Ok - I am a little behind on my posting, but I'll try and catch up some this morning, while everyone sleeps:
So - where are we? ok - Day 2 (Monday).
Everyone is up and eating breakfast in the breakfast area of the Holiday Inn Express by 8:05 a.m. (except Dennis, and he went to McDonalds for Sausage and Eggs - more on his diet than the sweet stuff at the hotel). Packed up, in the car and ready to roll towards Florida by about 8:45.
The 3 hour drive to Daytona seemed to take forever with numerous bathroom stops for little ones, but we were finally getting closer. Savannah said she didn't feel very good, but thought she would be ok. As we drove through Jacksonville, we looked across the water and saw a Cruise Ship (maybe it the one we will be on in September) - that got us all excited :)
Finally, we arrived - The Hawaiian Inn. Hasn't changed much in 38 years since Dennis and I stayed here on our Honeymoon. Love, Love, Love, how close it is to the beach - no walking over long bridges from the pool area to the sand - it's just a few shorts steps down to the beach! So, I got us all checked in and everyone else unloaded the cars. The luggage cart was FULL!! There is only 1 elevator that goes up to the 5th floor, so at times the wait can be slow. Savannah was waiting with Lauryn and Kayna by the elevator while we got the HEAVY cart pushed over to the door. All of a sudden she starts holding her stomach and doesn't look so good. I had to find the restroom quick, fortunately Kristi had spotted it in the lobby and I ran Savannah over there quickly. We barely made it inside and into a stall before she LOST HER BREAKFAST (sorry if I just grossed anyone out)! It wasn't too bad though and it didn't smell Sick - mostly liquid... We cleaned her up but she still said she wasn't feeling good - She just wanted to go to bed. Uh-oh, please don't let this be a repeat of the Disney stomach virus trip we had about 5 years ago (that was a night-mare).
We got to our 2 room suite, on the 5th floor, and claimed a bed for Savannah and tucked her in. She was asleep in 2 minutes. The rest of us got settled in and Kristi's clan was getting ready to go to the beach/pool. We still needed lunch, but now Savannah was asleep. We took turns going downstairs to the Tiki bar / grill to eat by the pool. Savannah still slept. We headed for the beach after lunch and Dennis stayed with Savannah. The current was strong - pulling us sideways (not out) but we were in the ocean, and having a blast, finally. Christian's first reaction with sand this year was not love at first sight :) He thought his feet were getting dirty, and he didn't like that at all, he kept trying to shake the sand off. Once we convinced him it was supposed to be that way, he was fine and loved it. He loved the ocean and played with Seth and Kris, me and his sissies - jumping the waves (and drinking a few of them too ).
About 4:00 we headed back to the room to clean up for dinner. Savannah was still asleep (good, she is resting). We sat out on the balcony for a while and then started taking shifts in our sleeps 10 suite, but only has 1 BATHROOM (and we have 6 girls - EEEK!). While all of that commotion was happening, Christian was on the balcony and decided he needed to go pee-pee. So he was outside, right? like at home, right?
NOooooooooo! too late, hope the people below us were not out on their balcony! Couldn't help but laugh!!
Woke Savannah up, slowly, and she feels fine now! We are praying it was just car sickness.
Finally, on schedule, amazingly, we left for dinner. Yes, I have a schedule - even on vacation. Those of you who follow my blogs should know that. But there are 9 of us, so to get into dinner without a wait, reservations are a must. And who wants to wait when you have 5 kids and 2 hungry men in your crowd? Dennis picked dinner tonight, at Charlie Horse Restaurant. Crablegs and good seafood on the menu, looks good. So we are seated right away (YAY for reservations) and place our orders. Kelsi and I split the 1 1/2 lb crab leg dinner with a few extra sides, and Dennis had a fisherman's platter. Kayna actually ordered a hamburger (and not chicken and fries - what a milestone).
As we waited for our food, Christian was thirsty and had drank a lot of his drink, when all of a sudden this huge 'burp' erupted from him, followed by a large "spewing" all over the table (again, hope I didn't gross you out)! The waitresses were very gracious and rushed to Kristi's aid to help us clean up the table around him. while she took him to the restroom to clean up. Uh-oh, is this really a stomach virus, or what? Please NOoooo! First Savannah, now Christian - same day! He settles back down, says he feels fine and so, ok - we can eat when our food arrives. Yum, very good!! and Christian and Savannah ate well, with no problems. - ok, so far, so good!
After dinner, Savannah is still a little tired, and it is getting late, so we head back to the Hawaiian Inn, our home, but first a stop at Publix (lots of by one get one free's this week, or half off if you just get 1) for breakfast, lunch and snack foods. We check out (after a buggy full of food (remember 5 kids throwing things they want into the buggies), and the cashier starts ringing Kristi's order up. - WHAT??? Florida doesn't have the same rules as Ga? really? In Florida, you have to by 2 of the item that is on a BOGO special - you don't get 1/2 off if you just buy 1 of the item. Hmm, ok - so Kristi, takes stuff back through the store, and RESHOPS to make it work for family and budget.
Back at the Hawaiian Inn, later, we unloaded groceries, and finished the evening with family board games (Apples to Apples). Then, bed - everyone was ready!
Night - the beach and pool awaits in the morning :)
** Will post pictures later - stay tuned
