Take Me To Key West ~ Kellen's First Vacation

Long before Kellen was even a twinkle in his Daddy's eye our little family fell in love with Key West. It is truly a beautiful taste of paradise only four hours south from us. If you have never been then it's kind of hard to describe, but it's not what you would imagine. Key West is full of color, beauty, history, and it is heaven for dogs!

Key West has everything your four legged furry friend could ever ask for! There are cats everywhere and a large number of them have six toes. They are called Hemingway Cats and every pup knows taste much better than five toe cats! Plus as an added bonus there are roosters and chickens running the streets. Sometimes Kiara and Skyler don't know which way to run! Sunsets at Mallory Square is the place to see and be seen for pups. They get so much love and attention they feel like movie stars!

We randomly picked The Chelsea House to stay 9 years ago because it was a very charming old bed and breakfast that allowed dogs. We were so surprised someplace so nice would allow our babies.

We were so used to sneaking them in and

out of hotel rooms in the cover of darkness. Before you ask, yes you can sneak a 90 pound dog. It is not easy, but can be done if your crafty! We had such a wonderful family vacation and since then have been back many times.

There was no question to us where Kellen would take his first vacation, it was always going to be Key West. His nursery is decorated like the Key West cottage we have always dreamed of owning, he is a water baby with all his heart and soul, and we can travel as a family with our pups. We just did not except to go with the heavy heart of knowing that it may be Skyler's last trip with us.

Skyler has been really, really unbelievable. His last two check ups came back normal. He has more energy, wants more pets, swims faster and longer, pulls us around the block with lighting speed. You would never know he is sick and it is so easy to forget and let time get away from you. Every second is so precious with him, and as the dreaded three month deadline they gave us with him approaches I feel the panic and fear of losing him clawing it's way back into my thoughts.

This trip was no exception. Each morning after we ate breakfast by the small garden pool we would take the pups and Kellen for a stroll through the back streets of Key West. Skyler did his kitty hunting, Kiara enjoyed her sniffy time, Daddy and I looked at houses we would love to own. It was so simple, yet so amazing.

Kellen visited his very first beach for swimmy time. It was so special to watch his face as I placed his little toes in the cool wet sand. To see his eyes light up with surprise and just a little fear as the ocean waves crashed up onto shore, and to watch him splash around out in the water with Daddy. To be honest he was not thrilled with the salt water, it burned his eyes and the waves kept sneaking into his mouth. He was all set pretty quickly, and was content to play in the sand with us.

The swimming pool is another story. Kellen can now jump off the side of the pool and go under, he can swim back and forth between Chris and I under water. His face lights up, his little feet start kicking, front hands splashing and he is ready to go! He absolutely loves the water.

Of course Sunset was a must see for the pups. They got so much attention, even more than Kellen which they loved. We watched the square performers, enjoyed a cool drink from the famous Dog Bar and munched on cookies. It was such a wonderful first family vacation, I know that Kellen most likely wont remember this and how special it was for us. But with the help of pictures, video, and this blog I know we are leaving him a way to see how much fun, laughter and love he was surrounded with.