Vacation at last

I have been in the need of a break for a very long time now. But the opportunity to take one was just not happening, so my Mom came to my rescue and we both had a vacation from all the stress and upset this big bad world has to offer.

The weather was great! We had a lot of plans and more then enough days to do it in, or so we thought. It took a few days to really get up and going I think we just needed time to detox from life, so we sat and watched movies and t.v. Ok so waist of time in some peoples minds but just what the Dr. ordered in mine.

As always when my Mom comes to visit we have to do some craft project of once kind or another and this visit was not exception to that. We made witches hats. It was a awesome project


We started on the hat the second day of our vacation...I finished it on the last night of the vacation, you could say we kept getting distracted in a very fun way.

Mom wanted to go to Animal Kingdom. I was less then thrilled about the idea, as a resident of Florida I have always made it a rule to never go to a theme park in August!! One word here Hot!! I tried unsuccessfully to convince my Mom to the error of this plan, but to no avail so I determined to make the best of it. I was pleasantly surprised it was not too hot or to crowded. The best part was that around lunch time it started to rain there was a lot of thunder and lightning. We sat under a covered patio and ate lunch as we watched the tidal wave of tourists rushing out the front gate! It was greatI took this photo just before I trek up Mt. Everest! We left prayers to the Gods for our safe return. Everest is a new roller coaster and I would say it is by far the best one I have ever been on. I think one of the best parts it that at one point in the ride it comes to a stop because the Yettie has ripped the track apart and we were just about to plunge to our deaths when we started to go backwards. What a rush!!!!! We had so much fun.

I think that one of the highlights of our journey to Animal Kingdom was seeing all the animals. The Tigers were out and right next to the windows. I love tigers! they were so magnificentWe saw giant fruit bats. I have seen photos of them and even movies about them but there is nothing like a up close personal experience. They are HUGE!!After the bats I took this photo of Mom on a bike. I told her she needed to work a little or she would not enjoy her vacation as much. We saw a lot of other animals and went on other rides. it was a wonderful day. I have always enjoyed taking the kids to theme parks and seeing the excitement and feel their energy. But I can't tell a lie going to a park with out small children is the best thing EVER!!!! Mom and I enjoyed sitting and watching other families battle with their children. "Get off of that!", "You had better eat that! you told me you wanted it and now you wont eat it! (angry eyes glaring down at small child no longer wanting the red Popsicle that cost $4.00 and only had one lick of off it) LOL it was priceless.

We drove to Tampa and spent two days and a night with Jessica. we went to the beach the next morning! It was wonderful the water was so clear that you could see the fish swimming around you in schools. After the beach we went out to lunch and then to a movie Juli/Julia. It was so much fun all of us together, the only down part was that we were all sick! It was silly but oh well its always ok to be sick when with family. This is Jess out side of her apartment. Another thing we did is go and see the light house. I have been there once before with Alan when he came a spent the day with me when he was in town for a nursing conference.Mom and Josh climbed up to the top I had done that with Alan and did not feel the need to do it again. Here they are way up top.Here I am way down on the ground. (you can barely see me) The two white fenced places buy me are not graves. They are around two anchors one from a ship wreck int he 1600's and the other from the 1800's.In a building just the the right of the light house they have displayed the crystals that were once used to help magnify the light in light houses they come in all kinds of sizes. the largest one is from St. Augustin. They no longer use them in the light houses. One thing that Florida coast lines are know for it finding Cuban refuges. here are two boats that were actually used to bring people from Cuba to America. When the Coast guard finds these rafts they rescue the people and let the boat drift, they wash up on shore where they were found and placed on display. the first raft we know that the people on board were rescued because of the life vest that was left on it by the coast guard, but the fate of those on the other raft is not know. It was getting late and so we walked to the beach for some last photos before going home. The last big thing we did was go to the springs, Mom loves to ride on the boat they have there. It has become a tradition for her to ride it, she has every time she has come down. The oak trees here are hundreds of years old. and they are giant!! Ferns grow up their long branches. The boat ride was so relaxing the cool air blowing our hair as we sailed smoothly down the river.

It was a wonderful vacation. I'm looking forward to having another one. So who's up to a week in Florida???