Florida

October 20-27
What a FUN trip!!!

We arrived in Orlando on Monday after a very smooth non-stop flight from Sioux Falls.  All 3 boys were very helpful in getting our luggage where it needed to go.  :)

The hotel that we stayed at was a Sea World hotel with an outdoor pool!  It was in the 80's and sunny so we spent the afternoon swimming with the boys.

On Tuesday we spent the day at Sea World!!!

We decided to buy some shrimp so we could feed the sting rays!  It took more courage than we anticipated.  :)

Then we got to feed DOLPHINS!!!  The boys were super brave and it was amazing to be that close and interact with them.  This was one of the highlights of our trip...but I guess there are many. :)

We also watched and listened to the sounds the dolphins were making underneath the water.

We even got to go to Antarctica!  :)

Then we got to see the Shamu Show!  The boys wanted to sit in the soak zone but I was thankful that we didn't get wet!

After lunch we went to the area where there are rides that were perfect for the ages of our boys.  Mason even got to go on a train ride before he fell asleep for his afternoon nap in the stroller.

Dorian and Levi loved the roller coaster!

Mason woke up just in time to see the Dolphin Show.

The show was spectacular!!! The trainers were often right in the water with the dolphins.  There were high divers that were extraordinary to watch.  We all thought it was absolutely amazing!

The boys love their new stuffed animals!

How fun to be in a sharks mouth.  :)

The shark tunnel was cool.  There were different kinds of sharks swimming right next to and over the top of you!

It was fun to meet Franklin!  Franklin waved at Dorian and he took a picture with Levi and I. :)

Levi and I went on the log ride together and got completely soaked!

Enjoying the tower ride!

Levi's penguin is getting a fun ride too.

Since there were no lines, before we left the park, Nathan and I each took turns riding on the big roller coaster!

Dorian took one last picture for me before leaving.

Wednesday was our day at Walt Disney World!!!  The excitement was building as we were driving into the park!

Are we really entering Magic Kingdom?!

Mason thought it was just an ordinary day and was enjoying his favorite book.

As we were walking in Levi read a sign that said, "Where dreams come true" and informed me that his dreams were coming true.  :)  Mine too.  I was pretty excited to spend the day there with my boys!

Even though the castle was still difficult to see, I couldn't wait to get a picture of the boys in front of it.  :)

We were able to choose 3 fast pass rides when we purchased our tickets!  Tomorrowland Speedway, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and meeting Mickey Mouse.

I love the expressions on the boys faces in this picture!

Dumbo the Flying Elephant

Dorian and Levi were uncertain about meeting Mickey Mouse, and Mason fell asleep just before we got there.  But I'm thankful that we made it happen and the boys did think it was fun after all!

There was a parade on Main Street that was fun to watch!

We had fun walking through the huge Swiss Family Robinson Tree House.

Aladdin's Magic Carpet ride.

We watched part of another parade from Tom Sawyer's Island.

Country Bear Jamboree

Enchanted Tiki Room

The boys favorite:  Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Some of the other rides we enjoyed throughout our day: Splash Mountain, Peter Pan's Flight, Under the Sea, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin.

It's a Small World

We even stayed to watch the fireworks over the castle!

On Thursday morning, we swam in the pool at our hotel, ate lunch and then drove a couple of hours to the resort where Nathan's family would be for the weekend.

We spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday with Dad and Mom Tintle, Drew, Cara, Madeline, Suzanne and Jillian.

The beach was filled with shells which we all had fun collecting!  The water was warm and was fun to swim in.  Dorian had fun trying to catch fish since there were lots of them that you could see in the water.

The boys had fun with Grandpa and Grandma.

Mason wanted to wash the sand off of his feet just like we did.  :)

There was also a pool that the boys spent many hours swimming in!

It was really fun to meet Madeline for the first time!  She is adorable.

The sunsets were beautiful to watch!

I LOVE watching my boys and playing with them at the beach!  My life is full of blessings.

On Saturday evening, the whole family ate a nice dinner together to celebrate Dad and Mom's 40th Wedding Anniversary.

What a blessing to be able to spend some time all together!

After dinner the boys had fun dancing to some music.

We left VERY early Monday morning to catch our flight back home.