The Everglades Day 5

Monday we had planned to go shark tooth hunting at the beach, but everyone was burnt and burnt out.  So we took a break.  We went shopping, went to the pool and let the kids practice with their snorkeling gear, and got ready for our big trip to Key Largo.  On Tuesday we got up and headed down to the Keys.  On the way we stopped in the Everglades to go on an airboat ride and check out the gators.  There weren't nearly as many gators out as there are during the winter, but we still saw a few.

This guy was just chilling.

SCARY!!

Paul and Makayla getting ready for the airboat ride.

Here we go!

Yea, don't ever take a baby on an airboat ride.  It's not a good idea. It was really loud and windy and poor Gabe didn't like the ride or the earplugs he had to wear.

Mark looking cool when it was like 100 degrees outside.

Fun things growing in the trees.

After the ride we went to this gator show.  This guy was great.

Talking about gators- I guess they just lay around more than 90% of the time.

The show was a lot of fun.  A couple of weeks ago one of the tour boat captains got his hand bit off by a gator!  He was splashing the water and feeding the gator.   I guess that's not a good idea.

Emma

Ellie

Makayla

Jared

Derek

Paul

Kyle

Malinda

Me and Gabe

Mark

Me and Gabe again

After the show we walked around and saw more gators. There was a crocodile that was trying to attack us and kept hitting the fence, it was kinda scary!

Alligator in Child's Pose

After the everglades we stopped at a fun fruit stand and bought a bunch of fruit.

Overheard in the Hallway

Ellie and Emma were in the bedroom when I heard the following conversation...

Ellie:  Emma, have you figured out the secret to getting boys to do what you tell them?

Emma:  Nope

Ellie: Me neither

Well girls, let me know if you find the secret out, cause I'd like to know too!

Day 3 Sunday

This day was beautiful.  We went to church, came home, took naps, went on a drive to see all the huge houses, and then went to the beach to watch the sun set. 

Remember all those houses I saw on the boat tour with my sister, Julia?  Well, we took a tour of the same houses from land.

I love driving around looking at the houses.

I thought these colors were so fun!  In Florida you can get away with colors like this!

I liked these colors too!

I love these trees!  I expect to see a fairy flying out of one of them one of these days.

This house was HUGE!! The light fixtures out front cost more than my first born son.  Darren says if he lived here he would wear a sword on his belt all the time and make people call him Master. 

At the Naples Pier to watch the sunset.  I don't think the weather could have been more perfect!

Mark, Makayla, and Jared

Malinda and Jared

Makayla

Ellie and Emma- soul mates.

Me and Darren

Mark and Malinda

Mark and Derek

Mark's family

This picture cracks me up.

To add to the beauty of the sunset- we had a full moon start rising behind us.  It was sooooo beautiful!

The Pier

Yes, it was as romantic as it looks

Makayla holding up the moon

Paul has an idea!

Day 2 Clam Pass

Yes, I am still blogging about our vacation with Mark and Malinda. I am gonna get it done the next couple of days.  So, on the 2nd day we started out by going to Clam Pass.  It is a totally fun beach that you get to ride a tram to get to.  .

We started out the day by seeing this guy in the river by the parking lot

Malinda with Derek and Jared

The boys just played and played

Ellie and Emma loved body surfing.  They rode wave after wave for hours!

Mark playing with Jared.  We were at the beach for 4 or 5 hours- it was so much fun!

Malinda had a great time building a sandcastle.

The kids just played...

And played...

and played..

And played. 

Great day at the beach!!

That night we had an adults only date, including Gabe.  We went to one of our favorite restaurants- Coconut Jacks! 

Me and Darren!

Mark and Malinda!

So, we went to dinner at coconut Jack, then we went to a movie at the Silverspot (oh yea, the movie theater with huge leather chairs) and then decided to get Creme Brulee for desert at a different restaurant.  Now that what I call a night out!  Gabe wasn't to happy about something.