We Found Mickey!

Not sure I can condense 10 days of vacation into a few paragraphs, but I'm going to try.  : )

Bags finally were packed, glasses repaired, new crickets bought for the turtles, and the *no hot water* mystery was solved.  We hit the road one hour later than we intended at 7pm.  We had driven only about one mile, when a little voice in the back chirped, "Are we almost there yet?"  And so began our awesome adventure.....

The first night we drove until 3am, we stopped to sleep in Delaware.  Already the snow was almost non-existent.  The next day we awoke with our spirits as bright as the warm sunshine.  We traveled for 16 hours that day, couldn't believe how well behaved the kids were.  I incredulously asked myself, "Are these MY kids?"  We had trouble finding lodging that night; we finally found a place to rest our heads at 2am in Townsend Georgia.  I wish we hadn't....  

That hotel ended up being a house of horrors.  I knew it was bad when we opened the door to the room, but desperate for sleep, Mike talked me into staying.  I checked the sheets and they looked clean, so we all fell into an exhausted slumber.  At 8am we woke up, and it was then that the full horror of the room was exposed.   I swear, there should have been yellow police tape up indicating that the room was a crime scene.  There was lots of blood on the bedspread, blood behind the toilet, blood and other unidentifiable stains on the box springs, the filth on the bedframes was unimaginable.  Cigarette butts & hair were on the floor, the shower was disgusting and the carpet was so stained it felt gummy when stepped on.  Yes, all this for $78.00... Literally sick to our stomachs and itching we immediately vacated the room.  I complained at the desk, but that story is for another entry.  Needless to say, I will be making a formal complaint to someone who hopefully will care.

Around 2pm on Sunday, we arrived in Deltona FLorida.  First stop was to my brother Danny's house, his daughter was having her 15th birthday at 4pm.  It was great to see them, wish we could have spent more time together.  I  miss them all so much.... That night my folks surprised us by making a reservation in a suite at the Holiday Express near them.  It was one large room with a sleeper sofa and wonderously clean. The first good nights rest since we hit the road.  Thank you Mom and Dad, we've kept the receipt so we'll remember our gift when our birthdays and Christmas rolls around.  : )   Monday morning we went to Cypress Gardens with my parents.  Had hoped to meet up with my Aunt and Uncle, but my Aunt was sick with the flu/strept throat.  Couldn't believe how much the gardens had changed, the kids had alot of fun there. 

Tuesday morning we headed off to Orlando.  Mickey Mouse here we come!  We stayed at the All-star Movie resort and though the rooms were small, they were very nice.  Disney did not disappoint, the grounds at the resort were fantastic.  We spent Tuesday at the Magic Kingdom; and although I have been there many times before, it was exciting to experience it through a small childs eye.  The highlight of the day was when Sammi finally met Mickey Mouse.  After her much anticipated meeting she asked, "Can we go home now?"  We stayed until the park closed that night enjoying the shows and light parade.

Wednesday we headed to MGM.  There were some shows that the little ones did enjoy, but many of the 3-D shows (even the children's ones) were a bit too intense for them.  We went on one ride that seemed pretty benign. "The Greatest Movie Ride Ever."  ...Let's just say that Sammi now has an intense fear of aliens.  I'm afraid she might remember that experience as strongly as her meeting with Mickey Mouse.  Poor kid...  I went on Terror Tower twice.  Once with Spence and once with Mike.  I've gotta fess up that I screamed like a girl.  Oh wait, I am a girl, so I guess it isn't THAT embarrassing.  On Thursday, we stayed at the resort and just enjoyed the amenities.  We spent the day exploring the resort and swimming.  Because I forgot to pack my bathing suit, I bought one at a local Wal-marts the day before.   A word of warning to women who have 30+ pounds to  lose. DON'T buy a black and white bathing suit.  I looked like a holstein cow, truly a very moo-ving experience, lol.   

Friday we had planned on returning to Cypress Gardens (we had a free pass to return).  Again, I had hoped to meet up with my Aunt and Uncle but fate had other plans.  We awoke Friday morning to the steady beat of rain and Sammi burning-up from a fever.  Her eyes were glazed and her usual pale skin was pink from the heat.  When I asked her if she was sick, she said "I don't know what happened.  I saw that alien show and went to sleep.  Now I'm sick."  All plans cancelled.  

Everyone had a wonderful time and this vacation has filled us with memories that will last a life time.  It was tough leaving the glorious warmth of Florida knowing we were heading back into snow.   But, it was time to go home....  Before we left the state we stopped to see my foster sister Missi and her family.  Although the visit was very brief, it was great to see her.  Another person in my life that I miss....

We traveled until 2am, stopping to sleep in Florence South Carolina.  Sammi vomited thru the wee hours of the morning, finally falling asleep around 4am.  When we woke up at 9am, she felt a bit better.  Unfortunately Mikey began to get sick.... He began to vomit Saturday night at 9:30pm.  Amazingly, both kids were real troopers and didn't complain once.  At 2am, we crossed the CT border.  Although road weary, :::we had been on the road for 16 hours by that point::: Mike and I looked at each other and decided we should just shoot for home.  Aside from getting a bit tangled up in Boston due to detours, we made it home at 4am on Sunday morning.  Mikey woke up as we drove up the street to our house.  He asked if we were back at our *old home*.  When we told him we were, he said "Good old home."  Out of the mouths of babes....

Yes, it's good to be home.  Well, sort of.  We now all have upper respiratory infections, and can't say I'm loving the blizzard  we are having today.   This storm has dumped a foot of snow on us.   Hoping the old wives tale, "March in like a lion, out like a lamb" is true.  I'm so ready for Spring....