To Florida and Back

As some of you may know, we just got back from a week of vacation in Florida. We went to visit my grandparents who I haven't seen in a while and enjoy a bit of warmer weather. They were lovely hosts and really seemed to enjoy having Elinore running around. My grandmother made amazing meals every night, we helped her with crossword puzzles, we worked our way through two regular puzzles, and enjoyed many evenings sitting around with a cup of coffee just chatting. They took us to Silver Springs which is like a natural park where they have glass bottom boats and lots of aligators. Elinore ran for the whole day and was most excited to ride the merry-g0-round!
We took a couple mornings and just drove about 6 miles to the beach. The weather seemed to be a bit chilly for the Floridians, but just right for us northerners. I am so used to Lake Michigan beaches these days that I was surprised at all of the shells on the beach. I mean, the beach was completely made up of millions and millions of broken shell bits. How can there be that many shells in the whole world!! I loved just looking and sifting through them.
Elinore made soup in her bucket (shells and water) and stirred it all up. We only had a few toys that my grandparents sent with us, but she had a blast just running around in the sand and chasing the little sandpipers.
This is the day we went to St. Augustine which is the oldest continually inhabited city in the US. We toured the fort and visited their living history exhibit before we walked through the older part of the city and found some lunch. It was so great to visit with my grandparents and just have a change of pace from our day to day. We came back to frosty mornings and leaf-filled yards and a slew of fall/birthday/holiday activities that are just beginning!

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for a wonderful time!!