Food Fun Family

5 Reasons to Travel to Kissimmee Florida this Winter

Lolli — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 17:50:20 +0000

I don’t know what the winter weather has been like where you live, but after the last 2 weeks of blizzards, being snowed in for a week, and cold temperatures, I am ready to head back to Florida. I was not made for cold weather living. No, I am much more drawn to sunshine and mild temperatures. Which is why Kissimmee, Florida is pretty much the ideal place for a winter getaway with the family.

My family LOVES to travel to Florida in the winter (it’s the best time of the year to go to Florida, in our opinion!). What’s better than escaping the cold and the snow and trading the big winter coats in for sandals and t-shirts?

Not much.

A few years ago, our entire extended family got together at a resort home in Kissimmee to spend the week of Thanksgiving together. We stayed happily busy every day, and we could have stayed for another 2 weeks and NEVER been bored! I’ve also visited Kissimmee without the kids and couldn’t believe how many things there were to do (I couldn’t wait to bring the kids back to experience everything I tried!). Now, I’m thinking we haven’t even scratched the surface on all Kissimmee has to offer!

Note: all of the images in this post are my own, from the various adventures I’ve had in Kissimmee.

5 Reasons Kissimmee Florida is the Perfect Destination for a Family Vacation This Winter

Amazing Weather: As a California transplant living on the East Coast, I admit that I miss a mild winter. Kissimmee’s year-round beautiful weather is a dream come true for me. There is nothing quite like being able to pull out the sandals for a few days when you’ve been wearing winter boots at home. Lower temperatures make it more comfortable to be active outside, plus the summer humidity (and pesky insects) are gone for the season, making winter time in Florida the perfect time to be outside.

Family Fun: Isn’t it all about finding quality activities for the family to do together? Kissimmee has a little bit of everything (except snow….which is totally ok with me!). Kissimmee is just minutes away from world-famous theme parks including Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando (hello – The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the PERFECT place to take a family of tweens and teens!), SeaWorld Orlando, and LEGOLAND Florida.

Lower Prices: Costs tend to go down during the winter months, from hotel and resort fees to the fees for a round of golf. Cheaper prices means that you can afford to do even more on your vacation. During the winter, you are more likely to be able to afford a fancier resort or vacation rental, or you can extend your stay with the money that you save.

Smaller Crowds: The attractions are less crowded during the off-season winter months which means more space to relax and shorter lines at the attractions. When we go to the theme parks in the winter months, we’re able to get one more rides with not as much waiting around, which makes the kids happy. And when the kids are happy, I am happy. Fewer crowds means that you get to do more with your time and enjoy some true relaxation.

Outdoor Adventures: Whether you’re in to ziplining or scouting for alligators on a thrilling airboat ride in the Everglades or soaring above it all in a hot air balloon or simply relaxing next to the pool, Kissimmee has it all. I’ve dabbled in a little bit of everything in Kissimmee, and I have to say that the ziplining can’t be beat! And trust me – ALL of the afore-mentioned activities are much more pleasant during the mild winter months!

Get your FREE Vacation Planning Magazine to plan your next trip to Kissimmee!

Escape the COLD Sweepstakes

So I’ve convinced you that you need to go to Kissimmee now, right? How does WINNING a trip for 4 sound? Between now and March 27, you can enter Experience Kissimmee’s “Escape the Cold” sweepstakes by texting SUNNY to “313131” or by visiting the official sweepstakes site, EscapeCold.com.

You are not going to believe the prizes! Three Grand Prize winners will each receive a Kissimmee getaway for 4. The 5-day/4-night prize package includes:

Round trip airfare for four
Rental Car
5-day/4-night stay at Meliá Orlando Suite Hotel at Celebration
Admission to Gatorland and the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line
Wristbands for unlimited rides at FunSpot America—Kissimmee
Tickets to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom provided by Kissimmee Guest Services
Tickets to La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil
Airboat experience with Wild Willy’s Airboat Tours

Don’t feel lucky enough to win the Grand Prize? Guess what? You’re in luck because DAILY WINNERS will receive a “Winter Survival Kit” containing Kissimmee branded items such as, a scarf, gloves, hand warmers, color changing mug, hot cocoa and more!

