Our third day of vacation sent us to Clearwater, FL. We started early Wednesday so we could get a complete day at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. As you can see the girls were super excited for this part of the trip. I am pretty sure Drea was more excited about CMA, then Disney. I wanted to give her the opportunity to pet a dolphin, but I waited too long to book our tickets, as they were booked out for two months.
This is Hope the dolphin...she is from Dolphin Tale 2
A rescued sea turtle
Here's Winter, not wearing her tail because...
...these two stole it!
Drea got to touch this dolphin
Posing with the sea turtle
This boat is from the movie
Another selfie, during our dolphin adventure tour
Osprey nest, complete with babies
Looking for wild dolphins
We did see, several dolphins, a jumping sting ray, a rare pink bird
that wasn't a flamingo, and the osprey from the previous picture
Cozi Zuehlsdorff...Hazel from the movie
Waiting to get Cozi's autograph
Getting her autograph
Posing for a pic with Coze.
I was totally impressed with this young lady. She was very friendly and outgoing with all who waited in line to see her. Not only that, but even after they closed the line, she signed autographs for anyone who walked up. She was also very open about her faith in God, which was a nice bonus.
Here is two more crazy sea turtles
Charlotte wanted to have her picture taken by herself...her face is priceless
Drea asked this trainer a question and she talked to her for 5-10 minutes
about dolphins. Drea was in her glory since she wants to be a marine biologist
For Spring Break the girls and I headed to Florida for some fun in the sun. Since seeing the movie A Dolphin Tale, Drea has wanted to visit CMA to see Winter. Winter is the Dolphin for which the movie is based. Our plan was to visit CMA and then spend a few days at Disney World. The first two days consisted of traveling and getting our camp set up. I could not have asked or predicted better behavior from them. They weren't perfect, but no one is. I look back at everything we did and all the time in the car and waiting in line and I could not be more pleased with how well they did. I hope you enjoy viewing our journey as much as we enjoyed taking it.
Our second stop at the Welcome Center in SC
Swimming at the hotel the first night in Brunswick, GA
The regular pool water was freezing. I swear the water
in our cooler was warmer. I swam it in after being harassed for an hour.
The hot tub was perfect.
Relaxing in the room
Day 2 Selfie: Onward to Orlando
Daytona Beach!
Waiting for me to go to the Pool
Our home for five, wait, six days...I'll explain in a later post.
What the girls were waiting for since Christmas
We left the pool for dinner and when we came back
this was sitting on the rail. It was Charlotte's shorts.
It cracked me up for whatever reason.
Two days of travel, just to go to Wawa...it was worth it
Smores!
Check back for more pictures from CMA and Disney World!
First, let me start by saying, I am sorry. I some how deleted the photos from your birthday party. I know that your Mom and other family members took plenty of pictures, so don't fear. Either way, I hope you forgive me for my mistake. I guess adjusting to the iphone has it's draw backs.
Without a doubt you are a leader. You have a mind of your own and you are not afraid to speak it. It still cracks me up (sometimes), when you want to do something and I say, "No", only to get from you, but "Daddy you don't understand, I just want to...", fill in the blank. You will not get walked on, that is for sure. You do what you want to do and you beat your drum to it's own beat.
Charlotte you are so caring. It does not matter what or who it is. You love to give hugs and just sit next too, on top of, or around people you care about. We can read a book together, wash dishes together, or just watch TV next to one another. You love that time.
You are hilarious. I do not know where you come up with some of the things you say. And when we laugh at you forget it. That only opens the door for more of the same. If you have an audience watch out. You do not let up.
You are the best helper. You are willing to do anything: Dishes: check, folding clothes: check, painting a room: check, using a hammer: check, cleaning up your toys: not so much. Okay, almost anything.
You are fearless. There is nothing you won't try. You are willing to try new foods, touch and hold different kinds of animals, and ride any time of ride. I think I should make you where a helmet all the time because you really don't have any fear of trying new and adventurous things.
