Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Aaron Turns 14

After the Keys. we headed North...Quick stop in Orlando to meet up with some friends for some birthday fun!  Some of the best ideas are last minute ideas!  We celebrated Aaron and Tyler's birthdays with cake and then a trip to Universal Studios in Orlando, Fl!

The birthday boys and their friends!

What a great spot!  We had a clear line to the ice cream man!

Birthday celebration with our traveling tribe!


The next day we all headed to Universal Studios!



Hogsmeade at Universal 

Our first Butter Beer!  

Birthday lunch in Harry Potter World!

The birthday boy and his dad...and a little photo bomb from a friend

"Group Shot Guys"...wait, where's Braden?

Here he comes...

Last one!


The kids were brave enough to ride FEAR FALL!
Score!  We were chosen to preview the new Jimmy Fallon  Ride Through New York!

First time riding Hogwarts Express!!!!


A little Simpson's Snack!!!

The next day we rambled on to Durhamtown Off Road Resort with the birthday boy!

That's quite the selection of off-road vehicles!



There they go!!!

Off to ride the trails for the day...I went back to the RV to run support (snacks, drinks, first aid if needed)

First Pit Stop!  They were having a blast!


Aaron was LOVING this!!!

Ready for another round




It was a great day and the boys made some life long memories!!!


Next stop...Maryland...



Aaron asked for chicken and waffles for his birthday dinner

We surprised him with this super cool cake!

Ready to launch his birthday rocket!

He's not allowed up there...but he sure looks comfy!

Golf day with Nonna and Pop-Pop

All this celebrating sure wears Bodie out...

On to the next adventure!

Monday, November 6, 2017

Florida Keys...Here We Come!

After our time in Central Florida, we headed to one of our favorite places... The Florida Keys.  We stayed at Jolly Roger for a few nights (right on the sea wall...heavenly!!!) and then we headed to try out a new park with some of our traveling friends.  Sunshine Key RV Resort turned out to be a great park...fishing pier, a marina, basketball court and so much more.  Our nephew, Dylan, came to visit us during his Spring Break.  We ate at some great, new restaurants and we had delicious potluck dinners with our friends at the campground.  We snorkeled, swam, kayaked and fished.  We fed the Tarpon at Robbie's and we celebrated Easter 2107.  I (Amy) flew back home after Mom-Mom fell and broke her collarbone and hip.  (Happy to report she's back on her feet now!)  We celebrated birthdays and Happy Hours.  The boys got to spend time in the sunshine with friends and family.  Our time in the Keys was certainly memorable.  This is a long blog post, short on words, but filled with some of our favorite pictures (that each tell a story of our Keys Adventure!)

Good Bye For Now, Thousand Trails Orlando!

Last Flag Football Game

Wonderful Group of Guys!

Sleeping Beauty

We bought a new car (twice, actually!)



Pancakes make us HAPPY!

Walmart Online Shopping made it easy to get our supplies for the Keys


We're ready to go!


We interrupt this post for a Bodie Back Scratch!

On our way!

First Stop...The Wreck...to see Jordan and Brendan!



Key Lime Pie...Get in my belly!

Can't beat this view










Bodie loves to people watch from his front yard

A friendly Sea Cow


AKA Manatee

Surprise, Surprise...

Iguanas are everywhere

Keys Sunset


Sunshine Key RV Resort 

Fishing Pier




Wondering where the fish are...



Private beach









Handsome



Key Deer

Celebrated Katelyn Mann's birthday here....but I didn't take any pictures!!



Assembling the inflatable

Teamwork makes the dream work!



Look who we see!

Daily basketball games





RV full of guys

Beach launch


Heading out on a three hour tour



Kayaking





Check out this big guy!

Kayaking through the magroves

Date Night




Dylan

Aaron

First kayaking adventure





No sea creatures where hurt...all were returned gently to their homes on the sea floor







The Three Muskateers



Love these smiles



Snorkeling IN the BOAT!





Time to sell it!


2017






My Keys kayak!

Easter morning 2017



Donuts to share at the Easter buffett

And something a bit healthier...




















Ready to feed the Tarpon


Here fishy, fishy...






























Lunch and Shopping with our friends







A gang of iguanas

Birthday celebration + pool party = FUN DAY!

Painkiller...recommended by my friend Katie Graham



It was Tom's birthday!

















Took me to and from the Miami Airport to get to Maryland

The cats were happy to see me!

At our house, the UPS serves milk!





Homemade buttercream frosting fixes just about everything

Keys Sunset











Ms. Sharon came to visit for the day









LOBSTER Rueben 







Key West Date Day














Special tropical drinks for our last night with our friends



















Bodie's FAVORITE Day Ever




First trip to a restaurant 






Look at the size of those manatees!






The boys took me fishing!