Year's Day service. The church is a small, Spanish-style church built in the 1950s from donations by the Devine family. It was dedicated in 1953 by the archbishop of St. Augustine, though the church is now in the Palm Beach diocese.

St. Christopher Church, Hobe Sound

Above the door is a fine statue of the titular saint carrying Jesus. I especially like the tender way that Jesus is laying His head on Christopher's.

St. Christopher statue

Statue detail

Inside is a typical basilica layout with a central nave and two small side aisles leading up to the sanctuary. The amount of marble is quite impressive. Since we were visiting during Christmastide, decorations were still up.

Nave

Sanctuary

Detail of St. Christopher from above the altar

Detail of the nativity below the altar

On either side of the sanctuary are fine statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her spouse St. Joseph.

Mary

Joseph

The baptismal font in the foyer is also marble but is a little spoiled by the lock on it!

Locked baptismal font

The stations of the cross were festively decorated which, like the lock, seemed a little odd.
 

Eighth Station of the Cross, Jesus Consoles the Women

Outside in the courtyard is a pieta. The walkway around the courtyard is lined with small altars to various Marian apparitions and saints.

Pieta in the cloister

Larger nativity outside the church

Our Lady of Lourdes altar

The church also has a St. Vincent de Paul thrift shop, the rectory, parish offices, and several other buildings. I couldn't resist taking a picture of their mailbox.

Church-shaped mail receptacle

Fall Festival at St. Anthony's Shrine

The Shrine of St. Anthony had a Fall festival that was basically a "prelude to Christmas" event. The monastery had several things going on, including music and treats in one room (where we were too busy listening and eating to take pictures), a gingerbread house room, a wreath making room, a popcorn stand, and hay rides.

L and J gladly joined in making gingerbread houses, though technically they were graham cracker houses. They still worked quite well. Icing was used for glue and a variety of candies (including M&Ms, gum drops, and even Chex cereal as windows or doors) for decorations. It was hard to just decorate and not eat.

Graham cracker houses

L does a quality check on the materials

We enjoyed fresh-popped popcorn from the hall cart several times. Luckily, each time we got a fresh bag there was a fresh monk working the machine, so we didn't have any awkward questions about just how much popcorn we did eat.

J and L collaborated on making a wreath, partially encouraged by us parents who were encouraged by the $20 donation asked for the wreath-making supplies. The supplies included candles, a metal ring with candle holders, and a nice gold-colored plate to hold the wreath. Boxes lining the room had evergreen limbs, pine cones, holly twigs, and ribbons for decorating. We were also given some garden clippers to make the foliage the proper length. Working on the wreath was tricky but rewarding.

Working on their wreath

J adds some finishing touches

The most impressive part to me was the library of the monastery, which is two floors tall with a walkway around the upper floor. I'm not so sure about the advisability of having a fireplace in your library but it makes for a cozy reading atmosphere. I want one in our next home!

Library with fire place and comfy seating

More of the library

We went outside for the hay ride but the line was rather long and the temperature was rather low, so we decided to take our wreath and houses home. A great time was had by all!

PE After, but Still at, School

A few months ago, J and L wanted to demonstrate their monkey bar prowess and they said the best place was their school's playground. The school isn't very far away so we went on a weekend afternoon to check it out. When we got there, J was the only one to show off, so he got the most pictures.

A good start

Going from ring to ring

Going to the next ring

Almost there...

Just about done

L played on the other equipment and did some crossing of her own.

Much easier crossing

A few weeks later, the PTA hosted a healthy exercise night followed by an ice cream social. Definitely a mixed message there. Originally the exercise was going to be laps around the bus loop (where the school buses drop off and pick up the children) but the sky was threatening wet weather. The activities were moved into the school's gym which has plenty of fun things to do. In addition to jump ropes and hula hoops, they had little carts that roll around on the floor and climbing ladders on the walls. The ladders were the most popular with my children so they got all the pictures.

L on the second rung

J happy

J worried

N relaxed

Two-fer hangout

After a half hour, the ice cream social began. We were first in line which was lucky because the line stretched out the cafeteria. I would have taken pictures but I was too busy trying to eat my ice cream before L swiped it! J doesn't like cold food so he ate the granola bar that we packed for him.

It was a great night with a good balance of healthy fun and not so healthy fun.