We were on vacation in North Captiva, Florida, a barrier island accessible only by boat a few months ago. The charm of the island is that there is nothing to do. There aren’t even cars, just golf carts (that my kids drive surreptitiously because you are supposed to be 18 or older with a valid driver’s license or the people there give you a really hard time!).
But the downside is that there is nothing to do — assuming you are bored with the beach and the swimming pool AND already stopped for ice cream. Yep, nothing to do … except enjoy the beauty of the island.
I decided to take my two bored girls with iPhone cameras and the camera in hand and we headed out with the golf cart for a few hours of exploration.
We decided to drive r e a l l y s l o w l y which is the opposite of how we typically move. Yes, slow, I told them, so we wouldn’t miss anything.
It is amazing what you see when you slow down! Grasshopper and Sensei, now 13, saw these twisted trees.
A construction site a few doors down yielded what we thought was Mike Mulligan’s steam shovel, MaryAnne! Seriously, isn’t there a strong resemblance? I thought she ended up in Popperville heating up the new City Hall?!
The tortoise we spotted on the road had an old injury. It moved pretty quickly once we started snapping pictures in a more secluded shady spot.
We wouldn’t have noticed the gecko if we were moving quickly. It’s either perfectly still or running madly.
At first, I thought this was a palm leave frond or a stick. Good thing we were moving so slowly. We got to watch the snake wiggle its way into the woods where it disappeared into the leaves.
We spotted the Egrets in a small Mangove near the docks.
As the sun set, we got our favorite shot of the day!
My kids, even though they are 13, 11, and 8, still get cranky if they are hungry or tired. And they still have meltdowns if they are both hungry and tired. It’s nice to take time to slow down so that we can create our own everyday adventures because my kids’ bodily needs are taken care of. Bathroom? Check! Hungry? Check! Thirsty? Check!
We have found oatmeal to be the perfect breakfast to set us up for the day. Not only is it healthy, but it’s filling without a weighed-down feeling. We just tried a new version, Quaker® Perfect Portions, which is nice because it comes in a resealable package and has a lovely Maple flavor that permeates thus requiring less brown sugar than plain oatmeal. It’s fast too and my girls are able to make this on their own using the microwave.
Is there a favorite breakfast that sets you and your family up for a day of adventures? Please share!
Every day is an adventure and with Quaker® Perfect Portions I know I am providing my family with the fuel they need for their epic adventures.
Share how you make everyday an adventure and see other storieson Everyday Health.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Quaker®. The opinions and text are all mine.
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My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
