Sanibel Island

It's hard to believe now, but this time a week ago we were sitting on the beach in Florida.

We had a great trip with Mom and our little family to Sanibel Island, Florida. The weather was fantastic and Grace got to fly and see the ocean both for the first time. It was a first for Bryon too. He'd been to the ocean around Galvaston Texas years ago but had never actually swam or been in the surf or on the beach to play.

My Mom and Dad had taken Mike and I to Sanibel when we were little but I don't remember it. I DO remember opening up our giant container of seashells when we got home (okay, so probably a few weeks later) and the smelled SO BAD we ended up throwing them away.

In retrospect, I'd say there were a few live ones in there.

Grace is quite the little naturalist and LOVES picking and collecting stuff so we figured seashells were right up her alley. She picks through the gravels in our driveway and around our garden every spare moment finding little clam and mussel shells here at home.



We certainly weren't disappointed! There was a ridiculous amount of shells on all the beaches. We found fans (scalloped shells), augers, sharks eyes, turkey wings, lady's slippers, conchs, welks, kitty paws, worms, coral and so much more.



We even managed to not get too sunburned thanks to an entire bottle of Ocean Potion sunscreen.

We saw dolphins and manatees and shorebirds by the dozens.



The condo was at Sanibel Moorings (picked off the Internet) and we were NOT disappointed at all. It was immaculate and RIGHT ON THE BEACH. We picked 1112 which was on the second story and had a spectacular view of the ocean from our porch.

Right after we arrived in Ft. Myers we stopped at a Publix grocery store and bought $200 worth of food and beverages for the week. We fixed every meal in the condo's fully appointed kitchen as well as lots of snacks and only ate out once for Dairy Queen ice cream and the last night at Cheeburger, Cheeburger on Sanibel.

Grace swam in the ocean and the pool EVERY DAY and was a wrinkled up little fish. We took her life jacket with us so she had free reign of the water.

We went on an afternoon Dolphin Cruise boat ride one day and Bryon went on a chartered fishing trip another while we girls shopped.

I read two books and we all relaxed!

It was so nice.



The best part... I wasn't the fattest Mom on the beach, ha! It was a great family destination and so clean and friendly.

I sure hope the oil slick never makes it there.

Many, many, many more photos here http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisamedley/sets/72157623925169133/ if you are interested in seeing the whole thing :)