Z takes on FLORIDA...

The last two weeks have been a birthday EXTRAVAGANZA for little Z.  We flew ACROSS the country to Florida to visit my family for Labor Day weekend where Z was doted on, and essentially spoiled rotten.  He got to experience his first GATOR game!!

 

The Gators pulled out the win, although Z only maintained composure for the 1st quarter where he could go up and down the bleachers, as soon as the seats filled in, he turned into the little boy who cried "potty!".  Z quickly realized that if he cried "potty!" even if he didn't actually have to go, we would get up and let him walk in the concourse :p.  We made it until halftime thanks to Grandpa and Nana, and bailed to let the little man have some freedom.

Then 2 days later and still in FL, Grandpa and Nana INSISTED on taking Z to Disney World as his birthday gift.  He LOVED it!  We saw the "castle!!"...

We went on the Buzz Lightyear "to the rescue!!" ride, where he got just a *little* freaked out when he saw the Emperor Zurg, but otherwise LOVED..

We visited Mickey and Minnie's houses in Toon Town, which he LOVED exploring and wanted to play with EVERYTHING in those houses, and then we met Mickey and Minnie.. which he did not *love* so much.. Hey! Those mice are BIG in person!

He recovered nicely at the play area in front of Mickey's house though.  Nothing like a couple of slides, a choo-choo train, and a bunch of other kids to get over the trauma of seeing your favorite mouse live and in person :p

 

And after a full half day of the Magic Kingdom.. promptly passed the eff out in the stroller, lollipop in position..

We finished the day, after a lengthy nap by Z during which mommy and daddy got our shopping on, by going on 2 more rides, first we did the Jungle Cruise ride, which he spent wide-eyed and pointing at the various animals, so success!! 

The second, was probably a judgement error on mommy's part.. we took him on Pirates of the Caribbean, in my DEFENSE, I do not remember it being *so* scary, and I thought he would love it because he LOVES the backyardigans episode where they pretend to be pirates, he always chimes in with his own "arrgghh!".  But this ride.. epic fail.. he was freaked out approx 30 seconds in, and promptly climbed in my lap for the duration of the ride with his head buried in my shoulder, he'll probably need extensive therapy for this later in life.

In summary, Z had a GREAT time in Florida.  And we mostly did too, although we were reminded why we must NEVER move back, I haven't sweat so much since 2001, my last season of football games as a student in the Swamp.  Everybody is VERY glad to be back in the land of dry heat and brown landscape, even if the temps are still above 100 in mid-September :p.