Florida

This is probably going to take a few posting so be prepared.

We left for Florida on Monday April 26. Since we have never gone outside the state with any of the kids, this was the first time ever for them on an airplane and they did really well. We left here around 10 a.m. and we arrived in Florida at 5 p.m. and it was WARM and HUMID. So not like Utah.

We got to the airport and found the representative from Give Kids the World. She helped us with our luggage and our rental car and gave us instructions to the village and we were off.

We arrived at the Village at the House of Hearts and they gave us a pass to go and eat dinner first thing. We ate at the Gingerbread house and it was really good food. Along the top of the ceiling was dolls from all over the world and tons of them. It was really cool. The tables are small enough for adults to eat on and just big enough for kids to eat at. The people there were so nice and all staffed by volunteers. We were told to never pick up a dish to clean up and leave it at the table. That was hard to just leave our stuff on the table, but the volunteers are there to clean up.

After we were done we went back to the House of Hearts and checked in and they showed us to our Villa. It was a condo with two bedrooms, two baths, a kitchen and a front room. The kids room was really large with two twin beds and a roll away bed and a huge bathroom with a jacuzzi tub and a huge shower. Our Villa was right across the street from the swimming pool and the kids were so excited.

That night I went to the orientations where they give you all of your tickets and information that you need for the week. We received a 1 day ticket to Sea World, 2 day tickets to Universal Studios and 3 days to Walt Disney World. Along with the tickets we received a button for Kayden to wear that was from Give Kids the World which allowed us to get free parking at all of the resorts and the button would get us to the front of the line at Sea World. We also received a guest pass for Universal Studios and Disney World that would allow us access to the front of the lines for EVERYTHING. We NEVER had to wait in line for anything, including the characters. It was awesome. We also received complimentary stroller rentals at all of the resorts also.

Every day that we were there we would go swimming and then eat ice cream at the ice cream palace (which again is all cost free). It was so cool.

On Tuesday we got up in the morning and went to eat breakfast and then went to the Castle of Miracles to see which Universal character was there. Koy was so excited because he got to meet Dora and see her backpack. We then headed to Sea World First.

We saw the dolphin show called Blue Horizons. That was awesome. Dolphins are so cool and so smart. Josh and I took turns on the Manta ride which was a really intense roller coaster and it made you feel like you were on the belly of a sting ray. As you were in the seats it was as if you were flying like superman and it was really fun.

We then headed to the Shamu show. It was very packed and we were able to get center seats in the Premium seating that was sectioned off for certain pass holder. That show was really cool. Even though the trainers didn't get in the water with the whales right now it was still really neat.

Josh and the kids went on a small roller coaster that wasn't very big at all. Kayden was scared to death. He was ruined on roller coasters for the rest of the trip.

While we were at Sea World we got to feed the sharks and the sting rays. We also saw some walrus's, a polar bear, and some other really big sharks. The highlight of the day was feeding the dolphins. With our pass to Sea World we were given complimentary food to feed the dolphins. They only feed the dolphins at certain times during the day and made it to the 4 p.m. feeding. It was really awesome. There was a trainer that came to us and called over a dolphin to lay down in front of us so that we could pet its whole body. It was SO COOL. Kayden didn't like to touch the fish so I did most of the feeding and I don't even thing he touched it, but he enjoyed having them come up so close to him. I truly was a once in a lifetime experience.

It wasn't too bad weather wise that day. It did get hot, but there was a lot of shade at the park and a lot of water. The kids were ready to leave around 5 so we headed back to the village to eat, swim and eat ice cream and get ready for day two.