We were able to spend the funnest, most amazing week with Grandpa Atwood! We really had so much fun together eating, fishing, driving through the Keys, eating some more, collecting sea shells in Sanibel Island, touring Fort Lauderdale from a boat, going to Butterfly World and laughing so hard watching American Idol! We are all so grateful he came so that we could make memories we'll never forget! 
Grandpa and his girls before church
Displaying their collection of sea shells on Sanibel Island off the Gulf of Mexico- we happened to have this freakish cold front, so instead of swimsuits, we were in sweatshirts!
One night we went and ate at the Melting Pot- it was the first time for all of us and it was AMAZING!
For the "4th course" you got to choose your chocolate fondue and they brought out a dessert plate full of delicious things to dip into the chocolate! 
Okay, so I thought it was worth another picture :)
We drove through the Keys all the way to Key West- it's one of my favorite things to do here. The drive is just beautiful! Once you get to Key Largo you feel like you're in the Carribean with the aqua blue water all around and it has such an "island" feel 
Smathers beach in Key West
Of course we had to stop and get some key lime pie!!
On the way home, we stopped at this sports bar restaurant on one of the keys and for the appetizers, we tried GATOR and CONCH!! They were surprisingly delicious! Seriously!!
It was the perfect setting to try those foods- it was the juiciest feel!
We were able to see an endangered Key Deer!
By the time we got home from such a big day, the girls were worn out!
Fort Lauderdale is known as the "Venice of America" and one day we took the water taxi through all of the intercoastal waterways through the city- and on one of the boats, Audrey went to the captain and asked in her tiny darling voice if she could sit on his lap. Of course she got to, and helped drive! She even honked the horn a couple of times!
Enjoying the sights together
It is such a fun experience!
Afterwards, we took a walk along the beach and I had to capture my little posers!
When we found out that Brod got accepted into his residency, it was so fun that Steve was able to be here because we had to go out and celebrate together!
The resaurant even had a little celebration surprise for him
We have never been to Butterfly World since living here, but have always heard how amazing it is, so we all went together
Once you walked in, it felt like you were in some kind of magical fairy land- the most beautiful butterflies fluttering all around you with gorgeous flowers, waterfall, etc.
There was a place that you could feed these birds and Lex was so nervous at first
But then got SO brave and absolutely loved it!! (Audrey did it too, and was fine when one bird came over, but then 4 flew over to her at the same time and she started bawling)
Alexia trying to match the butterflies in the book
And I caught my peacock bass :)
Brod, too, caught a huge large mouth bass!
Grandpa, we love you so much and miss you already!! On the way home from the airport when we dropped Grandpa off, Audrey said, "my heart is broken". We all knew exactly what she meant! Thank you so much for coming out- we had an absolute blast!
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9 comments:
How fun!! You are so brave to try gator and conch. I would not be so brave. I think I would have to trust the opinion of others. Your girls pose so darn cute for pictures! I so wished I could get my girls to pose and NOT close their eyes for almost every picture. So cute!! Steve is so so nice. That's great that he got to come and visit. What awesome memories you will have.
Oh my gosh- Steve could not be any cuter! It looks like you had an absolute ball with him! Of course you did the funnest and most adventurous things together! Butterfly world, the beach, the drives, and eating gator! :) You can tell how much your girls adore Grandpa Atwood- those pictures are just priceless! I loved the one of Audrey sitting on that captains lap (ew... I can just picture her little voice asking him), and I love the one of Alexia with her butteryfly book trying to match the butterflies (of course she would love to find matches). They are just darling!! You look so amazing... and of course made everything so much fun. Love you so much! P.S. Congrats again to Brod for his acceptance into residency!!! That is SO EXCITING!
Steve really is the most amazing grandpa to your kids. How fun for your girls to have him be such a big part of their lives. He is so fun to be around and have loved when we have been able to be around him. Butterfly world looked so unreal. Of course Alexia was matching them. Audrey looked so darling with Steve and the flowers in her hair. You look so pretty as always. I love and miss you!
What fun places to eat and cool beach shots. You are going to miss being by the ocean.
Seriously...what a vacation life!! Party after Party ...visitor after visitor It looks so FUN. live it up while you can! the pictures where so fun!
What a cute little Grandpa. How fun to have him come visit. I LOVE the melting pot. It's one of my favorites! Now you're hooked which sucks cuz it's so expensive.
I need to come visit!!!! I miss you so much Jess. That's so cute that Brod's dad came to visit. Looks like you had such a great time.
Btw..every time that song comes on Hunter says "it's the girls song mommy"....so cute!
what a fun trip, but seriously, your little girls looks so much older and I saw them just 2 months ago, i miss them(and you) already! It looked like you guys did eveyr possible fun thing in florida, and i am so jealous! You look so pretty, and congrats to brod again for getting accepted, so fun that his dad was there to be proud with his son. Love you!
love, Rebekah
I LOVEEEEEE the melting pot!!!!!!! Mmmmmm, delicious. I'm drooling. Anyhoo, such a cute little family jess!
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