Tarpon Springs

Tarpon Springs, Florida!

After our Tampa visit we headed about an hour up the coast to Tarpon Springs. Tarpon Springs is known for it's sponge docks and Greek community. The little history I learned while we were there as that the Greeks started harvesting sponges was back in Ancient times. Sometime around 1908? They came over to the gulf and discovered they could harvest sponges here. From there a little Greek community popped up. We ate at a Greek restaurant that night and had THE BEST pita bread and hummus ever!!!

Here is a close up of the harvested sponges. I am sure many of you have seen them in bath stores or art stores! It was very interesting to learn about them.

THe next day we headed to the docks for a dolphin tour and beach excursion. This is not a picture of the boat we were on - but it is a nice boat don't you think?

The boat ride was nice - a bit too hot for my liking and Adeline was not happy about being on the boat. Her favorite part was when we landed at the beach ( I have to admit it was my favorite too.) The water and the sky were absolutely beautiful that day!!

We all loved walking on the beach looking for shells and washed up sponges. The boys even found a few sharks teeth. On the boat as we were leaving the beach , we saw a shark in the water very close to the boat!!! And on the way back a few dolphins were swimming right by the boat. Very cool I must say!

Heading back to the boat with their loot!

Adeline obviously loves the water !

It was a great trip! Thank you mom and Dad for taking us there with you - we really enjoyed it!

Tampa to see the cousins

Last weekend we headed over to Tampa with my parents to celebrate my neices 3rd birthday. Everyone had a nice visit - Thanks Emily for letting us celebrate your birthday with you!

The girls had a lot of fun visiting for the first time in awhile. Now that they are getting older they really are aware of each other. It was fun to watch them interact.

I even got to visit with an old and dear friend who I first met in middle school up in Maine! I had not seen her in 14 years!!! She recently moved near my sister and I was able to catch up.

The boys even got in some fun - playing the Wii Beatles rock band.

The next day we headed over to the Tampa aquarium and then went out for lunch. Madison and Adeline really hit it off. I love this action shot!

I think a little someone is getting tired - next stop , Tarpon Spring Fl to see the sponge docks!

escape to the mountains!

A few weeks ago the kids and I packed up the car and headed north into the North Carolina mountains. We were going to drop Sage off at his 2 week camp in Highlands,NC (more about that in the next post). Basically he spent 2 weeks on this beautiful mountain doing service work and hiking the Appalachian trail



Here he is with his gear ready to go. He was a little nervous, but had an awesome time!
We said goodbye to Sage..
kissed a few trees for luck and
headed over to my Aunts cabin :
This is the amazing view from her front porch as the sun was rising

To get to this beautiful spot, we had to drive up a steep forest road then down a twisty dirt road for 30 min going 10 miles an hour!! But we made it !
First things first - playing on the little tractor. Adeline loved having her big bro drive her around. Scary to think one day in about 10 years there will be a similar pic in a real car !
Aunt Sherrie teaching Ryan how to paddle
This was my favorite spot - on the hammock down by the creek! So peaceful!



I though it was funny that my sweet girl standing in the water all wet was pointing out to me that her hand was dirty! : )
such sweet goofiness
ohhh- listen to the rock plop!
We mastered canoeing (even nursing while canoeing)
Ryan going solo!
fishing

hanging out with bro
sweet love
my little nature girl









One day we spent the afternoon making bark boats and sending them down the creek
Ryan built this fairy lodge that you see behind Adeline. He spent the whole week working on it - complete with swiming pool and creek side views!



We had an awesome week just hanging out with no agenda - no internet - no cell phone service. It was very liberating. !!