Enter HERE! And good luck (you can totally win this!).

To see a few of the things I’ve done in Kissimmee, check out all of my Kissimmee, Florida posts!

2012 Year in Review #Linkup

Lolli — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 18:04:21 +0000

One of the greatest things about writing so frequently on my blog is that I can look back on the year and reminisce about all of the best moments. 2012 was full of travel (something I love!), great opportunities, and tremendous growth from my kids.

I can’t wait to see what 2013 has in store.

January 2012

In January, I found myself the owner of both an iPad and an Android tablet, where just a month and a half earlier, I had neither. This post may not seem extremely profound, the fact is…my iPad changed my life. I’ve never been a laptop person, but with all of the travel I’ve been doing, as well as the fact that the ipad allows me to check my social networks anywhere in the house, I am hooked. Here’s what I had to say about Android Tablets versus the iPad.

February 2012

In February, I took a huge risk and bared my belly for the internets. It was not a pretty picture, but the love and support I received from my online friends was incredible. I also shared the answers to 10 random questions about myself and posted some tips for enjoying a family trip to New York City on a budget.

March 2012

In March, I traveled to Santa Monica, California, watched Wicked on Broadway with my blogging friend, Sue from New Zealand, and made Armie Hammer speechless during an interview.

April 2012

April was incredible. I spent an exhilarating week in Orlando with two dozen bloggers. I met Jane Goodall, went on a safari, and celebrated my 17th anniversary.

May 2012

In May, I went on another trip to California for YesVideo (it was so much fun going back to near my childhood hometown). Later, I shared 10 tips for travel photography.

June 2012

June was pretty incredible. I went back to California for a 3rd time this year for the world premiere of Disney/Pixar’s BRAVE and met Kevin McKidd (a great story!). I also went to breakfast with Michelle Obama, so that was kind of cool, too.

July 2012

In July, I got to treat my boys to two days in New York City (just two days before heading to BlogHer back in NYC). Not only did they get the star treatment in a fancy hotel, but they got to meet the author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and the two main actors in the Wimpy Kid films. Amazing! I also spent the month baking when I was hired by WhoNu? Cookies to create recipes using their products. Yum!

August 2012

In August, I was traveling more than I was home, and I actually started missing my normal sit-at-the-desk routine. I traveled back to New York for BlogHer, then spent a relaxing week at my mom’s house (my annual trip), and then explored Park City with the new Hyundai Santa Fe. I came back home just in time for the kids to start school again.

September 2012

Something crazy happened in September. No, I didn’t travel anywhere. I shared a bunch of recipes and….my oldest daughter started driving. How did that happen?!

October 2012

In October, I celebrated my birthday, filmed my kids dancing in giant pajama pants, and moved my blog’s feed from Feedburner to Feedblitz.

November 2012

By the time November rolled around, my travel itch was getting pretty intense (I hadn’t traveled anywhere since late August!) so I was thrilled to be able to take my whole family to Orlando for a Thanksgiving to remember. The best part of our week in Florida? Butterbeer at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

December 2012

That brings us to December – the last month of the year. December was definitely ALL about getting ready for the holidays, though I ending up spending half of the month sick with two separate illnesses. I scaled back on everything else, focusing only on shopping and baking and getting more sleep, and ended up having a wonderful holiday. My oldest daughter turned 16 and I held up the yearly tradition of snapping a picture of all 5 of my kids wearing Santa hats together.

Have you written a 2012 Year in Review post? Share yours below!

SeaWorld Orlando – #PSF Give Me Your Best Shot

Lolli — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 22:47:55 +0000

When I was in the early planning stages of our trip to Florida at Thanksgiving, I figured that our big theme park experience would be at Disney World. I mean….Orlando IS Disney, right?

