The Sunshine State

For the Kim family vacation, we went aaaallll the way to Florida.  And I say it like that because this is how our flights this summer were:
1) NC --> Portland
2) Portland --> SLC
a couple days later....
3) SLC --> Florida
4) Florida --> SLC
a few weeks later... .
5) SLC --> back to NC

Never. Never will I do this again.  Going aaaaalllll the way across the country to the farthest (continental) time zone... then going back to the original time zone we were in.... then essentially back to the same time... then back again to our original?  (I can't even write it correctly because it is just so nonsensical).  Anyway, needless to say, not the most efficient way to spend our time, but it was a lot of fun this summer.  And hey, at least we can say we did it, right?  (But seriously, never again).

Anyway, we wanted to go to Florida because 1) Yunnie is on her mission and minus one in my family is kind of a big deal.  So, in order to compensate, we decided the Happiest Place on Earth would do the job in replacing her.  2) The beach.  Enough said. Sure, we could've gone to California... but we really thought the airline business needed our business.  ;)  [my parents actually were condo shopping.  Main reason why we tagged along/turned into vacation.]

So, here are our adventures in pictures with (hopefully) small/short commentary! Enjoy!!

Magic Kingdom: 

We had four-day/amusement-park hopping passes.  We went to Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, then Magic Kingdom again during our time there.  I only have pictures for a couple places though! 

I dream about going back all the time.  Seriously overpriced.  But so so so happy. 

Not quite sure what to think... but boy, was he in for a GREAT surprise!! 

See that really dark raincloud behind the castle?  Shortly after this picture was taken, it was Hurricane Disney.  No joke.  Winds were CRAZY.  We were separated from my parents and Auden to buy some ponchos, so Nelson went to go get them and he was outside for 2 seconds and got soaked.  Just the back side though because he was holding on to a pole so he wouldn't get blown away.  After about 30 minutes of the hurricane, it calmed down, but rained off an on for the rest of the day which was great because it wasn't hot at all.  It was the perfect temperature.  People had left because it was midday when we got there and the rain was comin down.  The lines were tolerable (especially if you had a FastPass :)  It was the perfect  day for the Magic Kingdom. 

Same day, just a change of clothes.  He was SOAKED.  Good thing I came prepared!  Good mama point! 

 My happy, happy boy. 

PS: Nelson picked out this outfit.  Adorable, right?

This was his pose after he told me to take his picture.  I love the little hands in his lap.  

(and i love his short-shorts. :)  

Hollywood Studios:

This was at Hollywood Studios where they did a live Disney Junior show.  If we went now, Auden would have the time of his life.  He LOVES Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  Then, he wasn't quite sure what to do.  Especially when the confetti came down.  "What is this garbage doing?!? Clean this up!  Stop singing!  There is garbage on the floor!"  

If I could blur my face....

Auden wasn't a fan of the ponchos, but isn't he sooo cute!? 

When we were in Boston, Auden LOVED to chase all the geese.  So, naturally, when he saw the ducks, he went to go greet his long lost friends.   

Always battling each other... [insert hashtag: boyswillbeboys]

We discovered that Auden is not afraid of the pool.  And will run to it every time he sees it...... 

 I'm pretty sure I sabotage all our family photos.

Siesta Key/Sarasota, FL

Then we made our way West to the beach!! Fun fact: very minimal shark attacks on this side of Florida!  Woo hoo! 

After the Star Trek movies... we've really been into Star Trek.  And Auden does the Volcan "live long and prosper" sign well (sometimes) so we tried to get him to do for Yunnie.  Obviously, we failed. But I still think he looks so adorable all tanned in his jumpsuit/swimsuit!  

 Last full day we were there, we did the funnest thing: paddleboarded and kayaked in a manatee zone!! AAAAHHHH! Why hadn't we done this the whole time we were there!  Ever since I was in the 2nd grade, I have LOVED manatees!  Sadly, so so so sadly, after four hours (and crazy nasty horrible BRIGHT red sunburns on my legs) later... I didn't see a single manatee.  We can however, say we are expert paddleboarding/kayaking wizards!  In calm/non-shark infested waters AND the ocean! Go Team Pace! 

 Auden got this great gift from one of my dad's clients in Florida.  It plays extremely calming music or sounds of waves and shines a light as if you were looking on the bottom of the ocean floor at night.  It's pretty much the best, life-saving toy ever.  

Thumb in the pocket: Kills me every time. 

yeah... that tan went away very quickly. 

Back to Utah!!! 

This was my birthday.  Great day with my family.  

Well, these are about all the summer pictures I have with me currently.  Hopefully I'll be able to do a post later once I get my pictures from my other computer.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed I don't go MIA again after this....... keeping my fingers crossed.......

Hope you had a fantastic, happy, happy, happy summer like us!!!

my last New Haven post....

Last, and definitely, not least: the food.

I'm pretty sure we ate our filling of grease for the month during that weekend trip.  but oh man, was it worth it.  Thinking/writing about all that yummy goodness makes me want to head on over to Yale-country right. now.  There's something about greasy food at midnight that go hand in hand... I learned that during my college years.  Major-life-lesson-learned-in-college: check. ;) Back to the restaurants.... ok, pretty much just one of the places.... please indulge me and let me go on and on about this amazing, amaaaaazing pizza place.



it's delicious. it's a huge serving of pizza.  Seriously. if you can, go. Go to Frank Pepe's.  If you can, go now. why are you still reading this!?! :D

and if you are a friend of Nelson's and recently received an email/video about how sodas are the death of society.... don't listen to him for this one trip.  because this soda is so so good.  the bubbly goodness will make you smile.  This cream soda flavor is Nelson's favorite... but I liked the Gassosa (lime flavor).  If you really want to go traditional-New Haven, get the White Birch.  It tastes like a sweeter root beer.

this boy grew up so much during that week.  He was a little toddler at dinner. watching him was fascinating.  and sad at the same time... but more fascinating and hilarious.  He kept howling at the ceiling and then laughing.  and then slamming his hands on the steel table.  we just happened to sit at the one and only table that was the least baby/toddler-friendly. 

game face, guys. game face.

bring it when you go.

look at that thing!!!! 

Fun fact: it is argued that Frank Pepe's is the best pizza in the world. 

did you get that, friends?? 

the world. 

10 {cool} points to Gryffindor the Paces!

This little cottage... we unfortunately could not eat there... but this is the birthplace of..... the hamburger.

*cue angelic music*

The wait was 45 minutes for a burger.  I love you, burgers.  But my temper when my blood sugar is low is not pretty. at all. we had to head elsewhere.

but, my ode to Louis: 

Thank you.  You saved my life during college. Because of you, I have McDonalds.  Love live the burger.  

Love live.... the Big Mac. 

 Instead of Louis Lunch, we went to Shake Shack!  Didn't even have to go all the way to New York to try the famous Shake Shack!  We were so hungry, we didn't get any more pictures.  It was good... but we are still true to our good ol' Tasty Burger here in Fenway.

So, especially for those who knew me "when I was in college," can you see why this was my kind of trip?? But in all seriousness, thanks, my dear sweet husband, for making Valentine's 2013 extremely fun, memorable, and greasy.  ;)  To more Valentine's days!! cheers!!~