Orlando and Jacksonville

Orlando and Jacksonville

1.22.17 through 2.3.17

After our time on Hutchinson Island, we headed to Orlando.

We were thankful that our hotel had this great pool....

...because we didn't get out of the hotel much,
and since I was sitting for much of the week, it was nice to have this great view.

While playing in the waves, I had tried to lift Ellie over a big one
 that was threatening to wipe her out...
The wave laughed at my attempt and sent both of us tumbling,
 twisting my knee in a strange way, with Ellie landing on it just for good measure.
I hobbled around, spent a lot of time with my feet up (good study time!),
and cautioned the children against asking God to help you be more patient. 😉

"Hotel school" in one of its many forms...

We got a knee brace & headed out for an evening of hobbling around Disney Springs...
(I'm not the only one who has had to have patience with my knee.)  😉

The kids had been at Downtown Disney when they were 6, 4, and 2.

Downtown Disney has been "transformed" into Disney Springs, but there are still plenty of 

places that haven't changed where we could take the same photos

with our 16, 14, and 12-year-old.

We also got to spend some time at Disney's Boardwalk.

Our sweet friend Allie used to work at Disney World.

She had several different jobs there,

one of which was driving these boats called "Friend Ships."

She graciously acted as our long-distance tour guide,

giving us all kinds of tips of places to be sure to see.

(We went to Disney World a couple weeks later, 

and it wouldn't have been as magical an experience without her help.

Thanks so much, Allie!)  💙

From Orlando, we traveled to Jacksonville the following week.
Again, we spent a lot of time at our hotel,
but we did get out to explore the beach....

If you can read what's written in the sand in both of these photos,

you'll have a good clue as to what has been occupying

the kids' hearts and thoughts lately....  😊

I love my kids.

(Brie said I have to give y'all a clue for this one...
The kids recently watched Les Miserables and loved it.
Our adventure often has the background music of Les Mis songs
as the kids each take a role and sing it out.  😉
This sand quote begins with "To love another person is to....")


After a couple of restful weeks, we are ready for Gramama's visit!!!