seashell collection from sanibel by lori and hayley

The theme for my Virginia Beach high school friend Lori and her daughter, Hayley, visiting us on Sanibel is…. Happy. It has been such a happy week! We have been singing that Pharrell Williams’ song “Happy” (from Virginia Beach too!) every sunny day when we stepped on the beach.

hayley happy to be in florida

Happy to be together at Gulfside City Park…

lori and hayley on Sanibel with seashells

Happy to be in the water sifting through shells….

hayley and lori sifting for shells

Happy to find lots of beautiful treasures…

hayley's sanibel shells

Hayley was very happy to find SAND DOLLARS!

hayley finds sand dollars on sanibel

Happy to have Clark join us in the evenings for low tide…

lori clark shelling sanibel

Happy to see healthy, live creatures on the low tide sand bars at Lighthouse Beach…

clark and hayley on the beach of sanibel

Happy to make a seashell mobile with some of the broken shells we found…

pam rambo and hayley make a seashell mobile

Happy to meet such wonderful and generous shellers on the beach as well. Just a few feet in front of us, we saw George from Maine uncover a large, beautiful HORSE CONCH then give it to an amazed little boy in awe of the shell. He didn’t even know him!

george gives jeremy a large conch shell

I’m sure Jeremy from New York will remember this happy day for the rest of his life.

jeremy from ny holding a big conch shell

Happy to share this beautiful island with such special friends especially on a full moon. Happiness.

mother and daughter with the pull of the moon

Check out the video of our MANATEE experience!