Florida Vacation

Wow--what a trip! Just got back from Orlando with our friends the Petersons.  Had a wonderful week jam packed with amusement parks and anything to do with water.  Let's start off with Sunday---we went to a place called Gatorland, which is of course, all about alligators.  Throughout the day there were various times for shows they put on.  We watched the the Alligator Jump--which is where they fed the alligators and made them jump in the air out of the water for their food.  The highlight of the day was for the boys to actually go into the alligator pen and toss them some chicken.  They were within 10 feet of these alligators!  Oh the things we let our kids do.   Later there was a show about animals you can touch--snakes, tarantulas, etc.  Adam had his picture taken with a huge python around his neck--don't be jealous Grandma Mary!  The boys also fed the birds with food on a popsicle stick.  The birds sat on their arms and even their heads. 

feeding the gators

brave adam

feeding the birds

parakeets on Andrew's arm

Drenching wet-Adam, christy, alex, Andrew, Laura, Anna

Mike, Alex, Laura, Anna

scared at Jurassic Park

Yum--frozen butterbeer!

casting spells

Andrew, Cody, Adam, Caleb at Cocoa Beach

Dug yourself into another hole??

at beautiful Cocoa Beach

Andrew getting splashed by a wave

Adam enjoying the waves

taking a break on Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom

the boys hanging out

at Magic Kingdom

Andrew riding the waves at the simulation surf

Monday we went to Universal Islands of Adventure.  We met my cousin Mike and his family there.  Rode lots of water rides and I guess realized this day that Adam was deathly afraid of roller coasters and heights.  Stood in line in Harry Potter land for the boys to get wands for 45 minutes in the rain, but it was worth it, b/c they cast spells all night with Caleb and Cody.  I even got some frozen Butterbeer which was great.  Tuesday we headed over to Cocoa Beach where we had a picnic lunch then jumped in the waves all afternoon.  The boys played in the sand and water all day.  Stopped at the world famous Ron Jon Surf Shop on the way home. Wednesday we headed to Magic Kingdom where we rode rides using fastpasses when we could.  I was so proud of those boys walking and walking and walking as much as we did!  We stayed for the fireworks and electric parade and didn't get home until about 12:30am.  On Thursday we went to Typhoon Lagoon for more water action.  The draw to this park was the huge tidal wave pool, which by afternoon was quite dangerous with all the people.  This wasn't just any wave pool, there was a huge tidal wave probably 8-10 feet tall created, which carried people and dumped them on other people.  The Crush n Gusher was our favorite tube ride b/c it was like a roller coaster on a tube propelled by water up and down hills--way fun, even for Adam!  Friday was our chill out day back at the condo which had its on water park.  There was a lazy river, 2 slides, and a huge pool.  It gave us all something to do throughout the week so the kids didn't have to stay inside all the time. Oh yeah, Friday afternoon we took the boys to a simulated surf experience.  They got to lay on boogie boards with the water spraying up into wave created by a machine.  Andrew did get hurt, b/c the water propelled him up the hill and he hit his head on the padded wall.  I'm sure it hurt, but so was his pride. Adam loved it, he just yelled and hollared the whole time.   Exhausted by the time we got home Saturday night, but what a vacation!  Maybe something a little more relaxing next year.......