IS FORT MYERS REALLY A FORT???

For all who wondered if Fort Myers is really a military fort...the answer is it was...read on...

"Fort Myers was built in 1850 as a military fort to fend off Seminole Indians that were massacring the area's few settlers. It was named after Col. Abraham C. Myers, who was stationed in Florida for seven years and was the son-in-law of the fort's founder and commander. In 1858, after years of elusive battle, Chief Billy Bowlegs and his warriors were persuaded to surrender and move west, and the fort was abandoned. Billy's Creek, which flows into the Caloosahatchee River and runs between Dean Park and Fort Myers Broadcasting, was named after a temporary camp where Billy Bowlegs and his men awaited ships to take them west.

The fort was abandoned until 1863 when a small number of Union troops re-occupied the fort during the Civil War. In 1865 the fort was attacked unsuccessfully by a very small group ofConfederates. After the war, the fort was again deserted.

The first settlers arrived in 1866, but it wasn't until 1882 when the city experienced a significant influx of settlers. By 1885, when Fort Myers was incorporated, it was the second largest city after Tampa on Florida's west coast south of Cedar Key even larger than Clearwater and Sarasota, also growing cities at the time."

We made it in to Fort Myers late last night, it was a very uneventful road trip out here...and that is how we like it :-) On our way home from Connecticut we hit a snowstorm and my Honda on the snow is not a good combo and then add all the weight in the back....horrible, but Seth did a great job driving and the Lord took care of us!  We actually have a house! I told Seth last night that we have never lived in a place without someone under us or beside us or with us!  WE ARE SO EXCITED about the house for many many reasons...it is so neat how the Lord just paves the way for you....plus the house has an oven, DISHWASHER, and WASHER and DRYER!!!!!!!!!  Yes I am an excited lady!!!  It also has CABLE (I am capslocking that because that is what Seth would be excited about if he was writing this haha)! Today we are going to meet our Landlord, and Seth is going to study for his HUGE TEST tomorrow (that he isn't worried about but I would be freaking out about!!!) PLEASE PLEASE be praying for Seth tomorrow! We also are going to get the lay of the land and find out where he is going to be working and the best route to get there...and I am sure cleaning, laundry, unpacking, and Wal-Mart are on my list of To-Do's!  Once I unpack the camera I will start the photo shoot of the house!!!!  Come down and see us...we have a spare bedroom!!!

CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR IN NYC

 On the Metro North Railway ....our last trip to NYC....I was a happy camper b/c I just submitted my last assignment for graduate school!!! I was Free and ready to relax!

 We ate at this pizza joint in Brooklyn that ALWAYS has a super long line, and we were ready to wait out in the cold for it....but a miracle there was no line and we got seated right away.

 View from Brooklyn

 CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR AT RADIO CITY!  This was a great way to celebrate graduation and our grand finale to our trip to Connecticut!

 I loved how they did a beautiful reenactment of the Nativity...I was proud of Radio City to get to the real meaning of Christmas!

Red Velvet Rockette Cupcake from Magnolia's Bakery!!!! So Good!!

 Good Ole H&M...new addiction!!!

SALLY'S PIZZA WITH THE EDMONDS

 We had Jeremy, Jenn, and Little Addie over after Church to play games and eat lunch....also because they wanted to share a New Haven treasure with us...Sally's Apizza!!! I guess they work on their sauce all day and don't open until 5pm each day...craziness!!!  We got there really early that was the big touch men could stand in the cold to wait in line that way we could get in first...if you don't make the first cut to get into Sally's you can plan on waiting about and hour OUTSIDE...and people do it for this pizza!!!!

 Cute Family...such a blessing to us while we were in New Haven.  Jeremy was our teacher for the Dave Ramsey class that we took at Frontline Church.

THE PIZZA WAS AMAZING!!!  I THINK IT MIGHT BE MY FAVORITE! And let us tell you we have ate more pizza up here in this area than anywhere else in our lives...Pizza is everywhere here...that and Dunkin' Donuts!! Thanks Jeremy and Jenn for letting us in on this New Haven Legacy!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FREEDOM TRAIL & CALEB STICA!!