Strangely, as much as we are Disney fans, my kids had other things in mind. I guess for the teen crowd, Harry Potter is WAY more exciting (I admit–I loved Universal). And before I talked with Tim at Kissimmee Guest Services, I had never really considered spending a day at SeaWorld. I am so glad that Tim convinced me to go–our day at SeaWorld really was one of the highlights of our trip, especially since we were able to sneak away with a smaller group that day.

What we loved about SeaWorld:

The shows – we watched 3 shows while we were there (and would have watched more if we had had time!). From the dolphins to the Shamu killer whales to the silly sea lions, each show was entertaining, well-orchestrated, and long. Yes, I noticed in particular that the shows weren’t over as soon as they started, like other animal shows that I’ve seen. We really loved watching the amazing tricks that the dolphins and Orcas could do, and we were incredibly luck to have fantastic seats at both shows. The sea lions? One word: hilarious!
Hands-on experiences – The kids loved being able to get their hands wet (literally) and get up close to so many species of fish. I was fascinated by the unique ways that SeaWorld brought the sea life closer to us, from being able to feed dolphins by hand to walking through a tunnel surrounded by sharks.
Festive atmosphere – I loved the way that SeaWorld brought the holiday season to life with all of their decorations and music. I felt like I was walking through Santa’s workshop.
Laid back – Unlike the typical rush of a typical theme park, SeaWorld made me feel relaxed and happy. November was definitely an ideal time of year to be there, as the crowds were very manageable.

Here’s a peek at some of the things we saw and experienced at SeaWorld:

Note: We received 4 complementary tickets to SeaWorld from Kissimmee Guest Services, but all thoughts, opinions, and photos are my own.

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

To play Give Me Your Best Photo Story Friday, check this. Copy this code into your post and sign the link list:
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Where to Get the Best Orlando Theme Park Tickets – Kissimmee Guest Services

Lolli — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 04:11:08 +0000

As our family of 12 planned our recent trip to Florida, there was a lot of discussion about where to get the best theme park tickets. As magical as Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld are, deciding when to go, how many days to spend at each park, and where to purchase tickets was not something I wanted to have to deal with on vacation.

In fact, I think one of the best decisions our family made was purchasing our tickets before we even left home. We avoided lines, got a great deal, and were all set to enjoy the parks as soon as we got into town.

One of the best connections I made before I left for our Florida trip was with Kissimmee Guest Services, and they will be on my Orlando-area speed dial for the next time my family makes a trip down there.

Who is Kissimmee Guest Services?

First of all, the people at Kissimmee Guest Services are some of the most helpful people you’ll ever meet. They are known, not only for great prices, but for their incredible customer service.

KGS is an Authorized Ticket Seller for Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Orlando. They are conveniently located in Celebration, near Disney World, and are easy to get to from Interstate 4 or Hwy 192.

Kissimmee Guest Services helps you avoid the long waits in line at the parks to purchase your tickets. And best of all, their tickets come with a low price guarantee which insures you’re getting the best prices.

They are one of the only companies in the Orlando area that offers free delivery of your tickets to your vacation home, resort or hotel.

KGS is NOT a ticket booth in a gas station, restaurant or gift shop offering to send you on a timeshare tour or sell you someone else’s previously used tickets that won’t work at the parks when you get there. Their employees are NOT commissioned sales people pressuring you to purchase more tickets than you will need.

KGS DOES pride itself in taking care of their guests with integrity and customer satisfaction – they want to make sure that each guest leaves happy. Their team members frequently visit the parks and shows so that they stay up to date on what’s happening at Orlando’s theme parks.

Contact Kissimmee Guest Services for your next trip to the Orlando area

Call KGS at 1.877.273.5636
Visit them on the web at www.kgstickets.com
Connect with KGS on their Facebook Fan Page at facebook.com/KGStickets

Note: Kissimmee provided our family with four complimentary tickets to SeaWorld, and then we purchased additional tickets for the rest of the group for the day. All opinions are my own.

