We spent a wonderful week in Marco Island, FL with the Lolli clan last week. It was great to have everyone together in one place. My parents, sister Kris and her family (Dave, Bella, and Baby Will Peterson), and Ramsey & I shared a McMansion while Patty and her family (Kain, Scott, Nicole, and Charlie Cederberbg) stayed nearby in a condo. The five nieces and nephews were great and it gave Ramsey and I a flavor of what's to come when Mr. No Name is born. My mother, Kris, Ramsey and I started the days with a run followed by a walk with the kiddies, Papa Bill, and Dave. We spent lots of family time at the beach and the swimming pool at the house. Kain and Scott went para sailing...so proud of that kid.
A highlight was the Air Boat ride in the Everglades enjoyed by the Cederbergs, Ramsey, and me. Kain, Scott, and Ramsey held a mini Alligator while the rest of us watched from afar. On the way back to Marco Island, we took a worthwhile detour to experience wildlife up close and were treated to Alligators, turtles, and fish from a viewing bridge.
Baby Will and I had birthdays and celebrated with carrot cake, my favorite. Mr. No Name was likely on a sugar high for the rest of the trip while Ramsey and I finished the cake on a daily basis. Food has never tasted as good as when I am pregnant!A huge surprise for us was the baby Bald Eagle. As the story goes, Ramsey was taking the recycling out one evening and noticed a beautiful huge bird on some brush in the side yard. He called me out there and I was instantly captivated. It seemed to us that the bird may be injured as flying was difficult and the he did not mind our close proximity. After some internet research, we felt he looked remarkably like a baby Bald Eagle so now we were really concerned. Ramsey immediately started making calls to the sheriff, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and of course, his avid birding farther, Rob. Finally, a volunteer, Bruce - The Eagle Guy, with the Audobon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples, FL, agreed to rescue the little guy. Luckily, he only lived five miles from the house because it was already 9pm. Bruce, with Ramsey's help, was able to capture the Bald Eagle and took the bird back to his house in a large dog crate for the night. A representative of the bird sanctuary picked the bird up early the next morning and we later found out that he was in good shape, just a bit 'pale' and in need of food and water. Bruce had mentioned that there was a Bald Eagle nest just a few blocks away so the experts assumed that he left a bit too early and was disoriented. They plan to reintroduce him to his family and there's a good chance that the parents will take him back. Ramsey and I walked over to the nest in the morning and saw the mama and a sibling. What a sight! We were so thrilled to have helped out. Our wildlife experience did not stop there as later in the day, we snapped pictures of an endangered Burrowing Owl and a Osprey nest.
Spring Break 2009! Mr. No Name cannot wait for next year...
