A Super Weekend!

After the graduation and graduation dinner, we all (except for Jeff who had to work on Saturday) piled in the cars and headed for Orlando.  Kent was so kind to reserve a condo for everyone to enjoy.  Craig, Cassie, and Riley joined them the first part of the week, and George and I, along with Amy's kids, joined them the last part of the week.  

Daytime view of the pool below us--we were on the 15th floor!

Nighttime view

Of course, the kids loved the pool.  This pool had a huge pirate ship on one end where the kids could climb to the top and go down a big water tube.  They loved it and went again and again.

Ethan and Grandpa played a game with the football.  George would throw it and Ethan would catch it in mid-air over the pool.  They must have done this 50 or more times.  It kept them both entertained!

On the way to Orlando, we had stopped at a rest stop that had this stuffed gator. 

But, we saw the real thing in Orlando when we went to Gaylord Palms at their atrium which is made to look like a Florida swamp.  It is complete with the sounds, the plant life, and even the swamp creatures--snakes, turtles, and gators!  What a great way to see the swamp--in air conditioned comfort. 

Ella was a little afraid of the gators at first.  Whenever she calls, she asks me if there are any gators at my door.

Every day one of the groundskeepers makes up a beautiful arrangement and chooses to give it to someone.  She chose to give it to Ella.

Ella felt like a princess and carried those flowers everywhere!

On Saturday, since it was my birthday (no telling the age!), Kent and Natalie took me out to dinner, and then we went back to the condo for cake and ice cream.  The kids had a great time putting all the candles in.  I finally made them stop because there just was no more room in the cake unless they put two in one hole!  Hah! 

We all said good-bye to Kent and Natalie Saturday night.  George took them to the airport at 4:15 a.m. on Sunday morning in Orlando.  It was so great being with their family and letting the cousins have so much fun together.  

George had about a 45 minute rest, then he took me out to the Orlando airport at 6:30 a.m., and I was on my way to Dallas to be there for Cameron and Anne's new baby arrival!  There is always something exciting going on in the Copeland household!