Global Resort Homes – The Perfect Vacation Spot

Lolli — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 22:05:55 +0000

Early in our marriage, my husband and I discovered that we had very different vacation expectations. Luckily, after almost 18 years together we’ve been able to adjust, compromise, and enjoy vacations together, but it wasn’t easy.

When he’s on vacation, CandyMan likes to be busy all the time (that’s how he is at home, too). Sitting out on a porch reading a book is far from relaxing to my husband. In contrast, I dream of being able to watch tv in bed, lounge by the pool with a good book and nap in the shade.

For CandyMan, vacation = adventure. For me, vacation = relaxation.

Luckily, Global Resort Homes, where our extended family of 12 stayed during our recent family vacation, was perfect for both of our vacation “ideals.” There was a ton of room at the house for everyone to stretch out and relax (and sleep in…hallelujah!) and there was so much to do in the Kissimmee area that my husband was busy with fun things to do all day.

This was my second stay at a Global Resort Home, and from the first time I stepped through the door back in April, I knew that it would be a perfect place not only for my family to vacation, but for the whole extended family to get together. No one in the family has a house big enough for all of us to get together, and getting everyone together at the same time is pretty rare. I was thrilled when everyone was able to make it to Florida for Thanksgiving.

Our vacation home was located in the Windsor Hills neighborhood in Kissimmee, just a mile and a half away from the Disney World entrance. Talk about an ideal location! The gated neighborhood has playgrounds, a community center with a large pool, fitness center, 40-seat theater, and business center, and so much more.

Each house has it’s own private, enclosed pool and spa…which was probably the most critical factor for the happiness of my children and my husband and I. The little kids were in the pool every chance they got…while aunts and uncles were showering, while I cooked, and while everyone was winding down at the end of the day. I loved the fact that I didn’t have to walk or drive somewhere to enjoy the conveniences of the pool.

Our house, at 2603 Daulby St, was a 6 bedroom, 4 full bath house, so there were beds for everyone and no one had to fight over whose turn it was in the bathroom. Another one of our favorite features in the house was the spacious garage-turned-gameroom with darts, fooseball, and air hockey. Our house was also equipped with lots of child-friendly extras, like a porta-crib and two strollers.

The kitchen in our Windsor Hills home was incredible–from the fully stocked cabinets to the enormous pantry (which enabled us to save a ton of money on food by eating breakfast and lunch at home) to seating for 12 (there’s a breakfast nook, a dining room table, and a wet bar). Since we were there over Thanksgiving week, I put the kitchen to the test by preparing a full Thanksgiving meal in it…and I survived!

Another huge plus to staying at a Global Resort Home when vacationing in Florida is the LAUNDRY ROOM. Yes, being able to wash clothes and towels throughout the week was a huge bonus, especially when *someone* in the family brings a blanket that smells like pee in the car and you have to sit next to stink for 14 hours. Sigh.

We can’t wait to take our next trip to Kissimmee, and we wouldn’t even consider staying anywhere but Global Resort Homes for our vacation – regardless of the size of your group, Global Resort Homes allows you to spread out, enjoy private down-time outside of the parks, and relax on vacation without giving up the conveniences of home. And all for a price that is much more affordable than what a week’s worth of hotel and meals out would cost.

Most importantly, we were able to have the perfect vacation for us – plenty of relaxing, all of the conveniences we needed, and a ton of fun to keep us entertained for the entire week.

Note: We received a complementary week stay at Global Resort Homes but the thoughts and opinions are all our own!

Boggy Creek Airboat Rides in Kissimmee, Florida #PSF

Lolli — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 21:17:33 +0000

Kissimmee, Florida, trip: Day 2

You’d never know that any of my kids were nervous and hesitant about taking their first airboat ride.

Last Monday I had my second experience at Boggy Creek Airboat Rides, but this was the first time any of my kids had been on an airboat ride.

And we all had a blast!

If there were ever any doubts or fears, they were wiped away when AJ noticed that the wind was filling up his shorts. Yeah…sadly, we didn’t quite dress appropriately for the weather. It was a lot colder in the morning than we thought. And the white skies did not make for dynamic photos.

