The "Every theme park BUT Disney (this time) Spring Break, family vacation, cheerleading competition tour!!! PTA" **Updated 5/24** COMPLETE About This Page:

[Colexis Mom]

What a great day at the beach More please

[B.M.]

Great update! Sounds like yall had a great time on the water. Sorry about the sunburn, cant wait to hear more.

[piratefreak]

Sounds like a great start...still waiting for the apple story...did I miss it

[nconover]

The wave runner and tube sounds like sooo much fun! I totally want to try that one day. Keep it coming.

[DyanKJ130]

WOW!! Sounds like a wonderful day of fun at the beach! DS always surprises me too, when I ask what his favorite part of a day or trip was. It's fun to see the world through their eyes. Can't wait to hear more

[RobDVC]

Sounds like a fun beach day! Sorry to hear the sun got the best of you.

[bsblady01]

more please

[Angileyze1]

Day 3-

Today we got up (sore) and practically bathed in Aloe. In order of degree of redness, the mildest first, there is my DH, my DD, DS and me. Yup I got it the worst. I look like a typical Florida red lobstered tourist. I told my DD to eat the stupid apple for breakfast. She said that she’s like it on the way to Tampa maybe. Again hmmmmm. Today DSIS did our laundry so we wouldn’t have to at the hotel in Tampa. When I think of all she did for us its amazing. I’m really glad we had the opportunity to come down here. I got to get to know her a little better. That was my favorite part.

I really don’t know how I’ll get the suitcases repacked. We don’t have that much extra, but we did pick up a free set of glasses on Ft Myers beach and some shells, and the starfish at Sanibal. I told DH we should bring an extra suitcase that was left at home. (remember this). He said “Why? No we don’t need to drag around an extra empty suitcase.” I smiled and let it go KNOWING the day was coming where I would get another “You were right”. funny thing about those. I don’t get them very often so I cherish them and tend to hold on to them for a while.

Anyway, months leading up to our vacation, DD wanted to get her hair cut short and highlighted. We couldn’t justify it because #1 she had cheering left and to cut it short would leave no hair for the cheering hairpiece that the girls have to wear to attach to, and #2 she had been invited to the Prom by a senior boy who also has a disability and what the heck would we do with short hair? And #3, we will NOT impose on Aunt Donna who has done so much for us already!!! Dh and I left for BJ’s to pick up some hotel supplies (snacks and a case of water for the theme parks) When I got back, we came back to THIS!!!!
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Its ok though. This trip is really for her anyway. Its because of her we are here, and I wanted this to be like a dream trip of hers. It made her so giddy and excited. I’m glad. She has really had the teenage depression thing lately. With the Autism, I can honestly say looking back on this trip report, I had never seen her smile and really laugh hard like I did on this trip. She really did have the time of her life. Every night she would say “How can our vacation get any better than this?” I mist admit, I wondered the same thing afer yesterday, but each day had its own magic to make that day special too. She had always wanted to see the sunset over the ocean, and she got it last night. I forgot to enclose the picture so here it is.
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After this excitement, we had lunch ad some company over (more family) and DD was still so happy about the hair, she did the dishes. Then, they took her in the bedroom and did a little “Makeover” with makeup & stuff. We packed the car, took lots of pictures and said goodbye.
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The kids are really going to miss DSIL’S husband Mike. He is from the Chezk (sp) Republic and the kids are in love with his accent. And we were Off to Tampa!!! Upon arriving, we passed the Sun Dome where the cheering would be for the next two days and Busch Gardens. I can’t wait!!!
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The hotel is huge and so is the pool. The grounds are beautiful. The rooms just ok. I don’t think the rugs in there have EVER been cleaned and I told everyone NOT to walk barefoot in the room. When they wore socks, the bottoms were black in just minutes! I hung Casey’s star in our window to let everyone know who’s room it was. We’ve always done this, everyone does something a little different, the kids get a kick out of it. I hat the ones that use window chalk and write all over it though. SOMEONE has to clean that up when they leave!!!

Dh and I went out for Taco Bell. The sun is hurting my sunburn!!! We ate and went to bed early since it had been a long day. We all woke up at 230am hurting from our sunburns. Also, the beds were horrible doubles and with us doubling up plus the sunburns, well, you can imagine. Must take lots of pictures tomorrow as I didn’t today. With the miracle of trip reports though, I now have them to show to you!! I also spoke to my very very best friend Karon today. She was my birthing coach for my DD. She lives in Largo and I can’t wait to spend a day with her. She is coming in to Tampa to see us and watch Casey cheer. I haven’t seen her in 14 years. Wow, time goes by so fast! And the kids’ natural father called. His dad died suddenly. I told him If he couldn’t make the trip it was understandable. Heck, he hasn’t seen the kids in 14 years anyway. (sarcasm) He assured us he would be here. Great. Something to worry about….

Oh, and she never DID eat the stupid apple. So it sits alone, with the rest of the snacks. I am starting to feel bad for it.

[Colexis Mom]

Sorry about the sunburn Glad you had a great time with your DSiL

[B.M.]

Sorry about the sunburn, I know how bad it hurts- Hope it heals soon! Can't wait to hear about the kids meeting their father and about the cheerleading competition.
PS: I laughed when I seen the picture of you returning to see your daughter having her hair done. It looks like sis didn't mind though.

[RobDVC]

Sorry that the sunburn is still bothering you, and that you got an icky carpet in your room.

[Lemap760]

Long live the apple.
Hopefully your sunburn didn't last your entire vacation.

[mcc0313]

That apple is still going strong...

[DyanKJ130]

Yikes! about the sunburns! Nothing hurts worse than that! I'm wondering if the apple is bronzed by the end of the trip! Can't wait to hear more

[nconover]

ooooo. sunburn sucks. I got it about five years ago for the first time. I had never burned before and thought hey I'm brownskinned with all that melanin protection, who needs sunscreen? Ha! I got the surprise of my life when everything went stiff on me and I was in severe pain along my shoulders then the PEEELING! YUCK! Well needless to say, I lather myself with sunscreen now while my family looks at me like I'm crazy. I say all that to say um....I feel your pain!