Estuaries Day/Birthday

Friday was the yearly Estuaries Day in Eastpoint, Florida. (an hour and 20 minute drive) We were trying to remember if this was our 3rd or 4th year going? I guess I need to look back in my photo's! 

Even though the kids are older, they still enjoy going, if just to be with their friends! :)

As has been tradition the last two years, we go down a little early and cross the bridge to St. George Island to get subs at Subway and eat down on the beach.

When we got to Subway, we saw a Mowery Elevator truck in the parking lot. We know quite a few employees from there, so we wondered if it was someone we knew. Sure enough, Keith Yoder and Caleb Willis were inside eating! They were surprised to see someone from home way down there! :)
They invited us to come see the beach house they were working at and offered for us to eat on the 3rd floor deck overlooking the beach! We couldn't resist. Scott Cloud was also working at that house! It was interesting seeing how they put elevators in!!

Lunch on the deck of a HUGE beach house....

Lovely view!!

The stairs going down the side of the house.....this house slept 40 some people!! I'm thinking....family vacation!! ;)

From there we headed back across the bridge to the Estuary Reserve for a day of learning and fun!

Touch tanks....touching a stingray.

Candra and her kids....

Sarah Beth touching a starfish.

Teaching us how crabs shed their shells...so cool!

Have you ever seen a pelican on a leash? Me neither! :)

Her name was Doofy.When they rescued her after a hurricane, she had a twitch in her head and that's how she got her name. The twitch has since went away!! 

A dead lionfish....they are a venomous predator fish that they are trying to get rid of in the Gulf. Researchers are encouraging people to get rid of them if they are caught!

Beach front....

It was a lovely breezy day! :)

~ Anna, Shauna and Tamara ~

I called this a kissy face fish! He would come swimming over all puckered up and lay sideways like he was trying to see you....it was funny! :)

Caden :)

The whole crew....minus one!

Riverbend Home Educators represent!!

The teens wanted to go walk the beach on St. George Island when we were done at Estuaries Day, so 4 of us families stayed and let the kids walk while we sat at the playground on the beach with the little kids!

St. George Lighthouse

Watching the kids play on the playground.....Denise's husband Troy works on the island so he met us there when he got off work. 

<3 Troy & Denise <3

Here come the teens......

One of the other Dad's who was working nearby came, and he and Troy took all 23 kids back to Troy & Denise's house.....then the Mom's took me out for supper....it was my 37th birthday! :) 

We ate supper at The Blue Parrot right there on the island!

We got to eat out on the deck overlooking the beach!

My dear friends.....they blessed me by paying for my yummy supper of crab stuffed shrimp, grits and cole slaw!! Sometimes as a Mom you just don't get celebrated much, so this was a treat for me! :)

The view from my seat!!

Kay, Denise, Brandy and Denise's daughter Cortney

Ready to head back to Sumatra to make sure Denise's house was still in one piece and pick up our kids! :) (They had a blast!!)

It was a great day!! And it was great coming home to my hubby!! I missed him! :)

Today, he took our family out for lunch to Sonny's BBQ to celebrate my birthday! It was a nice break not to worry about Sunday lunch!! :) I'm enjoying my 30's and still have a few more years before the big 4-0....I'll enjoy every moment I can! :)

This afternoon Dan decided to go for a run, even though it was drizzly. He asked if I wanted to go along. I wanted to make an excuse, but I had been thinking about starting back on the C25K program, and decided what better time to start? So here goes..... :)