Month: February 2016

We took another field trip to the Armed Forces Museum in Largo. Everytime we go I learn something new.

We learned about these grenades that they pulled the pin then smashed them on their helmets to activate them. That sounded dumb and dangerous.

I still love the periscope. I figured out that you could turn some dials and fine tune focus the images.

We learned about the storming of the beach in Normandy.

I thought it was interesting that this paratrooper landed on a building and was never seen. He stayed quiet and was rescued the next day. The French were so thankful for the help that they put up a similar statue on the actual building.

They had a new display about Hitler and concentration camps. I think everyone in our tour group was near tears. It is very sad how mean Hitler was.

We learned why there is a vacant place setting at tables. Each item symbolizes something important, like the salt of tears (salt on plate) and the bitterness of war (lemon).

We wrapped up in the weapon room.

I sat down and listened because I was tired. Really I just wanted a better view of the flamethrower!!

 

 

 

We were up and out the door early this morning. We headed to Animal Kingdom to try out the new Lion Guard hunt. You had to find 5 hidden statues around the park. Once you found them you take selfies with them.

We had a great time racing around he park hunting down the statues. They were really easy to find.

After we  got our photos we headed over to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. I was picked to sit next to Rafiki on the train ride. He kept tickling me and looking at me funny.

He kinda freaked me out!

We saw a surgery on a antelope and then headed to get our Lion Guard badges.

We took a pledge and earned the badges. 

We thought taking photos of all the different Rafiki cutouts was fun. 

We wrapped up and headed over to the Orlando Eye on I-Drive. I was scared to go on the giant ferris wheel. B tolerated me being a door very well.

We got through the line quickly and loaded up.

There were these iPad type things that showed all the cool stuff you could see from the gondolas. That kept me distracted from noticing how high we were.

I finally decided to look around.

It was too much for me and I went back to playing with the interactive program.

Next we visited Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. There were lots of things to do and see. I had a great time playing around.

Neil Armstrong was funny. Mommy missed the photo of me trying on his helmet.

I called up Trump and told him to get lost.

Walt and I had a brain storming session. It all started with a mouse.

Steve Jobs, who Mom later explain had passed away, was kind of boring. I had no idea who most of the people in the museum were. There were lots of singers.

I did know this guy was from Big Bang! 🙂

And I knew ET! I tried to bicycle him away.

Finally we visited the SeaLife Aquarium. They had a lot of kid friendly displays but there was not a lot of information on the fish.

I loved the touchtone. So much in fact, we visited twice. 

Mom signed us up for a behind the scenes tour. Matthew, the tour guide, was great with his information and kept all the little kids interested, even if two of them kept screaming for no reason!

I liked the quarantine area. It didn’t smell because it was behind a glass door.

Checking out the tops of the huge tanks.

The filtration system was HUGE.

We left he building and wandered the grassy area out front.

I spotted ice cream and suggested we all go for a scoop. I ate all my ice cream!

We are all exhausted tonight. It was quite a long day. Dad had flown to DC super early so Mom is like a zombie tonight since she too was up since around 4am.

We bought a painted lady caterpillar at the State Fair a few weeks ago. It was ready to emerge this weekend when we were away. Grandma checked on it daily and no luck. Today when we got home it had just emerged.

It dried it’s wings for a while and then it flew away.

Bye Bye Butterfly!

On the road again. We headed up to Dunnellon, Florida to Rainbow Springs State Park Campground for a family fun weekend. Mom thinks that it is funny that when we travel I like to curl in in front of her seat where her feet go. I was cold and needed foot snuggles apparently.

We had cold mornings and nice afternoons the entire trip. We played outside in the mornings and afternoons. The campsites were huge! We had plenty of room to play and explore.

We brought our ropes and made a fake zip-line. I really caught some air. Even if I crashed right to the ground.

Dad volunteered to help but not much better results. But Mom snapped some photos of me “flying”.

We played ping-pong in the rec center. Mom said I needed some more work. I would try to hit the ball and somehow would hit it with the back of my paddle and send it flying into the wall behind me.

We drove over to the State Park after lunch on Friday. I was having nothing to do with going in the water. I was deathly afraid of alligators.

I watched B go in and swim all over.

I finally dipped a toe in.

Then up to my knees.

B finally came over and convinced me to get in. But i agreed only if he piggybacked me over to Mom’s feet on the edge.

He brought me over to Mom.

I grabbed on Mom’s feet and wasn’t about to let go.

Then I realized I couldn’t see under the dock and maybe there was an alligator there?

So hanging onto Mom’s feet I managed to completely get myself out of the water.

After a few minutes of pep talk I finally took off. I swam all over without a care in the world. Everything has to be on my schedule and in my timeframe. When I was ready, I was ready. There was no convincing me otherwise.

We dried off and explored the park some more. It use to have a zoo and other attractions. We checked out the old cages and wondered what each one held.

Ewe walked out to the phosphate pits. Nothing too awesome other than a goat hole in the ground.

We did see dung beetle hard at work with some dog scat.

Back to the campground for dinner, campfire and S’Mores. 

YUMMY!

We were up early and outside playing in the morning. We walked down to the river and looked for critters then stopped off at the playground. I buried myself in the sand.

We rented a canoe and took a paddle up the headsprings. We saw lots of turtles, birds and even a few otters!

We had a great time hiking around at the park again.

The campsite was amazing. There is a huge area to the left of the motorhome in the photo that you could put a few tents on it was so big.

We took one last scooter ride. We went as a family down the road the tubing tram takes. It was a super long scooter ride and we were all exhausted afterwards.

On the way home I spent a lot of time fiddling around with my loose teeth. The two top front are ready to come out any day. I tried to pull them on the way home but had no luck. One is really pushed over and starting to turn sideways in my mouth. Mom said hopefully I can pull them out before my dentist appointment in a few weeks!

 

Mom signed me up for a chance to cuddle and read with dogs at the library. I didn’t want any of the big dogs. I waited a while and let kids go in front of me because I wanted a small dog. This is Bella, Bella is a Chinese Crested Powder Puff. Most of her breed is hairless. She isn’t. She also has cancer. Her leg was amputated 5 weeks ago and she got her first radiation treatment today. I knew she was the right fit for me just as much as I was the right fit for her.

We got to know each other a little and then go to reading.

She laid on the blanket and I laid on the flood. I pet her as I read a chapter of a Puppy Place book to her.

She was so sweet and calm. My reading voice got louder so she could hear over the other kids talking in the room.

After I finished I snuggled her gently and made her feel happy. She was an awesome pup and I hope I get to see her at the next Doggone Reading Fun event.