Florida!

Our winter getaway has already come and gone. We had a very good time. I can't say it went as I had imagined, but that's not a negative thing. We spent one day at Sea World, which was "meh...okay"; drove to the Atlantic at New Smyrna Beach where Max got soaked racing the waves and Cate built a sandcastle; and toured three Disney World Parks in 4-1/2 days.

Kyle did have to remind me at one time that if the kids want to wait their day away in lines to meet the Disney characters then that is what we should do because they were so thrilled when they encountered each one.

I wasted my money buying the Unauthorized Guide to Disney World for Kids because once we got there, I didn't even open it up. The kids pretty much guided us to where they wanted to go and what they wanted to do. The parks were crazy-packed, but for the most part, everyone was civil. The only truly frustrating time was trying to get across Main Street as people crowded along the sidewalk waiting for the 3pm parade. It was a freaking traffic jam!

In total, we experienced sensory overload; rode a few rides; met many, many characters (see all of them here); ate very badly and were sad to go home at the end of the week.

So enjoy a sampling of the photos we took of our trip. If you're really into it, view all of them here. You should be able to tell in the middle of them that we had themed days for most days. Gaggy? Yeah, a bit; but it certainly made it easier to find each other in the mobs of people.

Manatee at Sea World

Four Things

Shamu Show - "Believe!"

Is that house really upside down? Yes...it's Wonder Works

Max the Astronaut

Cate the astronaut

Tons of fun things in stockings delivered to our hotel room
Running into the waves

Cate making a sandcastle

Max getting really wet

Two people in the way of a fantastic ocean view
Cate was in heaven eating shrimp
The castle at night
Getting Princess Aurora's (Sleeping Beauty) autograph
Princess Aurora is ready with the ultimate Princess pose
Meeting Minnie and Mickey
We learned that Max really likes Donald Duck
Hugs for Donald
Family photo with Belle from Beauty and the Beast
Even Santa hangs out at WDW Running them ragged after many days helps them sleep well

Santa Goofy--notice all three heads tilted!
Another Donald encounter--can you tell who was so thrilled?

Donald autographed stuffed Donald's foot!

Dinoland USA in Animal Kingdom

Yeah, that's right...Mickey waffles!