Blast trip continued. Day #2 and #3.

Monday March 16th:

Mason rolled off the bed at 5:30 am and woke everyone up.

Dave and I went back to bed.

The kids watched cable cartoons for 3 1/2 hours, a real treat for them and the reason why they LOVE hotels.

We ate free breakfast at our free hotel.

We spent 3 or so hours at downtown Disney (free shopping center with lots of entertainment and fun for everyone).

We spent 2 hours at IKEA.

I think that place is amazing. But even more amazing, I didn't even buy one thing. I'll just dream about it.

Wait, we did eat .50 cent hot dogs for dinner there.

We drove North and found a nice camping spot at Alexander Springs in Ocala National Forest.

We set up our tent and made a fire, even though it was warm.

We watched an armadillo run around our campsite and smack straight into our metal beach chair. Armadillos are so dumb, seriously. But it made us all laugh real hard. Mason talked about it for a couple days.

Tuesday March 17th (my birthday):

One of the best ones yet. Even though I did have to turn 33.

I woke up with Isaac at 5am, he had a fever, apparently his antibiotics didn't kill his strep throat.

I walked with Isaac to the bathroom in the pitch black. I don't like walking in pitch black forests where they have bear signs.

Everyone else woke up not too much later and the birds were singing so loud and so much. I love that.

Dave and the kids sang me happy birthday and Davey handed me a gift bag with a huge rootbeer mug in it (inside joke).

Dave and I layed in sleeping bags as long as possible as the kids begged us to get up and light the fire they had built.

We got up and lit their tee-pee style fire. Great job boys!

I went to the van for something and when I opened it I found that Dave had decorated the inside with streamers! When did he do that?

We ate the traditional Lucky Charms, but dry. They are better with milk.

We rented a canoe and paddled out on the spring for 2 fun hours.

(Ethan told me this was his "shark eye")

We saw lots of fish, turtles, herons, other birds and an alligator.

Gorgeous.

Isaac, in between paddling, laid on the floor of the canoe, miserable.

We took a hike, piggy-backing Isaac.

The kids went swimming in the spring, Dave and I waded in.

We packed up camp.

We drove North to Paynes Prairie State Park.

It was beautiful!

We climbed a tower and saw a herd of wild Spanish horses, but no bison.

Isaac was finally willing to take some medicine.

We took a walk on a boardwalk by the lake.

We saw more herons, egrets and alligators, and a snake that Isaac wanted for a pet.

The boys climbed a huge oak tree.

After Ethan randomly pulled a sleeping pad out of the van, laid it in the parking lot and collapsed onto it, we played on a nearby playground.

Perfectly serene and picturesque. Kids laughing, live oaks with swaying moss, a slight breeze and the sun setting.

We headed for home as happy as we could possibly be.

I love trips. I love spending so much unaldulterated time together as a family. No distractions, no stresses, no responsibility, pure freedom. I love the drive time. I love to sit with Dave and just talk and talk and talk. I love the memories we make. I do love trips.

PS- The whole trip: gas, food, lodging, canoe and activities only cost us $80.