Good Morning Miami

One Saturday Morning, Blake had the idea of waking up early, driving to the beach and watching the sunrise. Not a bad idea, so we woke up and made it to the beach by 6:30am. Being Jaunuary the weather was just cool enough to wear a longsleved-T (my favorite winter clothes). Not only did we get to watch the sunrise but it was nice to have the beach almost all to ourselves, peace and quiet with no rush. It turned out there was just enough clouds to make the sunrise extra pretty.

This guy had the right idea.

This guy did not.

Leaving the beach we drove home to have brunch with some friends, they introduced us to cachapas. One of Blake's new favorite meals, he would make them everyday if I let him. After eating we went and explored a new beach, we had hoped to kayak and maybe see some manatees. But their advertivment online was way off from what they really charge to rent kayaks. So we enjoyed the sun and flipped over rocks to see what kind of wild life we could find. 

The best thing we saw by far was a little baby puffer fish. We have seen tons of puffer fish while scuba diving, but never have we seen them actually puff up before. It was so cute, I wish we could have taken it home. We figured it would have a better chance of surviving back where we found it. 

On the way home from the beach we found a Krispy Kreme!!! Blake and I have been looking for one since we moved to Miami, so we stopped in for a dozen hot and ready. Good thing it is still a little far from the apartment for daily visits.

After getting home and showering off the saltyness from the day, Blake and I ended the night with dinner at Verailles. Verailles is a Cuban restaurant built in the 1970's, located off calle 8 in little Havana. The food was wonderful, yuca, plantains, roasted pork, Cuban bread, and of course beans and rice. Not only was the food good but I loved the environment as well. The photo we got doesn't give it justice, the walls are covered in vintagey mirrors and  chandeliers with bright lights. 

If anyone is planing a trip down to Miami we will be glad to accompany you to Versailles anytime.

Jungle Island

The first day of the spring semester was a good day at the Russ house. My little brother Adam drove down with our new/used couch that Blake's sister Amy gave us. Blake and I have not had a couch since we've been married and let me tell you I did not know what I was missing. Sunday naps, Monday naps and really any-day naps have gotten so much better. When people come over they have a place to sit, and it just makes the whole apartment look bigger. After unloading the couch, and going to math class, Adam took us to Jungle Island.

Jungle Island is an interactive zoological park, meaning you don't just get to look at the animals you get to, well interact with them too. The founders wanted to get people into nature. The park opened in 1936 and was one of the first attraction here in Miami. It has changed location since then but it is now on the Watson Island right between Downtown Miami and South Beach. Throughout the park there are Macaws roaming free around the place.

This one took a liking to Blake. He wouldn't let Adam nor I get close, but let Blake just sit and scratch him behind the neck. 

Not all the birds were out in the open but they were still so enchanting.

Then there were the little monkeys. 

When we got to the upper level we could feed them, look at their little fingers wrapping around the food. 

For five extra dollars we also got to feed the kangaroos. I think it was so worth the money, because we got to spend as much time as we wanted with them.  

Adam even got a little kiss.

We could have spent another five dollars to play with the giant tortoises, or you could just reach through the gait and pet them for free.

I guess Blake was jealous of Adam's kangaroo kiss. I don't know what is up with these two boys, remember when we fed the giraffes?

What I was not expecting to see was Hercules, the 900lb liger. I mean he is humungous, so much bigger then any cat I have ever seen.  

Even though it was one of the colder days we have spent here in Miami the sun was still shining. It was amazing to think we were just miles away from the busy city and crazy beach. Surrounded by all the plants and animals made us appreciate all the beauty we have here on earth.

Now that is what I call a good first day of school.

A Year In Review

We started 2011 moving to our first apartment as a married couple in Gainesville Florida, and ended the year living in our second apartment in Miami Florida. We have learned and grown so much over the past year, it is alway nice to reflect back and see where life has taken you.

33ft Bon Fire and we moved to Gainesville.

I stopped being and teenager and turned 20.

We had an amazing Spring Break, to bad this year my college does not believe in spring break. (I still do not understand why). Jari also left for South Africa, she is the coolest sister I have.

So much happened in April (why didn't Jari leave a month later?). My cousin Lela got married, Vovo came to visit, St. Patrick's Day and a Russ Easter lunch. 

We went to Honduras, need I say more?

Mostly just school and blueberry picking.

Jari came home, Blake caught a shark, we took a trip to Manassa, and we saw the Space Shuttle launch.

Russ family and Santos family beach trips.

September we lived in our cute little rented house, and we studied a lot.

Attended the Widdman halloween party, and studied some more.

We had Thanksgiving with our new Miami neighbor. We also added a new member to our family. A cute southern flying squirrel. Yes, she needs to be properly introduced on the blog. And we continued to study.

The Santos family went to Costa Rica. We got to go scuba diving in the pacific, and then we had a wonderful Christmas.

All that studying got me, Annalee Russ straight A's! This was the hardest semester of my life, besides maybe 4th grade when I was still the only one in class that could not read. I was taking Microbiology lecture and lab, Chemistry lecture and lab, along with Anatomy & Physiology II lecture and lab. 

There was a lot of hard work, fun and way to many batches of Em Russ's chocolate chip cookies in 2011. Cannot wait to see what 2012 has in store for us.