Yesterday we had the pleasure of skipping work and school to visit Rock Springs at Kelly Park with our dear friends, The Edward's Family.  For the past four years, we have met them every Spring at one of Florida's springs.  We've been to Blue Springs, DeLean Springs, Ginnie Springs and now Rock Springs with them.  I have to admit, Rock Springs is my new favorite spring!  The water is chiller than the others (68 degrees!) but it was PERFECT for Juliette with a large area of shallow water for her to swim and play in.  They even had a sand "beach" for her to play in.  We had a wonderful day and cannot wait to go back!  

     So, HELLO everyone!  This is Juliette's pops checking in.  You remember me, right?  The author of the blog post with the highest click count in the history of www.JulietteMargot.com.  No big deal.  Some bloggers go for quantity of posts.  Others of us sit back in the shadows and just deliver the the quality. 

     In that vein, today's blog post is centered around a fun day had by all at De Leon Springs State Park.  While it's always been a favorite for the two bloggers that created both the most adorable toddler around and this swell tribute blog to her, it's even more fun with "the kid" joining in on the fun.  Let's be honest though, she's taking her time with the joining in part.  De Leon Springs is all about two things....Pancakes and Cold Water.  

How amazing do these two things look?  Two varieties of pancakes made freshly on your tabletop accompanied with an array of toppings....who wouldn't love that?  Juliette, that's who.  She's a finicky eater, so we'll let that slide.  But how about that crisply cool 72 degree water on a brutally hot July afternoon in Florida?  Who can resist?  OK...OK...a lot of people.  72 degrees is COLD.  She tried her best though.  From the second she saw that water she was so eager to enjoy it.  She sprinted right over to it...waiting for the go ahead.  Only to be delayed by the tortures of having sun screen applied and having her swimsuit put on.  As arduous as that was, she was ever so eager to have her flotation device secured.  That little red crab represents freedom. Who needs mommy and dada to hold you when you can kick and swim in this giant pool on your own?  Well, apparently little girls that weigh less 25 pounds do when they are subjected to brutally cold water.  She hung in like a champ for all of 10 minutes.  I tried to set her free like the many afternoons and evenings in our heated neighborhood pool, where she is so eager to swim around freely.  Not so much under these conditions.  She clinched on to me the entire 600 seconds she braved in the spring water.  When finally I tried to let her loose one last time she let out a thunderous barrage of "ALL DONE! ALL DONE! ALL DONE!", along with the appropriate baby sign language.  Point taken, Juliette.

Juliette greatly enjoyed everything else that De Leon Springs has to offer though.  Mostly, she got to be outside and run relatively free for several hours.  That's huge in her world.  She also got to go on a nature hike, while leading the expedition no less. 

More than anything though, we all got to spend some time with some of our favorite people who happened to be down on vacation from Kentucky.  Jason will always be a great friend who I first met when I was just a few years older than Juliette.  We always look forward to when him, Nina, and Stephen are in the area and we can spend some time together.  Great people.  Especially for UK fans.  :)