Disney Cruise Adventure Day 2 - Cape Canaveral

Sunday is the day of science at Cape Canaveral - a full day tour WITH an Astronaut!  

Not Shane, but close.  WE all wore little head sets to allow the leader to walk us through the different areas, shuttles and rockets.  Very thorough tour!

Hard to capture the shear SIZE of these boosters - Literally and engineering marvel.

Here is our astronaut - space suit and all - Bill McArthur.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_S._McArthur#cite_note-4

Autographed family photo!  Fun fact - as we were shaking his hand, Bill Says to Nick - "Nice Shirt, Go Army" to which Chris asked if he attended West Point (which they hadn't addressed yet) and than Chris REMEMBERS having dinner with him (back in the 90s) when Bill was visiting West Point and Chris was a cadet at the time.  What an amazing small world occurrence!

The 2 famous West Point Grads

(yes, I tried rotating this photo - yes, I was unsuccessful) 

Lots of touring lead to some space exploration by the kiddos and some much needed slide time - 

Our tour took us out to rocket assembly and launch area - again the shear size of the facility is a challenge to truly capture.  But we managed to capture these 2 again!

Here we all are on this perfectly breezy day

A specially M113 on display - versatile little tanks that Chris used to use as well.

What else would you do on an open field?

Delicious lunch all together apart from the America burger and fries.  The kids got to sit around a conference desk in swivel chairs.

Now its jungle gym time!

Artistic photos?

Running through the water feature

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULq10yDUYww&feature=youtu.be

A 3 D moving to wrap it up

How about some parking lot fun with the gadget guy.  Look whats in the background!  The party bus!

Here is where we split for a bit.  as SHEAR coincidence would have it, we have 3 other DEAR families in the vicinity.  

Amy and Rick are out visit Elise who lives in Orlando

Chelcy and Deakon are rocking the 100% Disney park tour

Liz has a hockey tournament in Tampa that finished early on Sunday giving them free time to link up.  She patiently waited our departure from cape Canaveral but hitting Universal for a bit - 

We drove the Party Bus (just the Leadbetters) to Disney springs.  That was the place to meet the Carsons that didn't involve too many other logistics.  (expect 100 other logistics, text messages, etc..)

We parked and started operation link up.

A few store visitations - 

Clearly this shoe is photo worthy.

We ran into Amy, Rick and Elise first and hunted down a restaurant that would take - 15 - yup, 15 on a Sunday.  Our planning rocks.  We found a great sandwich shop, and when I say great, I mean they had food and a perfect room by the front window for this crew.  It was just what we needed.  We settled in the catch up - Liz, Seb and his hockey buddy Owen rolled up.  The Carsons rolled in after a fun packed day at the park.  It was a flurry of catching up and a bit of a whirlwind for all - We are thankful for every bit of effort ALL of these families put into getting there.

Squeezing every ounce of time together - Love this family!  Now go rock the park - I mean, go to bed!

Disney Cruise Day 1 - The adventure begins

Love how excited our boys are getting - from telling all their friends and teachers, to excited packing, to this at the top of the stairs that Shane made.  THEIR excitement was contagious!  I will admit, my dad excitment was pretty contagious too - however HIS excited started MONTHS ago!

Everyone in one car WITH luggage.  WE THANKFULLY (suggested by Oma Sue) made a reservation at the Parking Spot - It is in the uncovered lot - that will be fine for the leadbetter crew for Friday night.  Those are some pretty big smiles back there!

It was so fun just being in the airport together wandering around taking photos at the lego house - just being all on that vacation vibe =)  Feels so free!

Load up those backpacks and lets roll!

Who sent this guy wandering?  Pretzel bites - a must!

Bellie up to the vacation bar!

Cheers!  What a feeling!

Quick flight and now its time to grab some bags!  WE were sweetly greeted by the excited Charrons as we came down the escalator.  All united!

WE take up the entire escalator!

