Adventure Logan

Universal Islands of Adventure

Today we actually accompanied the family on their outing to Islands of Adventure! This was the first time either of us had been there so it was interesting to explore.

 (L to R front row) Christian, Ryan, Madeline and Sophia (L to R back row) Lorraine, Dylan, Pasquale, Gordon, Frank, Dave and Andrea

Because we were interested in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, that is where we all headed first. The reproduction of all things Hogwart was well done.

We were caught up in the group dynamic so when the whole group , including the 5 year old lined up for Harry Potter and the Foridden Journey , we did too! Now that is where it got interesting – several times during the winding path into the castle there were warnings about the “ride” and we even debated bailing but Dave said “let’s give it a go”. It was more than he bargained for and I know for a fact that he kept his eyes closed for all of it (the pictures they take while you are on the ride prove this) and as for me I kept my eyes open but struggled with the lurching and spinning (me who was car sick for all of my youth and even now have lots of moments when the stomach isn’t too great). Upon exiting we decided that we needed to be much more careful about our ride choices.

Poseidon’s Fury special effects guided tour.

The Eighth Voyage of Sunbad Stunt Show

We met up with the gang as they took the Popeye & Bluto Bilge-Rat Barge raft ride. To help them out we looked after their stuff while they got wet. Here’s a pic of Dave I haven’t ever seen before – doesn’t he look great manning a stroller!

This is as close as we got to the roller coaster called The Incredible Hulk Coaster. I can promise you that Dave’s fear of heights and my plain fear kept us firmly on the ground with the kids who were too short to go on it. It is somewhat embarrassing to know that a 5-year-old was disappointed that he was too short.

Animal Kingdom

Today we headed to Animal Kingdom – we hadn’t been there for 11 years so were ready for the animals. Since so much of Disney is make-believe we were very pleased to send the day with real animals/birds/insects etc. Dave watches tons of Animal Planet so he is so knowledgeable that it is fun to be with him in a place like this. We took the Safaris ride through the area called the Kilimanjaro Safaris and then a walk called Pangani Forest Exploration Trail.

Here are some of the interesting animals/birds that we got to see on our way to the safari ride.

Spoonbill

Crown Crane

This mother elephant is pregnant and will remain that way for 22 months – I wonder what her pregnancy leave time will be !!

Termite mound – glad we had the trailer in Venice tented for termites!!

Meerkat

Pelicans

Ornate Spiny Tailed Lizard

Zebras

Gorilla

Then we headed to Maharajah Jungle Trek and the Flights of Wonder and enjoyed them just as much as the other area.

Weaver bird in its hanging nest.

Tiger

Tiger

Komodo Dragon

The Tree of Life is the symbol for this park and is situated on an island in the center of the park. In its base is a theater where we saw It’s Tough to be a Bug. The tree (man-made of course) has a massive base carved with animal shapes.

Two years ago when we were here, we discovered frozen chocolate dips that were shaped like Mickey Mouse. So today – despite the calorie count we just had to have one!

We came back to the house for 3 hours and had a little down time as well as some supper. Here’s Dave with the gals.

We used a park hopper pass today so this eve we scooted over to Magic Kingdom to see the fireworks at 8PM. They are very well down and worth the trip. Disney is almost as much fun after dark when all the lights are on. They do some wonderful lighting effects on the castle too.

Disney Day 3

There was no Disney on the books this morning so Dave and I headed out to check on Gatorland – a very neat small park that we visited with Andrea when she was 9. She remembers it well and thinks it would be lots of fun for the kids. After a visit there to scope out the prices etc we headed home and passed a Bealls Outlet that was going out of business – so in we went. Twenty minutes later Dave had 5 new pairs of Dockers shorts, 1 pair of Chaps shorts and a pair of slacks – with the original discount + the 10% closing discount + the 15% Monday discount they came to $70. Even the non-shopper had little to complain about

Late this afternoon we visited the clubhouse to have a drink at the tiki bar and to see what the pool area and clubhouse were like.

 Front Entry

Main Lobby

Main Lounge

Pool

Homes behind the clubhouse

Having a drink at the tiki bar

After our little outing we returned to the house to see this great sunset – not as much fun as viewing it at the beach but this one was quite interesting!

Pool Time – Day 2 Disney

Today was cloudy but hot so some pool time was in order this afternoon. The 2 mothers and their 5 kids went to the Magic Kingdom this am so we did some taxi service as one of the vehicles went to the Daytona 500 with the guys. Dave and I took Madeline and Sophia to the gates where the others were waiting. And those of you who know Dave well, will appreciate how much fun it was having him so “available” to do whatever I wanted as we waited for the pick-up phone call. He willingly took me to the 192 Flea Market and told me to take my time! Holy Cow! I don’t hear that often. (Note to our Friday Dominoes Gang – Garth/Florence, Claire/Ron, Judy/Mike and Liz Earl – we bought a 15 set of dominoes and the 6’s are green and the 9’s are yellow – get out the calculators this is going to be fun!). The pool and deck area are great here at Tuscany Palms so it is getting lots of use. Before the kids came I bought each of them a water pump at the dollar store – THE BEST $5 I EVER SPENT – those darn things works super great and all five kids are having a ball with them.

