Abby turns 11

 Abby turned 11 on October 11th...the Golden Birthday!

She really wanted a party this year so we got it planned and it went really well.  We invited 7 little friends from school and neighborhood. 

 

Decorating pumpkins

Playing outdoor games

 

Opening gifts

 

For some reason I didn't take a photo of the hotdog and s'more roasting but that was next...

Glow in the dark golf cart ride around the neighborhood

A couple of girls had to leave but the rest spent the night

The next morning we had pumpkin pancakes, hashbrowns and bacon

We wandered the Farmer's Market for a bit

 

Shopped at Claire's

 

 Went to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2

 Good times with friends

 It's hard to believe Abby is 11!  What a great girl she is.  She is kind, patient, smart, funny, witty, honest, faithful, charitable, sweet, loving, grateful, talented and just plain old good.

Happy birthday sweet girl!

Abby's 10th Birthday Extravaganza!!

 Abby will sit in her room at night with her iPad and unbeknownst to me, she sends emails to her Grandma Judy.  One of those emails said something along the lines of, "I'd like to swim with the dolphins for my 10th birthday.  Can you take me to Discovery Cove?"  

So, being the fun and sweet Grandma that she is, Judy planned a special 10th birthday trip for Abby and here's her account of their magical weekend:

friday afternoon...delta flight 2369 to orlando.  2 special passengers...abby weinreb, celebrating her 10th birthday with her lucky grandmother and travel partner.  our flight was smooth and uneventful...luggage arrived unscathed and rental car ready to go...off to our destination....the ritz carlton grand lakes.  this place is beautiful.  our room is a lovely suite open to the lake and the pool and access to the "club room"...a veritable all day buffet.  all it takes is a card and abby has her own...she can visit anytime she wishes.

quick change for a 6:00 reservation to cirque du soleil.  no gps and grandma got a bit lost so our 30 minute early arrival turned out to be a rush across the parking lot to be there by 5:55!  phew...we made it and what a show.  a collection of some of the most amazing feats of artistry, acrobatics...skills in areas you could never guess.  5 small girls spinning spools on string and tossing them high in the air to be caught without the slightest slip.  bicycle riding of olympic skill on one back wheel, trampoline and tumbling...each act amazing and unbelievable.

back to the hotel for snack and bed...big day tomorrow....surprise!  hotel has left a magnificent strawberry cake in our room...chocolate covered strawberries, and chocolate swirled lollipops....the cake is wonderful. the candles, and sparklers, with fireworks from disneyworld end a perfect day.

 

 saturday... yummy breakfast in the club room.  abby was so excited she went ahead by herself...why not...she has her own card!  on to discovery cove...  what an amazing place...beautiful weather...limited admissions and never too crowded. a very quick check in and we receive our name tags worn on a lanyard...it covers everything...every snack, drink, meal is included in the entry fee....into our wetsuits and we are ready for fun.  so our first adventure is sea venture.  i do not know who thought out this amazing adventure, but here is how it works.  it is a little intimidating and the water is cold...but we braved our fears of freezing and abby led the way.  down the ladder to the undersea world of beautiful fish, reefs, and creatures...up to see the sharks just beyond the fence.  accompanied each step by a great team of divers who point out anything you might be missing.  we wear a diving helmet so it is like walking under the sea.

we have some time until our next adventure and we grab a noodle and ride on the lazy river.  warm yummy water...river otters just across the glass...couldn't be more relaxing.  the cove also boasts a great aviary and we enter the beautiful space to see birds in the trees, everywhere...hold out your small cup of fruit and nuts and a bird is on your finger, your shoulder, your arm.

swimming with the dolphins is also amazing.  into the tanks with those beautiful dolphins.  they jump and show off, let you rub their backs and finally... you hold on and swim  across the lake hold on tight...they are pretty fast.  there is no feeling like it. 

what a day...back to the hotel. one pooped little girl who had dinner in bed...watching the disney channel and asking if she could take the pillow home. and if i could buy her cable for her birthday.  tomorrow we see the beluga whales.

sunday...sea world...BIG, CROWDED, OVERWHELMING.  the lines are long, and this is a halloween celebration week end and all the kids are dressed up to trick or treat at the park.  after we enter the park we have time to kill until our whale adventure so we head to the dolphin stadium to see the show.  i like to sit far back of the 'soak zone' and it was a lucky thing cause those guys can splash!  show over...time for some dippin dots and off to the belugas.  the wet suit is on, booties are on, hair pulled back, no jewelry.  bad news...the water is 53 degrees...that is 20 degrees colder than yesterdays dolphin adventure and we thought that was miserable.  neither abby nor i could bring ourselves to sit on that ledge up to our waist in that water.  we did get our whale interaction, but we sat on the walkway and were delighted to pet and touch those beautiful whales without freezing.  they did not get to put their heads in our laps...but we did not care.
after a warm shower, abby and i decided we would like to lounge by the pool at the ritz and have a nice dinner out...and so we did.

by this time abby has probably been to the club room about 10 times.  she has eaten her money's worth to be sure.  we lounge by the pool, enjoy the warm pool water and eat dinner at the sushi restaurant at the hotel....lobster, crab....perfect.back to the club for a beautiful array of perfect desserlets.  back to the room...abby watches tv...grandma packs...hey, it's her birthday week end.

monday...breakfast...car return...off to catch flight 1278 to atlanta.  it is nice to be home...but a looong drop from constant sugar and chocolate, room service, silk soft sheets, great adventures in perfect weather with my adorable, sweet little abby.  thanks, kim and todd for sharing.