Saint Simons Island, Georgia

We got up and on the road to start the trek back to SC. After a lunch/outlet shopping stop in St. Augustine, we drove a few more hours to Saint Simons Island in Georgia. I've heard great things about this little town so it sounded like a great place to stop for the night.


We checked in to our hotel and then headed out to see what we could see. We found a little restaurant - Barbara Jean's (I think?), a total hole in the wall but apparently a community landmark - that had been recommended by a friend and then took a walk on the beach. It was dusk and the tide was coming in so we had limited time out there, since the tide comes all the way up to the rocks, but it was beautiful all the same. We really loved the lighthouse.




Reid was pretty tired so when he conked out in the car, Ross and I took the opportunity to just drive around the island. We drove out to the end where all the "nice" houses are and just took in the scenery. The trees and Spanish moss... just gorgeous. I wish we could have stayed longer. Perhaps on future trip...

Last Day in Orlando

Our third day in Orlando was laid back. We spent some time by the pool, then went to the WonderWorks Museum. It is a big building that is constructed to look as if it dropped out of the sky upside down - Reid is fascinated by the "upside down building." It had lots of interactive displays - gigantic bubbles (always a favorite with me and Reid), hurricane and earthquake simulators, a bed of nails, etc. Three levels of all kinds of exhibits.



We also met my good friend/former boss from days gone by, Deborah, and her boyfriend Kevin for dinner. I have not seen her in...eight years, I think. It was wonderful to see them both and I'm so glad they made the drive from Tampa just to see us!

Tomorrow: We begin the trek home, with a stop at Saint Simons Island, GA!

Our Disney Day...

And when I say "Our Disney Day," I mean the ENTIRE day!

Since Ross and I both got in for free using our vouchers from the food drive we hosted, all we had to pay for was Reid. That, in and of itself, is awesome. Three people into Disney for $72 bucks - sweet! We decided to do only Magic Kingdom and do as much as we could.

And we did.

We got there around 10:30 am and did not leave until after 11pm. It was so fun to see how much can change in just one year. Since we did the whole Disney she-bang last year, I was interested to see how Reid's response to it all would differ. He still loved it, and since he grew over 5 inches in one year (!!!) there were a few rides that were brand spanking new to him. The 100% favorite this year: Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Thunder Mountain was great on a few levels: 1) it's a roller coaster (which I love!) and is good enough to keep both adults and kids happy, without being scary, and, 2) The cars fit three people, so all three of us could ride together and experience it together every single time. And lines moved quickly enough that - between the fast passes and good strategy - we rode it at least 10-12 times during the day. Woohoo! By the end of the day, Reid was riding with his hands in the air. He loved it.

Other favorites this year: the race cars, the Buzz Lightyear ride (where you shoot things), and Goofy's Barnstormer (kiddie) coaster. I am happy and amazed to report that we did not ride a single thing in Fantasyland. Wow! (No It's a Small World, no Winnie the Pooh, no Pirates of the Caribbean, no Dumbo... and we didn't even miss them.) Not to mention that we got to see Woody and Jessie, and meet Buzz Lightyear up close and personal... perfect timing since our Toy Story 3 obsession was in full swing.

We watched the afternoon parade in Frontierland. That time sitting and waiting in the stroller nearly did Reid in. He was looking pretty weary... but nothing a little caffeine and ice cream can't fix! After more riding, we grabbed some dinner and then watched the fireworks at the castle from afar. I'm sure it would have been even better up close but we weren't interested in battling the throngs of little girls in princess dresses (and their parents) who wanted to see Tinkerbell float down from the top of the castle. Plus, we saw her from all the way across the park anyway! And that gave us time to ride Thunder Mountain a few more times before closing time.

We were there on a night when the Spectromagic light parade was to happen. It begins after the rides are closed down, so everyone and their brother can watch it. So we made our way to Main Street USA to snag a spot. We found a really good spot that measured about three square feet and Ross guarded it with his life while we kept Reid entertained. And then, of course, the parade did not begin on time. Right about the time that Reid was wondering "why" we are sitting with a million other people on a sidewalk in the dark, the parade finally started...

