Payson and I met my parents, little brother (Aaron), and my Grandma Bosen in Orlando a couple weeks ago! It is always a treat to see family because we live so far away from all of our family, and Payson is finally at the stage where he is starting to remember everyone, and HE LOVES THEM! He hardly let Aaron have a break from playing, and if Aaron wasn’t available- he wanted to play with Grandpa Doug, go on a walk with Grandma Teresa, or even read books with Great Grandma Bosen. It made me sad to leave because I knew how much fun it was to be with them, and to see how Payson loved being with them. When my dad dropped us off at the airport, Payson asked for Grandpa after he left. Luckily, I was able to say we were going home to Daddy on an airplane, and I think Pay was pretty excited to see Daddy, too!
Aquatica
Our first day was spent at Aquatica Water Park! This was a fun, big water park, and I couldn’t even enjoy the big slides, but that’s okay- I still had tons of fun! Aaron and my dad went on a slide that drops you vertical before it begins to slide! Payson loved the slides in the kiddy pool area. He went down them over and over again! The water park also had a giant splash pad like pool, where you could climb the stairs and ropes, spray people as they passed by under you, and go under water falls. We had fun as a family climbing around and trying to get each other wet, and of course we enjoyed the wave pool! The water park has a lazy river, but we all chose to by pass the lazy river and play/ride with life jackets in the rapid river. The river just pushes you along, and it was like going for a ride, but the best part was- both Payson and I could go on that ride!
We couldn’t convince my grandma to go in, but she still had a nice time helping me with Payson on the slides, reading, and people watching!!
Seaworld
We spent one day at Sea World- at least a good chunk of the day. It was hot outside, so we stayed about as long as everyone could last in the heat- (remember our group of people consisted of an 83 year old, a third trimester pregnant lady, a toddler, my mom with her occasional hot flashes, my dad, and 12 year old brother)- the majority of us- couldn’t beat the heat!!
Anyway, the time spent in Sea World was still fun despite it being so hot! We saw baby dolphins doing some tricks before we headed over to Shamoo! Grandma and my dad saved seats while I took Payson to the younger kid area. My dad met up with us after he found a good seat, but in the mean time we found a slide that Payson couldn’t wait to go down! He decided that since it was a big slide, he would go backwards on his belly, but was going slow, so turned around by the time he got to the end of the slide!
My dad found us just in time to watch us ride the train!
Then the three of us climbed the big boat rope thing before heading to the statue of Shamoo and Baby Shamoo for a couple of pictures!
Then or course we saw the actual Shamoo in action!! The whales loved performing for us, and Payson really enjoyed watching them.
We headed over to watch the Pirate and Sea Lion show, but Payson was not too into that one, so I took him out, and we went to see the sharks instead. The shark experience was a small aquarium with fish and at the end there was a big tank full of various sharks.
At this point, we were all getting hungry and hot, but it wasn’t quite time to go, yet!! My dad and Aaron headed over for a couple rides they never ended up going on, while the rest of us went to the pet show, which was in an air conditioned building!!!! Payson loved this show! He loves dogs, and the dogs did all sorts of cool tricks! I didn’t get pictures of the show, but we did get a couple of family pictures before leaving Sea World.
My dad took the picture, so that’s why he is not in it!
4 Generations!
Aaron entertaining Payson or visa versa while my dad got the car!
Swimming at the Condo
The condo we stayed at had 7 pools, but ironically, we only went swimming once there. (Well, my parents and Aaron went before we got there, so I guess they went more than once). Payson had a great time playing with Aaron and Grandma in the kiddy pool, and continued to laugh just as much in the big pool, too! Of course, he wanted the hot tub when he got cold, so he stayed with my dad in the hot tub while I showered!
Orlando Temple and Pedicures
I had the opportunity to have some adult time! My mom and Aaron watched Payson while my grandma, dad, and I went the Orlando Temple to do a session. It was really nice, and I know Josh was able to do a session in the Columbus Temple while we were gone! (We don’t get to do sessions too often because we usually take turns watching Payson at the Temple). It is always nice to take some time to feel the Spirit, serve others, and remember what life is all about. I’m glad for the opportunity to go to the Temple while I was on my trip!
Later, my Grandma Bosen and Aaron watched Payson for me during his nap so my mom and I could get pedicures! It was soooo nice to have a spa pedicure done, especially with my mom!! There were two other pretty pregnant ladies getting pedicures while we were! ha ha- It must be the beginning of summer!
Discover Cove
We went to Discovery Cove on my Dad’s birthday! If you have never heard of it- it is an awesome place to spend your day in Orlando. You get to snorkel with lots of fish and HUGE sting rays! You can reach out and touch the sting rays and the smaller ones even swam close to Payson in the shallow area near the beach. My mom did not want to touch them, but one time she was standing on a rock, when a HUGE sting ray came by. He literally ran right into her and knocked her off the rock! It was hilarious! Not only did she end up touching the sting ray- it full blown ran into her! I couldn’t stop laughing! My dad got my Grandma Bosen to snorkel for the first time in her life. She loved it! He took her to see the sharks, and she got a little freaked out because the glass that the sharks are behind is slanted, so it looks like they are right under you!
Discover Cove also has a fresh water area with a deep lazy river with treasures under the water. They also have otters, marmots (little monkeys), and an aviary where you can feed the birds, and they land right on your hand. We also enjoyed all you can eat food all day including breakfast and lunch. It was a pretty fun day, and Payson even took a nap in the sand stroller they let us use!
Downtown Disney
Grandma, Payson, and I all flew home Saturday, but my parents still had to check out of the condo Saturday. (They had a hotel room for that night, and flew home the next day). We needed to do something that would not necessarily make us need to shower before we got on an airplane, so we decided to go to Downtown Disney. At first we did not find any parking, but on another attempt, we found an extra parking lot for Downtown Disney and parked there. We didn’t explore everything because it was hot and we had limited time, but we did get to see a few highlights. We went out to lunch at the T-Rex Restaurant. I thought Payson would like the moving dinosaurs, but instead they kind of scared him.
Then we went to the Big Legoland store. Both Payson and Aaron enjoyed this store a lot, as you can imagine!! I am always amazed at the lego structures they build at these stores!
After Legoland, we headed back to the van to check into the hotel and then off to the airport! It was a great trip! Thanks mom and dad for everything!!
