Adolescent Alligators and the Adorable Angels who Admired them.

We have found so many things to do with ourselves that cost little to nothing since moving to our new town, that I decided to share a little series called Free Fun in Florida. This is partly aimed at tempting friends and family members to visit us down here in our little corner of tropical paradise, the sooner the better. Not least amongst these inducements are the little angel-faces pictured below that will accompany you on all these delightful (and economical) excursions.

Meet your tour guides:

This is your senior tour guide. Her vast knowledge of every topic
will be sure to enlighten you.

Tour Guide No. 2: Listen closely or you may be confused into thinking that "dragonflies"
are actually called "american flags" or vice versa. Watch out, lizards she hands you
may not actually be alive.

Tour guide No. 3: If you are on the timid side, stick close to Ingrid.
She will be sure to warn you if there is any hint of the slightest danger.

But don't expect her to share her favorite safe perch with you.

Are you ready? Let's go!

Tucked away in the middle of a suburban jungle,
where you'd least expect to find it,
and only 15 minutes from our house,
there is a large preserve area where you can see all kinds of
Florida wildlife at very close range.

We have been here once before, and on that occasion we very easily spotted several full-grown alligators and myriads of turtles and fish. On this visit we found no adult alligators, but scores of "toddler" alligators. The cute little tykes swam around so cunningly, snapping at minnows and grinning sardonically at passerby. Still sporting their baby stripes, but looking in every other way like miniature versions of their parents, they may be small,
but they most definitely are NOT cute and cuddly.

This guy was about the size of a miniature yorkie. Precious, isn't he?



Alligators are an animal that I just can't summon up any affectionate feelings for.
But as a transplanted Michigan girl, they still hold a certain fascination for me,
and the novelty of seeing them in our own back yard
(No, not literally - Calm down Aunt Robin!) still hasn't worn off.



Does this seem a little ho-hum to you?
Don't worry, you're in good company.

Total Cost: $0

Eat your heart out (before the alligators do).

{it was a very} happy anniversary

Thanks to our good friend (and cousin-in-law) Lesley, we were able to have Friday evening and Saturday morning to ourselves for our anniversary. Its been a long time since we had one of those dates.

First we enjoyed

the sights

around downtown

St. Petersburg

and took

lots

of pictures

of

each other

Then we went home and talked about how wierd it was to pull up in our driveway at nighttime and walk in the house without having to carry in any children, fix them a snack, and tuck them in for the night.

We decided to get up early the next morning and watch the sunrise, since we wanted to maximize our time together, and we've never watched a sunrise together. Seriously never.

So we headed to the Skyway fishing pier area before dawn

and watched

the sun

rise

I can't wait to do it again.

And then Jessie made me pose for a million pictures.

I like having my picture taken when I'm pregnant. Its so fun to look back and remember, and we hardly have any of my previous pregnancies.

I love living in Florida

Since I had been so cooperative, he even let me take some of him.

Is it just me, or does this guy look like he eats a lot of studly salads?

Obviously we aren't very skilled at taking arms-extended-self-portraits.

photography again

I just wanted to post some of my favorites from three photoshoots Jessie has done recently. He's soaking up the experience that he's been afforded by friends recently. He still has a lot to learn, and a lot of equipment to obtain before he's willing to hang out his shingle. In the meantime he just enjoys his hobby a lot.

The Agnone Family: a wonderful coast guard family from our church, who just last week picked up and moved all the way to California! (insert sadness here) They wanted some images by which to remember their tenure in sunny Florida.

Justin and Robin Edmiaston: finally got some engagement photos of this lovely couple, who have since been married. It was fun to attend their wedding last week and see Jessie's work adorning the tables at their reception!

The Burket Family: I had already previously posted a link to Leslie's blog where she had these posted, but why not look at them again since they're so attractive ;).