Girls' Trip

FYI--This post is the post of posts. If you make it all the way to end--make sure to give yourself a big thumb's up for me.

This past May my dreams came true--all of my sisters and my mom came out to visit me! I couldn't wait for them to arrive since most of of them hadn't met Lucy yet and I hadn't met my new nephews or niece either. The first thing we did when they walked in the door was put all the little babies in a circle. It was the cutest thing watching them look around at each other.

Not many things cuter than four babies lined up in diapers.

The next day we enjoyed the sunshine at Hollywood Beach.

Em and Ang were so nice to entertain Lucy during our beach time.





I loved the break and Lucy loved feeling the sand in between her toes and fingers.


Part of the beach fun for me was getting to know these new babies. Hannah's and Lucy's due dates were only about a month apart. These baby girl cousins were finally together!

Lucy must have been thinking the same thing I was, "How could we get some of Hannah's cute curly hair for Lucy's head?"

Josh's toothy smile was enough to make the whole trip worth it just by looking at him. Many times I would be doing crazy things to get Lucy to smile and then look up and realize Josh was giving me this huge smile. What a happy little guy! Glad my clown expertise didn't get wasted.



Then there was baby Tommy. His beach outfit was an adorable mini sailor suit. I loved holding him during the trip because it was just like holding a little ball. There was just something about his big blue eyes looking up at me and him smiling sweetly.

We Caldwells must have a thing for polka dots because we had a whole clan wearing them. I was just realizing that my new swim suit that I just bought also has polka dots. Now it all comes together why I thought it was cute. This polka dot clan must have turned the cute wheel in my brain. :)

I don't know who's luckier...Grandma Mari to have four new grandbabies or the new grandbabies to have Grandma Mari.


After the beach we took a riverfront cruise through the downtown water streets. The cruise pointed out all the famous places along the way plus we got free hot dogs and drinks. My highlight was the pineapple drink they served. So tasty!
Whaaa...is that a real baby Ang is holding? :)

Cruise Captain :)

The Crew



Right as we got off the cruise, I discovered that Lucy had a blowout. Luckily Katie was there to lend me one of Hannah's extra shirts. After I got that situation under control, we saw some of the original city buildings and had dinner at Cheesecake Factory. The babies were pretty pooped by that time--I guess I mean that in more than one way.


The next day we took an airboat ride at Sawgrass Recreation Park. We didn't see any alligators but the birds were there for us. We saw lots and lots of them--on the ride and off the ride.



We picnicked while we were there and also got to hold a baby alligator.


I am smiling but really I couldn't wait until that picture was over so I could give it back. I did not enjoy holding it at all.

Shark Valley in the Everglades was the next stop. At the top of Jenny's trip list was to eat frog legs. After Shark Valley, we went across the street to the Micosukee Indian Restaurant to buy some frog legs, indian fry bread, and gator bites.



I tried a speck of a gator bite and thought it was disgusting. There was no way I was going to try the frog legs--especially after seeing Jenny's singing and dancing rendition of "Hello My Baby, Hello My Darlin" with the cooked frog's legs. That frog just looked way too alive for me. I especially especially wasn't going to try them after I saw everyone's reactions after they ate them. You can't top that entertainment though.

Would you eat them if you had seen that the insides looked like this?

Would you eat them if you saw the insides and then saw these reactions? I don't think so.



These are the brave taste testers. Notice how proud they are with those firm fork grips. :)

On Sunday, we went to church then to Royal Palm Visitor Center in the Everglades. Mark even got to join our bundle of girls.





We also went to the keys during the trip. We stopped at a place for lunch that we could eat right on the water! How fun is that! Our table rocked--literally! :) I had a blackened fish sandwich and also had authentic key lime pie for the first time. It was so yummy!


We also fed some very frightening Tarpon fish at
Robbie's Pier.

I pictured us feeding cute little fish like this before we came.

Not even close. More like this...


Good thing Tommy was there in his shark wife beater to keep the fish in line.

Our last stop in the Keys was Sombrero Beach. Crystal clear water with soft fine sand--beautiful!






For some reason, Lucy always chose Emilee to spit up on during the trip. Em was a good sport every time it happened. She is even being nice and smiling for the picture. Poor Em.

Our trip went by way too fast.
All of the sudden it was over and everyone was packing up to go. :(




On the way to the airport, we stopped at a mango grove to eat our last meal together. We had lobster chowder and fresh smoothies. Perfect ending to a perfect trip!


I might have been pretty down if the trip really did come to a complete finish. Luckily, my mom and Ang stayed a couple of days longer so the fun could keep going a little.
We went to Miami and saw Miami Beach.

(I think Ang is pointing to the top of the tree with that coconut and not at my head. Right Ang? :))

Ang met a special friend at the Art Decco District in Miami.

On the way home, we stopped at Hollywood Beach for ice cream cones.


Next Adventure--Fort Meyers
We visited Thomas Edison's Winter Home...

...and Henry Ford's Winter Home.

Henry Ford planted a 4 foot banyan tree for Edison when they lived next door to each other. It has grown to be the second biggest banyan tree in the world--and we got to see it!!!

They had a great museum with many of their inventions like...

...Ford's Model T...

...a camping car Ford built for their camping trips together...

...the first talking doll made by Edison...

...and Edison's Baby High Chairs and Tables.

After the museum, we walked through Edison's lab.

It inspired my mom as you can tell.

We spent the afternoon at Lighthouse Beach on Sanibel Island.
(Me and Ang are the two specks at the bottom)

Sanibel was full of sea creatures. Almost everything you picked up had a creature living in it. My mom and Ang were super brave because they snorkeled with all of those creatures. I sat on the beach with Lucy and got eaten alive by the noseeums in the meantime. This is one of the crabs we saw.

The next day we went back to the keys. We stopped to have one of the famous cinnamon rolls at Bob's Bunz in Islamorada. Not really worth the stop I'd say--more like Bob's Dry Bunz to me.

Windley Fossil Key was next. There were some neat fossilized seawalls but it was SO HOT when we went. Hence the hot faces...

We are only smiling now because of the little inch of shade over us.

We also stopped at the Wild Bird Refuge. If it weren't for the terrible smell and the sight of a half eaten baby chick for an owl's meal, I would have loved the place.

Mark spoiled us when we got home with a big mexican dinner. I felt like I had eaten out at a restaurant because of all that he made.

We fit in one last beach visit before my mom and Ang got on their flight home.


That really is the complete end of our girls' trip....it was okay though because I had plans to fly to Utah five days later. Yep, I got spoiled that month.