Breakfast on Captiva

Glenn and I went to Captiva as planned for a picnic breakfast on the beach. Breakfast was simple...bagels, cream cheese, etc...and a yummy, slushy juice drink that included some fruity alcohols. I pretended it was a mimosa. In any case, it was delish. The water was pristine and a perfect temperature unlike that of Sanibel which has been super warm since we've been here. We spent a couple hours on the beach and then visited Jensen's where we saw at least four manatees...looked like a mama and babies. We rode around the island just a little and then headed back to Sanibel for the rest of the day. A good time was had by all. I hope to make a point to do this again next year...not necessarily for Father's Day, but because it's a beautiful beach to visit.

We will be leaving Sanibel tomorrow and heading up to Sharon's to pick up Sparkle. I can't wait to see her! I am sure Sharon is anxious for her to be picked up as well...ha! I'm not in a hurry to get home really. But it's time....

Father's Day

Tomorrow is Father's Day. Glenn and I are heading to Captiva for a picnic breakfast on the beach. We haven't had a chance to go to Captiva yet this trip. We'll ride over to Jensen's and see if we can spot any manatees while we are down there.
Today Glenn went to visit Santaguida over at Bonita Beach. He seemed to enjoy the short time over there. I enjoyed my alone time on the beach!
Things are getting pretty quiet around here. Jodi and crew left last night, both kids sobbing into their blankets when they left. The Sass crew left this morning....always a sad time. Next year, Glenn and I are thinking we'll come a few days early but plan to leave when everyone else does. We are planning to leave Monday afternoon for Sharon's and will spend a day there, grab Sparkle, and head home. I'm not in a hurry but I'm pretty sure I have bills to pay!

Time Flies

Just when things are really hoppin', folks have to start leaving the island and heading home. That's the part I hate.
Yesterday we lost "the nurses", today we lost Chris and Niki and fam as well as the Kuseks. Tomorrow night we lose Jodi and John and fam. Saturday we lose the Sass clan. McClevey/Bartletts arrived today. Don't know yet when we are leaving but it will likely be Sunday or Monday. I'm in no hurry.
Tomorrow is a big snack day at the pool....everything that is left comes out! Can't wait.

Two Little Fish Learned to Swim

This was a very exciting day. Both Gracie and Anabelle tossed off their floaties and decided to swim with no assistance. Both can go quite a distance with no help. Two more kids learn to swim here on the island.
Yesterday Sharon and Sparkle came for a visit. I missed my puppy and it was great to see her. It was very nice of Sharon to drive all that way. We took her around the island a bit, hoping that maybe she'll come back in her RV sometime for a few days. They only stayed over one night and took off this afternoon.
There was a huge party in "the nurses'" condo during the World Cup game this afternoon. I didn't watch the game but stopped in for the important part-the snacks. I did, however, hear the excitement erupting when the US scored. The pool activity was rather rowdy today but lots of fun. The whole group was out well past six this afternoon. The beach was so beautiful tonight. I could have stayed out there all night in my chair I think.
Yesterday I had my cell phone tucked in my bathing suit, waiting for a call. Later, I took Aly out into the water and happened to look down and see my phone floating in the water. I think it's pretty much ruined. grrrrr.... It's not very old either.

Turtle Spotting

A couple nights ago, Mary, Chris, Niki, the girls and I took a walk on the beach. It was such a spectacular night....breezy, no no-see-ums, stars as bright as I've ever seen them. A little ways down the beach, Chris spotted some turtle tracks in the sand with his flashlight. We quietly followed them to see if there really was a Loggerhead nesting and sure enough, we saw her. She was huge, sitting there quietly in her nest. We quickly moved away so as to not disturb her egg laying. We walked down the beach a ways and when we returned, we saw her tracks indicating that she had returned to the sea. Unfortunately, the next day, the nest was not roped off by the turtle spotters. It is likely that our presence disturbed her and she fled. What a rare sight they are to see though. We are still hoping that perhaps there are eggs under the mound but it is unlikely.

Todd left Tuesday. He was sad, I was more sad. He called last night and said he might just fly back down this weekend. No word on that yet.

Today there were two major events-the annual fishing trip and the annual pasta dinner. A few peeps came back happy after the fishing trip. Michael was lucky enough-or skilled enough-to have caught the biggest fish, winning him the pot of money. Meghan had a nice catch. But a few came back feeling dejected with a zero count for them. Better luck next time. Mary, Jodi, Gracie, and I went to breakfast. The mimosas were wonderful.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the pasta and meatballs tonight. After dinner we spent a little time on the beach but it got pretty still out there. We did find lots of live lightening whelks. The kids were thrilled to see those and anxious to throw the live guys back to live. Mary is such a great teacher when it comes to shelling. The kids are learning the names of lots of the shells from her. They follow her on the beach like she is the Pied Piper of shelling.

Sharon is coming to visit tomorrow and bringing Sparkle. We'll show her around the island a bit and maybe she can come back with her RV sometime on her own. I think she'll like it a lot.

And the Group Grows Again...

