Gulf Shores, Alabama

After getting into Alabama six hours later than we were supposed to because of snow in Minneapolis we finally made it to the beach the next day. Andrew was a super trooper on the plane and we got several compliments about how well behaved he was. He didn't complain once! AJ was so excited that it was 'summertime' in AL! It was beautiful everyday we were there- high 70s and sunny. What more could you ask for? We played on the beach and in the pool everyday.

This is what a kid who loves the sand and driving his trucks looks like! The sand was so soft and I just wanted to scoop it up and bring it home with me!

He didn't want the waves to 'get' him!

At Lulu's Restaurant owned by Lucy Buffett, Jimmy's sister. This restaurant was so cool- it had the beach volleyball, a plank walk, a big mound of sand with a ton of buckets and shovels to play with, bean bag toss... The perfect beach bar & restaurant (even though it was on the marina/lagoon).

We played miniature golf. AJ was continually 4 holes ahead of me, grandma and poppa. Funny little story about that hat. I forgot to bring his and the first day he was getting a little too much sun (I missed some spots with the sunscreen) so my parents took him to get a hat (I was stuck in bed with the stomach flu that day). They couldn't find a fishing hat except for that one that says 'Culf Shores'. Don't you think they would have sent that shipment back?

Riding the 3 rides he could at the amusement park. How cute is he in that car?

Being the train conductor and ringing the bell on the train ride.

At the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo we got to hold a baby kangaroo! How cool is that? Her name was Olivia and she was 4 months old. Her pouch was the size of a quarter. She was so soft and snuggly!

See Olivia's boyfriend under the bench? He is going after AJ because he's moving in on his woman! :) He just sniffed his shoe!!

There's a nice picture of the three of us!

AJ is laughing at the pouch.

AJ loves feeding the goats. Goats freak mom out with their freaky goat eyes.

I love the look on his face in this shot!

After the zoo, we went to Lambert's Cafe. It was a really fun place that throws hot rolls at you and serves entirely too much food! The fried potatoes and onions were so yummy but I could still taste them at 9 that night!

Captiva Island, Florida

We went to Captiva Island, Florida the first week of May.

This was all packed before I went to check my email downstairs...

At the beach. It was 87 degrees and sunny everyday that we were there. It snowed 3 inches here on the 7th.

Playing in the waves

I found a starfish the first day we went to the beach! It was still alive so we sent it back into the sea.

Eating a (sandy) snack

He was happy as can be digging in the sand. We went to the beach in the morning and the pool in the afternoon. The afternoon sand was too hot to stand on!

He is fearless in the water. That's good and bad for momma!

Gramma and AJ. Steve's parents came down from Gainesville and spent a couple of days with us.

Gramma and AJ are talking to Fred the parrot. Fred didn't talk back. The guys are playing golf with my Godfather, Chuck, while we went to this place with birds and some other animals. Then we went to a little craft shop and AJ made a bracelet for me for Mother's Day. I love it. I wear it everyday.

Talking to the gecko. The gecko didn't talk back either.

Before a Tarpon Bay boat tour with Gramma and Poppa.

With Poppa.

Captiva was a great place to relax and just enjoy each other's company. It is a great place for families. Andrew had a ball playing in the sand and ocean and pool. We rented a 3 bedroom condo from the owner and it was wonderful! We look forward to a return trip!

Beantown

In early May, Steve & I took a long weekend to check out Boston. We had a really nice time- good sites, good eats & good weather. I did blog about Boston already on my other blog, Indigo Star Fairy, and most of the pictures are the same but there is a little better commentary... We did all the typical things that there are to do in Beantown- Fenway, Duck Tour, Boston Public Library, Boston Public Gardens (loved it!!), Freedom Trail, Newbury Street, USS Constitution, Harvard, Hah-vahd Square...
Trinity Church

Steve & I at Faneuil Hall in front of a statue of Samuel Adams. OMG, a picture of Steve & I and no Andrew in sight! In fact a whole post without Andrew...

The very cool old graves at one of the many cemeteries along the Freedom Trail. The artwork is kind of kitschy and very neat. Is that disrespectful to the dead that I think the artwork is 'kitschy'?

Samuel Adams grave. All the rocks on top are a Jewish tradition to show that you have paid your respects. Flowers die, stones don't.

Boston Public Gardens. Steve & I ended up in here 3 timesin 4 days- it was such a cool park! The tulips were (obviously) in bloom and there are over 9000 in the Gardens.

They look like they are glowing which I think is kind of cool!!

Fenway! Yay! Every baseball fan should get to Fenway. And, of course, Wrigley!

This was on the Harvard campus. Absolutely adorable! It made me smile. :)

UF Museum of Natural History

I have to admit I thought Andrew was going to be bored with a capital B at the museum but he really liked it. We constantly heard 'oooooohs!' coming from him. He particularly liked the skeletons (especially the woolly mammoth) and the shark jaws. He surprises me everyday!

Steve and Andrew check out what goes on when wood rots.

Andrew was absolutely mesmerized by these. OK, we all were. There were 6-8 reconstructed jaws there. They found the teeth in the St. John's River (Jacksonville) and Cooper River (I don't remember where this river is) and then did a cast of the projected size of the jaw. Criminy, they are BIG and really scary!

The big 'Oooooooh!' of the day was the woolly mammoth.

I just really like this picture. :)

Zoo

Shame on me- I didn't take out my camera once when we were at the zoo last Sunday in Gainesville. Luckily, Steve's Dad captured a couple of cute pictures of a pooped out Andrew. I think he liked the playground (and swinging a golf club in the front yard) better than the zoo.

The Playground in Gainesville, FL

When we were in Florida this past week, it wasn't warm. Just so everyone knows and isn't jealous.