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*FYI* You can click on the small pictures to see them larger, then click the back arrow (not the X) or the whole page closes. OOPS!

I've added many photos and messages to previous posts, so check them all out again! I may also add pictures as late as the end of March (when Helen & Bob return home -- lucky ducks!)

I tried adding links to the places we were at... some worked, some didn't (they're not there anymore). If you're interested in seeing a good site on Juniper Springs: google 'Juniper Springs', click on the 5th link that comes up (tfn.net/springs/Juniper). Enjoy!

Our Arrival -- January 13

Dawn, George, Zach, Keith & I spent the night in Pittsburgh & flew out early on (da da dum) Friday the 13th! And this was Keith's first flight. He & Dawn were nervous wrecks! When we landed in Orlando Keith proclaimed "let's do it again!" Dawn on the other hand... well, just ask George & Zach!

We rented a Dodge Magnum -- which brought about 2 games: Magnum Tag 'Em (you know, like Punch Bug, what were the other ones called Dawn?) & the shouting game: "George Use Your Mirrors!" when he was about to cut someone off. The back was so loaded we couldn't see out the back window -- but you can tell that from the picture!

On the way to the campground we stopped at this strange & bizarre, yet somehow cool place. I don't have a single word to describe it -- lots of yard decorations (all shapes & sizes) spread out all over, well, a yard & a shack-like building. They had some really cool sun shapes for walls & some awesome handpainted ceramic sinks. (Keith liked the toilet the best! The design went all the way down!) Zach enjoyed exploring for all the lizards he could find & take pictures of.

Silver Springs -- January 14

Glass Bottom Boat tours:
You can see the animal in the first picture, but can you see one in the second? (Click on the photo to enlarge it.)

Drum roll please...
And now for the less than "Fabulous Fountains." We were horribly disappointed. (Especially Keith)

We saw some pretty strange animals too. (This next one's dedicated to KC. Do you recognize it? It's from Australia.)

After we were done at Silver Springs, Keith, Jaquette & I decided to go to the coast so we could see the beach! (Ormond Beach I believe) Everybody else said they were going to church, but they didn't... you'll have to ask them what they really did!

Juniper Springs -- January 15

Ocala National Forest

Our canoe trip & the "family" tree.

The community pool.

A natural spring bubbling below us, you know "The Gang!"

If anyone wants to post any comments about Juniper Springs, feel free -- I'm a bit speechless, it's breathtaking (from the beauty & the chilly mornings!) -- good thing pictures are worth a 1000 words!

Ok, as I change my mind quite often, I do have some random thoughts: sleeping with a wool cap on; pouring down rain never sounded so good (all the kids were forced undercover & away from our tent); apparently the bathhouses are way better then they used to be (especially the handicapped shower - you'll have to ask Bob); if you don't fall in the water 6 times, it's a good canoe trip, although most of us say that 7 miles is entirely too long (especially if you are with your spouse!); feeding the fish & turtles from the bridge with Zach; the 'family photo' tree & pool below, are absolutely gorgeous!

Pop Century Resort -- January 16

Home Sweet Home
"Pop, Pop, Pop... Pop Century"
(as Zach said as we entered the resort - it looked like popcorn was around the sign)
This is what we called home for a bit... don't you just love our yard decorations?
We stayed at the 8 track on the right.


Here we hung our hats, listened entirely too much to Stacey, looked for hidden Mickeys, played "who's that dragon?" & Twister...
"One of these things is not like the other... one of these things just doesn't belong..."

Can you tell which one?

(We don't even need monogramed bags to play this game Dawn!)

MGM Studios -- January 17

Where to begin??? There was just so much to see & do (And do again, and again... after riding some I said"I want to go back every hour!")
We started out at Sounds Dangerous while waiting for our fastpass for Indiana Jones. Then there was Star Tours (which was excellent! Darth Tater to be seen in the gift shop!); Muppet Vision 3-D (again excellent); Lights, Motion, Action! Stunt Show; Voyage of the Little Mermaid (Zach's current torture); the Great Movie Ride; Fantasmic (the most fabulous fountain show of all).
Then we get to the ones that I could do again & again (refer to the every hour comment): It's Rock 'n' Roller Coaster (starring Aerosmith of course) & The Twilight Zone's Tower of Terror!!! Yeeaaahhh - RocK on!

