A Vacation in a Vacation

Nothin' like a vacation in a vacation!  I took the girls to Sea World for two nights and they had a blast.  I still have not gone through all of the Sea World pictures yet...but, here is the start of our mini getaway.

We had the best hotel experience at the Renaissance Marriott across the street from Sea World.  Our room was very inexpensive and had a lot to offer.


When we arrived, they gave us sparkling cider.  When I asked the girls to raise their glasses for us to do "cheers," the lady who checked us in came right around the counter and took a picture for us.

They had great amenities in the hotel.  The girls loved the waterfall on the way to Starbucks, which was located inside the hotel, that we ate at each morning.  I am currently addicted to ice chi tea lattes and birthday cake pops.    

The pools here were amazing.  The size of the main pool was equivalent to the few resorts I have stayed at.  There was a bar and great music playing.

We were pleasantly surprised when we arrived to see not just one, but TWO water parks for toddlers and younger kids.  It was awesome!  Honestly, the kids could have spent all day here.  Campbell could even do some of the water slides.  I liked this place even better than the Busch Gardens Sesame Street water area because there was more room to run around without sharp corners for the kids to slip and hit their heads on.

In the evening, we just vegged and watched movies.

In the morning, we would eat something light before tackling the awful August Florida heat.

I hope to sort through the Sea World pictures this week and post them soon.  Getting caught up with our summer travels on our family blog will make me smile.

Our Last Full Day in Delray

This picture says it all about our Florida vacation....

For our last full day in Delray before leaving for Orlando, we woke up in the morning and made Shrinky Dink art.  This was one of my other craft projects that I got mailed down there.  I forgot how much fun, at any age, those Shrinky Dinks can be!

After breakfast and craft time, we traveled downtown to a true local diner.  Everyone seemed to know everyone and the staff was so easy going and laid back. 

You gotta love a place that serves breakfast all day long!

I am a huge chicken salad fan.  It was as good as it looked.

No meal would be complete without dessert.  This was Florida's version of Sweet Frogs.

We can't wait to come back again.  Surviving traveling alone with my kids makes me smile:)  

The Price of Freedom

While down in Florida, I received word that a sorority sister lost her husband in a tragic helicopter crash in Afghanistan along with his fellow Navy Seals.  I was speechless.  Tears just streamed down my face.  I felt this deep sorrow in my heart and tried to imagine how much pain the family members of these brave soldiers, and especially their children, were feeling.  Unless I was in their shoes, I don't think I could even begin to feel their anguish.  I get a pit in stomach knowing these children's fathers will no longer see them grow up, wipe their tears, and walk them down the aisle.  All these moments I tend to take for granted as mother.  

I sometimes forget that these life moments we are not entitled to, but are privileged to.  I take for granted that we have all these freedoms in America and we have to preserve and protect them.  I am ashamed to admit this, but I sometimes feel so distant from the war after ten years.  I hear numbers on the news of fatalities and injuries and have trouble putting a face or a story with each passing or injured.    


This horrific incident has reminded me that each number heard on the nightly news has loved ones who are mourning their loss of life.  Each number has family who is forced to get out of bed each morning and put one foot in front of the other until it becomes the new norm of feeling.  Each number has left behind family who treasures their memories even tighter and keeps their love ones even closer now.  Each number has a family who has to learn to move on while their hearts are five steps behind them. I have been boldly reminded that each day we are given in this world is a gift.  


I want to thank all of the Armed Services for all that you do and their families who make those sacrifices.  

Each day, I hold these two girls even tighter.  Freedom in life is a gift and is worth fighting for.  Being an American makes me smile.

I Think We Could Live Here!

We had a great morning in the pool yesterday. I think Addisan could honestly live in that pool.  It is the first thing she asks to do every morning.

We then went to downtown Delray and went back to the same cupcake shop.  The girls tried the ice cream there this time.  I got my usual Cocoa Chanel cupcake.

Campbell insists on doing her hair each day.  This is her new hair-do.  I think she looks more like hippie....and she has the free spirit personality to go with it.


We later discovered a great old fashion pharmacy.  I love it....it had a little bit of everything.  They had a great selection of Melissa and Doug toys.  That brand is one of my favorite!  The girls each selected a small toy eraser and you would have thought they won the lottery with their excitement.  

Miami Zoo

Bernadette and I took the girls to the Miami Zoo yesterday.  We had an adventure getting there.  Our one and a half hour trip doubled.  Looking at the bright side with our unexpected adventure, the girls got a power nap in and B and I got extra time to have girl talk.

When we arrived at the zoo, it was hot. When I say hot, I really mean over 100 degrees hot!  

The best $10 dollars I spent in the longest time was on this...

The girls loved this!  Campbell has been out of a stroller since she was a year and a half.  I was a little nervous to see if they would actually ride in it....but they did VERY willingly!


We saw a lot of cool animals!

When we thought we saw it all, until we saw this...

Bernadette made a comment about those boys walking all over her (in more ways than one, huh?).  The zookeeper behind us heard her and said that it happens all the time!  You learn something new everyday, I guess.


I think one of the coolest things we did was ride a camel.  Addisan did not want to do this at first until Campbell tried it out.  Little sisters make great guinea pigs.  

The girls had a great time despite the awful heat.

Knowing that you can get lost with a girlfriend for hours and endure awful heat all day and still laugh during all of it, makes me smile.

First Day of Vacation in Delray

We had a great first full day in Delray Beach yesterday.  We slept in, including the kids.  We had breakfast and did a craft.  Before we came down, I went on Amazon and ordered some crafts for them to do and got them sent directly down here.  







We then went outside to enjoy the pool in the backyard.  Addisan has made great improvements in her swimming even in the past two days.  Things are really clicking for her.  

After our rough morning at the pool, we went to a local park.  It was awesome for toddlers with all the ground level entry points.  The girls could have stayed all day.

After working up an appetite running around, we tried a FABULOUS cupcake place.  

Now doesn't this look good!?  You gotta love a bottled Coke too!

They also had the perfect size mini ones for the kids.  The cupcakes were moist and the frosting was creamy, just the way I like it!

We then finished the day off at the beach.  

Being with my girls makes me smile!