VALENTINE'S DAY SURPRISE AT BAREFOOT BEACH

Seth surprised me with my Valentine's Day present by waking me up early and taking me to Barefoot Beach so we could be one of the first people to walk the beach to find shells...so sweet! First off, the beach was gorgeous and the sky was tremendous!!! We got really excited about the shells that we were seeing....but just wait and the story will unfold....

 BAREFOOT BEACH IS THE BOMB!!!  I was so excited about all the shells....but little did I know what was waiting on down the shore for us!!! We got so freaking excited about the first Fighting Conch shell Seth found...like jumping up and down excited and then we found out that it was still the home of the conch....I was so sad....b/c the shell was beautiful! haha!  

 BEST VALENTINE'S DAY EVER!!!!

 Yes....Yes...I started running down the beach when I saw a Dolphin in the distance...I looked like a crazy lady haha!!! Yes that little black speck is a dolphin in the waves...we just walked up and down the beach following this guy as he swam really close to the shoreline.

 My feet just got wet my a rouge wave...haha!  Dolphin Sighting in the background!

 God of Wonder Beyond Our Galaxy....You are Holy!!!!

 See all the SHELLS!!!!

 Three little twiggy trees growing out of a shell!!!

 Seth found me a Sand Dollar....I told him when we moved down here that his one duty was to find me a Sand Dollar...he was so so so proud!!

 My husband looking for the perfect shell for his Valentine!

 SO WE HIT THE JACK-POT OF CONCH SHELLS!!!!  I HAVE NEVER EVER EVER SEEN SO MANY AWESOME SHELLS IN MY LIFE! It was like if you just bent down you could pick up at least 7 to 10 conch shells....however most of the conch still were habited....Seth and I were yelling out Habited or Inhabited....back and forth!!! haha! Yes, we collected all of these within 30minutes...these were all the live shells....the other ones are now in my sink getting cleaned!!!

 Horseshoe Crab...they are called a living fossil

 We found all these shells except the star fish....Best shelling experience ever!!

 Then Seth told me to dress up and we went to a nice Italian restaurant so I could have a Caprese Sandwich (my favorite from Italy)...so sweet again!!! Then he took me to the Naples shopping strip where there was a car show going on....sponsored my Ferrari!!!! We basically saw the evolution of the Ferrari walking down the street!!!

 I want this truck for my photography!

 Seth took me to watch the sunset on the beach....and he bought me this big bow headband! It takes me back to second grade when I wore a huge bow right on top of my head....LOVE IT!!!

 Naples Beach Sunset Lovin'

I LOVE MY VALENTINE HUSBAND

SUNSET ON SANIBEL ISLAND

 We played on the beach all day (but the water was way cold and it was cute to watch Seth try to get in the water)...I was making fun of him and then I felt the water WOW! It felt like Connecticut water...boo!  It was also a little dangerous...there are many Many MANY SHELLS on Sanibel Island and when you go in the water the waves crash big shells on your feet!  People just walk up and down the coast stooped over looking for that perfect shell....it is called the "Sanibel Stoop" you get addicted and can't stop looking!!!!  I got really excited as soon as we got on the beach because I found a Conch shell!!!!! I looked for days last time I was here and couldn't find a single one and within minutes I found three....I was on cloud nine!!!

The splendor of the King, clothed in majesty 

Let all the earth rejoice 

All the earth rejoice 

He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide 

And trembles at His voice 

Trembles at His voice 

How great is our God, sing with me 

How great is our God, and all will see 

How great, how great is our God 

Age to age He stands 

And time is in His hands 

Beginning and the end 

Beginning and the end

FORT MYERS BEACH

 We played beach frizz-bee  on the beautiful white sand beaches.  A storm front was moving in and we started getting a cool breeze as we watched the sunset on the Gulf of Mexico.

 What a handsome man!

Good Books on the beach is a great combo....thanks for the lounger Ed and Debbie! Love you both!!!

DEBBIE IS COMING ON DOWN!!!!!

HURRY UP DEBBIE AND COME SEE US!!!! WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR ALL OUR PLANNED EVENTS WITH YOU! LOVE YOU!

GULF COAST WORKING STATUS

Seth got off pretty much on time tonight!!!!  The first weeks are always an adjustment and getting off even close to on time isn't usually a luxury that travel nurses get (and it makes making dinner a timing trick). This hospital has really nice people, the nurse manager already wants to keep Seth as a full time employee (good thing we both love our big M-O too much), however they are on a very very old school charting system that Seth has finally gotten the hang off. It was a hard transition from top notch technology to the oldest technology....(I called Seth a "techy" and for all of you that don't know Seth just got his own email and doesn't do Facebook haha). Seth has got such an inspiring and positive attitude...he really is just a happy guy who always gives credit to the Lord for his happiness!!! He has changed my outlook on so many things and I have learned how to imitate his pure joy about life...it is kind of contagious!!!  

FLORIDA KEYS

 My hubby preparing gourmet cheese and crackers as we got ready to cuddle on the beach as the sun went down...we also played the dice game Farckle haha!

 Our view from the tent on Long Key Island at Long Key State Park.

I was walking as the tide went out looking at all the coral fossils.

 Cinnamon and Apples Instant Oatmeal is our classic camping breakfast!

 I had my first piece of KEY LIME PIE in the Florida Keys....AMAZING and Completely ADDICTED!

 This is for you Slade! haha! It was a bar on Duvall Street in Key West...Duvall street was like Burbon Street but much much cleaner (in both aspects of the word).

 We walked up and down Duvall Street looking through all the little shops.

 This was our campsite on Stock Island, it was an RV park in the city, but awesome enough it has a mangrove canal right behind us! However, we still had to pitch the tent on gravel and pay an ungodly price for the site....but that is the Keys for you! That night we went to this local fish joint called "Hogfish" where everyone knew everyone and we shared a picnic table with another couple as we ate our Hogfish sandwich and Key Lime Pie and listened to live music. The music was awesome it was a family of six kids the only girl was the lead singer (she was very good) and all the boys had a good time messing around being boys and making people laugh ( it looked like the Weasly Family up there performing...b/c they were all red heads!)

 This is what we ate, and we heard that it is caught by divers not fishing poles.

This is the SOUTHERNMOST Point of the Continental USA!!!!!

QUICK TRIP TO ST. PETERSBURG

 We rode the 25 cents trolley around the city...you can't beat that price!

 We went to this Spanish (not Mexican) restaurant where the served TAPAS...we were lost when it came to ordering. We quickly found out that the prices weren't as good as we had thought b/c the portions were TINY and you were supposed to buy at least three Tapas. Not our greatest experience, but we made a memory. So yes that look on my face is like "Really...this all I get..."

 However, their desserts were HUGE!!!

 Inverted pyramid...tourist 'trap' attraction.

Lizards as our house guests

We all know how Seth loves reptiles (yes that means alligators too... unfortunately) and well he is so lucky to have these little critters trying to become our pets. We are up to number three in our house...he loves to catch them with his big muscles...haha!

OUR CASA

We are so very blessed for our home here in Florida...the Lord always provides!!!

 This is our Kitchen....that has a DISHWASHER!!!! I love love love love it!!!

 This is my view from the kitchen, it has a window so you can see into the living area.

 Master bedroom, but we sleep in the spare...we like the mattress better and we like to snuggle haha!

 Lots of storage for our stuff

 Notice the big screen!!!

 I sit on Indy Baby everyday for a couch cover.

 This is our room...it is one of those beds that go up into the wall.

I love our Palm Trees!!!