The kids and I travelled to Florida for Thanksgiving this year. Andy was on call in Asheville, NC and I couldn't bring myself to sit in an empty apartment if he got called in to work. As it turned out he didn't get called in. He did have a very nice dinner with one of the Med. reps and his family. Then he got to relax and watch a game or two! The drive to FL was not the best we have ever had. In fact it was probably the worst. We discovered on our trip to WV that Nathan doesn't travel well. He does do better if he has his own DVD screen, so I moved him to the back of the van to sit by Bradley and have a screen. The bad part was that the cord wasn't long enough to reach the front so Daniel and Eliza couldn't see a screen. I tried to find a longer cord at Best Buy after picking the boys up a little early from school. We didn't find anything there and ended up having to go to Target. They didn't have any cords either! By that time it had been almost an hour since I picked the boys up, so I bought the cheapest DVD player they had at target and hooked it up for the kids. Then after missing our exit to get onto 95 fro 40 and another out of the way stop, we only made it about 1/3 of the way before we had to stop. Poor Nathan screamed most of the time and refused to eat when we would stop. I was very tired and discouraged that first night and had serious thoughts of turning around and going home. Fortunately Nathan did much better the second day. He still wouldn't eat, but he did sleep a little more. He went for just over 8 hours that day without eating. However, as soon as we got to Aunt Janna's house and I sat on her couch Nathan ate well!! He ate very well the rest of the night too.
The kids were super excited about being out of the car and playing with their cousins.
Daniel found this "pocket" frog in Aunt Janna's back yard. He was so excited!
Nathan was a good sport and decided to try out baby Ammon's new jumper. He loved it!
The kids also enjoyed playing Zoolanders.
(I don't know much about them, but apparently they are the cool thing these days.)
Taylor helping keep Ammon happy. Taylor was a super big help! I tried to talk him into coming to live with me, but his mom didn't think she could do with out him. We will take him anytime!
Ammon his such fine little features. He is like a little man...so cute!
Nathan spending some quality one on one time with Uncle Scott. He thought Uncle Scott was pretty funny!
On black Friday we had to run to Jo Ann's to take advantage of the great sale they had on their flannel. The line to get the clothe cut was really long, so we had a picnic lunch in the parking lot. The kids thought it was pretty fun.
From left to right:Bradley, Taylor, Eliza, Caden, Daniel, Abby and Andrew
Since it was a little windy Nathan laid on the floor in the van. He was just happy to be out to his car seat.
The kids spotted this tiny car in the parking lot. It looks like a wind-up toy. I told Bradley and Eliza to pretend to wind the car, and Eliza really turned it. She was excited! Bradley was sure we needed one. :0)
After our stop at Jo Ann's we headed over to the zoo.
Daniel with some beautiful birds.
We joked with our Dad and told him this was his sleeping accommodations next time he went to visit Aunt Janna. Needless to say he isn't planning a trip in the near future. (Yes, the snake is real!)
Bradley, Abby, Caden, Eliza, Daniel and Andrew
I kept looking for Rafiki...kind of looks like his tree.
I think this was a Jaguar, but it could have been a cheetah. I just can't remember. It was very pretty though.
Taylor photographing some animals.
Now this pig has style!
Eliza with the baby pigs. They were so cute sleeping in a little nest.
Next we went to feed the attack birds. These parakeets were fun to feed. All of the kids who weren't brave enough to feed the attack birds fed these ones. They got really close, but the didn't attack.
Eliza was a little unsure at first.
Daniel also used a little caution at first.
There were a few little bats hanging out with the birds. Bradley thought they looked like the little bat from the story Stellaluna.
Now for the attack birds. These birds would swoop in and attack the nectar in the little cups. Bradley, Andre and Taylor were the only ones who wanted to try feeding these birds.
This little bird loved the bright colors on Daniel's hat.
Daniel was a little nervous about the whole thing.
We could just call Taylor the bird boy.
The bird on top kept picking at his hair. He must like Taylor's hair products. :0)
I talked Bradley into putting the cup next to his hat to see if a bird would land on his head. It didn't take long before one flew over. He couldn't stop giggling.
Eliza thought it looked fun to have birds on your arm, so she kept following them and sticking her arm out. She never did get one, but I think that was for the best. I think she might have gotten nervous.
Aunt Janna helping Ammon feed the birds for the first time.
I raised my arm to get a picture and a bird landed on it. I was a little bit surprised, but it was fun. Nathan liked all the colorful birds.
They had some really big Alligators. The only ones we saw this trip were at the zoo.
Daniel is a Hale's Hawk at school so he had to get a picture with this hawk. Eliza likes to jump into every picture, so she joined him.
The otters were very active while we were there. This one loved Abby. It stayed pretty close to her.
More big gators...
and a fat crocodile. This picture really doesn't do him justice. He was huge!!!
I had to get a picture of this. Not many zoos have a zip line and I am guessing even fewer zoos have the zip line go over the alligator and crocodile ponds! Thrill seekers this is the zoo for you!!!
Abby checking to see what kind of vulture she would be...a small one.
Eliza would be a baby vulture.
Daniel
Bradley
Caden
Andrew
Nathan loved being outside, but he was starting to get a little bit tired.
Part of the zoo had a tree top tour. It was an extra activity and not part of the price for the regular ticket, but it did look like fun.
Taylor and Andrew walking under the tree top tour route.
This little monkey was so darling. He was very interested in the spectators. It was almost like we were the ones on display just for him. I almost wanted to bring him home...almost...but not quite!
The resident princesses. These two played with each other so well!
We had a couple R.O.U.S. sightings. They really do exist!
Dad, Mom and two babies. There were actually three babies I think, but I am not sure where the other one was.
I can't remember what this one is called, but it was pretty cool. I am sure it is in the pig family somewhere.
These large fish were swimming with the alligators. Eliza and I thought we needed to bring Grandpa back to the zoo with a fishing pole. We figured we could get some good fish! That is unless the alligators decide not to share.
On the way out we had to get a picture with the turtles.
Bradley (the Greeny) Daniel (the Loggy) Eliza (the Leather)
It was a fun trip to the Brevard County Zoo. The kids can't wait to visit again!
We did get one karaoke session in with Uncle Scott, always a highlight of our visit. My motto is, "Anyone can karaoke if Scott is there." I always sound better if Scott is singing. :0)
Nathan kept the kids entertained by rolling over onto his tummy. He still gets stuck there though and needs help rolling back.
(He needs a few lessons from cousin Luke.)
Bradley caught a lizard before we left. We really could call him the Lizard Lord.
Saturday night the boys were getting through the shower and I noticed this large bruise on Daniel's arm. When I asked him about it he said that he got bitten by a kid. After further investigating we found it was the little neighbor boy. Luckily the skin didn't brake, but the bruise was pretty impressive.
We really enjoyed visiting, eating, playing, doing crafts, singing, visiting, eating some more, and just being with our cousins. Thanks for letting us come crash at your house!
Nov. 20-25, 2012
