It’s been a week since returning home from our south Florida trip for soccer and family and not much else. Soccer first. Madysen was playing in the top division of the Orange Classic Tournament. It was a showcase tournament, so 4 games and no playoffs.
They played okay but failed to get a win with three ties and one loss. In order of play, a 0-0 tie against HC United Red, a 2-1 loss to Vardar, a 1-1 tie against Tredyffrin-Easttown Youth SA Charge (whom they lost to back at WAGS), and a 1-1 tie against Chicago Fire Juniors Red. Madysen scored the goal against Vardar on a PK after she was taken down in the box. So, the tournament was just okay.
As for the other stuff, the girls enjoyed it all, but it absolutely wore me out. The first night we stayed on Fort Lauderdale beach at the Lago Mar resort. Maybe the girls were still tired from their crazy drive from Erick on Christmas Eve or the early flight to Florida, but they didn’t seem that interested in the beach or the ocean at first.
But after a great dinner at Kelly’s Landing, Layla and Emma ran up and down the beach in the moonlight and ventured out into the water. I had to yank them off the beach.
Not us on the beach
Our moonlit nit
For the next three nights, we stayed inland at the team hotel. Neither Madysen nor Emma and Layla could figure out how to work a simple ice machine.
Push down on the handle? Pretty sophisticated engineering
We also spent a lot of time seeing various family members–grandparents, aunts and uncles, and several cousins. The little girls hadn’t seen most of them in several years, which must explain why Emma was so quiet when we saw them. But back in the car, she would hardly shut up. For old times’ sake, we walked by the Riptide (which made Madysen shudder of memories of this past summer’s trip) and had some way-too-big sundaes from Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor.
Represents size of actual sundaes
After the tournament was over, we headed down to Miami Beach for one last night. We stayed on Mid Beach, but we drove by South Beach and through the Art Deco District. The girls thought it was somewhat interesting. We spent an afternoon on the beach. It was a bit chilly, but Layla and Emma really got into the water this time.
The first tentative steps into the Atlantic
Waves approaching
The ocean is awesome
Waves attack!
So, all in all, a good trip, though very exhausting for me. Despite seeing the beach, seeing family, and eating great foods, my most significant memory is of Budget car rental. I got suckered into renting from them by a low price, and it was a big, big mistake. Over two hours standing in line to get keys to a car that I had already paid for, then a paperwork snafu that didn’t even have my registration, and then a terrible, ugly car. Of course, upon returning the vehicle, the whole episode was replayed in reverse when they tried to charge me an additional $1000 for the rental. Stay classy, Budget.
Sweet, sweet ride