Animal Kingdom & Downtown Disney -- January 18

Ok, time to sing now (Brady Bunch theme):
Here's a story...

Of a crazy family...

Who visited some wild life in Africa...

Then they were turned, into some big bugs...

But they weren't eaten or squished!

Annnnd 'cut.' (No more singing -- at least for now!) :)

While we didn't get eaten, we did manage to devour some mighty tasty (& expensive) grub at the Rainforest Cafe. The pictures are from our Kilimanjaro Safari in Africa; walking along the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail; and "It's Tough to be a Bug" (very, very cool, I, as well as the rest of the group, highly suggest it!). Jaquette & I ran through Asia while the others went to DinoLand USA. We enjoyed the animals -- especially seeing the bat eat some watermellon & seeing the tigers; they enjoyed the coaster (I don't know what it was called).

Alas we weren't able to stay all day at this park (like we did at the others... it's just not the same when your feet don't feel like they're going to fall off!). We, a select few wonderful people, went to Downtown Disney to see Cirque du Soleil!
Since we weren't able to take pictures at the show I bought a souvenir book (after seeing a camera flash it looked like a person was being escorted out, I wasn't even thinking about trying!). This photo is from one of my favorite parts -- although it is really hard to pick just one (it's like Stacey's top 7 turning into 107). The ticket makes a pretty good souvenir too, don't you think? (I think it's the coolest ticket ever!)

After the show, the 4 of us (Helen, Jaquette, Zach & I -- I told you we were wonderful!) went for dinner at Planet Hollywood. Too bad dinner turned into a late night/before bedtime meal! (It was a very, very, very long wait. Don't go hungry.)

Then we met up with Dawn, George & Keith and went to Pin Traders (thanks for giving me the scoop on trading pins Zach!) & to the Lego Imagination Center (so cool). Time to play "I Spy." Your job is to find Keith & Jess, and why did that family stop there? How rude!

I'm including a larger view of the picture because the small one didn't want to enlarge on it's own for me. Maybe it will for you when you click on it. Who knows!

Magic Kingdom -- January 19

We rode the boat from the campground to the Magic Kingdom...

Here we are finishing our ride on Splash Mountain. The pins say "dry is not an option" -- true for some, but not for me! We listened to Stacey (TV girl) & rode all 3 "mountain" rides (Splash, Thunder, Space) -- she was right, they were a top pick!

We also went on "It's A Small World" -- some were ready to jump overboard -- the rest were amused by the torture!! :) Other things not to forget: The Tiki Room, Pirates... (ARR), The Haunted Mansion & the Carousel of Progress (Everybody now: "its a great big beautiful tomorrow...). (Or is it wonderful?)

Aren't the fireworks beautiful! They did it just for Dawn (so she says)!

Epcot -- January 20

Hmm, where are we now... did I really need to put a title? :)

Catch the water Keith -- you can do it!




George says "weee!"-- I think this was on the Spaceship Earth when you go inside the Epcot sphere. Worth seeing once in your life, but I don't think it's necessary to go back every hour! :) The Universe of Enery was with Ellen DeGeneres & Bill Nye the Science Guy (Who remembers watching him on tv? I do!) was a very amusing ride. If anyone knows how they moved the seats, George wants to know (he forgot to check). Now here are some I definately want to go back on: Mission Space (I think I was the navigator -- who knew it was so easy!) & Soarin' (it could have been longer, but that would make the waiting time really long -- when we were leaving it was at 90 minutes! Thank goodness for the Fastpass!) I recommend going to the World Showcase, but I want to forwarn you: if your feet hurt Circle-Vision in Canada does NOT have seats!
Living with the Land was a good break on your feet & it was interesting, who knew you could grow plants like that! The Living Seas were pretty cool, unfortunately it was quite late in the night & we were exhausted -- Dude! Crush gave Zach a new name: Zach Attack; & Ray got to meet his counterpart! And my last recommendation (for this post anyway) is to see Honey I Shrunk the Audience -- very enjoyable!