On our 30 minute airboat tour, we saw several fascinating species of birds, including an adult bald eagle and her 8 foot wide nest high in the trees above Boggy Creek (yes, that little black speck on top of the tall tree to the left is an eagle).

While we explored the waters and vegetation of Boggy Creek, John, our boat captain, took us up close and personal with as much wildlife as he could find. Unlike my airboat ride back in April, this time the alligators were being shy. According to John, alligators will stay underwater (and under the grasses) until the sun is out and warm enough for them. Apparently, our over-cast chilly November day was not ideal for gator-sighting.

Amazingly, the kids didn’t complain about not seeing any alligators. I guess the birds, the bubble-gum-colored apple snail eggs, and the exhilaration of the speed of the airboat were enough to keep them 100% happy.

When we arrived back at the dock, John surprised the kids with the chance to sit in his captain’s seat. They loved the chance to sit up in the high perch, where they had a clear view of everything (and an exaggerated feeling of power…what kid doesn’t love that?).

When we got back, Necco declared that she had taken 220 photos during our ride (sure evidence that she was having a great time!)…and she was one of the kids nervous about getting on a boat.

Note: We received a complementary airboat ride for our family, but all thoughts, opinions, and photos are my own.

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

2012 Osceola Fall Art Festival in Kissimmee

Lolli — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 18:42:32 +0000

Kissimmee Trip, Day 1

We arrived in Kissimmee last Saturday afternoon, after a long 14 hour drive through the night. Sunday started early with a visit to church, and then back to the Global Resort home that we were staying in for a restful afternoon. I knew that once Monday began, things would get hectic around the house, with the rest of the extended family moving in and theme parks galore, so we decided to slip away alone while we could.

CandyMan and I decided to head to the Osceola Fall Art Festival in downtown Kissimmee. Over 90 artists specializing in jewelry, fine art, mixed media, photography, and more gathered on Broadway, and it turned into the perfect date.

As soon as I stepped out of my car, the smell of warm kettle popcorn hit me. In the distance, music was playing. The November afternoon could not have been more inviting, especially after just leaving Winter-cold Maryland the day before.

One of the first booths that we stopped to admire was artist Chad Schott’s “Drumzrguruven.” My husband was drawn to Chad’s booth by the sound of his didgeridoo, (a wind instrument developed by Indigenous Australians) and he had to try to “play” the instrument himself.

I mean, how often does an average Joe get a chance to play a didgeridoo?

The didgeridoo was quite a bit harder to play than you might imagine…but my husband was able to get the hang of it eventually (at least enough to make the sound of a ship’s low horn).

I think CandyMan could have spent the entire evening playing with Chad’s instruments…..after playing the didgeridoo, they rocked out together with a variety of Chad’s unique handmade gourd drums.

I stuck with my camera.

We eventually moved on from the rainsticks, gourd drums, and didgeridoos to visit with artist Tim Peterson, who takes his original artwork and turns them into beautiful cutting boards.

CandyMan and Tim acted like old buddies talking about Tim’s fascinating history as a musician and artist. In fact, he got his start as an artist after designing a CD cover for his own album. His friends recognized how talented he was and encouraged his to pursue his art.

Speaking of art…it was everywhere! From gorgeous jewelry (including a whole collection of jewelry fashioned from spoons), to inspiring photographers, to sculpture animals made from recycled tires…there was something for everyone!

But I have to confess–I was grateful that my husband and I had made the trip to Downtown Kissimmee without the kids. Because we could walk in peace and not worry about quick and careless hands ruining the art, CandyMan and I were able to stop and chat with several of the artists standing in their booths.

As we neared the end of the Art Festival booths, we spent several minutes admiring the chalk drawings completed on the street.

The evening ended just as pleasantly as it had begun…with my husband holding my hand, our camera bags hanging over our shoulders, and the smell of Kettle Corn tempting me….

