Manatee Love

The highlight of the recent family vacation (accordingto one munchkin) HAD to be the trip to Bradenton, Florida to see THE manatee, Snooty.

These gentle giants became a bit of an obsession with our middle child, thanks to a library book checked out last year. 

Visiting a 'famous' manatee at the South Florida Museum's Parker Aquarium was a dream come true. 

We watched him eat (and eat and eat) romaine lettuce, kale, sweet potatoes, broccoli & carrots. Snooty was born in captivity & has been raised by humans. The other 2 manatees pictured are part of the Manatee Rehabilitation Network rescue program. They'll be returned to the wild next winter.