The Sunshine State

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale.... Okay really, I am going for the longest post in the history of blogging--so just bear with me. We just got back from a two week vacation in Florida to visit my family and it was a blast! Super sweaty, sweltering and hot, but still fun.Here we are on the airplane waiting for take-off--as we picked up speed, Bridger got a little nervous--he buried his head in my lap and then fell asleep. It was really nice--until he woke up because Kennedy wouldn't stop touching him ("time to wake up now, Bwidger!"). Luckily, the ride was smooth so they colored and played--Kennedy had her baby and spent the next 40 minutes changing her diaper and feeding her...over and over and over again. She loves playing mommy. As we got about 30 minutes out of Orlando, the turbulance hit. I detest it when the airplane drops--and it did it a lot, I felt like we were on a roller coaster! Everytime we dropped, Bridger would scream--I felt so bad for him! It didn't help that we were on a plane full of teenagers who kept screaming out "we are all going to die!", no, that didn't help at all. As soon as we landed, Bridger had a huge sigh of relief and shouted "whoo hoo!" for all to hear. He then said that he will not be getting back on an airplane until he is a daddy, or at least 5 (and he was pretty sure we were staying in Florida for this long--so, problem solved, I guess).



We were the first to arrive out of my other siblings, so we played in the pool--Jeremy got a tour of the city and I went to visit my sister, Vanessa, at work. We love Vanessa--some people call her "Funessa"--she is definetly a lot of fun and fun to tease. She is moving back out here in a couple of weeks--so, I'll look forward to having a free baby-sitter every Friday night :)
If you know Vanessa, you know that she always has something to say about the people she works with. I'm pretty sure none of them read my blog, so i'll just tell you that, according to Vanessa, her boss looks like a teenage mutant ninja turtle, she works with a girl who is half-albino, and everyone else is incompetent. Apparently, one day she asked a girl to water the flowers outside during a downpour and she did it. So, feel sorry for Vanessa if you'd like--we just smile and say "crazy nessy". But she did hook us up with a free cookie--Bridger enjoyed that.
On Thursday, we got to go to the airport to pick up my brother, Addison and his wife, Mabulane, all the way from South Africa. Addison returned home from his mission in December--went back in January, got married in February and happened to return home during the family reunion! Perfect timing I must say. Addison bought a new car before he left for Africa--we have been car-sitting for him. Anyway, Bridger snuck (is that really how you spell that?) out of the house one night and took it for a joyride. Guess he's been watching too many monster truck movies.....Sorry Addison--just glad you have insurance.

There they are! Finally I get to meet my new sister-in-law. She is so sweet and beautiful too. Bridger and Kennedy adore her and I can't wait to get to know her beautiful. I lucked out with the whole in-law situation. My siblings have good taste.

Here's Kennedy's first taste of the "princess life". I'm afraid she got the royal treatment with all of her aunts/uncles and especially Grammy and Grandpa. I had to break her like a wild mustang when we got back.... :)

Here we are at our resort in Orlando--they had the coolest pirate ship in the middle of the pool--it even had a tunnel slide--parts of which were pitch black. So my mom goes down it--screams the whole way--everyone stops swimming and playing just to see who in the world is making all that noise. Then my mom comes out of the ship and plugs her nose just in time to hit the water. Scary? Not really--Bridger was big enough to go down it. My mom just likes to have a good time, I guess!

On our way down to Orlando--we stopped in at the Villages for lunch. It's kind of a retirement community--lots of homes, a golf course and tons of shopping in the middle. Everyone rides their golf carts everywhere! It was fun to see the hundreds of colorful golf carts parked along all of the streets. It looked like fun--just hope they had some strong A/C.



This little girl eats the funniest things--she loves pickles, mustard, oil and vinegar, and onions. She will dip anything in mustard including her fingers and she ate all the pickles off of everyones hamburgers. Bridger just looks at her and shakes his head in disapproval. You wouldn't catch him doing any of that! I think it's great that she has such varied taste--just kind of weird... Although Bridger isn't one to talk--he's kind of weird too. He still doesn't like whipped cream and the aerosol variety scares him. Who's scared of whipped cream?!? Bridger is.
We spent the next day at Hollywood Studios in Disneyworld. (I kept thinking: "Welcome to America, Mabulane! Everyone lives like this!" :) ) Bridger loved seeing all of the race cars, fire and motorcylces. He loved all of the stunt shows and Indiana Jones. Just look at that face--nothing short of a nuclear explosion could take his attention away from this car show. Little sweaty kid.

