TAMPA, FLOR-I-DA

(Just as a pre-face to this blog...we took about 250 pictures. Does anybody else go this "photo-happy on vacations? Or is it just us?) Alright, on to the Florida Adventure. First off, let me just tell you that the WHOLE trip was a complete surprise to me. I had NO idea what-so-ever. Who would have thought that I would ever go to Flor-i-da (and yes, you have to say it like that...Flor-i-da.) I NEVER thought I would, that's for sure.

So on Wednesday night I got into work and there was a little vase of flowers on my desk. My first thoughts, "Oh a secret admirer." Not really, but I thought, "Oh how cute of Trace." So on the card it said, "Hey Babe, I hope you have a good night at work. Here is your early Birthday present. Love Trace. PS. Don't worry, I got everything under control." Behind the card were TWO tickets to BUSCH GARDENS, Tampa, Florida. I'm not going to lie...I had a confused moment there wondering, "what the heck is he talking about?" Then it all set in. I even yelled out, "Yahoo! I'm GOING TO FLORIDA!" I got home from work that night and he informed me that we were leaving the NEXT day. (He had all the laundry done, got work off for me, made all travel arrangements, and everything else.) So we got all packed up and headed off to the HUMIDITY of Flor-i-da.
Here is little Brodster checkin out the airplanes. Trace took these pictures...he took like 20 of them. I was off reading a book or something and didn't think that he needed my help. At least he got one good one! This is me...SUPER excited on the plane. Oh and BRODY did extremely good on the plane. He slept most of the way on every plane trip. We got SO many comments on him.

This may help show the level of excitement that both Trace and I had. I know I was pretty much smiling the WHOLE trip. (The cup says BUSCHE GARDENS.) They had these GI-NORMOUS turkey legs...maybe they were elephant legs...to eat. They were delicious. It rained a couple of times when we were there. But because of the humidity if feels like it is pretty much raining 24/7. I never dried off. One day we were getting ready to leave Busche Gardens and we heard this loud THUNDER BOOM and then like .2 seconds later it was POURING down rain. I mean, I might as well of jumped in the lake or something. We were all drenched. I'm actually kind of glad it rained while we were there...cause the one day it didn't rain it was SUPER hot and sticky. So overall, I didn't mind the tropical thunderstorms 1 bit.Lonna was SO wonderful. She was the best hostess ever. She watched Brody for us MANY times and she showed us around the place and whatnot. Plus she cooked us up some good grub while we where there AND made some of the best Ice Cream EVER. Thanks so much Lonna for everything. We owe you.Cooper is pretty much the best baby ever. I think I only heard him "fuss" once...and I barely even noticed it. Ali is a little dolly too. She is so smart and seems to just know everything. She also watches Ultimate Fighting and will wrestle with you and make you "Tap Out". At B.G. they had a place for the kids to play. Kid rides, water area, a giant jungle gym, and all sorts of cool stuff. Brody enjoyed playing with Ali.They splashed around for quite a while in the little play area.For some reason I couldn't go on the little kids rides cause they would make me SO sick. I could handle the HUGE roller coasters where you drop at a 90 degree angle, no problem, but put me on a courosel and I'm done for the day. Good thing Trace was there to take Brody on all the rides.This was one of Trace's favorite things. He LOVED the Hip-Hip-hop-hip-hop-a-nat-ta-mus. It was awesome cause we were just lookin at the fish and then all of the sudden WHAM...a GIANT hippo was right infront of us. Crazy how them little suckers can sneak up on you. What are they?...like 5000 pounds or something?Ok, now this was so strange. The alligator was up at the top of the water on the OTHER side and when we sat Brody down to take his picture the thing can right up next to him and was just eyeing Brody. SCARY huh?!!! It was like a fat kid eyeing a piece of chocolate cake. (Brody didn't like it very much.)- oh and I was meaning that the ALLIGATOR was the "fat kid"...not Brody.
Trace was also excited that he got to see some real Flamingos. There were a ton of them. Maybe they reproduce like rabbits....or maybe like the Porters. (Laugh, you know that was funny!)Brody enjoyed all the animals. Especially the elephants.Family picture infront of the African Safari...On the last day we were there we went to the Flor-i-da Aquarium. They had a ton of cool sea creatures and fish and turtles and sharks and sea weed and planktun and sea horses and otters and owls and alligators and whatnot.Me and the Brodster chillen by one of the 1000 tanks.I got a hermit crab when I was there....Actually, I got TWO.... I got to go diving with this sea turtle. Cool huh? Ok, not really, but that would have been cool huh?We also got to spend time at the BEACH! Unfortunately for us, there was a GIANT storm a-brewin in the Atlantic which caused an ENORMOUS amount of seaweed to gather around the beaches. But, none the less...we still had a blast.Look at my toy boys playin on the beach. Aw, so cute.

We also saw a beached whale....oh wait. No we didn't...that was just me.
Since we couldn't really get into the water at the beach because of all the seaweed, we went and played in Lonna's pool. Brody loves to get tossed back and forth.
Trace threw him a LITTLE high this time... Ali, Lonna, Cooper, Me, Brodster chillen on the side lines.

Our time in Florida went by fast
but we had such a BLAST.
Staying up late...
was just so great.
I loved the Flor-i-da sun,
and I had OH so much fun.
Would I go back?...you might ask?
Pack my bags and I'd be there in a Flash-k. (had to make it rhyme.)

Thank you to my dear sweet hubby. I loved my vacation and early birthday present. Thanks for surprising me and making me feel so special. You are the best husband in the world...for sure.
Also thanks to Lonna and C-ron for putting up with us. You guys are the best. (Come to Utah sometime!)
OH PS. If you want to see the crazy ride we went on...go to LONNA AND CAMRON'S blog. It was NUTS.
Oh pss. I also have a couple of stories from the trip that I will share at a later time.