Naples, Florida
April 2008
Had a great time in sunny Florida visiting Grandma and Grandpa Moore (also visiting Florida from Boston). The name of this beach escapes my memory but cousins Kayleigh and Ryan (who had just been there before us) left us a note to check it out before we left.
Grandpa making an amazing recovery from pancreatitis - it was so good to see him back on his feet and playing golf!
Boys... you look like ya haven't seen sun in a while! What's the matter... from Seattle? In your down time from all the swimming & golf you guys learned poker... by day 2 you were playing for marshmallows - only problem was Austin walking around the table stealing marshmallows from the piles.
Looking for Gators! We're in Gator Alley so thought we might as well do what tourists do..... take the Everglades airboat tour. The boys haven't been able to stop talking about alligators since we got here... not that Dad hasn't been hyping up gators prior to the trip or anything! Wouldn't recommend an airboat tour to anyone - Why? Didn't see a single alligator the entire 1 hr. tour, the boat driver just about tipped us over several times (acted like it was all part of the experience) & come to find out later that night at the Emergency Room (that's a different story) our ER doctor says she sees people in there all the time from airboat accidents & she'd personally never go on one.
OK then!
Leaving the airboat tour, we drove a mile up the road, got out & saw this cool gator lazing in the sun. Some nice tourists like ourselves offered to take our picture with the gator in the background - the boys had just put their gator-tooth necklaces on from back at the tour shop (another reason not to go!).... the word 'gator' is just plain fun to say... that's why I'm using the word as much as I can. Glad we left Austin back safely with Grandma & Grandpa as he could have become lunch for this gator. On the way back to the house... Andrew & I counted 47 gators along the freeway ditch.... highlight of the trip!!
ER visit! With 3 boys it's bound to happen. Don't have a picture of it (just some videotape at the local ER).... In a nutshell: DJ, Andrew and Dad messing around in the pool playing tag. DJ get's thrown by Dad over his shoulder (holding Austin in the other arm) neither of them realizing there's a concrete island right there. DJ comes out with a large gash over his left eyebrow.... rush to the ER to get 10 stiches from a great doctor. Dave felt so bad.... DJ was just happy it happened the day before we left and not when we first got there... would have really cramped the vacation for him not to be able to use the awesome pool the whole week. He told everybody at school the following Monday (still with a huge bandage over his eyebrow) "An alligator bit me - lucky I gotta out of there- psyche"
Taking a siesta under a cabana - perfect end to a great vacation! Thanks Mom & Dad - would love to make this an annual trip!