And by the fourth float he was sound asleep. And when I say "sound," I mean dead weight, no response, 100% unconscious sleep. And he is sitting on top of me, and I am sitting flat on the sidewalk with zero space to maneuver a way to stand up. And Ross is about 10 feet away (because there is no room for him on our "spot").

After about five minutes of rearranging and shooting dirty looks at our neighbors to move over and make room, I finally whispered a mild threat in Reid's unconscious ear to cooperate or else. Even a dead-to-the-world four-year-old's brain knows to perk up when mommy means business.

We finally made it to Ross and the stroller, and here's what Reid looked like all the way to the car:

It was a great day, though! Perfect weather. No rushing around. Just enjoying each other and having fun. Can't ask for much more than that. :)

Vacation!

How much do you love it when you arrive at your vacation destination super early and they have your suite ready? I love it a lot. :D

We got to our resort in Orlando by 11am and were able to get right into the condo. And then right into our swimsuits. We were sitting by the awesome pool by noon.

Yep. Reid is giving a "thumbs up" signal in our family self-pic. I think all three of us were just so happy to be there!

We spent all afternoon at the pool, having lunch poolside, floating around and watching Reid swim back and forth through the waterfall, and making tie-dyed t-shirts (gotta love resort activities!).

We decided to visit Downtown Disney for dinner and shopping. We even ran into someone Ross works with - it's such a small world! We had dinner and then ended up at the most popular place for us there this year... the Lego Store. Reid has become fascinated by them. He stood there forever, making all kinds of contraptions, including race cars to race down the Lego track.

They had lots of Toy Story 3 Lego art, which Reid was also fascinated by. Until we got too close. He eats, sleeps, and breathes Toy Story right now, but take note of the look of fear on his face in the photo above next to Lego Woody. Hilarious!

Tomorrow: Our Disney day!

On the way to Florida!

So, after Ross completed his 5K run, we came home to shower and load the car.

It was a rainy day but luckily we weren't in a hurry. Our plan was to drive part of the way down and then chill out at a hotel for the night. We made to Valdosta, GA - and truly we could have gone even farther - and then relaxed for the evening. We even took a dip in the outdoor pool, after a nice long rain, in April... to say it was COLD would be an understatement. (How is it that kids don't feel the cold?)

The next stop along the way was a visit to Gramma and Grampa in Sumterville, FL. We got to look for alligators and ride in the golf cart to our hearts' content. And enjoy some of Gramma's key lime icebox pie. Yum!

And we finally remembered to get a good photo with Reid and his grandparents:

And a silly one... :)

Now off to Orlando!

Greer Earth Day 5K

Ross completed another 5K! This time it was the Greer Earth Day 5K. The weather was not ideal - quite dreary actually - but he had a good reason to run fast... we were leaving for vacation afterwards!

Good job, babe!

Easter in Alabama

We made the trip once again to do Easter with the Alabama family. It's never a long trip since Ross has to get back for work, but I love seeing Reid with all his cousins (technically, second cousins, but who can keep track at this point?).

It came up at one point that we had never let Reid dye his own eggs for Easter. Now, I'm all for holiday "traditions," but that is one that just doesn't mean much to me. Plus, it's a mess and generally a waste of eggs. But then I started to feel a little guilty so when I spotted a "paint your eggs" kit at the Piggly Wiggly, we had to grab it. Instead of dipping eggs in dye and vinegar (yuck!), you used ready-made stuff and painted the eggs with paint brushes. Brilliant!

Check out our masterpieces...

And then of course, we had the hunting of the eggs. I'm so glad all the "little" kids are at an age now where they can hunt eggs independently and get into it. Maggie was a big help to Peyton and Reid - she loves to take care of them.

Probably the biggest highlight of the weekend was Granny and Papa's new paddle boat. It was fun to paddle around the pond, but I am once again so thankful that Maggie likes taking care of the little ones. Naturally, they wanted to be on the paddle boat ALL day and can't paddle themselves. Yay for Maggie for being the designated paddler!