 Caleb was a great tour guide on our way into Boston! He took us through a beautiful graveyard with a pretty view of the skyline that is right next to his apartment.  He then navigated us to Boston using public transportation...very gracefully I might add :-)

 Seth and Caleb posing as Harvard students....not really but that is what it looks like. I asked Seth as we were walking through the campus..."What do you think the average IQ is here?? If they could only just share some of those IQ points...they don't need them all they are plenty smart!"

 It is destiny I was supposed to go to Harvard...right?!?! :-)

 This is where Franklin's parents are buried.  Caleb said that this graveyard looked like your classic Halloween spooky graveyard due to the fallen over gravestones and crooked markers.

 This was one of the first pupits I think....something like that.

 People would have to rent these church cubicles each year, they were made for different size families and they had high walls to keep the cold out. Some families would bring heaters to keep feet warm and their pets to church.

 FREEDOM TRAIL!! This is where the Boston Massacre began...and the Declaration of Independence was read from the balcony of the State House.

 BEAUTIFUL HUGE Christmas tree...what a treat!

 Boston Skyline

 Paul Revere's House...this part of the Freedom Trail was so quaint. It reminded us of Old Quebec.

 I was craving my STARBUCKS EGGNOG LATTE all day and finally I got one and it was perfect.  Caleb and I sat and drank our coffee ( he gave in an got a peppermint latte even though he isn't a big fan of coffee....however he was pleasantly surprised about the Christmas wonderfulness that holiday flavor of coffee gave his taste buds). We talked about Christmas traditions and what we usually do for Christmas and what people in Africa do...he just got back from a two year Peace Corp assignment in Africa teaching science.  So of course I was peppering him with tons and tons of questions!!!!

I wore the WRONG WRONG WRONG pants that day, because it RAINED RAINED RAINED all day and the wide leg jeans dragged (due to my short Robinson legs) and yes by the end of the day I was soggy from the KNEES down....I was ready for dry socks and pants!!!

I AM NOW A GRADUATE OF MIZZOU WITH MY MASTERS IN TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION !!! WOOT WOOT!

I AM DONE!! It was been a fun year full of adventure, but also full of school work! The Lord couldn't have planned things out better for Seth and I...I give all the glory to him for this Master's Degree.  I have learned so much and I am ready to get into the classroom to put these new ideas and skills to work!  Seth made a funny comment he said, "So I guess you are now officially more educated than me" and I was like " I guess I am...." and don't you know what I pull that one liner out now whenever silly things come up like what movie is better or if it is colder in the house or outside ( we don't run our heat to save money...we just wear lots of clothes...haha) and I now I get to say well " I guess since I am 'more educated' I have to be right..." But, Seth has been so amazing through this school year....and I just want to say thank you Baby for putting me through and letting me get my education!!!  Go MIZZOU!!!!

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS...WE ARE GETTING SENTIMENTAL AND MISSING MISSOURI!!

Seth and I were talking about how all these Christmas songs talking about being at home are really hitting home with us...."I'll Be Home for Christmas..." and "There is No Place like Home for the Holidays..." We miss our family can't wait to be home!! Love you all more! 






Oh, there's no place like 
home for the holidays 
'Cause no matter how far away you roam 
When you pine for the sunshine 
Of a friendly face 
For the holidays, you can't beat 
Home, sweet home 

I met a man who lives in Tennessee 
And he was headin' for Pennsylvania 
And some home made pumpkin pie 
From Pennsylvania folks a travelin' down 
To Dixie's sunny shore 
From Atlantic to Pacific, gee 
The traffic is terrific 

Oh there's no place like home 
For the holidays, 'cause no matter 
How far away you roam 
If you want to be happy in a million ways 
For the holidays, you can't beat 
Home, sweet home 

