On a crazy cowinkydink (or rather another fun gesture of God's humor) my sister and her family were in Orlando, Florida the same week we were! They were staying only about 20 minutes away from us, at the Give Kids The World resort, which was part of Riley's Make-A-Wish trip.
Erika and Jeanne traveled 2,000 miles to see each other when they actually only live about 350 miles away from each other!So, on Thursday morning, we were able to sneak in an hour or so before we went to Sea World and the Haufs headed out for their last day of Park hopping, to check out the unbelievable sweetness of the G.K.T.W. village. Jeanne told me that a former Holocaust survivor had started the resort in order to make a special place where kids could kind of escape into a wonderful fantasyland. And it WAS really, really neat. Everything in it is for the kids and is a free part of the experience... an all day ice-cream bar, arcade, humongous electric train set, remote controlled boats, perimeter train, swimming pools, carousel, etc. Check it out at http://www.gktw.org/aboutUs.asp?a=1
We only got to experience the tiniest bit, but were delighted to share even that portion of their special trip. We are so thankful that Jeanne and Don and Riley and Brenna were able to escape some of the day-to-day worries and drudgery of cancer and chemo and just enjoy themselves. And our boys have told us that seeing their cousins and the room-sized electric train was one of the best parts of the trip.
Brenna (6), Colby (3 1/2), Riley (7 3/4), Isaac (8 in 4 days),Zane (1 in 1 day), Ian (5 3/4)
We arrived at Sea World just in time to take in the incredible dolphin show. I just can't say enough good things about Sea World! It was SO fun and the boys just absolutely LOVED it!
Sometimes I am completely overwhelmed at God's creativity. Wow! No wonder God sat back after creating the world and called things Good! If the this stuff is just "good", I can't wait to see what "supremely amazing" and "astonishing" will be!
The Dolphin Show was amazing! These acrobat/ swimmers/ trainers would fly around in the air at dizzying heights, pretending they were birds and doing crazy circus stunts. I simply can't imagine being hooked onto a tiny little cable and flung around in circles at excessively high speeds and heights!
Ian and Isaac both loved feeding the sting rays. Their mouths are actually on the underside of their bodies, so feeding them is a little nerve-racking because it feels almost like they are going to engulf your whole hand! In order to feed them you have to hold a fish "perpendicularly" in between your fingers, which are supposed to be flat on the water. One ray snuck up on Ian while he was watching another ray and grabbed the fish right out of his hand. The surprised look on his face was hilarious! Ian says "They have crazy mouths, right? They just BLOOP! take the food, right?"
Feeding dolphins their little fish snacks was so much fun! One of the dolphins even made some little clicks for us ( the lady standing beside me was jealous!). Also, a seagull came sweeping out of the air and stole one of the little fishes right out of Scott's mom's hand. Tricky little thief!
Sharks swimming above our heads. Ian picked a tiger shark for his take-home treasure, Isaac and Colby both picked a killer whale, and Zane picked a dolphin.
Zane's first sweets...a day early birthday present!
Sea World also has THE most incredible rope-climbing kids' park complex that I have ever seen. Frankly, I was a little amazed that Isaac and Ian climbed all of the way across it, because it was several stories high! Colby was much happier taking laps on the fun slides.
Shamu, the killer whale showoff!
Ok, do you see the guy Shamu just flipped up in the air?!
Wow!
Long day...SOOOO worth it! "I just can't stop thinking about those dolphins! They feel just like a wet rubber ball!"- Ian
To be continued...
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