Headed to get the party bus

I see our name - 

No photo of the van what?!?!  It was a 12 pax - yup, that is what we needed to cart this crew.  Kudos to my dad for orchestrating and cheers to Jason and Chris for driving and navigating.  Residence Inn Cape Canaveral here we come.  Dinner was a hip restaurant (party of 12 on a Saturday night! - wasn't the most seamless pop in, but we got there!)

The Shane School gang for Valentines day!

Love this capture from his teacher Ms Magarian  Happy Valentines day all!

Just a little Valentines day pizaz from mom=)

Reminder to Nick

On the SECOND day in one week that you text me having forgotten something, we get a little creative.

Gym close were forgotten.  

What kind of gym clothes does a 7th grader really need (heck, he goes to school in gym clothes basically) so this is really a test in his responsibility  - which he is failing - .  So I asked Drew for a recommendation.  He came up with red silk PJs - 

NAILED IT

Special delivery in route

Moonlight hike

Such a sweetly beautiful evening that is right in our Hood - I am attending for the first time.  Chris went last year and enjoyed it.  We were thrilled to be able to attend.   The volunteers of the land trust put luminaries along the trail.  A long path and a more direct path.  Of course we choose the LONG  one (much to the boys excitement)

The hike ends at the Music Vale horse barn at the top of Breezy Hill.  The same horse barn I volunteered at 4 years ago (feels like an eternity!)  Lots of cocktails, hot coco and ability to run free here.  We saw neighbors and chatted.  There wasn't any snow which was a bummer - but that is surely the story of the winter.

The way home we came to a beautiful clearing and while its a challenge to capture it I tried for memory sake.

This is the clearing.  The stars aren't really coming through but there were plenty of them!

Enjoyed the small town event for the evening.

Super Bowl

The game to watch - and honestly we don't care who wins!

The half time show that had my mom rolling her eyes.  JLo and Sharikra - You guys can shake it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pILCn6VO_RU

Funniest super bowl commercials

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBakCsVUc7M

I still cry watching this one - 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cemnVypZmco

Another good listing of commercials - 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siGt0WtokEc

Because yes, that was the highlight for this year.  We made it home with Pizza Pete's wings and pizza, ski gear unpacked and chilling at the house.

Hugs to our Super Bowl super friends - mini hiatus we are experiencing as they are waking up to the Superbowl on Monday morning!

A weekend away with friends in Killington

Writing this blog in April amid the QUARANTINE.  I am more thankful that we actually HAD this weekend away.  Rebecca found a great house near Killington and we stacked 4 great skiing families (Brigg's, Houle's and Theburg's)  together.  Meals packed and planned.  Snow thankfully lingered!  

What a full house of ski gear looks like - warming by the fire.

First morning round up.

Ready to hit the slopes.  There is something I love about a large group and how different the lift assortment becomes.

Great minds think alike in the photo department.

This is a capture of the kids favorite - off the lift place on the mountain.

There were definitely icy patches and you had to know where to ski.  Rebecca does a great job of 'tour guiding' us all through some exploration.  We are so thankful the level we all ski at!

Now time for some house party games!  Kids are entertained by the game room downstairs.  

The adults revisited their youth a bit.

Jenga held out attention for a few rounds.

was it 33 lines our highest?  Maybe Mr. Briggs needs to get on a stool!

Jenga disolved into 'Asshole' a college favorite.  It was a BLAST playing and remembering different rules along the way.

Day 2 here we come!  Not as organized and the fire doesn't seem to turn on anymore.  We digress - out we go!

Rocking the Gondola up!  What a treat!

Trails for miles!  Can you see our peeps?

Shane is invading the 'girls only' lift ride!

Capturing the lift line smiles =)

Rocked another great day in the books.  Linked up with Dan Negille who works here.  He showed us some great 'back woods' and favorite mogul runs were it isn't a sheet of ice.  Nice to get the hometown tour and good for Rebecca to catch a break!

Can you believe tonight is Superbowl?    After all these years celebrating WITH the McCulloughs, we are thankful to not be HOME just missed them.  Its a different vibe for sure