Trip to the West Coast of Florida

In August, we took advantage of Mark's last summer break and headed to the west coast of Florida. We lucked out because we got to go with some of our favorite people. We found out that our friends Sean and Amy were planning on doing the same trip that week. It was such great luck!

Here we are at Sanibel Island the first day. I told Mark that if he wore his favorite "vacation" shirt that he wouldn't be in any pictures. I know I am mean but I can't help it! I can just see an old man with a gross hairy chest walking around in it. Well sad to say that he wore it AND we got a picture of him in it. I couldn't resist accepting Amy's offer to take a family picture. It is not everyday that we have someone there offering.

These next ones are of me and Lucy hanging out on the beach. In the meantime, Mark spotted dolphins while he was by the water with Sean!







These are of cute baby Heidi...

and Sean and Kirk flying a kite.


We were able to see a ton of jumping fish at the J Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge before we left the island. Last of all, we ended the night having dinner at a Crab Shack. It was lots of fun eating a tasty grouper sandwich for the first time and not having the only baby who was making a mess under the table. You should have seen the crushed saltines and sugar packets we left under there! Our poor waitresses...hope Mark tipped her well.

The next day we saw Edison and Ford's winter homes right on the coast. I definitely couldn't complain about that kind of winter life! It was beautiful!


Odenwalder Family

Lucy was pretty good about missing her scheduled naps. One minute she was smiling and happy...

and the next minute she was taking a power nap in her stroller.

Before we left, we stopped in the invention museum where I got a picture of Model Mark with the Model T. :)


The next highlight was driving to Venice Beach where we found ancient shark teeth in the sand.
The sand was also a highlight for Lucy.

There were so many tiny shells for her to look at...

crawl around in...


sit in...

and hold.

We loved the shells on the west coast. However, there is nothing like the clear, blue water on our side of the coast. Oh how I will miss Florida and the fun trips we've have taken here.