Sanibel Vacation

We just returned from our summer vacation to Sanibel Island, Florida. The whole Solomon Family came down to Sanibel (there was a total of 28 people).

We had a great trip. The kids really seemed to enjoy every part of the trip. Both Lizzy and Abby were very excited to go to the airport. They looked so cute walking through the airport with their carry-on bags:

Abby looked like a little stewardess walking through the airport:

Elijah and the girls are checking out the airplane before we board:

Elijah enjoyed two things on the beach: walking around and digging up sand:

The kids are waiting patiently for our trip to the Bubble Room for dinner:

Here we are all trying to keep our eyes open even though there is a big storm in front of us blowing sand into our eyes:



Elizabeth working on her own sand mermaid:

The family posing in front of our condo:

One day the whole gang took a boat ride looking for more sealife. The boat stopped at an island so everyone can try to catch some sealife. Lizzy was working hard at finding a seahorse but unfortunately all she can find is crumbles. Luckily another kid on the boat caught a seahorse so Lizzy and Abby was able to see one:

The Solomon grandchildren are all jumping for joy because they all really liked their Christmas present from Granny and Pappy (this trip):

As usual, the beach on Sanibel was full on wildlife. One night we went out during low tide and we found several starfish and sand dollars:

Abby worked very hard to get a good tan. Too bad we didn't tell her we were putting 50 spf on her each day:

One night during low tide I worked very hard to catch this fish. Actually my niece, Molly and my cousin, Jackie caught this fish (it was already dead). But I thought it would be funny to pretend I caught it:

After we were there a few days, we decided to spend some time each morning creating a sand sculpture before we would go into the ocean. This is the first one we created, a mermaid:

Here is the alligator that we made. Elijah is very scared:

Elijah goes for a ride on our sand shark. Elijah starts to break the fin as soon as the picture is over:

The last morning Amy made the giant sea turtle. The turtle was over 6 feet tall. It was very cool:

Abby is very excited to find a big shell, too bad it was still alive:

The kids are all sitting still hoping we will give them another chocolate sand dollar to eat:

Matt is deep in thought trying to figure out how to get his parents to send him to Sanibel again next year for Christmas:

Abby is sharing some of her ice cream with Elijah: Abby and Elijah are trying to come up with an excuse on why they can't help their parents move sand anymore for their sculpture:

Abby and Lizzy are looking for dolphins:

Abby loved swimming in the ocean with her cousins, Molly and Megan:

Elijah going for one of his walks on the beach:

Sanibel was a great place for us to celebrate our 9th anniversary. Amy is smiling in this picture because she has yet to find out that Matt was going to take her to a gourmet restraunt for their anniversary:

Abby is working hard at trying to look hungry, her favorite part of the beach was eating one of Granny's snacks:

The one thing both Lizzy and Abby liked more than finding sea shells was throwing the sea shells that they found:


Matt poses with his parents and siblings on the 4th of July:
Elijah is dancing with joy because he gets to stay up late to watch the fireworks:

The kids look out at their last sunset on the island: