Family vacation to Flordia May 1 - May 8, 2016

Family vacation to Flordia May 1 - May 8, 2016

Sunday
This vacation was a little different than previous ones. Only Greta and I went with Matt's family (Erm, Felix, Lisa, Steve, Mark, Marisa, Evelyn, Larz, Yvette, and Vivian). Matt needed to be in Spain for work and James & Noelle couldn't be out of school for a week. We flew out of Milwaukee with a layover in Detroit. All 12 of us, typical Hanson style, stuck together through check-in, security, bathroom breaks, boarding, layover with only 20 min to grab snacks, and car rental. Yvette had the best seat of the group.....she was pulled through the airport in her car seat with wheels on it like a roller suitcase. We left Milwaukee at 45 degrees and rainy and landed in Orlando with sunny skies at 86 degrees. We rented our two mini vans and drove 30 minutes to our VBRO in Reunion, FL. I can't say enough good things about our place.....amazing themed rooms....the tree house, the drive in movie theater, lagoon, outer space, New York City...just to name a few. The kids bathroom has a floor made of pennies and the pool table is a taxi car!!! We have our own fenced in pool and hot tub. We tested out the pool right away and then all the adults minus Erm hopped in 2 cars to gets groceries. LOTS of groceries.....4 carts full!! I've never seen $900 spent at a grocery store! Felix was in charge of burgers on the grill tonight. Job well done. We all hit the sack early tonight....9pm. Greta and I were in the tree house. I got the top bunk. I only had to jump out of it 5 times....poor Greta needed my help....she got a stomach bug and threw up.

Monday
Today we had a chill day at the VBRO. I started it with a 5 mile run through the neighborhoods...only jumped one fence. I thought the street went through...either I jumped the fence or ran an extra 4 miles. Fortunately I didn't rip my shorts....only had 2 cops following me the rest of the run home. Later I realize in these neighborhoods cops frequently cruise the streets and it wasn't my felony. The rest of our day consisted of swimming, movies, walks, and several trips to super target. Poor Greta threw up several more times today. Hopefully it is short lived since we go to Magic Kingdom tomorrow. Tonight we did spaghetti for the kids and fajitas for the adults. Indiana Jones is the movie playing in our drive in theater and Dumbo for the littles.

Tuesday
We chanced it today....we took Greta to Magic Kingdom crossing our fingers she was done with her stomach bug. It was a good decision...she made the whole day. We started at 9am....we hit all the major highlights including the tea cups, buzz light year, space mountain, lunch in the magic castle, dinner in Cinderella castle, big thunder mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Under the sea, Walt Disney world railroad, evening parade, light show on Cinderella's castle, and the fireworks. I felt like I ran a marathon today....Lisa's fit bit said we walked 25,000 steps!! I can't image what the kids felt like...no wonder they all fell asleep during the fireworks. The day couldn't have gone smoother. The weather was 86 and sunny and with our fast passes we didn't have too long of waiting lines.

Wednesday
I set a record this morning....slept until 8:30 AM...last to wake up. Todays forecast was rain and cooler weather. It didn't stop us. We bought ourselves ponchos and made a day of it at Animal Kingdom. The highlight was Expedition Everest - legend of the the forbidden mountain roller coaster. We did the Kilimanjaro Safaris (open aired vehicle tour of the African savanna---home to live exotic animals) , the dinosaur thrill ride, and a Disney character Buffett dinner at the Tucker house restaurant. Poor Greta had a trip to the first aid station.....hives all over her ankles, face, and hands. A dose of Benadryl followed by a 20 minute nap was all she needed to be back in the action with her cousins. Our evening ended a little earlier as the park closed at 6pm. We swam and the adults watched the movie "parental guidance" back at the VBRO until it was time to crash.

Thursday
This morning started with early morning swims and packing up for our day at Universal Studios. Lisa and Steve decided to go to the beach today and Erm stayed back with Yvette. Greta and Vivian were with the big kids!! We hit Despicable Me Minion 3D ride, and Shrek 4D show, men in black alien attack, revenge of the mummy, Harry Potter and the escape from Gringotts (multidimensional trill ride), and the most thrilling roller coaster.... the Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket where you pick out your own music to listen to while riding. We ended the day with our one and only water ride.....the Jurassic Park river adventure. Our only escape from the towering T. rex was a 85 foot plunge into total darkness. Grandpa Felix got the award of getting most wet. We skipped out on dinner out tonight....being Cinco de Mayo Margaritaville was packed!! Felix did burgers on the grill back at the VBRO & we all crashed!!!

Friday
After 3 amusements parks in 4 days we all decided to have a chill day at the pool and small waterpark down the road. In the morning the little kids watched Hotel Transylvania while the big kids watched Lord of the rings. Marisa napped in the sun while I walked the neighborhood gawking at the several million dollar homes. Lisa, Erm, and Felix hit the shops at downtown Disney today. The waterpark down the road was lots of fun for the kiddos.....water slides, lazy river, splash park, and kiddie cocktails. Tonight we did salmon and asparagus on the grill, rice, & lots of appetizers. We topped it off with strawberry cheesecake in celebration of Mother's Day. We said our good-bye's to half of our Hanson crew. They fly out tomorrow morning.

I felt fortunate Matt's family invited Greta and I to go on this trip. Greta seemed to fit right in with the littles. Hopefully my 6am runs & need for vegetables & protein bars didn't deter them from future invites. Heck....if I'm willing to take the bickering maybe I passed the test?? I never knew a trip to Walgreens could be so entertaining with my mother-in law and sister in law. "Lisa....you can't take the interstate....you must take the backroads!! Lisa....slow down you are gonna hydroplane in this rain!" "Mom...don't lie to your doctor....tell him the truth."

Matt somehow was involved in the bickering even though he was thousands of miles away in Spain. Erm can't believe he would order her the adapter he did for her trip to Switzerland. It was't the right one....even though he has the same one and uses it twice a month in Europe.

Lisa and Steve had an ongoing debate ....Lisa insisted that they stop to get coins for the tolls so they'd always be prepared.....Steve thinks it isn't a big deal...why make the extra stop....we'd likely have extra quarters we wouldn't want to have to bring home. Lisa says.... "We can always turn them back in at the bank!! And Steve.....Lisa says..... What are you doing lying in the sun.....you need to put on sunscreen!! And dad...pick up your socks!!! Why are these just lying here!!! ". I love these guys....they make me laugh...

Saturday
I enjoyed my second to last run in these neighborhoods and then watched the kiddos while Mark & Marisa went on their run. After some eggs & toast the pool was calling our names. We chilled today while Mark & Marisa's friends visited. We took our final expedition of our trip to a gift shop. Everyone picked out a gift for themselves. Greta got a frozen journal and matching pen, a Disney T-shirt with all the characters on it, a Disney photo album to put pictures from her trip in, and a Mickey Mouse small stuffed animal. We cooked up pizza on the grill & Mac & Cheese, swam one last time, packed up and hit the sack.

Sunday
I woke up at 4:05 to run 5 miles before our day of traveling.....officially the earliest I've ever ran. I was impressed....we got all 8 of us piled into our minivan.....luggage, strollers, car seats and all before sunrise. Hot cocoas were to go today. When I woke up Greta this morning she started crying saying she didn't want to leave... Vacation well done!!

The kids were certainly entertaining. Lars was so excited for our own swimming pool he nearly ran right through the glass patio door. He entertained us with his daily travel journal and his friends political advice. Evelyn is so good with the littles... She read to them, was the big helper on the scary amusement park rides, and played along with Vivian & Greta's imaginary play. Yvette is just so darn cute...love her curls and spunky personality.

Until next time....


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