Shark Valley

Shark Valley is a little National Park about 30-45 minutes from our apartment. We do not know how it got the name, because there are NO sharks and it is NOT a valley. But it's a good 15 mile nature walk. You able to rent bikes or take a tour on a little tram as well. But the main reason people visit Shark Valley is to see the alligators. 

The Belliston first took us here for a combined Family Home Evening. We went at night, which was fun and free (normal enter fee is $10 a car). We were armed with flashlights, bug stray, and dryer sheets (to help with the bugs as well).

We have gone back a few times since then; Saturdays with friends, taking the missionaries for their P-day, visitors, and it's a good man date for Blake and his brother Bryan. It is a cool place to get up close and personal with all kinds of wildlife. Here are some photos from our (mostly Blake's) many trips to Shark Valley.

Now when people think of alligators they think of this...

Some feel that given the chance these beasts would charge and eat you for lunch, like a lion or something. And if they were as big as a lion they might... but they're not. If this were the case Shark Valley would be a lawsuit waiting to happen, because gators are truly just laying along side the walk way. Most the time they just lay there sunning themselves minding their own business.

So if you are ever in town, and want to see an alligator, now you know where to go.

Salt Lake in The Spring Time

It seems that for the past few Aprils we have spent a few short sweet days in Salt Lake City. 2010 Blake and I where going out to BYU-I and stopped in Salt Lake for General Conference. 2011 we went to Lela's wedding. This year we spent our last night of your trip to Jari's Graduation in Salt Lake before catching a plan back home to Florida.

The past two Aprils have been cold and a little snowy but this April it was nice. We walked around Temple square and got to enjoy all the beautiful blooms. 

We made reservation at The Roof Restaurant. I had never heard of the place, and was not told it was a gourmet buffet. They had yummy Italian soda, stuffed tomatoes, french onion soup, fish, lion house rolls, and lots of desserts. Located on the 10th floor it has the best view of the Salt Lake Temple. 

After our bellies were full we enjoyed the lights on Temple Square and got lost in the shops in the new City Creek Center (so much better then that old mall that scared me as a kid). 

Jari Graduated!!

Rexburg Idaho, this has been the residence of Miss Jari for, four years.

Summer 2007

But no longer, this little lady just graduated. 

Mom, Dad, Adam and I got to make the trip to Idaho for the BIG event (Blake did not get to come:/). It was a short but fun weekend with the family. Mom made our stay in Idaho that much better by reserving two themed hotel rooms for our stay. This little surprise was not really planed, it's just what happens when a big University is located in a small town. It just happened to be the last two hotel rooms available to book, 2 months before graduation. So we stayed in the "lagoon" while Mom and Dad stayed in the "Orient". Here are a few photos that were taken...

I did not get any pictures of my parent's room. Lets just say instead of a tree they had an elephant. Along with a little bridge to their hot tub and a buddha towel holder. 

While in Rexburg we got to eat at Craigo's (who changed their name to the Pizza Pie Cafe). I have truly missed their dessert pizzas.  

I also did a little photo shoot with Jari. Although I am not the best photographer, (it was terrifying to be at a prime photo taking event without Blake) I think we got some good pictures out of it. More photos here.

So glad we got to spend time with Lala and her family.

Then we sat through all the different ceremonies, till finally Jari got her cute little diploma cover.

Yup, the cool kids get the front row.

Congratulations Jari!! 

We also had a little after party. Which included eating, swimming, and three little monkeys (aka our little cousins) enjoying the lagoon. 

Crocodile Hunting

A few weekends ago we decided to take a trip down to Everglades National Park. Before entering the park we stopped at Robert is Here (yes, that is the name of the place) for some milk shakes. Now all we knew about Robert is Here was that it is a fruit stand that is known for best fresh fruit milk shakes. We were not expecting this...

Robert is Here is not just a little fruit stand, it's a Big fruit stand. Cars line the road making the place standout from the surrounding farms. This is a different part of Florida with miles and miles of squared off land. They sell all kinds of local fruits and vegetables. There were heaps of mangos, coolers full of cold coconut, full canes of sugar, and a large number of different honeys (including avocado). They even have a little petting zoo out back. There was much more to the place then we were expecting. And the milk shakes lived up to our expectations. We tried a Mango, Guanoabana and Mamey milk shakes. 

After experiencing Robert is Here we were back on the road. We wanted to get to flamingo, the end of Everglades National Park before sundown. We were headed to Flamingo because this is the best place in Florida to see saltwater Crocodiles. Having lived in Florida, Blake and I have seen a LOT of Alligators... but never a saltwater croc. After arriving, we walked around Flamingo a little and did not see much. The Bellistons went to check out the kayaks. I was preparing myself with the idea of not seeing anything. Then Blake and I started to talk to a nice couple about the two osprey (Everglades National Park is also a wonderful place for bird watchers)

 After a little chat they were about to go. The couple started to walk away when the husband turned to me and said, "oh, and did you see the crocodile just over there". We were Over excited! Blake turned and yelled for the Bellistons. While the nice man just pointed a few feet from where we were standing. There, if you just looked down was a good size female crocodile. We had expected the crocs to look much more fearsome then any alligator. But only their snout and flaunting teeth were scary. Their size and really their body/tale proportion was almost laughable. 

We then walked down the bank and spotted another one. They blend-in well with the rocky shore. 

We wanted to get closer but there was no way without getting in the water. So the obvious solution was to ask the random kayakers pulling up to barrow their kayaks, which after a little hesitation they agreed. So Blake grabbed the camera, hopped in the kayak and paddled right up to the croc. 

Deciding his cover was blown he slid into the water and we watched him disappear into the mangroves. 

We ended the night eating our dinner on a picnic table, enjoying the sunset. I believe we can call this trip a success.