Summer lovin'

Have I mentioned we went to Florida this summer? Aaron's sister Becky and her family moved there last year so we decided to make a trip of it and go see them. Being the trend setters we are, Aaron's two brothers and mom came out too making an impromptu Bennion family reunion. So here are my thoughts on Florida.... 1. It rained EVERYDAY! Not even kidding. We knew we had until about 1pm everyday and then downpour. We were there for two weeks and this was the pattern everyday. 2. Holy crap it is humid. If you are not wet because of the rain, you are wet because of the dang humidity. I gave up on my hair about day three. 3. There are bugs. and not bugs like in California, I mean like people have their whole back patios enclosed because of the bugs. It is crazy. 4. There are alligators. We saw one just chillin in the water while we were over by Cape Canaveral. (sorry no picture, it was....wait for it..... raining, so the camera was not out). Alligators are crazy. I will take a mountain lion or bear or big foot or what ever else we grow here in CA. Alligators scare me.

So... As I read that over I realize it is a bit pessimistic. Other than everything listed, we did have a lot of fun. All the little cousins got to hang out and I got to read a ton. I finished 5 books just in those two weeks. As we left, Aaron said that the next time we came it would be in November when the humidity and bugs are better!

The beach is always fun. We went a few times (once in Miami in the rain even) but the kids had a blast. The water is warmer than in CA so it was fun for all the moms and dads too.

This is in Becky's backyard. See the water behind us? That's right, they have a small lake in the back yard. All the houses are built around it. Pretty cool.


This is our attempt at a cousins photo. We took about 10 and this is the best one. Don't these kids know we are trying to document their childhood!

We went to this drive through animal park down by Miami. We watch America's Funniest Video's on Sunday nights and you always see people in these things and animals coming up and slobbering on them. I always wondered where there were, and here you go. Luckily for us the animals stayed a respectable distance.

I really really wanted to jump out and take a picture of this. In front was this momma giraffe, then us, then the baby right behind us, then Becky and their car. If it had not been the fear of being mauled by a herd of gazelle I would have done it.

Aaron set the goal to take the boys to every MLB park. Number one.... The Florida Marlins. We made it about 5 innings before we were ready to kill the kids. Hopefully by next summer when we hit the CA stadiums they will be a little more interested.

Gator World..... pretty cool place. It lived up to its name of lots of gators. The kids were bummed that they did not get to pet one but other than that they had fun seeing all the different size ones.

All the babies in a pen as we walked in.

Feeding the birds. Dylan almost killed on by trying to step on it.

Gator wresting. Did not actually wrestle it, just sat on it and did this. Kind of wanted to see him roll around in the sand with it.

Disney World.... actually this is Down Town Disney which had a big Lego store. Of course Andrew found the dog.

We ate at the T-REX restaurant. The whole place is as if you are eating in the middle of the jungle. Every 15 minutes there is a meteor shower and all the robotic dinosaurs go crazy and move and roar. Overly priced but entertaining.

Jon, Chris and Sammie joined us at Disney World. All the kids loved It's a Small World. We went on it twice.

The classic shot with the castle in the background. Notice that Dylan does not have shoes on? We got there at 7am for magic hours. He had them on as we entered the park. By the time we walked to the back of the park to the first ride (as per our carefully planned itinerary) one of them was gone. So by 7:15 am he had only one shoe. We went to buy him a pair of crocs or something but they were $42.00. I think not screamed my inner sense of cheapness. So we went the white trash route and let him walk around bare foot all day. That's right, we're classy like that.

Most days, the kids just had fun hanging out. We were the most nervous about Andrew and Matthew who fought like horrible a year ago when we were together for Christmas. This time? Awesomeness! (yep, that is a word) They did so well. Such a relief.

So... that was Florida. We also went to Miami and saw the spaceship launch which was super cool. And like most things it made me appreciate where we live, dry heat and all. :)