Finally, I just love you. You are an amazing little girl. Sure, you are a challenge now and then, but you are everything we prayed for. You are a strong, independent, little woman. You are super intelligent and have a bright future ahead of you. I can't wait to see what the next year brings, as you continue to grow bigger and brighter.
I feel like this birthday post is always the same. I would go back and read through the previous years' birthday posts, but I am not going too. If you want to you can, but I am sure it is the same. I typically, say I can't believe how big she is getting or how old she is acting. Maybe, I say she needs to slow down and stop growing. Perhaps I say, I am getting old. (This can not possibly be true, can it?) Sure all of that stuff is true, but I am not going to say it. This year I am going to do something different. So here we go...
Drea,
Daddy is proud of you. Daddy thinks the world of you. You amaze me with how much you have grown. You are brilliant. I shouldn't tell you this already, but you are way smarter than me. You probably already know this. Humor me and pretend that you are not, for a little longer.
I could say so much about you, but there isn't enough room and I know I would forget something. The one thing that makes me the most proud of you is how you care for your sister. I know she can be challenging at times, but you look after her, you protect her, and you care about her. Because of all of that, she looks up too you. You may not see it, but she does.
I love your laugh. You have the best laugh in the entire world. My favorite is still trying to convince you to stick your arms up while promising that I won't tickle you. You give in every time and every time I still tickle you. Please don't stop giving in because your laugh is contagious.
I love how you have gotten into College Sports. Maybe you really like it or maybe it's because I like it so much. Either way, I love sharing this with you. I hear Mommy has been catching you watching ESPN. Amazing.
I love how many questions you ask. It's constant. Your mind must be going a hundred miles an hour. You name it and you ask it. I won't lie to you, at some point I was like please stop asking me so many questions. But I was wrong for thinking like that. Don't ever stop asking questions. Ever, Ever, Ever. Your thirst for knowledge is what makes you so smart.
You are my favorite nine year old. I am proud of you and nothing you ever tell me will make me not love you. There is absolutely nothing that you can say that will change that. Do not be afraid to ever say anything to me.
Lastly and most importantly, I love you. I know I tell you this all the time, but don't forget it.
Love, Daddy
P.S. - Here some pictures and videos of your party, you had a blast!
Drea's Birthday Cake...Stacey designed and made it
Drea's Birthday Pic with complete face paint, Thanks Frankie
Charlotte and Poppy Jo
Opening Presents
Drea and her Friends
Here are two videos from Drea's Party, the first is us singing Happy Birthday, the second is opening one of her presents...Enjoy!
Christmas was a busy time for us this year. I am sure we are not the only ones. The girls' were super busy as we tried to balance out time between families. We typically don't travel to NJ over Christmas, but were able to this year. The main reason we went was for my cousin Lauren's wedding. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed seeing family members that we have not seen in over a year.
In the past we have made cookies, but this year we decorated ginger bread men. The girls were very creative in their designs. They were not a fan of the ginger bread. Next year, we will just go with the sugar cookie man.
Here is Charlotte's cookie
Drea taking her time to perfect her cookie
Drea's Cookie
The girls' also continue to dance. This year is the big spring dance recital, but there is always a smaller Christmas program. Both of the girls danced and did a wonderful job.
This is Charlotte's dance...it is about two minutes long...see if you can find her
Once again, it is time for my annual, I forgot to make Christmas cards, I don't want to spend money to make or design them, I do not want to look up address' and write them on envelopes, this is way easier Christmas blog post.
Truth be told, I enjoy getting Christmas cards in the mail. It's one of my favorite things about Christmas. One of these years, I am going to do both. Just not this year. It's hard to justify it when the message at church this past Sunday was about spending less to give more, I think I can give my $30 somewhere else, so please forgive me. But by all means, send me your Christmas cards and also give a little more. These are the best of the photo shoot we set up at home.
The girls in one of the many poses they suggested
Drea and me testing the camera angle
This is the pose that Charlotte wanted to do the most
It's hard to be serious when you have a Christmas ornament in your hand
