While the cat's away, the mice will...watch birds?

Our original plan for the weekend was to retreat to Nana and Papa's house while Dan was in Charlotte. Nana has been a little under-the-weather...time for Plan B! Very important to keep busy so we don't think so much about how much we miss Daddy every minute of the day!

This whole once or twice a month traveling schedule has definitely gotten a little trickier the now that the kids are older and have some concept of time...and 3 days without daddy can seem like a VERY-LONG-TIME when you're two and four!

I made the decision to try something new! So we joined up with the Audubon Young Birders Club for bird-watching, and exploration of Lover's Key. I'm not really much of an outdoorsy, adventureous type of chick...but I do love me some Florida "au naturale"

The information said this activity was for ages 5-18 from 9am-noon.

My translation: "We're almost 5 (Graham).... and I'm sure it's a come-and-go kinda thing)

And the adventure begins...

Loaded up on a tram with all of the other "birders" (I never thought I'd be a wannabe birder :) )and off we went for hours of birding fun!

My children were the youngest wannabe birders, by far... and I was amazed at how well they hung in there with all of the veteran birders! Our tour started on a bridge overlooking the bay and mud-flats...so chilly this morning...quiet and peaceful. Very interesting to hear the experienced "birders" point out the differences in species of vultures, seagulls, and even some birds that only migrate here for a few weeks or months out of the year from all over North America.

With a potty-training two-year-old, you betcha I'm always looking for the nearest bathroom...found one at our next stop on the beach...yessss! One of the other folks immediately found a horseshoe crab and that was very cool...

the kids loved watching the crab and collecting shells...one of the best qualities of SW Florida beaches...shells, shells, and more shells! The sky was so blue...Thank you, Lord, for the greatest (and most difficult to clean up) natural play-thing...sand! Hannah Reece would've been content to stay right here squishing and tossing the sand around...

Then, it was onto the next stop...as we traveled past the parking lot in the tram (about 1 1/2 hours in now) I was thinking "should we ask him (the park ranger) to stop and let us out now...where are we goooiiiing?" I decided to squelch my inner city girl, and stick to the plan....adventure is good! Right?!

Now we're walking on trails...it's starting to warm up now, and it's very, shall we say...wooded. Hannah Reece says "momma, I so scary! Hol-ju-me!" and up she goes on my hip. No bathrooms in sight...and we're walking...and walking...and walking...look at my watch, it's only 10:45! That means we could be walking for another hour and 15 minutes! More self-talk...suck it up and carry on soldier! Saw some really neat things like this "strangler fig" wrapped around another tree...starting to feel a little like I'm in the movie "Princess Bride"...I wonder if we have quick-sand here?

Up until now, we haven't seen any other walkers besides those in our little group...and then, I see our angels! Two grandparents with their teenage grandchildren...walking towards the group. We're laggin' at the end and so I quietly stop the family...."excuse me, are you headed back to the parking area?" Grandma says, "why, yes we are! "

So we tagged along with this sweet family, here from Minnesota for the week staying on the beach with their whole family. Grandpa takes turns giving the my children "shoulder" rides...not something I'd normally accept from a perfect stranger...but after carrying a 25 lb. toddler for about 3 miles...I'm so grateful for the kind offer! Graham held hands with granddaughter, "Avery", chatting it up with her the whole way, and lovin' every minute of her undivided attention. I've never been so happy to see a parking lot! And as soon as we made it to the car...."Momma, I need to go pottteeeeeee!"

All, in all, even with our shortened version of the tour...it was great fun to spend time on an new adventure with the kids, learning new things about God's awesome creation and our home...and realizing God's timely provision, in the form of four tourists from Minnesota!

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Psalm 5:11