Sunday, December 16, 2007
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Florida 2007
We returned home from Florida yesterday afternoon, after three long days and four very short nights in Kissimmee. Both flights were uneventful; we've flown Allegiant twice before, but this time I had stumbled across some rather unnerving news pre-flight. It turns out that the CEO of Allegiant Air used to run another small discount airliner. . .it's name was Jet Blue! In all fairness, Jet Blue became AirTran, and both they and Allegiant have maintained clean records for years.
Jody did alot of research over the last month or two, and discovered that it was as cheap to rent a home down there as it was to stay in a decent hotel, so that's what we did:
This was our home for most of the week. It was a beautiful and spacious villa with 4 bedrooms, three baths, and an enclosed pool. Jody's parents were able to fly down and share our accommodations as well. We didn't spend alot of time in it, but it was nice to come home to at night!
That's our crappy rental car in the driveway - a 2007 Ford Taurus with alignment issues. Heh. . .it was CHEAP! ;)
We arose at O-Dark-Hundred on Tuesday, and dragged our tired butts to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center. We'd both been to these before, on our honeymoon, but it was a first for the kids:
Magic Kingdom
Samantha and Sabrina were fearless at the Magic Kingdom, and talked about nothing but Splash Mountain and Space Mountain! Epcot, which I found to be sorta boring 12 years ago, has some great newer rides: "Soarin" that simulates hang gliding over California - GM's Test Track in which YOU get to be the crash test dummy on the track - and a Mission to Mars space flight simulator that was nothing short of amazing!
Epcot
On Wednesday, we tackled the Animal Kingdom and MGM Studios (MY favorite Disney park):
Posing with Mickey
Animal Kingdom is a newer Disney park, and we could have spend at least an entire day there, but we had to get to MGM so my little daredevils could ride the Tower of Terror. I'd told them all about it, and they couldn't wait to drop thirteen stories several times!
MGM magic places me in Frisco
We wrapped things op on Thursday, saving the best for last, and visited Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure:
In front of Universal (duh)
Universal Studios, IMHO, by far one of the best attractions in the USA! Sabrina FREAKED OUT on the Jaws Encounter boat tour! We scored front row seats on the boat, and I have to credit the "tour guide" who stayed totally in character despite Sabrina screaming in his face the entire time! He totally cracked up at the end of the ride, and said that she had THE best face he'd ever seen react to that ride. ;) She calmed down enough to have her picture taken in front of the hanging shark one block away:
Catchin' a Wave
It was a nice little adventure, but I think we'll make it a full 7-day tour next time around - there's just too much too see and do in a short time frame! And we didn't even venture beyond Disney and Universal.
Jody did alot of research over the last month or two, and discovered that it was as cheap to rent a home down there as it was to stay in a decent hotel, so that's what we did:
This was our home for most of the week. It was a beautiful and spacious villa with 4 bedrooms, three baths, and an enclosed pool. Jody's parents were able to fly down and share our accommodations as well. We didn't spend alot of time in it, but it was nice to come home to at night!
That's our crappy rental car in the driveway - a 2007 Ford Taurus with alignment issues. Heh. . .it was CHEAP! ;)
We arose at O-Dark-Hundred on Tuesday, and dragged our tired butts to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center. We'd both been to these before, on our honeymoon, but it was a first for the kids:
Samantha and Sabrina were fearless at the Magic Kingdom, and talked about nothing but Splash Mountain and Space Mountain! Epcot, which I found to be sorta boring 12 years ago, has some great newer rides: "Soarin" that simulates hang gliding over California - GM's Test Track in which YOU get to be the crash test dummy on the track - and a Mission to Mars space flight simulator that was nothing short of amazing!
On Wednesday, we tackled the Animal Kingdom and MGM Studios (MY favorite Disney park):
Animal Kingdom is a newer Disney park, and we could have spend at least an entire day there, but we had to get to MGM so my little daredevils could ride the Tower of Terror. I'd told them all about it, and they couldn't wait to drop thirteen stories several times!
We wrapped things op on Thursday, saving the best for last, and visited Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure:
Universal Studios, IMHO, by far one of the best attractions in the USA! Sabrina FREAKED OUT on the Jaws Encounter boat tour! We scored front row seats on the boat, and I have to credit the "tour guide" who stayed totally in character despite Sabrina screaming in his face the entire time! He totally cracked up at the end of the ride, and said that she had THE best face he'd ever seen react to that ride. ;) She calmed down enough to have her picture taken in front of the hanging shark one block away:
It was a nice little adventure, but I think we'll make it a full 7-day tour next time around - there's just too much too see and do in a short time frame! And we didn't even venture beyond Disney and Universal.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Red Cedar Center
Samantha recently attended a Girl Scout's "thank you" function for her successful sales of GS cookies at the Red Cedar Center. Red Cedar is ALL about things equestrian, and our little lover of horses was beside herself to be there!In yet another showing of my age, when did we have to start wearing helmets to ride a horse? Or a bike? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad my kids are as safe as they can possibly be. . .yet I ache with the memory of how free and easy my life was at that age! I s'pose my parents thought that *I* had no worries compared to what they went through. . .I can see it now: My grandchildren will all be fully encased in silicone bubbles at all times! I hurt for them already. . .
Monday, June 4, 2007
Shore Leave
Our girls spent some time on our lake frontage this weekend with the daughters of our friends, the Browns, as well as some neighborhood kids. They love sitting on the bench and looking out upon the lake.
Look at this HUGE frog that the neighbor kid netted! It's as big as your head! I hope these aren't mutant carniverous frogs!
Monday, May 28, 2007
Paint updates
We updated the family room, main entry hall, and bedroom hall with a coat of orange paint over the weekend. We had already accented these areas with red throw pillows and terra cotta pots. Jody has expressed an interest in a "southwest" theme for the main living areas for some time now. This definitely pushes things along in that direction. . .
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Welcome!
Welcome to "Good Family News"! I hope to use this site as a means to communicate with our extended family. We'll post articles and pictures of our family as we continue to grow in an effort to bring us all closer together, as well as keeping you up to speed on our latest challenges and accomplishments.
I hope that you will not only bookmark this page, but feel free to contribute content that you wish to share. My e-mail address is: pontio@aol.com
I'll also consider adding any family members as contributors to this blog who have content that they wish to share.
I hope that you will not only bookmark this page, but feel free to contribute content that you wish to share. My e-mail address is: pontio@aol.com
I'll also consider adding any family members as contributors to this blog who have content that they wish to share.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)