After a full year of praying and our countdown chain stuck at 15 links...it was finally getting shorter!
We had a super early wake up call and left at 3:00am. We practically had the new airport to ourselves.
We got there in plenty of time so we did that waiting game.
We finally got on the plane! This was the kids first time flying and they were all really excited and really nervous. They had to de-ice the wings before take off and it was still dark outside.
I gave them all suckers to suck on during take off. I didn't know how they'd all react. (didn't think about eating suckers with masks though...)
Poor Trav was all the way across the isle all alone.
And we're off! The kids LOVED it. It was cool to see the sunrise as we were flying. And despite all my efforts of planning and getting airplane bags and activities....they were all pretty much glued to the screen the whole time.
Quick stop in Atlanta where we got to hop on a train to get to our next flight. This was as equally exciting as the airplane.
2nd flight was only about an hour but Jonah zonked out almost immediately and woke up after we landed.
The 2nd landing didn't sit so well with Josh and he threw up as we were de-boarding the plane. Poor kid. But now we know how he does flying!
We went and checked in to our "musty hotel."
Then we went to Gatorland!
We saw 3 "wild" raccoons digging though the garbage when we first got there. Kate couldn't believe how lucky she was. This was definitely the best day of her life. Raccoons and flying (she wants to be a pilot when she grows up)
We did the Gator night shine which is after the park closes. Us and 1 other family were given a private tour of the park with flashlights.
We got to hold a blue tongue skink.
Were mesmerized by the flashlight squares.
And (whoever wanted to) hold a python!
I loved how interactive and 1-on-1 it was. We even got to hold a cute little alligator.
It was cool to shine our lights on the lake and see all their glowing eyes.
Then we got to feed the big ones!
It was a cool experience. I'm glad we were able to do that.
The next day was Sunday and we planned to go visit our friends, Mike and Luz Stock. We went to their house for lunch and were treated like kings and queens. The kids loved running free in their gorgeous yard. We had been cooped up too long!
Mike gave us a tour of his boat (he built and they lived on for 4 years) and their house (he also built). This is the guy that taught Trav everything he knows about woodworking. :)
Lunch was so good but Rach got a sliver from the dock getting off the boat. Mike said "I can probably get that out with my knife." The look on Rachel and Kate's faces was priceless! Ha ha! And he was dead serious. He tried, but ended up having to get tweezers. Glad she finally got it out.
They took us on a drive down the coast. I LOVE palm trees! They live by Tampa so we got to see that part of the state.
They took us to one of their favorite parks, which was gorgeous.
And we saw some apes!
King Jonah getting a ride back to the car.
Then to another part of town where the Stocks used to live where they harvest sponges.
We parted ways with the Stocks and they told us of their favorite beach...Clearwater. It was getting late but we REALLY wanted some beach time. Since it was so late in the day I didn't even have the kids change into their suits because I didn't think anyone would want to go in since it was getting cold. It had the most beautiful white sand.
And the water was FREEZING!
It didn't take long before everyone was in the water.
Then the sunset started happening. It was so breathtakingly beautiful.
I cannot get over this picture of Josh. Ha ha! It makes me laugh every time.
It was just getting prettier and prettier so I couldn't stop taking pictures.
Will finally caved and took his shirt off. It's a good thing too because I caught the moment he turfed it and went all the way in!
Jonah was soaked too.
I mean...look at that sky. Unedited, no filter, perfectness.
I wish we couldn't stayed longer but everyone was soaked and freezing!
We totally wish we would've had a full day at the beach after we saw how amazing it was. It was a really fun day and I"m glad we got to see the Stocks. Florida is good to us!
