On Wednesday, October 14, 2009, we boarded a plane for Tampa. This would be flight # 5 for Alexa. Coincidentally, Jamie had a flight to Rochester at the same time as ours and so we had a quick get together in the Continental terminal before leaving Newark. Alexa was so well behaved on the airplane. She sat with Daddy to check out the sights below and put a smile on several faces! We arrived on time, Carrie and Tim greeting us with iced coffees from Starbucks! The heat was overwhelming. Little did we know it would not last long.
now this is the way to travel!
Our first stop…Baby Jillian’s house! Jillian is 3 weeks old and I knew Alexa would be so excited to get her hands on her. Jillian is beautiful and so peaceful. We just loved her! We visited with Jenny and Jillian for a bit, went out to lunch at Hooters (yup, Hooters!) and then set out for Carrie’s house in Lake Wales.
Alexa & Jillian
Mike & Jillian
At Hooters! Don't ask!!!
Carrie & Tim's house in Lake Wales
coincidental Hang Ten pose!
On Thursday, we picked up Joseph after school. Excited doesn't begin to describe how Alexa felt when she saw Joseph! Joseph was equally excited but less willing to demonstrate it on camera! We all went to Wet ‘n Wild in Orlando, minus, of course, Jenny and Jillian.
Paragraph.
After watching Joseph on the waterslides, Alexa grew curious and decided she would give it a try. I was apprehensive, but I knew Joseph would hang on to Alexa tight so, we watched as the two came sliding down with grins from ear to ear!
On the kiddie water slide!
in the wave pool
Joseph took a break to meditate
We even took Joseph on a BIG waterslide and he seemed to really enjoy it! We took a float around the lazy river which was more work than it should have been considering it was a “lazy” river! Unfortunately, thunderstorms rolled in and our day came to an end.
On Friday, we visited Tina at work and she made this for Alexa…
Joseph embellished it and Alexa was kind enough to wear it briefly to oblige Joseph!
Leanna, Joseph & Alexa
Friday evening, we packed into the car and drove to Tampa for Zoo Boo at the Lowry Park Zoo. Carrie’s stepsister, Amber, and her daughter, Leanna joined us. We went last year to this annual Halloween event. The kids rode the rollercoaster and Joseph and Leanna jumped around in a big house filled with foam. As usual, Alexa loved the pony ride and this time she was unaccompanied as we were not permitted to walk with her. Wow…she really is a big girl now!
Leanna & Joseph in the Foam House
Saturday, the weather turned chilly for Florida standards. We went to a local historical site, Bok Tower, for the first annual “Boktoberfest.” Bok Tower Sanctuary is comprised of beautiful gardens, a butterfly house, live Oak trees covered in Spanish moss and views of Lake Wales and surrounding areas. It was a gorgeous day! Joseph picked out a pumpkin to carve, the kids “caught” butterflies and had their faces painted! Alexa fell asleep and the afternoon was growing colder so we headed back to Carrie’s house for the evening.
Bok Tower
Jenny and Jillian came to Lake Wales on Sunday morning and we stopped by some flea markets. While Tina watched all four kids (and baked sugar and peanut butter cookies), the adults drove to find the pieces necessary for Joseph’s Halloween costume. Tina helped put together a tail and crown to complete Max from “Where the Wild Things Are.” I can’t wait to see pictures. Later that afternoon, we said goodbye to Joseph, Jillian, and Jenny. We are going to miss seeing them so much!
Alexa with Gary a.k.a. Paw-Paw
It was a really cold night and when we woke up on Monday, everybody was feeling a little under the weather. We couldn’t decide whether to go to Disney or not, but we finally made the decision to go. Carrie stayed behind to rest.
This was Alexa’s second visit to the Magic Kingdom. She was just over 1 year old the first time we came back in April 2008.
This was Alexa’s second visit to the Magic Kingdom. She was just over 1 year old the first time we came back in April 2008.
April 2008
We headed for Fantasyland to ride It’s a Small World, Cinderella’s Golden Carousel and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Then it was on to see Mickey and Minnie’s houses and a ride along the Walt Disney World Railroad. Alexa drove a race car at Tomorrowland Speedway and we visited Monstropolis. Or final ride was the Magic Carpets of Aladdin.
Here is Alexa on “It’s A Small World” in April 2008 and on October 19, 2009…
First pair of Minnie ears!
they are even personalized!
future race car driver!
So here we are, on our plane home. As I type, we can see NJ below…
NYC
Giants Stadium (new and old)
Alexa did great on the plane. She kept busy with her blocks and occasionally tickled the young man (an NYU film student) sitting next to her. He didn’t seem to mind!!
Some random updates: Alexa pronounces “l” as “h” and I think it’s the cutest thing. For example, “like” is “hike” and “lollipop” is “hollipop.” Another one of those things that will soon be just a memory. She also adds the letter y to many words lately, for example, “blocky” or “coldy.” So many quirky little Alexa-isms!!
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