Showing posts with label Everglades. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Everglades. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Jackson's 10th Birthday Surprise ~ Part 3

For the last post, I thought I'd share some random photos that I took using my iPhone.  Sometimes it is just easier to snap a photo with your phone than the camera.

JC had reserved a minivan, but when we got to the Hertz counter, they upgraded us to a brand new SUV!  I mean, it only had 2,000 miles on it.  Talk about being paranoid the whole weekend.
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This was our view from the condo.  We did not stay ocean front, but it was nice to have a water view.

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Even southern Florida was having unusually warm temps while were there.  It was in the low 80s and was wonderful!
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Each afternoon, we spent time at the outdoor pool!
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We stayed on Marco Island.  It is beautiful...more populated than I had imagined, but still pretty.  I snapped this on the bridge as we were crossing over.
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On Saturday afternoon (after the Everglades experience), we headed out to the beach.  The sand was unbelievably white, but it was much harder and more compact than I was expecting.
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Emma and Jackson both got in the ocean.  It was COLD though...a lot colder than we were expecting.

Saturday night we really just stayed around the condo, and JC got take out.  It was a beautiful night, and I was fortunate enough to sit out on the screened in porch reading a favorite magazine as the sun began to set.  It was heaven!
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I hope that we created some amazing memories for Jackson.  We try to convey to the kids just how fortunate they are.

We all had an amazing trip and spent some wonderful family time together.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Jackson's 10th Birthday Surprise ~ Part 2

While out on our airboat tour, the captain let each of the kids sit in the Captain's Chair!  He also taught them how to steer the boat.  Jackson got to go first!

capn jack

capn emma

capn B

At the end of the hour, they each got to hold a 3' long baby alligator.

gator jack 2

gator jak

gator B

Even Emma was willing to give it a try...

gator emma hand off

gator emma

It was all fun and games until that little guy started to squirm!
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Emma quickly decided she no longer wanted it in her hands!

These were two of my favorite parts of the day!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Jackson's Surprise 10th Birthday Trip ~ Part 1

Last Thursday night our three children went to bed thinking they had to get up and go to school the next day!

Well...

We woke them up at 5:45 am and told them that they had 30 minutes to get ready and pack so we could head to the airport.

naples sign

We flew straight to Ft. Myers FL, and then drove down to Marco Island for the weekend.

Jackson is our camo-wearing, nature-loving boy so we did a half day tour of the Everglades National Park and the Big Cypress National Preserve.

airboats

We took an hour airboat ride through the mangrove jungle, and it was really quite entertaining.
mangrove wide

turn

The mangrove trees are also called walking trees.  It looks like they are standing up on legs.

walking roots

airboat in water

jack again

I think Jackson had a great time.

We saw many native and migratory birds including the Great Blue Heron.
blue heron

Blue Crabs
crabs

blue crab web

Raccoons...
raccons

And of course, alligators.
big gator

gator

The day that we did the airboat tour was also the starting day of the Python Challenge in the Everglades.  We did not see any Burmese Pythons or hunters, however.


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