Sarasota, Fl - Day I and 2

Here we are! We arrived in Orlando about 1pm on Thursday after an amazingly easy flight with Ms. Emma. She slept for about an hour and a half of our two hour drive to Sarasota. We headed straight for the beach when we got here and ate dinner about 8pm in our hotel that night! Our hotel is an older Holiday Inn, not that great, however we have a beach view, and just walk across the little path to the beach. AND the hotel food is AMAZING!!!! We were very surprised.... Emma and I have enjoyed room service for breakfast each morning so far, and lunch out yesterday. We plan on at least one really nice fish dinner while we are here, probably on St. Armands circle, or we may drive down to Siesta Key or Santa Maria Island. Emma has loved every moment in the water, and we have seen huge pelicans diving for fish, a coule of dolphins have a us a great show jumping high in the air just a few yards off shore yesterday morning, funny little hermit crabs, and a type of mollusk and tiny clams.... It has been fantastic so far, even with a little bit of rain! Today we will be off to the beach after breakfast, to fly the kite El and Em got, and just to play in the water and search for even MORE shells!!! This afternoon we will drive down to Siesta Key, or maybe to the Aquarium or Jungle Gardens...

Proof that I was indeed on the trip, because it may be the only picture I get in!

Emma searching the millions of little shells all over the beach - just as I remember it!

First step into the water Thursday evening - so warm!

For Father's Day Emma and I got Elliott a fishing trip for the first morning we were here (that was Friday morning). He was at the boat ramp by 7am and was back home, exhausted from the sun by 11:45. I guess the fishing wasn't so great, and he'd like to come back in May for Tarpon fishing. He did however catch a puffer fish, an endangered catfish, have his biggest fish taken by a shark, see dolphins and a manatee... So, not too bad!

There is a beautiful historic shopping circle, called St. Armands Circle about two blocks from our hotel (I remember it well from when I was a child!). Emma thought she saw a toy store so we had planned to head out there yesterday afternoon. Well, we couldn't find one, but the Starbucks girl suggested a great one "downtown" Sarasota. Elliott told Emma she could pick something out..... Can you imagine she chose the most expensive baby in the store??? I told them however,t hat she was going to have to give away most of the other babies she has at home!! She asid OK! We'll see how that goes, but her baby obsession has to stop somewhere:) Least to say it snuggled up next to her in bed right now.

Our goofy girl!!!

Emma's late night Sandcastle

Flying a new kite on the beach - not so much wind so we will try again this morning!

Elliott wouldn't pose in a picture for me, so Emma kindly volunteered:) Our sleep schedules have been WAY off, a nap from 3:30-5:30, to bed at 10:30, yet still awake at 7am!!!!! Oh well.... we have a much happier Emma AND Daddy when they get sleep:)

On a side note many thanks to my mom, Denny, and Carol and Tuffy (Em's daycare and out realtor).... We have been house hunting (yippie!!!) and there has been a change in the rules for FHA loans in the past week - we have to be almost closed by Oct. 1st or the amount we qualify for goes way down!!!! So my Mom, Denny, Carol and Tuffy have been scouting houses for us for hours!!!! The hope is that we get back Thursday, and will put an offer on something Thursday evening... Who would have thought our first vacation in 11 years, without any other family, would coincide with the housing decision???? Oh well... Thanks to them is the least we can say!!!