Tuscany Palms

We arrived at 4 pm for our 10 day stay in Kissimmee, Florida. Our villa is called the Tuscany Palms and sleeps 12 – so we have it filled. There are 5 full bathrooms and one powder room by the kitchen/pool access. The adults each have a king sized bed and ensuite while the 5 kids are in the twin bedroom or bunk bedroom. Our room is on the main level off the family room and has the huge ensuite with jet tub – I wonder if we will ever use it???

Our bedroom – Main Floor

Our ensuite – shower, jetted soaker tub, separate toilet room and sink

Madeline and Sophia’s room

Bunk Bed room for the 3 boys – we brought a blow up mattress for the 3rd boy

Master Suite #1 – Upper Floor

Master Suite #2 – Upper Floor

Master Suite #3 – Upper Floor

Family Room off kitchen

Formal Living Room

Formal Dining attached to Living Room

Ryan, Christian, Dylan, Madeline and Sophia having supper. Dave made a large pulled pork and we had supper ready for them when they arrived (pulled pork sandwiches, tossed salad, French fries, and cookies).

Sunset as seen through our screen room across to the lake in our backyard

Grandpa Dave with Madeline (left) and Sophia (right)

The garage is converted into an airhockey and pool room.

Pelican Power

We spent the afternoon at the beach today as tomorrow we head for our 10 day stay in Orlando – no beach there!  It was a hot day and the pelican activity was intense. There were over 50 in the general area in front of us and they spent several hours swooping and diving. It looked like synchronized diving for a while there.

Eagles Tribute

This evening we went to the Venice Community Center to see an Eagles tribute band. Imagine this – 900 people with an average age of about 63 beeping and bopping to a 2 hour concert of the Eagles Greatest hits. For most songs it only took a chord or two and the entire room reacted to what they knew was coming. All 900+ people sang for lots of it but the most memorable was the song “Desperado” when the lead singer gave the audience the signal to sing!  The show was excellent and the crowd certainly enjoyed (and participated) in the whole event.

Charles and Carol Ann Gallant

Mike and Judy Cullen

Edith Ward and Judy Cullen

Earl and Liz Corkery

Happy Valentine’s Day

Today was the first day since we arrived in mid-November that it rained during the day. We very much need rain so it was hard to mind the cloudy skies and dampness. At 5:30 this eve we headed for Carol Ann and Charles’ place to have a pre dinner drink. While we were there, we marked the 1 Billion Rising movement by participating in a dance to honour the over 1 billion abused women in the world.

Gus and Mary Evelyn MacIntyre

Liz and Earl Corkery

Charles and Carol Ann Gallant

Molly Carter, Mary Evelyn MacIntyre and Carol

After participating in that event we returned to our place for a BBQ. Liz and Earl, Judy and Mike with their friend Edith Ward and Danny Munroe joined us.

Nova Scotia Picnic

The annual Nova Scotia picnic was held today and that Ontario native I am married to was even more excited about going than I was!  There is nothing as much fun as a whole parking lot filled with Nova Scotia license plates. It was about 70 degrees when we got there but the wind was strong and damp so it wasn’t as glorious as all the days leading up to it. About 550 people were there and I think Dave knew most of them LOL.

Since the first picnic we attended in 2005 Dave decided that a mere sandwich in a lunchbox wouldn’t work – so – ever since he takes his portable BBQ and cooks sausages for all our friends. Without fail there is someone each year who wanders up to him thinking that he is cooking for the “NS Picnic” and they want to buy a sausage. I keep telling him he could make some serious money.

Dave at the BBQ (Leah McLean – Cape Breton/Bedford/Ottawa/Calgary and Dan Munroe – Dartmouth/Calgary

This egret watched Dave cook all morning then landed on the edge of the garbage can nearby. He dove in and got the end of one of the buns and happily devoured it!

Enjoying ourselves !

Carol and Stephen Hiltz attended their first NS Picnic this year and we were very happy to have them join our growing group.

Cal and Brenda Collins – Halifax

Bill and Lorraine Babin – Spryfield

Scott and Pat – Evangeline Beach, Nova Scotia

Barb Gaudet – Dartmouth and Marty Keating – Pennsylvania

 Bill MacNeil (Judy’s brother) – Summerside, Mike Cullen – Dartmouth, Leona MacNeil – Summerside and Judy Cullen – Dartmouth

Marlene and Garry Burke (Dartmouth)

Betty and Ken Matheson – Dartmouth

Edith Ward – Dartmouth (Judy’s friend), Bill MacNeil and Judy Cullen

Carol and Betty Matheson

Stephen Hiltz, Dan Munroe, Dick Eustace, Bert Noyes, Dave Logan and Doug MacLean hidden in those red cups was Keith’s beer purchased at the border in New Brunswick and brought to the picnic to add Nova Scotia flavour!

Carol Logan and Carol Hiltz as we laughed about the hair damage the wind was causing – mine blew up and hers fell down LOL!

Busy Friday

Friday was a busy one for sure. At noon the gals (Judy, Liz and Peggy) joined me for the annual tea at Boca Royale Golf and Country Club. It is a lovely location and always a great event.

We had barely gotten home when we made a quick change and headed off to shop at Bon Worths which had presented a fashion show at the tea. After an hour we headed home and made our way to the clubhouse for the annual Ohio/Indiana/Illinois dinner.

After dinner we headed for the Cullen’s to play Sequence. The girls won – we seem to be having lots of luck with that game!