Here is a picture that explains just how perfect my children are all the time. They always share with eachother...always...well, most of the time. Okay, not very often. That is why I had to capture this moment. Kennedy kept saying "I want another bite. I want more, Bwidger!" and Bridger would say: "This is the last bite Kennedy. Promise? This is it. No more!" They had that conversation a few times....
No, Bridger is not afraid of Mr. Potato-Head. Although, it wouldn't surprise me....He is just sad that we bought him a raspberry slushie instead of pink lemonade ice cream....Deal with it, Kid! So, I just laughed at his absurd response and took a picture. Good thing he's so cute...

Ahhh, the life. If only it wouldn't be strange for me to sprawl out on someone's lap and fall asleep--really, it would probably take 8 or 9 laps. Yeah, that would definetly be weird.

We had lunch at the sci-fi diner. Bridger was in heaven! Hot dogs and a movie at the same time? I can eat without ever having to take my eyes off the screen? Wonderful! Only problem was that the movies were about old monsters, like the swamp thing. I would just have to keep saying: "Doesn't he look funny, Bridger?" " what a crack up!" I didn't want Bridger's very wild imagination to run away. I think it did the trick. See? He can't even be bothered to look at the camera for a picture. I just noticed that.

Bridger and Kennedy loved the muppets 3-d movie. Bridger kept taking his glasses off to check out what was really there. The bubbles were real though--so was the squirt gun. It was fun.
Look at those little pink toes--I could just eat them. She found herself a pair of glass slippers after trying on a few different pairs. I was thankful that she hadn't wanted a dress since the cost of one could feed a small country for a year. She just wanted shoes--after she put them on, she said: "Now the dress." And I picked her up and walked away. Her shoes are so cute, but since they are clear and made of plastic, her feet don't breathe very well. Everytime she wears them her little shoes fog up!


Don't you love how all of the fun rides empty out into a gift shop? Conspiracy! At least there's air-conditioning.
Look! They're sharing again! Different day, different ice-cream, same conversation--there is hope!
Tea-cups. Kennedy loves to spin. Bridger doesn't. Kennedy is strong and stubborn. Bridger is strong and stubborn. We started to spin. Kennedy was in control. Bridger took over. This happened a few times until someone yelled at the top of their lungs: "STOP SPINNING!" (It wasn't my son--it must have been some random onlooker...) So, we stopped spinning. The ride was over anyway.
We had a lot of fun at Disney. Jer and I got to ride Thunder Moutain--why do I get so scared on these things? I want to go on them--I wish I liked them. But then, as we start the ascent to the top, I get so panicked. I want off. I am willing to pay any amount of money to get off the ride at that moment. When no one is willing to help me or make me an offer, I try to slouch down in my seat as far as I can. I hold on tight and start to scream. Sorry Mabulane--hope I didn't damage your hearing. Only Jeremy and Dave are smiling--everyone else looks scared too. It doesn't quite compete with my level of "scared", but "whatever". ;)
After Disney--we spent the next couple of days at St. Augustine beach. Oh, how I miss the beach! It was beautiful--didn't quite compare to the Gulf that I am used to, but still perfect. I just love clear water. The water here was a little murkey--that always makes me wonder....
A trip to Florida wouldn't be complete without a trip to the alligator farm! Here's Bridger holding a little baby alligator--Kennedy desperately wanted to pet it too, but we were concerned for the alligator's safety...thought she might want to hold it, put a diaper on it, rock it and sing "twinkle twinkle little star" or something.

here she is giving an alligator a kiss. For the record, this is not a real alligator...I wouldn't be so careless...

Back at St-Augustine. While we were swimming, a small group of dolphins came close to us--probably about 50 feet away. We watched them jump out of the water and eat fish. It was so neat to see. They were so close to us! We also got to see a "pirate". I don't know who this guy was, but I told Bridger he was a pirate and made up some story about him. Bridger was very intrigued. The "pirate" just played his banjo walking up and down the beach. Shower, anyone??
She wanted to be buried in the sand--until she realized that she couldn't get out. That's when she sounded the alarm.

Grandpa found a treasure map for Bridger while we were at the beach. Bridger found and "X" on the beach and after taking so many paces and giant steps started digging. This is the treasure box that he found! Bridger calls it "davy jones locker" and if you ask, he'll tell you that now he is "in control of the seas". First order of business? "Hurricane". Hmmm, looks like maybe a little too much power for a 4 year old...
Inside the "treasure box" was necklace with a gold coin and a sharks tooth--he still wears it and has to sleep by it every night. Pretty cute.

Just couldn't resist...
The city was settled by the spaniards in the 15oos, making it the nations oldest city. This fort (Castillo de San Marcos) that we visited was built in 1672. Pretty old, huh? Bridger loved seeing the dungeon, the cannons, and looking out over the top of the castle.



