Mammoth Cave

We took a little trip again this year before Thanksgiving.  This year, we hit up Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky.  I was a little concerned about the weather since we were heading north, so we took the easy route and stayed in a hotel.  I’m glad we did because it was very cold that week!  We had a great time though, and I was glad to have some outdoor time.  If you ask the girls what the best part of the trip was, they will tell you that it was the hotel pool.  Oh well – you win some and you lose some.

IMG_3875

IMG_3804

IMG_3828

IMG_3857

IMG_4002

IMG_3908

IMG_4021

IMG_3886

IMG_4032

IMG_0825

IMG_4049

We saw tons of wildlife during those few days.  It was quiet and peaceful since no one else was there.  The girls were a little nervous of the cave, and I was a little concerned that I was going to have to walk back up the 500+ stairs to get out, but no worries.  We all survived.  One more national park to check off my list!

Easter 2015

We started our long Easter weekend with some egg dyeing.  Don’t mind all the scaffolding and ladders in the background.  It’s a never-ending construction site at our house.

dyeeggs

On Easter morning, the Easter bunny was clever in hiding baskets.  The girls searched and searched for their baskets.  Samantha found hers first.  It was in the dryer.

samdryerbasket

Ellie could not find hers.

elliemad

But all of us pitched in to help her.  She was finally successful!  It was in the oven.

elliehappy

In taking this family shot, I think it was the quickest I have ever taken Easter pictures before in my life.  No one cried.  No one was mad.  No one stormed off in a dramatic fashion – it was unlike all previous Easter family pictures.

easter

Sadly, this will be one of the last pictures with this big oak tree (behind Brian).  About 3 weeks later, it fell.   There’s that drama.  I thought it had skipped us.

Disney

We took the plunge and spent part of our Fall/Thanksgiving Break at Disney World.  The girls had a great time, and they were SO good while we were there.  Despite spending the evening in the emergency after-hours clinic with Ellie the night before we left, she plowed through.

Each of the girls had been on an airplane before, but neither would remember.  They were thrilled to take the short trip down to Orlando!  We spent the rest of that day at Epcot.  Samantha’s most desired To Do was to ride Test Track.  In the end, her favorite thing was the Tiki Room at Magic Kingdom.

 

epcot

testtracks

testtracke

We spent the next day at Magic Kingdom.  And without surprise, Ellie’s most desired To Do was to meet Rapunzel.  It was her favorite thing also.

rapunzele

 

dumbos

 

teacupe

 

castlefam

We ventured over to Hollywood Studios for the following day.  The highlight of that day was playing in the snow at Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post, watching the Frozen Sing-Along show, and riding Toy Story Mania.

monstersinc

Then, back to Magic Kingdom, where Brian was picked for the early performance of trying to pull the sword from the stone.

swordb

bellee

magiccarpet

Without prompting, the girls read their Safety Information at the appropriate time on the flight home.  What can I say?  They prepare.

safetyinformation

The Final Countdown

We started out the last week of summer excited to finally get to the beach. Unfortunately, Brian came home on Friday afternoon late, and told us that he didn’t think he could come with us. Work gets in the way of life. Can I get an Amen? I attempted to get a few others to join us at the little apartment, but just decided to go on my own. I am so glad we came.

all e es s seastar

When we were at the beach, the best way I know to describe it is occupied. The girls were just busy doing beachy things: digging for coquina clams, searching for crabs, riding waves, building sand castles, filling buckets, emptying buckets, looking for fish, watching the dolphins, the list goes on.  The girls loved going out to the sand bar, so we went out at least every day. Once while we were out there, we were watching some fishermen in kayaks and their wild success.  Then, some dolphins decided to join in the frenzy.  We were close enough to hear the water come out of their blowholes!  It was really cool.  We weren’t close enough to see them underwater, so Samantha continued to ask why we couldn’t get closer.  They are her all time favorite animal, I think.  They certainly are now, at least.

Then, on the last night we were at the beach, I was doing the final packing up and was ready to start walking up.  Samantha yells that she found a sea star!  I happened to have a net in my hand, so I walked down to the shore, not really knowing what I would find.  She was right!  It had lost an arm, but we picked it up long enough to watch it for a few minutes.  It was still alive, so I didn’t want to keep it.  Otherwise, what a cool find!

As soon as our feet hit the sand, they were content, which made me content. I even got to read a little while we were there!! They didn’t need me to join in the play, or worse, be the referee. It was lovely. I wish Brian could have joined us in this little bit of bliss.  The weather was great, a little cloudy all day (which is perfect in my book!) and even a little thunderstorm one afternoon.

This was the first time we had gone to Perdido Key, and based on our great trip, maybe we’ll be back!  We found so many great shells and animals.  I’m not sure if it was the season, weather, or the area.  It was nice.  I’ll pass along the house info too.

The rest of the week promises the finishing touches on our summer book reports, buying some new shoes, new school haircuts… Do you see a theme? We start back to school on Monday!!