a super huge thanks to the best parents in the world for supplying my sisters and i with 31 years of fun family vacations.\u00a0 we have toured the majority of the us and always have a blast thanks to them!<\/p>\n
the taylor side + granny covey recently all met up in orlando for a fun filled week of swimming, sunning, and amusement parking!\u00a0 we all had a blast.\u00a0 the furthest travelers were keek and lo, coming all the way from chi town.\u00a0 others came in from va, and me from nc.\u00a0 we met up on sunday and spent the week at a rental house in kissimmee.\u00a0<\/p>\n
upon arrival we had to get our keys to the rental house and pick up our rental cars.\u00a0 the\u00a0first photo in the group is of what we like to call – the hooptie.\u00a0 why the fog you ask, its all smoke and mirrors – baby.\u00a0 this car provided us with hours of hysterical entertainment.\u00a0 you can just imagine.<\/p>\n
our first day was a fun filled day of lounging in the pool and vigorously applying sunscreen, so we did not get sunburned – well, just not yet.\u00a0 monday rolled around and we headed out to universal orlando.\u00a0 several of us received free universal park tickets during mom’s urgent pleas to submit an online form during the super bowl half time show.\u00a0 it was amazing that over half of us actually got the free tickets.\u00a0 once we got through the gates we welcomed james to a wonderful world of florida heat and amusement park life.\u00a0 he’d let you know he’d been to amusement parks before, but none like this, and none in fl, and none with this group!\u00a0 we all rode on shrek (a 3-d ride) et, and the terminator.\u00a0 it was funny to hear mom laughing and granny making sure that james could see what she saw as the movie rolled through.\u00a0 everyone enjoyed those “rides”.\u00a0 we split off for a while and some of us rode the simpsons and men in black.\u00a0 james really enjoyed those rides!\u00a0 we later met back up with the rest of the group and all finished the day with soggy pants at jaws!\u00a0 the heat was a bit much so we made our way back home to enjoy the rest of the evening in the swimming pool.<\/p>\n
tuesday was another restful day of fun in the sun in the swimming pool at the house.\u00a0 the house was amazing with 5 bedrooms, a game room, a movie theatre, and a great pool with a hot tub.\u00a0 we all spread out and taught james how to dive, and had fun splashing around.\u00a0 beth found out she got a new job, so we all had to share in a celebratory mimosa!\u00a0 congrats bethy!<\/p>\n
wednesday was our big day at disney.\u00a0 (i try to be so prepared with my camera, battery, charger, etc.\u00a0 however, on the biggest day of the trip i accidentally left the battery in the charger – plugged into the wall at the rental house!\u00a0 so, all disney photos will have to come to you via tommy t’s surrogate camera.)\u00a0 we all had an amazing time at disney thanks to d’s brother parker!\u00a0 parker hooked james up with a jedi training camp and a back stage meetand greet with the star wars cast!\u00a0 he and paw-paw were amazed at his jedi training skills and his autographed light sabor!\u00a0 awesome times!\u00a0 after riding the star wars ride, we headed across the camp to let james play on the “honey i shrunk the kids” playground.\u00a0 he had a great time running around the movie set!\u00a0 after this we headed to the rockin’ roller coaster.\u00a0 the wait was long, and in the hot fl sun, but we all had a fun time in this 0-60 mph coaster!\u00a0 james and paw-paw rode in the front car!\u00a0 brave soldiers!\u00a0 lori and i brought up the rear, riding right behind them.\u00a0 after this we headed over to the magic kingdom.\u00a0 james picked out an awesome mickey hat that brought us good luck for the rest of the afternoon!\u00a0 he even saved off a thunderstorm.\u00a0 james and beth rode the race car track, and we all had a spin on the tea cups.\u00a0 then james, lori, granny, and i rode on dumbo before heading to “its a small world”.\u00a0 after this we split up again and granny and mom went on the river boat cruise, while paw-paw, lori, beth,\u00a0james, and i went on the haunted house tour.\u00a0 lori had never made it through this spooky ride before, so she was anxious to get this one checked off!\u00a0 soon it was time for the disney magic of lights parade, so we all settled in and watched the show.\u00a0 granny and james sat in awe as they watched the hour long parade.\u00a0 after this, lori, james and i headed back out for some more rides, while the others headed for the gates.\u00a0 lori, james, and i went to the “big thunder mountain railroad”.\u00a0 the line was short and we, again plopped james in the front car for this ride!\u00a0 after the ride we got to watch the fireworks from atop the mountain!\u00a0 they were amazing!\u00a0 our last ride of the day was “splash mountain”.\u00a0 we all three had a blast on this ride, despite the long line!\u00a0 it was totally worth it, and as james said “i think our boat went off the tracks on this one!”\u00a0 too cute!\u00a0 as we were leaving we made sure james had a walk through of cinderella’s castle before heading to the monorail.\u00a0 surprisingly he did not fall asleep until after we got home!\u00a0 i thought for sure he’d be sleeping as soon as he hit the back seat of the car!<\/p>\n
thursday was another sunny fun day at the pool.\u00a0 we all have gorgeous tans to prove it.<\/p>\n
friday was our last brave day at the amusement parks.\u00a0 lori, keek, james, and i headed back to islands of adventure and finished up the missed rides from monday at universal.\u00a0 james really enjoyed the “hulk” roller coaster, and keeping up with uncle keek all day long.\u00a0 two peas in a pod!\u00a0 james was afraid for his life on the “twister” show at universal, but he hung in there and survived the storm!\u00a0 after this, we put him on the “mummy” coaster.\u00a0 he told uncle keek that he kept his eyes closed the entire time!\u00a0 we all had a blast, and met up with the rest of the family for dinner at granny’s favorite – red lobster.\u00a0 after dinner the boys headed over to play mini-golf and the ladies went back to the house to settle into the hot tub!<\/p>\n
beth and james’ flight out was saturday morning, so we all said our sad goodbyes and wished them a safe trip back home – promising we’d do something just as fun next year!\u00a0 shortly thereafter, granny came inside saying that jesus was in the sky!\u00a0 we all worried that she was being called by the light, but later found out that what was really happening was some sky writing.\u00a0 nifty!\u00a0 that afternoon mike and meg (keek’s cousins) came over to swim in the pool with us.\u00a0 we all had a blast, and even rocco got in the pool!\u00a0 that night we had to get dad over to pat o’brien’s piano bar at universal.\u00a0 we made sure “great balls of fire” was on the list, and everyone sung their hearts out that night!<\/p>\n
the word is that next year we’ll be doing a cruise.\u00a0 get out the sunblock, and i promise to not forget my camera battery!\n\t\t