So, we started our day around 6:00am. We packed up and ate with The Marshall's and then headed out around 7:30 am. We were dreading today a bit...knowing that we needed to make some tracks in order to get to our destination, which we really weren't sure of...didn't need to be to Orlando until Noon on Monday, but didn't want to have to have too much of a drive on Monday morning. The drive through the rest of Tennessee was really a nice drive...lot of hills and rocks, and waterfalls...made the part seem to go pretty fast. We got to Atlanta before long and the traffic was busy, for a Sunday at least. However, there are many lanes and it went really smooth. Larry drove all day...I kept thinking I would drive a little to give him a break, but it seemed that he was having fun. I-75 has 3 lanes, so he was enjoying it. I napped off and on, maybe 2 hours all together. The boys finally fell asleep around 3:00. Maddox just fell asleep...Gavin had to be told to. One day they will realize the value of a good nap. We made it to the Florida border shortly after they fell asleep. We weren't sure how far we wanted to go, but we thought we wanted to get pretty close as long as they boys were cooperative. Again, they have been excellent. I know some people will not drive...due to having their kids with them. Honestly, I have to brag on them. They have been awesome...don't get me wrong...they had a spat or maybe two...but, so minor. Maddox likes to mock everything that Gavin does...it makes Gavin angry...you know the rest of the story. That's honestly all I can think of that happened. Pretty nice! Maddox ended up sleeping for two hours and Gavin for an hour. About an hour after Maddox woke up we were getting close to Ocala, FL...where we were thinking might be a good spot to stop. We filled up with gas and Larry checked out a hotel. He came out and decided that he was up for driving into Orlando as long as we were. We all agreed to go for it. The only thing was, that we didn't have reservations for a hotel, so we were winging it again. We arrived in Orlando around 7:30. So, we spent 12 hours today on the road...minus two stops...one to eat at a rest area and another to go to the bathroom and fill up...it went surprisingly quick. We found a very inexpensive hotel, right in the hoppin' spot in town and settled in. We went for a walk...as it was a really nice area and there were all sorts of eating joints...and we saw the upside down house (Wonderworks) that Jordan had told the boys they HAD to go to! It was open til midnight...so, we decided to go eat at Houlihan's and then head over to Wonderworks...why not....we're on vacation. If the boys are up til 1 am...it's ok, right? The thing was, we knew that this place would be packed during the day. It was the best, hands-on, children's museum type place that we had ever been to...and we've been to several. I'm not sure that we would have even considered going if it wasn't for Elaine mentioning it to us. So, thanks for the recommendation guys!
It was about 970 miles to get here....700 of which we drove today...not bad at all! We've had a late night tonight...and everyone's asleep but me. I'm ready to join them, just really trying to get everything posted. I'm sure that I'll leave out plenty, but I know all my days will be a blur once we get much further into this vacation.
- It is really pretty here...the boys are loving all the palm trees. Gavin really wants to bring one home with us. He says he'll dig it up in the winter and bring it inside so it can live. Yeah right!
- When the boys fell asleep on the way today, they were both covered with their Grandma Blankies, heads and all...I was going to take a picture, but wanted to make sure they were both asleep and then I forgot about it. Too cute though.
-At Wonderworks, the boys loved it all, but especially the Ropes maze and most of all the 4D Canyon Coaster simulator.
Tomorrow's plan...to head to SeaWorld and maybe Aquatica. We have tickets that are good for 7 consecutive days. We check into The Dolphin Resort at Disney also, so we are looking forward to that as well.
Just a few photos for the day...
The boys where we stopped to eat lunch at a random Georgia Rest Area
Wonderworks...also known as...the upside down house (during the daytime)
Inside Wonderworks...seeing how long they could stand water at the temp. it was when the Titanic sank....Mom was the toughest...34 seconds!
Our "little" astronaut
The ropes maze...I didn't get to do this one because I had flip flops on...it was a large maze up in the rafters of the room. The boys were really brave...they were high and it wasn't made only for kids!
Update on Pepper...I received several texts today about Pepper and his missing status. The last he has been seen is Friday night...Mom did not know it would be this easy to get rid of him (which is what Larry was hoping for) They're thinking he made his way back to our house...Larry says that if he has made his way back to our house then he deserves to be an inside cat when we get home. My Dad is hoping that Pepper comes back so he can bring him back to our front doorstep before we arrive home and Pepper can be inside FOREVER!
New Update...while we were at Wonderworks Pepper came to the gliding door...from this point on Pepper sleeps and eats in the garage...I think there is a story about him being under the bed in here somewhere too.
Jordan is a country music lover...and was really bummed by the fact that there was a CMA festival going on in the city we were in...and we weren't going! We walked past the CMT building and thought we oughtta at least snap a shot...as I sat in the middle of the sidewalk to get this shot...pretty sight, I'm sure!
Meet our catsitter...isn't she a natural! The report as of this evening, is that Pepper has not been seen in 24 hours...Larry will be excited...and the boys will not be...I think Grandma is a bit concerned about her grandsons' reactions. 
