Florida 2013

Remember the years when I used to post daily while enjoying our Florida vacation? Well, here we are at year 7 and it's taking everything in my to update. Not that I don't want to blog about it, it's just one of those things.....I feel like you had to be there to appreciate it. I do this vacation blogging more to keep track of where we stayed and where we ate than any other reason! Those are the two most important things in my eyes when it comes to a vacation.

This year Mike's mom and Dave and my parents both joined us in Florida. We tried houses this year. Our favorite resort had increased it's prices double what it was in prior years and we just couldn't justify those prices. We all missed it though. Once you get spoiled, it's very hard to go back to regular living! I missed my pampered week in the sun.

We left on a Thursday this year. I liked that. It meant only a three day work week for me before we left and I could handle that.
A few airport pictures. We are starting to get good at this traveling thing. No more super early flights for this family. We left at 11:10.

 

 

 

 

 Our first night there we had Twins preseason tickets. It was at the Red Sox stadium (they practice down there too) and they had a new stadium. Well, we had fun seats (green monster with a bar and stools which was great for eating) but it was freezing. We literally froze in our shorts and sweatshirts! It was windy and cold. We ended up leaving around the 6th inning. I had had enough of listening to the obnoxious Sox fan in front of us anyway.

 

 

 I didn't take to many pictures. I was too cold.

 

Our house was nice. It's always stressful pulling up to your furnishings you will be living in for a week. It's a long week when it's not as nice as you hoped. Luckily, all was fine.

 

 

 

 

The second day it warmed up and we had a good time just enjoying the heat and sun. We ended up getting surprised by our sweet friends Tammy and Paul. We were supposed to have missed them by 12 hours as they were headed to Orlando from Ft Myers where they visited with Tammy's dad and step-mom. Turns out plans changed and they would be able to connect with us! Mike and I left the boys with my parents and headed over the bridge to see them for dinner. Always so nice to see them, even if for an hour.

 

 

 

 

Saturday Mike's mom and Dave arrived! Earlier we had spent some time wrangling snakes by the pool. You know, because that is what you do in Florida. The pool had drilled holes in the concrete for a child safety net. We did not have the net up, in fact it was in the garage. Mike was outside and noticed a "stick" in one of the holes. Turns out it was a little visitor coming up to sun himself.

 

Mike made small work of that lovely surprise and caught the snake only to have to repeat that performance with another one a few minutes later.

 

 

 

I am not going to pretend this didn't freak me out. My heart was racing taking these pictures and I hated to even edit them! However, I got in the pool a few times even after seeing this. I could not let this ruin my vacation. It's part of Florida to have these critters around. In Minnesota we have mosquitoes and in Florida they have geckos and snakes. We did call the management company and let them know what happened. It was Easter weekend but the assured us they would send someone out if we saw another one. We never did.

 

 

We went to Rib City for lunch. Good food! Then we hit the batting cages for a little pre-baseball swinging.

 

 

 

 

That night we went to Carrabba's for supper.  My parents had gone to visit their friends that night and we not with us for supper. It's one of our favorite Italian places. It's a chain like the Olive Garden but it's better. Plus it's happy hour until 7:00 so you get two drinks for the price of one. Cindy and I enjoyed TWO martinis! And then I ordered another round for myself. It's vacation after all. Plus, they were small.

 

 

Sunday we decided to hit the waterpark. We had never been there and before and it had some pretty serious slides the kids were excited about. What better way to spend Easter, huh?

 

 

 

Kids loved it and we all had a great time. Life guards were incredible there. Super serious!

 

That night we went to Prawnbroker for supper. This place was packed with many locals (old people). It wasn't that good. Wouldn't go back.

 

 

Monday Mike, Noah, Connor, and my dad had plans to charter a fishing boat and guide. Dave and Cindy headed to Naples and my mom and I enjoyed a day of shopping and lunch in Sanibel.

 

 

 

They didn't have great luck. Only one keeper (Noah's), but at least they tried something different.

 

 

That night we went to Marker 92 for supper. This was at our old resort. Made me miss it even more. Food wasn't as good as we remembered. I loved being back there though.

 

 

 

 

Tuesday we headed to Ft Myers Beach. The water was cold, but the kids played in it anyway!

 

 

 

 

 

That night we ate at Blue Pointe Oyster Restaurant. This was BY FAR the best place we ate at the whole week. We had never eaten there before so it was a new find! Such great food!

 

Wednesday we all went shopping in Sanibel. The women all found things they needed while the men followed along behind us, isn't that how it always goes?

 

That night we ordered in pizza. I think we were just wanting a low key evening. It was nice to let the kids play, sit around the pool, and just enjoy the evening without having to get all dressed up.

 

Thursday we had to be out of the house by 10 so we headed to the airport! It's always sad to see the week that we plan for a year come to an end. I feel for lucky to be able to enjoy this trip every year.

 

As I type this we are forecasted for a bunch of snow overnight. I also heard blowing wind, ice, and horrible roads mentioned on the news. Lovely. I think I will linger over these pictures a little longer.

 

Happy Spring!

LB