Sanibel

Heaven: Sand on my toes, a million dollar view and a good book. Does it get better than this?
J doing the "Sanibel Stoop".

My sister said this made my legs look long.

Ah, to dream of having long legs like hers!

S and his Gulf find.

Water, sand and Lilly.

Our new family member. We named him Frasier.

If you need a place to escape, check out Casa Ybel Resort. Fabulous!
We will be back.

Tarpon Springs - OPA!

I had been to Tarpon Springs thirty years ago (that statement makes me feel old!) and I knew I had to take the kids there. First on the agenda -lunch.
and dessert! Oh the problems picking just one.

We picked out sponges and saw the big fish trophies.

And the owner is an adorable man who gave words of advice to my boys, saying "Take care of your mother, because she will take care of you her entire life." His own mother is 93, and he said he always worries that when he calls her, he will get bad news. I told him, given that I recently lost my own mother, I would give anything to be able to call my mom.

The boats filled with sponges.

The town is sort of a tourist trap, but the sponge docks are interesting, given that we don't have anything like it in Wisconsin. And, of course, the baklava makes it all worth while.

Florida, beginning with Disney

Welcome to Florida!
The Grand Floridian was fabulous! We loved it!
Beautiful, wonderful music in the lobby, helpful and friendly staff (or cast members, as they are referred).



Getting spit on by a pretend camel.
Must be a boy thing.

J HAD to have a turkey leg for lunch.

Cooling off. It was hot and humid!

On Safari. Also, while in the Animal Kingdom I got pooped on by a flying bird. I love nature!

Taken during the Dessert Buffet and great seating for the fireworks.

Mary Poppins was practically perfect in every way.

Using his muscles, J tries to pull the Sword from the Stone.

S and Daddy driving!

Trying to not make a mess... at least he tried!

One our way to Mickey's BBQ!

In full disclosure, I don't really "get" the draw of Disney. I know lots of people that love it , and go frequently. But once you've been there, well... you've been there, done that. I talked to a man, from Texas, whose family were on their third trip to Disney World in thirteen months. What about the rest of the country? Niagara Falls, the Outer Banks, Mount Rushmore? It is very clean and organized, everyone is incredibly helpful, but I never want to go back.

Also, I was appalled by the amount of piercings and tattoos. And I must be really out of the loop, because when did bra straps become a fashion statement?

Marvelous Macon

We saw this house the last time we were in Macon, and fell in love with it. It was for sale then, and the new owners have done a great job.

The famous Johnston-Felton-Hay House.

B wants the turret. We love Macon, just driving the streets, admiring the homes.

Lunch in Atlanta

I planned the trip so we would land in Atlanta at lunch time. I had to eat at Buckhead Diner. We ate here several years ago, and I had the best steak I have ever eaten.
These are to die for- potato chips with bleu cheese. I would have licked the plate, if no one was around.

My lunch, another perfect steak. I didn't have room for the white chocolate banana pudding, but I've had it before, and you should definitely try it.

The lunch was wonderful, and we saw a movie star to boot - from my all time favorite movie, The Godfather. Robert Duvall was sitting in the next booth.

Florida or bust

My entire wardrobe of Lilly is packed and we are off to two weeks in Florida!

Disney, Clearwater, Sanibel, Everglades, the Keys, Miami, Palm Beach...

We'll see it, and eat it, all!

Dreaming of Vacation

We are taking a two week driving vacation to Florida this summer. I know it isn't the best time of the year, but with school, it is the only opportunity to spend that much time to see the state. We are driving the entire loop of the state, going to Orlando (this is only for the kids), then headed to the St. Petersburg area (Hi, Aunt Judy!)
onto Sanibel and the Casa Ybel Resort seen above, down to the Everglades and Keys and back up the east side of the state. Of course, I will be sporting and searching for Lily the entire time. Any suggestions on what we HAVE to see? Places to eat? Historic homes to tour?

Yellowstone, Old Faithful and Devil's Tower

Old Faithful Inn - beautiful
Plan early, if you want to stay here. I was too late, although we did eat in it's dining room.

S and Flat Stanley see Old Faithful blow.

Go early in the morning, there are less crowds.

We drove all over Yellowstone. Saw Bison, elk, prairie dogs and moose.

There are waterfalls, geysers, mud pots and mountains. The scenery is phenomenal.

A double rainbow at Yellowstone.

S (above) and J (below) were happiest when they were skipping rocks.

We passed through some mighty small towns.

I missed taking a picture of the town with a population of 10!

Devil's Tower

(there was a guy climbing it when we were there)

S loved the Sarsaparilla

Jackson Hole and Grand Tetons

Breakfast to go from The Bunnery, eaten in the town square
Our breakfast guest, who was so fun to watch

Amazing views

The antler archways,

which are on the four corners of the town square in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. All these antlers were collected by the Boy Scouts in the 50's.