Sunday, March 10, 2013

Florida Trip Extravaganza!

We're finally back from our most exhausting vacation yet. Thank goodness we had the weekend to unpack, relax, and unwind after we got back. We flew out of Buffalo to go to Orlando, and because of the snowstorm, we left early to be sure we got there in time for our flight. Of course we arrived with hours to spare so we killed some time in the mall near the airport. They had a donation receptacle that we raced some coins down. Arthur was a little confused when there was no prize for "winning" but it was still fun! It really reminded me of being a kid and sending coins down a similar receptacle with my parents.

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The boys were very excited to fly, and very well behaved in the airport. It didn't hurt that I had filled their backpacks with new kid-sized headphones, dollar store toys, and crayons to colour with. Of course Felix fell asleep about five minutes before we landed. He was a little scared of the take-off but very impressed with flying in general.

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My mom lent us her Stella and Sam dvd so that we could have the shows on the ipad. It proved invaluable!

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We arrived safe and sound in Orlando late-ish and headed to Miami the next day after a quick breakfast at iHop where we learned that ordering two kids meals for the boys was about two meals too many.

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Once we made it to Miami in our rented mini-van, we hit a Target for cheap snacks, drinks, and clothes. Arthur picked out a Darth Vader hat that matched the Lego Star Wars shirt he was wearing that day.

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After checking in at our hotel in Miami, we spent the next day in the Florida Keys with the family. It was colder than expected, only about 19C and not really that sunny. Fortunately, the boys were still able to explore a little later in the afternoon once the other kids came over, tide went out and the sand bar became accessible.

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They were very excited to play in the sand and to see live crabs in their natural habitat. We also went to a dock where you pay a few dollars to feed fish called tarpon. I had never heard of them before, but apparently they are huge. We went back again the next day while waiting for the wedding festivities to start. It was the best entertainment bang for your buck that we found in the keys.

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When the day of the wedding came, we were ready. The boys looked very cute in their little outfits with their buckets full of sand. They didn't carry the rings in them, and thank goodness for Teri Lynn who kept them entertained and sneezing instead of throwing fits before it was time for them to walk the path to the wedding site.

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After the wedding, we went back to the hotel and got up dark and early to drive to Disney World the next day!

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