We visited a really cool state park that morning with Grandma called De Leon Springs. Grandma had visited when she was a young lady (we even have a picture of her posing in her swim suit somewhere... I'll have to find it!)
This park is unique because it's a fresh water spring they turned into a swimming hole.
First stop, pancakes!
There is a little restaurant where you order your breakfast food and then you make it at the table! (See those black rectangles? Those are stove-tops.)
They bring out batter, eggs, toppings, etc. and you can construct your own creations. The kids thought it was really neat (although the adults might have been a bit stressed with a hot tabletop inches from tiny, hungry fingers.)
When Grandma was explaining where we were going last night, none of the adults fully understood that there would be a chance to swim--we all thought there was water, but we would only be looking at it. The kids proved us wrong and decided they needed to jump in anyway, even without swimsuits.
The swimming hole is separated from the rest of the waterway by a concrete barrier. Thank goodness! Look what I found not far on the other side! (It's an alligator...)
Lance lost no time in catching lizards, a specialty of his.
The water was freezing!
Amy and Derek beat us there and went for a swim in the middle of the spring where it goes down about 30 feet!
We spent a good hour letting the kids paddle around the edges while Grandma and some adults explored the little museum they had on site.
Cole liked looking at the turtle shells and various other sundries on display.
Family picture time!
Goofy kid
Somewhere, we have a picture of Grandma standing right here when she was about 14 years old. If I can dig it up, I'll post it!
Back at the condo, the kids found this little lizard that didn't want to leave. So they all took turns holding it.
Poor little thing!
Chad and Darnell arrived!! They came that morning, but were so tired from taking the red-eye, they slept and then met some of the adults at Grandma's house to help organize some of Grandma's pictures while the kids hung out with dad at the condo.
So happy they are here for a few days!
That night we had a family history lesson. We got to see several really neat pictures of Grandma's ancestors, where in Florida they lived, and how all the events came together to bring Grandma to live in New Smyrna Beach. We heard several stories I'd never heard before!
She also gave us the best gift! This is her life-story that she has been working on for years. She, Aunt Cherryl, and Heidi typed it all up, compiled it into a book with pictures, and Grandma printed a copy for every single one of her grandchildren. Of all my possessions, this is in my top 5 most precious. I can't wait to finish reading it!
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