Florida Trip - Day 6

Today we hung out with Jessica until Chris got home then he took us to the base and we saw his helicopter!

Florida Trip - Day 5

Very sadly we left Orlando!  Knowing that we may not be back for a long time broke our hearts!  We started up the road ready to stop anywhere that looked interesting.  Evidently Charlie did not think that the HUGE malls that we passed along the way looked interesting enough to stop!

So we drove until we reached Daytona.

Statue at the Daytona Speedway

I wanted to drive on the beach (because I never had before) so off we went!  We got to spend about an hour there (Grouch *** Charlie did not want to go at all).  Brady had a blast even thought the water was FREEZING! 

Lots and Lots of Jelly's - this one washed in beside Brady.

These pictures show shear joy - don't ya think?

Florida Trip - Day 4

Definitely the worse day of the trip thus far.  We went to Animal Kingdom and went straight to the Safari ride - which was awesome!  There were a lot of animals that we saw - elephants, a lion, cheetah, alligators, giraffes and more.  It was a ride through the "wild" in a "safari bus".

The other highlight of the day was riding the Himalayan roller coaster that looks like you run out of track.    Brady is a daredevil and loved it.  We also went to a 3-D show staring Flick from A Bug's Life.  It was good as well.

The entire park was "jungle" themed so it was very hard for me to walk.  Brady was cranky, I was cranky and parts of the park were quite boring.  We ended up eating at the Rain Forest Cafe with a snake looking at us the entire time. 

 In the African village Brady played a little of the bongo's:

The center of the park is the tree of life:

 After Animal Kingdom, we hopped the bus and headed back to the hotel to take a nap and go back to the Magic Kingdom for fireworks.

Oh, one of the funniest things I heard on day three was from a woman I passed near a snack area.  She said "This is not the happiest place in the world, this is not the happiest place in the world, this is not the happiest place in the world."  

Florida Trip - Day 3

Disney Studios was definitely the best day that we had even though it had a rocky start - Charlie lost his FOUR DAY PARK PASS.  We looked for about an hour before we just went to the park and asked for help.  He showed his ID and the ticket was replaced.  I DID NOT EVEN BLOW MY LID (which was the miracle).  Charlie loses everything that is not attached to him.  Brady is going to be just like him.

The park was not near as crowded as Magic Kingdom.  We still had to get a fast pass to ride the Toy Story Mania ride - at 4 pm!  We arrived at around 10 am.

The water tower with the famous ears.

Sully!  Brady would not have his picture made with him and Mike.

Mike Wazowski

 We had lunch at Hollywood and Vine with Handy Manny, Special Agent Oso and a couple of the Little Einsteins.  The food was great too!

I love Indiana Jones and the show was excellent!  Brady really liked it and bought the Indy kit!

Modeling a hat!

Brady would not have his picture made with Lightning and Mater either.  They talked to you!

Green army man near Toy Story Mania.

Modeling his Indy Gear.

We also had a great time watching the Muppet's 3D show.  I had to force they guys to watch it.  Brady laughed louder than anyone else in the theater.  A lady in front of us said she cracked up listening to him laugh.

Florida Trip - Day 2

 AHH, we made it to the Magic Kingdom!  Chris and Jessica came to Orlando and spent the day with us.  We dropped our car off at the resort and off we went!  It was crazy busy there - of course - but so much fun.  Brady did well waiting on the rides.  He LOVED Space Mountain and rode in the front car ALONE.  (Only one person per car.)  I was so freaked out about him being up there alone that I prayed the entire time.  We also rode the Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, carousel, Tomorrowland Speedway and another rollercoaster Big Thunder Mountain and more!

 The family waiting to ride at the speedway.

 Jessica and Brady watching the cars.

 Dad and Brady racing.

 Brady in jail with the Evil Emporer Zerg!

 Brady at Winnie the Pooh's house.

 Chris, Brady and Charlie on the raft ride to Tom Sawyer's island.

Brady and Uncle Chris riding the Carpets of Aladdin.

 Brady trying to pull the sword out of the anvil from
 "The Sword in the Stone".

Riding the carousel.


















We went back to the hotel at about 8:30 and hit the sack! 

Florida Trip - Day 1

We left Marion at :


Yes, 4:05 in the AM.









We made it an entire hour before we had to stop at the Hillsville exit for breakfast and a bathroom break.  Brady and I went into the bathroom and he walked in the stall and picked up something PLASTIC and showed it to me.   Of course you can guess what it was - yes a feminine hygiene product.  In the items defense, it did not appear to be dirty but I made him scour his hands before he used the bathroom.

After leaving Hillsville, we made it all of the way through North Carolina without a stop.  We made up for it in South Carolina.  Two bathroom stops in South Carolina, a gas stop, another stop at the Georgia welcome center that took a little while because we walked around and the final stop was in Florida at a Wendy's with a horrible long line.  After leaving Wendy's we were at Jessica's within thirty minutes.

After watching the end of the race, Uncle Chris made it home.  He had a box for Brady - which we told Brady had a cat in it.  Brady was very patient, but finally kept asking if he could see the cat.  Well,  the box came out and here was what was inside:

A dress hat

Brady's favorite hat

A super cool  vest with all kinds of surprises in it (grenades, flashlight, hook, etc)

Gas mask with the vest and new dog tags

Brady, Uncle Chis and Kenzie

Aunt Jessica in the gas mask

Brady with his entire stash!

A super annoying alarm that buzzes loudly - we have to lose this!

NO CAT!!

We had pizza from Papa Johns and now we are watching Ghost Busters II (Brady's choice).  He is playing dress up with all of his cool stuff.  Jessica and I are sitting on the couch with blankets over us even though it is about 80+ degrees in Florida.

We are all winding down and have a big day tomorrow!  Hopefully we will be seeing Mickey in the morning!

Tee Ball!

Brady and Dad playing the outfield.

Brady batting (and he did very well!)

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Brady had his first tee ball practice yesterday.  He loved it and is a little bummed that we did not have another practice on Sunday!  The kids did better than I expected and Coach Jamie was impressed that they all ran the correct way to the bases.

Brady and his friend Sam waiting for the ball.