I met a man who lives in Tennessee 
And he was headin' for Pennsylvania 
And some home made pumpkin pie 
From Pennsylvania folks a travelin' down 
To Dixie's sunny shore 
From Atlantic to Pacific, gee 
The traffic is terrific 

Oh there's no place like home 
For the holidays, 'cause no matter 
How far away you roam 
If you want to be happy in a million ways 
For the holidays, you can't beat 
Home, sweet home 
For the holidays, you can't beat 
Home, sweet home 

HARRY POTTER IMAX AT MINDNIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seth and I went and was the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 last night!  It is such a fun experience to see all the hype. I thought the movie did a great job trying to follow the book, there was two romantic scenes....that I thought were over the line for Harry Potter (not from the book). But over all I was jumping, and squeezing Seth's hand throughout most of the movie....very intense!  Can't wait for the last one!!

P.S. Neville Longbottom is my Hero!!!

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Birthday in NEW YORK CITY!!!

 After literally running to make the train (due to lack of parking spaces/ lack of parking attendant to pay) we slid right between those about to shut doors, and began getting excited for our next three days in the Big Apple!  We got off in Grand Central and looked up at the new LED lights that represent stars in the constellation on the ceiling. We walked to Andrew's work (Seth looked like an Ozarks Kid...which a huge backpacking bag on his back....I think he took a few people out!) to store our luggage for a day! Andrew was an incredible host, he really made our trip so easy and enjoyable!!

 Took the subway to the Natural History Museum, Seth was hungry so he stopped at a cart vendor and got Lamb on rice....pretty good!

 Crazy weird Monkey....I think it looks like my little brother....Here is a shout out to you Marcus!!! Love you too!!! haha!

 This museum that we are in is the museum from the movie "Night in the Museum"

 This is the realtive to the Grizzly, the Brown Bear....it is bigger but not nearly as aggressive!

 JESSI!!!!!! PUMAS, COUGARS, MOUNTAIN LIONS....OH MY!!!!

 I wish I had this collection when I teach Biodiversity to my future Biology Students!!!!!

 Picture this crazy huge crab nipping at your toes.....it freaked me out!

I am in my rainforest!  SAVE THE RAINFORESTS!!!

 Waiting for Andrew at Columbus Circle...This is one of Andrew's favorite spots in the city. 

 Yes....he is too sweet!

 So for all who know Andrew...you all know that his vocabulary is as vast as the stars in the sky (That is some mild Andrew lingo). Anyway...Josh Agee guess who won??? I was so excited to beat Mr. Andrew at Scrabble, it should be a huge compliment to him!!  Granted....he had a word on there that I thought was spanish, but it was apart of the English language and I had some good three-to-four letter words...haha! He might have just let me win due to it was my birthday week, but I will take it as a great present!  

 This is my Hillbilly husband in the big city, and yes those are my boots strapped to the outside...just classic!! 

 We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, we were on our way to South Seaport to get Broadway tickets half off!

 South Seaport

 Ray's Pizza in the Italian District....Thanks Jeremy for the advice to go there....it was great!

 Chinatown...I got to put to work my bartering skills I just learned at our Dave Ramsey class!  I got some scarves and headbands!

 CHINATOWN!

 GETTO

 MARY POPPINS!  It was practically perfect (for all of you who have seen the show!) Seth and I absolutely loved this show, she were so impressed and entertained! We got great seats...just seven rows back! We saw the actors spit and sweat....it was awesome!!! Perfect Birthday Present!

 We are on the subway back to Brooklyn...our tummies told us we needed a piece of cheesecake on Times Square before we went back to Andrew's apartment, but our feet were telling us a different story...tummy won out on that debate!

Yes, I have fallen in love with Eggnog Lattes from Starbucks!

 TOP OF THE ROCK! We went to the top of the Rockefeller tower and got a beautiful view of the sunsetting over the city!  It was breathtaking to see all those lights! It was like Christmas!!!

 Empire State Building