Halloween

Peter - Lion

Alexis - Cinderella

Chris - Darth Vader

Evan - Bumblebee

Cocoa Beach at the beach

Next day found us back at Cocoa Beach, but this time we actually made it to the beach.

Evan catching a wave

Chris catching a wave

Evan

Doug, Ben and Peter playing in the sand

Alexis the next swimsuit model

Wave is coming in

St. Augustine - Castillo de San Marcos

Castillo De San Marcos.  A national monument.  That was closed.  We tried to go tour this monument but because of the idiots in the government it was closed.  No budget could be decided upon so all national monuments were closed and the people suffered.  Some people decided to go in anyway and when we left we say police coming to take care of it.  If they had just left them open while they bickered all would have been fine.  I had better stop now before my true feelings come out.  It was still a lovely site to see from the outside and some of the views were breathtaking.

Always ready for a fight, my children with the cannons

Trying to scale the wall to invade

Evan riding the cannon

Now I know where "hot shot" came from.

Looking in the shot furnace

Peter gazing out at the ocean

Lexie with the ocean behind her

It was a rainy day but we enjoyed looking around anyway and it seemed to slow down so we didn't get soaked.

St. Augustine - Old Mission

After much sampling of chocolate and buying of chocolate we headed over to the old mission.  We had really wanted to go to the museum, but it was closed and this was a good thing.  There was plenty for us to see without the museum.

Family pic

Doug and Peter by tree

Lady of La Leche chapel

Doug with children by old bell

Statue on grounds

Peter by a mini-statue

St. Augustine - Chocolate

Monday morning found us heading north to St. Augustine and chocolate. 

 Oh my goodness!  The tour smelled divine and their chocolate was even better.  Have you ever had a piece of dark chocolate that had a bitter taste to it?  Most chocolates get bitter the darker you go.  I just thought it was the norm, but I'm here to tell you it isn't.  Whetstone Chocolate Factory using an extra step that boils off the dark bitter taste and all you are left with is chocolate heaven.  I think I may be making a trip back just for the chocolate.  During the tour we all had to sport these nifty hair nets.

Jerky

We found the neatest little store close by.  They had knick knacks but also specialty food items.  I fell in love with some of the jams and honey spreads.  We also found alligator jerky.  Enough said!

Haven't had the guts to try it though.

Baptism and Parade

Back to Cocoa Beach we went for the third day.  No longer did we need Google Maps to help us find our way.  We were becoming very accustomed to the route without tollbooths.  I was shocked at the tollbooths and at how many you could find on such a small stretch of road.  Anyway today was a special day.  My nephew Sam had turned 8 during the summer and in our church that is when you get baptized.  He chose to wait a few months so his grandpa could be there for it, so we all got to participate.  Afterwards it was back to my sister's place for a party to celebrate.  And this party included a parade.  This was no ordinary parade this was a super hero parade.  To save room packing we tried to use clothes that could be used in everyday adventures.  Fun times.

After the parade there was food and games for all.  Once again we left in the dark and it took it's toll.

Evan and Chris cuddled up

Lexie and Peter sleeping

Poor Ben had gluttony tummy and wasn't feeling so good come sleep time.

The next day was Sunday and it was our day of rest.  We attempted to watch our church's General Conference, but halfway through our resort lost power for a stretch so we played games together instead.

Florida - Brevard Zoo and dinner

After Doug's birthday party we arrive to our room very tired and some of us woke up the next morning tired, but there were things to do and no time to be tired.  Off we headed back to Cocoa Beach for the zoo!  We were able to see lots of animals that we normally wouldn't and we were surprised by some we did see.  In our neck of the woods deer are plentiful and a nuisance.  Yet, there they were at the zoo.  We just laughed.  For a small fee one was able to feed the birds and giraffes.  The birds we come and land right on you.  We stopped and had lunch before looking at more animals including some with human heads.

After fun in the sun we headed back to our place and found somewhere to eat.

First dinner out on vacation is always a picture capturing event.

Can you sense a theme with my children's food choices????  I guess french fries are universal.

Florida!!!!

This was the year of the big family vacation/reunion and Florida was our destination.  WOW!  I'm still shocked we went and that most of the family was able to make it also.  Of course this being a cross country trip we had to make sure it was worth it and made it a two week affair jam packed with things to do.  Leaving Washington in the 30-40 degree weather and hitting Florida with 80 degree temps was a shock, but a lovely one that we enjoyed until the thermometer rose some more and the humidity with it.  Thankfully we packed enough shorts and had our swimsuits.  We did have to buy sunscreen though.  As I was going through the pictures I saw that we had taken over 300 pictures!  Someone sure was picture happy, okay it was me.  I won't be sharing all of them, but the highlights will still be a lot.  Better get started.

We arrived on October 2nd.  Other than checking into our place and getting some food we really were too tired to do much of anything our first night in Florida.  The next day, however, was time to explore our surroundings.  We booked a stay at a resort village just south of Orlando called the Liki Tiki Resort.  Loved it!  It was beautiful, clean, friendly, and if we didn't have plans there was plenty to do there which we never really did.

This is the view off our balcony.  In this little river we saw fish, water fowl and even alligators.  Under the umbrellas there is a swimming pool area for guests.

So many lizards in Florida.  I know we were the geeky tourists chasing lizards and trying to get pictures, but the kids loved it.  Some were real tiny even smaller than this and some were a little bigger, but they were all super fast.

Peter, Evan, Ben, Chris and Lex posing with a tiki statue

Doug and I with the palm trees behind us.  

Lexie smelling the flowers.  So pretty, but they look fake don't they?  Almost like plastic.

As a guest we could borrow a surrey and ride around the property.  I didn't have the right shoes this first day (I had sandals on and you had to have closed toe shoes), so I waited while the rest of the family took it for a spin.  They weren't gone long.  I'm guessing the children didn't help pedal much.

After the ride we had a mini-golf match.  After about 2 holes some of us were done and I will include me in that statement.  We just weren't use the heat anymore and it was getting to use even in the shade.  We did stick it out though and the children enjoyed it.

We ended the day with a trip to the west side of the state to my sister's place.  Lilly's husband is stationed in Cocoa Beach with the Air Force and was the main reason Florida was the chosen spot for reunion.  As it so happened today was October 3rd and Doug's birthday.  Unbeknownst to him I planned a surprise party for him with my siblings who were going to be there.  I had my sisters get the cake for me and told him we were just meeting everyone for dinner.  Good times.

Doug and his ninja birthday cake.

Our first full day in Florida is over.  Verdict:  Hot.  Tiring.  Fun.