Note: Our evening at the Osceola Fall Art Festival was part of my family trip to Kissimmee, Florida, which was partially compensated by Global Resort Homes, Kissimme CVB, and Kissimmee Guest Services. However this experience was unsolicited and free of charge.

Downtown Disney – Wordless Wednesday #VisitKiss

Lolli — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 21:04:41 +0000

Surprisingly, last week’s trip to Kissimmee did NOT include a visit to Disney World (I’m still just a little sad about that…) but I did manage to drag the family out to Downtown Disney. Unfortunately, our night out on the town was cut short by some cold rain, but we still had fun.

You may recognize a couple of these pictures from last week’s quick post, but I thought that these photos deserved a post of their own!

I love that Reese loves to take pictures just as much as her mama!

Linked up to Wordful Wednesday, Wordish Wednesday, and Wordless Wednesdays all over.

Are you playing along with Wordless or Wordful Wednesday today? Link up!
Want to grab my button?

Remembering and Creating #HolidayMemories – #YesMemory Twitter Party Tonight!

Lolli — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:05:11 +0000

I have many fond memories of holiday seasons form my childhood, though most holidays are blurred into one collective memory of late nights at Grandma’s house with cousins, music, and an abundance of good food.

This is my mom’s family Christmas card, circa 1959. I love it!

I remember sitting around the piano singing Christmas carols with my aunts, uncles, and cousins while Grandma played the piano. I can picture Grandma and Grandpa’s tall Christmas tree by the front window and all of her hand made ornaments.

But it’s the holidays that were different that really stand out in my memory.

Like our first Thanksgiving away from our family in California – We weren’t quite sure how to celebrate Thanksgiving without all of the aunts, uncles, cousins, and Grandma and Grandpa (and all of the special dishes they each brought to the table) so we decided to have Thanksgiving dinner out. The food was decent, but it wasn’t what we craved (like Grandma’s strawberry jello salad or Aunt Connie’s crescent rolls or my apple pie).

But the thing that I remember most about that Thanksgiving was that the server filled my Sprite glass with water every single time she passed our table. It was depressing and amusing all at the same time.

I also remember the first Christmas my family spent in Portland, OR. We had planned on celebrating Christmas a few days early so that we could drive down to California to spend our traditional Christmas Eve with the extended family. We woke up on our fake Christmas to freshly fallen snow – our very first white Christmas ever.

But before we could grab the camera to take a picture of our beautiful, snowy backyard, the neighbor boys ran straight across the yard…because THEIR mom had told them not to run through THEIR backyard to ruin the perfect picture. Remember – this was a first snow for us. Exciting stuff.

Now I’m a mom with a family and holiday traditions of my own, but I’m still on the look out for new ways to create holiday memories. This past week, we ROCKED the family memories by spending all week in a vacation home in Florida with my husband’s entire family. I know this Thanksgiving will stand out in my kids’ minds as one of their best ever.

And now we’re totally ready to kick off the holiday season and continue making memories together.

Join the YesVideo Holiday Twitter Party and kick off the holidays with us!

When: TONIGHT, Tuesday, November 27th at 8:00 PM CST.

Where: Follow @YesVideo on Twitter and use the hashtag #Yesmemory {RSVP here}

Who: Join @YesVideo with panelists @RachelFerrucci, @MamaDweeb, @themommyfiles, @Zipporahs, and @ConnieFoggles

What: We’ll be discussing holiday decorations and party planning, and sharing our holiday shopping secrets.

Why: FUN and Prizes, of course!

#YesMemory Party Prizes include:

DOOR PRIZE – Blu-ray Player {must fill out door prize form to be eligible}
$50 Gift Card to CVS and $50 YesVideo Transfer Service Coupon
$50 Gift Card to Walmart and $50 YesVideo Transfer Service Coupon
$50 Gift Card to Costco and $50 YesVideo Transfer Service Coupon
$50 Gift Card to Sam’s Club and $50 YesVideo Transfer Service Coupon
iPhone Camera Lens Kit

Prizes will be given away randomly during the Twitter Party to people tweeting with the hashtag.
Must be in attendance of the Twitter Party using hashtag #YesMemory to be eligible to win prizes.

