Parasailing and the Princess

MadHatter had been very excited about celebrating her birthday with Nana and Grampa in Florida ever since we told her about it back in April.  Eight months was a long time to wait but the day was finally upon us.  First up in the celebration - Parasailing.  None of us had ever been, so we didn't really know what to expect.  And you could see that MadHatter was a litle bit nervous about the whole thing, but very excited too.  So excited that the girls ran almost the entire 2 miles to the check in stand down the beack.  We checked in way ahead of time (all that running put us there 1/2 hour early) and signed our lives away...it is a little disconcerting to sign a document that says that you know that parasailing could be dangerous and your children could be permanently injured or killed, and then you sign it anyway.  But I put that out of my head (I just kept telling myself skiing was much more dangerous and they did that).  We whiled away the time by doing cartwheels and digging in the sand.  Finally, we were called to the shuttle.

On the shuttle we were put in lifejackets, strapped into our harnesses and transferred to the big boat.  We were as ready as we would ever be.

When it was our turn we each slid onto the back of the boat and were clipped into the bar below the sail.  After we were all secured, Captain Chase told us to hang on tight as we were slowly lifted up and out away from the boat.  We were flying!  And we were high - about 1200 feet above the ocean.  But not once did it ever feel like we were that high.  It was just so peaceful and serene.  I expected a lot of wind, a lot of noise, but there was nothing except the sounds of the three of us giggling and sharing our wonder at how cool it was to be so high above the ocean.

After about 10 minutes, or just under 4 miles, Capt. Chase slowly brought us down to dip our feet in the ocean and then let us soar again...

Finally, they reeled us in and we landed back on our tushies in the same spot we started from.  And before they could even get us unhooked, they were jabbering at Grampa that they would love to do it again.  Now.  Or later.  Or whenever they could.  What a great birthday treat from Grampa, we all agreed!

I took a bit of video while we were flying.  In all, it is over 12 minutes, but I edited it down to about 4.  There is only so much staring at the ocean and the coastline that you need to do.   Please excuse the bumpy video at times - I was holding the GoPro in my hand and had to keep switching it.  I hope you enjoy watching as much as we enjoyed experiencing it...

After we were back on dry land, we took a silly (see photo below), and long walk back to the house...there was a Princess party to be had after all.

The salt water really does something for her hair!

 The birthday girl had chosen tacos for dinner and a chocolate, chocolate cake for dessert.  And all of it was to be served on princess plates, with princess napkins and princess balloons.  Nana was more than happy to oblige, and we even threw in a princess crown
.

And Nana also found me this most fabulous cupcake (chocolate, chocolate is not my favorite - but white and a ton of frosting sure is!)

We got to the lighting the candle part, and realized we had no lighter.  And with so many boxes still left to unpack, we had to get creative.  Grampa lit some packing paper on the stove and then used it to light the sparkler.  Effective, and funny.

MadHatter got to cut her own cake and dish it out to everyone...

And then she opened a few presents, because we needed to add a few more things to the suitcases coming home, right?

All in all, I think her stateside birthday party was a roaring success!  And we love that her birthday just happens to be around the time we are with Nana and Grampa so that we get to enjoy it together.

A World Underwater

Sometimes all it takes is a different perspective...

Wet and Wild Fun

Two years ago, we celebrated Stinkerbell's birthday at Schlitterbahn, a water park located about 70 miles from my parents house (click here for the post).  And even though we had cousins, friends, aunts and uncles and Nana and Grampa with us, we sadly did not have B.  Yesterday, we remedied that and took B to his very first water-park.  Sadly, this time we were missing Nana, who had to unexpectedly leave the day before.

We sailed down the lazy river...

And we slid down some slides...

And then some even bigger slides...

   
We played in the water streams...

 
And then rode the rapids about 100 times in a row...I exaggerate, but not by much.

 

All in all, it was one wet, wild and wonderful day.  Perhaps we can come back again in two years and this time have everyone with us!  Hope your birthday celebrations were just what you wanted B and Stinkerbell!!!