Cards Again!

We took another opportunity to see the Cardinals play.  This time we made a quick trip to Chicago.

We missed you, Fort Myers!

Back to our  favorite vacation place...Fort Myers, Florida!  This year we stayed on Fort Myers Beach which was a first and we enjoyed our stay.  Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperative and we did not have enough sunny days, but we enjoyed our stay none the less.  We were able to visit all of our favorite places, as well as try a few new ones.

Parrot Key has been a family favorite since the first year we visited in 2009. 

 

The boys love to eat calamari whereever we go; and Cameron loves the small squid that still look true to form.  Eeek!

Most nights ended with the boys in the hottub watching baseball.

We found several turtle nests.  This one happened to be close to the area we visited each day.

In all the years we have visited the beach, we have never seen a crab...until this year!  We enjoyed watching the crab run away from us while running sideways and always keeping his eyes on us.

Everyone spent a little time enjoying the hammock!

This perfect palm tree was my view from the hammock.  I just LOVE palm trees!

These little lizards are everywhere in Florida.  No matter how many we see, we enjoy watching them skitter around.

A little excitement was added to the middle of our vacation when Tropical Storm Colin hit.  It didn't end up being that bad, but we sure didn't know what to expect.  Much like when a snow storm is going to hit Indiana, we went to the grocery store and made sure we had food and beverages in the house.  Since Fort Myers Beach is an island, we weren't sure if there would be flooding from all of the rain.  The surf and undertow got pretty bad and we had a tornado warning for a short period of time.  Where do you go during a tornado when your house is on stilts?

This is what much of our vacation looked like...the boys in the pool.  They didn't care if it was sunny, cloudy, or raining.  They enjoyed the pool the entire time!

And of course, we got some beach time in also.  On this day, Cameron made a pretty elaborate sandcastle!

Another first for me was finding a sand dollar that was already dried out.  Since it is so delicate, it didn't last long, but that gave us the opportunity to find the doves inside and read about the sand dollar legend.

There are several poems written about the sand dollar, but here is the one I would like to share.  (The author is unknown.)

The legend of the Sand dollar

That I would like to tell

Of the birth and death of Jesus Christ

Found in this lowly shell. 

If you will examine closely,

You'll see that you find here

Four nail holes and a fifth one

Made by a Roman's spear. 

On one side the Easter Lily,

It's center is the star

That appeared unto the shepherds

And led them from afar. 

The Christmas Poinsettia

Etched on the other side

Reminds us of His birthday,

Our joyous Christmas tide. 

Now break the center open

And here you will release

The five white doves awaiting

To spread good will and peace. 

This simple little symbol,

Christ left for you and me.

To help to spread His Message

Through all eternity. 

And lastly, we took in several rounds of miniature golf!  This is always a favorite way for the family to end the evening.  Even though Cameron was not thrilled with this idea, he did humor me and recreate a photograph we had taken during our first trip to Fort Myers in 2009 when Cade was 3 and Cameron was 5.