BONUS: Win a $20 gift certificate from YesVideo by tweting before the party

Every tweet counts as an entry. No maximum entries. Winners will be announced at 8:05pm CST Tuesday 11/27 at the @YesVideo #YesMemory Twitter Party. Simply tweet out one or all of the following to be entered:

Share #HolidayMemories at @YesVideo Twitter Party Tues 11/27 @ 8PM CST #YesMemory https://ow.ly/fyXXd RSVP to #win

Let’s talk #HolidayMemories w/ @YesVideo Tues 11/27 @ 8PM CST Win Gr8 Prizes RSVP today https://ow.ly/fyXXd #YesMemory

Hope to see you there!!

Note: I am a YesVideo Ambassador and receive compensation for my involvement. All thoughts and opinions (and family memories) are my own.

Oh, the Memories We Made in Kissimmee! #YesMemory

Lolli — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 04:51:26 +0000

Home again! Home Again! I don’t know if I’m quite ready for a jiggety-jig….but I’m happy to be back in my own bed!

Our week in Kissimmee has finally come to a close, and I’m ready to buckle down and get back to work in the morning. Although I am always sad to see a vacation end, I will forever be grateful for the memories that we made during our Thanksgiving-week getaway.

As we loaded the kids up in the van to make the 14-hour drive back home, I reminisced about all of the things we were able to do while we were in Kissimmee. Our days were full, and instead of trying to search for things to do to stay busy, we had to pick and chose from a long list of things that we could do together.

Typically, the kids get bored when we go on vacation together. Not so this time! They were having so much fun together that they didn’t even have time left over to fight.

…as long as you don’t count fighting over the turkey’s wish bone!

Just before we left for our family vacation, my second term as a YesVideo Ambassador began, and so I had FAMILY MEMORIES on my mind all week.

I had a camera of one sort or another on me at all times to capture the memories. I wore my phone’s batteries out daily from sharing so many photos on Instagram (check them out…I love how Instagram tells such a perfect story of our lives).

From letting my teenage daughter drive our family mini van packed full with suitcases and kids for part of the drive South….to watching my kids belly-laugh together when my youngest son’s shorts were filled up with wind from the airboat ride….to sharing cup after cup of butterbeer with the extended family at Universal’s Islands of Adventure….this past week was simply priceless. I can’t get over how nearly perfect everything was.

Documenting our memories

I spent last week blogging the entire journey on the i.SeeKissimmee blog (as of this posting, not all of my posts have been published quite yet) and could hardly keep my eyes open to post once each night.

So tomorrow, I will start my journey of documenting all of our activities here for you guys. I just barely transfered all of my photos from all of my cameras onto my computer this evening. Tomorrow begins the process of editing the photos and writing it all down. And maybe if I’m feeling adventurous, I’ll grab some of the video that Candyman took of the adventures, too.

I think the best part of this trip for me, even better than a week full of theme parks and Thanksgiving leftovers (I dare you to come up with a better combination than that!), was the time that we were able to spend together each morning. Rather than rush off to the parks at opening time, we slept in, ate breakfast together, and often caught a morning swim before heading out for the day. At night, while I blogged for Kissimmee, the kids would pull out games to play with their uncles and aunt.

Oh! The memories we made! Stay tuned as I share them here throughout the next week.

And while you’re here, check out YesVideo, a brand that I love and am looking forward to working with again.

Connect with YesVideo:

Facebook: https://fb.com/yesvideo
Twitter: @YesVideo – hashtag #YesMemory
Blog: blog.yesvideo.com
Google+: gplus.to/YesVideo
Pinterest: pinterest.com/yesvideo
Instagram: @YesVideo

Note: I am a YesVideo Ambassador and receive compensation for my involvement. All thoughts and opinions (and amazing family memories) are my own.