Yesterday afternoon was arrival day for "the nurses". This year that includes Meghan, Melissa, and a new nurse, Michelle. It's always fun to see them again, and to top it off, they bring the best snacks to the pool during our almost daily snack time.
Sadly, Todd leaves tomorrow. It's been so nice having him here this long so I can't complain. But we always hate it when he has to leave. He took Glenn and I to the Jacaranda for dinner tonight. Yummy as always. Last night the whole fam and friends went to Matzaluna. There is a slight possibility that I may have one family photo that is decent. It happens to be on Mary's camera though. The males in the family (with the exception of John) are big pains when it comes to photo sessions so it's never an easy task.
The weather has been incredible....hot, sunny, and there was even a teensy breeze on the beach today. We also had a fairly low tide this afternoon which made it easy to hang in the shallows with a drink. Anabelle hurried up to me when I first came out and said "Mimi, there's a party out there!" And she was surely right. There's always a party around here somewhere!

The Group Grows

More friends arrived today....The Sass Clan is here!!! We spent a great day at the beach and pool, ate in, had coffee at the beach, and everyone gathered here for a little euchre

and socializing. It's like no time has passed since we were last together.

The Fam is All Here!

Today, the rest of the crew arrived. Jodi, John, and the kids were scheduled to go to Disney today and head to the island tonight or tomorrow. Toby has been pretty much a wreck for the last couple days that "everyone" is down here but them. So last night, he was in tears because he did NOT want to go to Disney World...he just wanted to go STRAIGHT to "Florida". Gracie was in full agreement. So Jodi and John were faced with the decision-to go, or not to go. After talking to Aunt Sharon and hearing that the weather was predicted to be very poor in the Disney area today, they decided to go with the plan that the kids were pushing for....keep driving and get the heck to Sanibel FAST. So they arrived early afternoon today and for a few days, all of my family is here together.

All the kids had a great time playing in the pool and at the beach today. Toby definitely prefers the pool to the beach, but was most agreeable because he was just so happy to be here with everyone. The girls all seemed to be fine wherever they were. Toby is swimming like a fish. Anabelle and Gracie have both taken off their floaties a few times and are gaining confidence in the water. By the end of this vacation, I suspect that both of them will be pretty brave in the pool. Aly still has tubes in her ears so we are all very cautious to keep the Peach's ears away from the danger of splashes. She has the cutest little pink earplugs in to help in that effort.

Tomorrow our friends will start arriving. Right now, this island is extremely quiet. I suspect that things are going to liven up a bit very soon. We don't like other people's noise and activity, but we all love the times when all of us are together making our own noise! Not to worry...Dwight will keep us all in check. His greatest fear is getting kicked out, as though it has happened a lot in our time here. There is a new security guy here. Mary and I will work hard to get on HIS good side!!! Laurie is going to be late this year. She had the former guy wrapped around her little finger!

A Rainbow Day

The Road to Sanibel

This is Day 2 of the trip to Sanibel 2010, year # 34 for us. We are currently in the mini van on I-75 and I’m trying out my new device that the kids bought for me that gets me internet wherever I am. I’m loving it!
This is our first trip in our new mini van and I have to say, it’s a great ride. We seem to have lots of room and it’s very comfy. Todd is with us on the trip down and so far, I haven’t had to drive at all. WHOOOOPPPEEEEE! He’s a regular driving machine so between Glenn and him, I haven’t been asked to jump behind the wheel. I’ve taken a couple naps, finished a book, and watched a movie. This is the life.
Even though he was all for driving straight through to Sanibel, Todd stopped last night just before the Florida border to spend the night at a really nice Holiday Inn Express, definitely a step above what Glenn and I usually select. We had a really nice breakfast there, then went down the road for the traditional free glass of orange juice at the Welcome Center. Then we drove on down to Micanopy, another traditional stop that Glenn and I never miss. Not breaking these little traditions is definitely a sign of aging I’m afraid. Oh well.
We have kind of been in a race with Chris, Niki and the girls all the way down. They left the night before us with their fifth wheel and stopped a couple nights and at this time, they appear to be about an hour ahead of us. I’m thinking we may be able to overtake them before we get to the island but it depends on who is driving. If Todd takes over soon, I have no doubt we will beat them to the beach. Glenn and I seem to have moved into retirement mode and are rarely in a hurry to get places. We have learned to enjoy the ride to wherever we are going almost as much as the final destination. The kids are definitely not of that mindset yet! Jodi, John, and the kids will be making a mad dash for the island after a day at Disney later this week. So the whole fam will be there for a few days together.
So at this point, we are probably about 2 hours from the beach. That’s two hours driving time…we will stop at Walmart to grab some groceries before we head to the island. Not only did I watch a movie on the way, I also put in one of my home videos that had lots of photos in it from many years back of our Sanibel trips. Wow, we have had some fun times there. Seeing pics of the kids when they were so little playing on the beach brought back so many memories. Many of the photos included some very dear friends that we have made on that special island. For those of you who will be joining us this year, we will be waiting on the beach, among the shells, tropical birds, watching the dolphins, drink in hand. Hurry down…and be safe.