Florida Highlights (subtitle: I'm ready to go back!)

Kin & I recently got back from a trip to Florida during her spring break to see Mimi & Papa (my parents) and to take a little break from the Midwest cold and dreary skies. Think we brought the cold with us though - the first couple of days were in the 50's & 60's. A little too nippy to even think of sitting by the pool! However, the skies were a brilliant blue every day, so that helps tremendously. As the week progressed, the temps kept edging up until it was just about perfect by the day we left (my definition of perfect is about 80 degrees and sunny).

Since it was Kindra's birthday while we were there, she ended up having a little bit of birthday every day. Here's the incredible cake that Mimi made her - a 14 layer creation with the most delicious chocolate frosting you've ever tasted.


Kin + cake = pure bliss. She ate it every day that we were there for each meal (good thing she's tiny and can eat like that!





More birthday celebration at a local Mexican restaurant that has the most incredible salsa.



We had fun being silly and attempting to take our own picture using the very scientific method of holding arm in front, laughing, and seeing what we actually end up with. Kin is actually quite accomplished at this method. Guess she's learning something at college!




We were able to do some shopping. They have the BEST shopping there. All kinds of selection and prices that are so much cheaper than at home. We also were fortunate enough to be able to go to an outstanding concert - Mandy Patinkin. I didn't know much about him other than that he had been on Chicago Hope and Criminal Minds, but he actually started out on Broadway and won a Tony for his role in Evita. He had an incredible range and was very entertaining.

Kindra's actual birthday was spent at Disney World. She chose to go to Animal Kingdom. We were unbelievable lucky and did not wait at anything, even though it seemed like there were plenty of people there. The roller coaster riders of the group loved the Expedition Everest roller coaster (wow, didn't know it was going to go backwards!).



We saw more animals on the Kilamanjaro Safari than we ever have. This elephant even was "dancing" to our music!




A rhino came so close to our car that we had to wait for him and could have reached out & touched him (wisely, no one attempted that!).


A picture of Papa (just kidding!):


The Lion King show was fantastic as always.


A couple final shots before leaving Animal Kingdom... it's always so hard to leave such a magical place.





To be continued.............(couldn't tell you all the fun stuff at once, could I?).