Well, it wasn't Disney World, but on our trip to Florida in February (it felt like spring down there...we flew down the week of the epic 'polar vortex' in the Chicagoland area...-25 degree F...not windchill...temps!!), the kids got their first taste of an amusement park...Dinosaur World! Though Chris and I were skeptical of how this might go (this was a mostly non-interactive park designed to display hundreds of statues of 'life-sized' dinosaur replicas), the twins had a great time! It sure was nice to be outdoors (a near 100 degree temperature swing for us in 24 hours!) and the park was very well maintained.
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| Someday (when Daddy and Papa have more money...and patience) we'll do Disney!! |
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| Posing with the triceratops at the park entrance |
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| Right inside the park was a fun dinosaur playground where the twins got 'warmed up' riding dinosaurs... |
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| ...and Luke became so excited that he demanded this comprehensive solo photo shoot...while eating a can of Pringles!! |
If you are a lover of dinosaurs (including all the obscure ones you've never heard of!), this park was very interesting. There was a lot of information about the various dinosaurs including where they were discovered, their habitat, eating habits, etc. We aren't sure the twins got into all that, but they sure enjoyed seeing a wide variety of dinosaurs they have (or have not) studied in school.
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| There was the long-necked brontosaurus... |
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| ...the curly-horned wooly mammoths... |
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| ...the short-armed Tyrannosaurus Rex... |
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| ...and the 'scelidosaur' which, coincidentally, was the word Daddy spelled almost 30 years ago to advance to the National Spelling Bee! |
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| Outside of viewing dinosaurs, the twins enjoyed digging for fossils... |
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| ...hiding in dinosaur eggs... |
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| ...and putting together a gigantic dinosaur puzzle! |
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| They (proudly) did this all by themselves!! |
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| At the end of the visit, these two were definitely worn out...good thing they had a brontosaurus bench for resting purposes!! |
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| (Dressed up) Luke once again delivered his photogenic side... |
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| ...but Clare pulled it together for the all-important family shot! |
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| This Armenian church set a nice background... |
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| ...for some pre-reception photos! |
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| But then it was time to party on... |
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| ...and the twins sure did!! |
In March (during spring break) we took a road trip out east to the Carolinas where we visited grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
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| Our first stop brought us to Waxhaw, NC,... |
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| ...where the twins enjoyed a stroll through downtown Waxhaw over the 'train bridge'... |
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| ...posed with their cousins... |
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| ...and had some fun swing time. |
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| Over the border (in SC) at Grandma and Grandpa's house, Clare enjoyed swinging at Grandma Steffi's pitches... |
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| ...and Luke enjoyed being a goofball in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard! |
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| The twins sure enjoyed their time with Grandma Steffi, Grandpa Dan, and their cousins (and Grandma/Grandpa's dog Happy!) |
Another highlight of the Carolinas trip was visiting the twins' great aunt and uncle (a little more south) in Charleston.
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| The twins sure loved staying with great Auntie Kip... |
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| ...and playing 'shadows' in Auntie Kip's parking lot!! |
Charleston was not short on things to see and do. The twins' great Uncle John does video work for the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point, so (thanks to him!) we spent a day visiting the enormous aircraft carrier.
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| Before heading on board, the twins visited the Vietnam War experience at Patriots Point... |
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| ...and had the opportunity to strap into this helicopter! |
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| Then it was time to board the USS Yorktown, definitely the biggest 'boat' the twins (or any of us) have ever stepped aboard! |
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| There was much to explore and see onboard the boat and attached submarine, including learning about the Apollo 8 mission, which was collected (the capsule) by the USS Yorktown after its splashdown in 1968!! |
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| Outside, it was easy to see why this aircraft carrier needed to be so big to accommodate planes taking off and landing |
On another day in Charleston, we visited Folly Beach.
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| It was a little too cold (and windy) for swimming... |
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| ...but the twins realized what a neat spot this place must be... |
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| ...with warmer weather,... |
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| ...though the views out to the ocean are spectacular year round! |
We also spent a day exploring 'downtown' Charleston. This 'old city' (established in 1670) is very charming with a lot of really nice architecture.
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| One beautiful scene after another in 'Chucktown' |
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| The twins enjoyed a traditional Charleston experience, taking an (hour long) horse-drawn carriage ride... |
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| ...through some of the most historic parts of town |
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| Ice cream proved to be a nice bribe/reward for keeping their attention for that hour-long carriage ride!! |
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| After ice cream, we did a lot of walking...including over to 'Rainbow Row' to view the pretty historic homes... |
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| ...and over to the Battery for some scenic views of Charleston's harbor... |
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| ...and to climb trees! |
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| Of course, no walk around Charleston is complete without a picture in front of the Pineapple Fountain... |
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| ...which capped off a great day in the downtown area!! |
Both vacations were a lot of fun, even more being able to spend them with family. With family living out east, we will certainly be back to the Carolinas (and Florida) for more in years to come!