These two pictures (top and bottom) were taken withiin 15 minutes of eachother. I love a good Florida storm!

Lasagna...mmmmm. We ate the best food while there--homemade macaroni and cheese, strawberry shortcake, yummy seafood, fried chicken, boiled peanuts, mississippi mud....the list goes on...
Bunny rabbit!
I went antique shopping with my sister Rebecca, sister-in-law Kimalee and my mom. We went up to an old town with the cutest buildings and shops. I found a few cute vintage things--I'll have to share another time.




Driving home one day, we passed a sign advertising whoopie pies and we decided to stop in and see what they had. They were so yummy! All kinds of flavors and all delicious. They're two cakes with frosting in the middle, in case you didn't know. So good that we stopped in two more times later that week--let's just say I need to kick up the exercise a notch or ten...


Went to Silver Glen Springs one day. I always get nervous of alligators, but this sign was comforting to me...okay, not really. But the springs were beautiful and crystal clear--I could see the bottom even at 30 feet, so I stopped worrying about those pesky alligators. We did some snorkling and it was just breathtaking! I love the green and tropical stuff--so pretty!


Here we are at lunch--at some roadside dive on our way to the springs. Jer, my brother Jordan and his wife Kim. Little brother Sean, sister Rebecca and her husband Dave and then Mabulane and my brother Addison. My parents were watching the kids and Vanessa had to work.
Jeremy was so hungry he could eat a......hot dog!
Back at the beach! Daytona this time. FYI: There was a shark attack at this very spot two days later.
Sandy bottom and bubbles!
My aunt Kelly and uncle Scott and cousins: Skyler, Morgan and Mckenzie met us there. So good to see them again!
Cute!
Sisters, sisters. There were never such devoted sisters...

Fourth of July (obviously!) Check out the expression on Kennedy's face! She loved the sparklers, but apparently was also quite disturbed by them! I love how tan she is--my little brown baby! And Grammy happened to have pink band-aids--so they were a required accessory for the day.

Lobster tail and shrimp! Don't be jealous.

Kimalee and Kennedy. I told Kennedy that all of her aunts were princesses. Kennedy has looked at them a little different since them (in awe!).
Here's Jordan. He's just wishing he had long luxurious locks like Fabio. He wishes he could toss his hair in the breeze...sorry, Jordan, it's just not in the cards for you...

After reading books to Bridger for 45 minutes straight, McKenzie quickly became Bridger's favorite cousin...don't know how she felt about it though! :)
Say "cheese" Uncle Greg!
Mom and Aunt Patty getting ready for dinner.
Hearts, Hearts and more Hearts with a touch of Fill or Bust and a pinch of Risk. My family loves card games. And Risk has become the test of manlihood... I don't play however, I already know how manly I am.
Before we left I got to meet up with my best friend Jennifer. We went to middle school and high school together and had the funnest times! She always makes me laugh--I just wish we lived closer! Here she is with her husband, A.J. and her son Jose. Can I just say how much I love Jose? He is the cutest thing. Imagine a 6 year old with a deep southern drawl saying "what kinda car do you drive?" He just makes me laugh!


After we left, Bridger said: "Jose is sure going to miss me!" They had fun playing cars together (notice they each have one in their hand...)
I also got to meet up with Lena and her husband John and daughter Abby. I was good friends with Lena too--she has such a cute family! I wanted to kiss little Abby's cheeks so bad--but she wouldn't let me. Maybe next time.... :)



Bridger was such a fish in my parents pool! He would just jump right in swim around, stick his face in the water and come up laughing! I love how much fun he had.


Kennedy was a little more cautious. She needed to be held with two hands at all times!



Remember how I told you that Bridger wasn't getting back on that plane anytime soon? Well, when I told him it was time to go, he burst into tears. He said that he hadn't grown as much as he thought and he knew he would be worried about bumps. Well, luckily my mom had a spare moustache (doesn't everyone have one of those??) and Bridger was very pleased. He wore it through the airport--until airport security made him take it off (bunch of wierdos...) but I let him put them back on again. The stewardesses thought he was pretty funny. It made him feel big and that 's all that matters!
Have I mentioned blue bell icecream before? Have I mentioned that it is heaven sent? Have I ever mentioned the chocolate chip cookie dough flavor? It is divine. I could eat the whole thing. I didn't, but I could. They don't sell it in Utah. I don't know why. Utahns like ice cream too. I'm going to write them a letter--I'll let you know of my progress.
And we left on Jer's birthday! He was born on 7/7/77--which I always love to point out to people, it's just such a cool birthday! Happy belated Birthday, Jer--we love you!

Can't wait to go back to Florida for another visit--but maybe in January instead of July....