Vacation Part 8, The Last Stop, Florida Central Zoo

We got off the boat in the morning and had 8 hours to spare before our train left, so we decided to go to the Florida Central Zoo.

At the zoo they had a Bungee trampoline jump, the kids loved it!

My free spirit!

Marshall's turn!

Marshall was belly laughing so hard, that we were all laughing.

The Florida Zoo was so beautiful!

Marshall Man striking a pose!

This is was the last stop of our vacation!  It was perfect in every way.  We bonded and relaxed as a family and the kids traveled and behaved so well.  Russ and I are so lucky to have these wonderful kids.  We had the most amazing time, and I will never forget it.  I am so lucky to have these wonderful people in my life, it's all I need.  Russ and the kids I love you so much!

Peace and love.......

Vacation Part 2, The Disney Magic, first stop Key West

Here we are at the Port terminal, waiting to board the Disney Magic.  They sent out Minny Mouse to help the kids with the waiting process.

One of the things that I love most about my children, is how much they absolutely LOVE each other.  They do fight, like any siblings do, but they are so incredibly close.

Our first day on the ship was Jaylee's 5th Birthday!  The attention that she received from the crew was amazing.  They fussed over her like crazy!  She was sang to, given free pins and buttons.  She even had a birthday cake brought to her at dinner.  What a way to turn 5 years old!

Marshall and I waiting for the Disney show to start

We spent our first day exploring the ship waiting for our arrival in Key West, Florida.  The ship was so beautiful and there were all sorts of fun rooms and restaurants.  It was so clean and spotless, they had everyone wipe down their hands with a sanitary wipe before entering any eating areas.

The first stop was Key West.  Loved it there!

Beautiful Jaylee

We stopped in a shop and found Marshall the PERFECT hat!  It looked like a little pimp hat, and he totally pulled it off.  The ladies LOVED it!  We taught him to tip his hat, so when the ladies were fussing over him he would tip his hat to them.  It was hilarious!

Jaylee posing like the manikins, we are so in trouble when she turns 16!

Look at that DIMPLE

Sunset in Key West

Key West had the strangest street performers I have ever seen!  This guy was hilarious.  He called himself "CAT MAN"  He had all of these cats that would jump through hoops and not obey his commands.  The greatest was when one of his cats just sat there grooming himself while ignoring his commands.

I felt bad for the cats, but they definitely looked plump and "well fed"  When his act was over, you could tell that he really loves them.  He was petting them and treating them well.  The cats looked to be in better shape then him, to be honest.

Posing with the crazy CAT MAN

I think she's a fan!

The day is almost over, it's almost time to get back on the ship.  What a perfect first day of exploration!  The kids behaved themselves, the weather was perfect.  

Only 6 more days of fun on the Disney Magic.

Peace and love........

Pumpkins and flip flops.....

Where would you rather be?

We know fall is in full swing when the time comes for our yearly trip to the pumpkin patch. We were so lucky to actually have a really nice sunny day. It was so strange to think that last year at this time, Marshall was in my belly. Now he is here joining in on our little family tradition.

Fall. Fall is so pretty. The leaves changing color. The brisk coldness in the air. Rainy, windy days. Pumpkins and apples. Hay rides and apple cider. I hate apple cider actually….Isn’t that weird? I have never, ever liked the stuff.

Browns, greens, reds and oranges. Jeans and corduroy pants.

Fleece jackets and long sleeve t-shirts.

I do love the fall, don't get me wrong. But my mind and body want to be somewhere else.... Palm trees and sandy beaches. The smell of salt water and sun block. Warm weather and sunny days. Flip flops and shorts. Ocean salt water and boats. Dolphins and sea birds. That’s where I would rather be.

That’s what we get for going to Florida so late in the season. Just when we were prepared that summer was over, we go to Florida. It made us think that summer was just beginning. And now it is getting cold. And windy. I don’t want to give up my flip flops….and I don’t think that they want to give me up either. It will be a hard good bye to put them way back in the closet. I don’t think that I am ready. Maybe I will leave them out where I can see them. A reminder that the warm, hot weather that I have grown to love will be back soon enough…….

Peace and love..