Settling in with the Snowbirds....

I know you have all been waiting with baited breath to see what the Hamilton family is up to next. Well, since our last trip to Big Cypress we have been working pretty hard at the KOA getting into the swing of things. Laura has become an expert in custodial management and I have become more proficient in fixing problems that older people cause. Aiden and I had our birthdays in November and we have made plans in December to go to Disney World with my Dad and Cyndi and Sea World so we can catch up with AJ, Tom and the kids. 

            For my Birthday Laura and the boys fixed up the 5^th wheel with balloons and a nice card as well as a dinner certificate which we used to go to the Tiki Bar and have some drinks.

  For Aiden’s birthday we did a similar thing but got him a cake and some gifts so he felt loved.  We also took the A-dog to the Naples Zoo. We got to see them feed some alligators and learned about moneys and snakes. (Honey, tell them about the gators, okay I’ll tell them…

     We were at the zoo and went to the Gator show, they had a new zoo keeper and while the woman was narrating all about Gators the kid let one of the gators get past him. All the zoo keepers scattered and this HUGE gator was roaming around up where he wasn’t supposed to be until a more experienced keeper got him back in the water. It was awesome.)

               

Since we have been on the island we have seen tons of wildlife including three species of turtles, at least 4 species of lizard, hundreds of geko’s and so many different frogs its unreal. You have all heard my story on the giant tree frog who tried to give me a heart attack, well I have more to add. It seems that all the different species of tree frogs here like to sit on the top of the doors and when we open them at night they jump and pee all at the same time which is awesome when you aren’t expecting it. Yesterday we came across a 18” leatherback turtle in the road and the last week I have seen several yellow rat snakes and black racers.  I have tried to get pictures of the countless night creatures but cant figure the dang camera out so you can see them with us.

                                        

Some of our other friends here on the island are a pair of bald eagles that have a nest near the KOA,  several osprey that have nests in the area and several thousand crows that fill the sky when they fly around. I never have a camera when these things are happening but will continue to try and get a picture of that, it’s amazing.

     We have finally got our nameplate like the rest of the people on the road so everyone knows what trailer to stay away from. I was also able to finally get Laura some local plants that are wonderful colors so she can make this more of a home for the family.  (AND now we have two cute little coconut turtles there too! The boys were given their very own coconut turtles to decorate from Miss Suzie. She and her husband Kelly are Cattle ranchers up in North Dakota and come down here for the winter. They sell adorable coconut animals, I LOVE the flamingoes! She supplied the coconut animals for them to paint as part of their art projects. We are also in charge of making all the centerpieces for the Christmas dinner, THIRTEEN TABLES!)

We got the below picture in front of the sign on the pool deck here at the resort. In case you can’t read it, the sign reads “Stranded on Pine Island, Don’t send help”.

     

                 

Since Alan CLEARLY isn’t going to say it, I am! The blessings of the universe are obviously upon us, I mean, sheesh, we get to spend 24-7 together with our kids except for the 45 min of “Adult time” each night with a glass of wine in the hot tub under the palm trees! But all that loveliness couldn’t continue unless we could fund it after March. The minimum wage jobs we work now are just for grocery money and the reduced rent we are given in turn for being employees! All the “real” bills are paid out of our savings. But….. Drumroll please….. this is big people…. Big Daddy will be working for an online firm as of December 15^th! And it’s totally remote which means he will be doing it out of the rig, WAHOO! So, we don’t have any set plans for after March yet but lots of options. We’ll let you know. And thanks for all the prayers and positive thoughts!