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Published: March 23rd 2016
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A day of eager anticipation and excitement. The first group of our family arrives later tonight (Monday). We are counting the hours. It's been many months since we have been with our family. So today is the day of reunion. Our oldest daughter, Lory, her husband, Jay, and their daughter, Sara (Knapp) will fly into the Sanford airport @ 7:30 PM. We'll wait for their text notification when they get close to us.
Until then, we need to find something to do to help pass the time. It was easy to come up with a good plan. Still on our bucket list was to go to the Catfish Place in St.Cloud. Time to buckle up everyone. Sam & Sandy take their assigned seats and the rest of you can pick your own seat (take that as you want). We move in and out of the busy traffic and head to this favorite dining station. Known for its world famous hash browns, as stated by Sam. Now they claim their cole slaw is world famous, too. They are obviously known for their catfish (note the name of their restaurant). They serve turtle and alligator if you are so inclined. We ordered
their shrimp.....best of all the various restaurants we have eaten in. AND, remember, we have eaten in a lot this winter! Our bathroom scales still confirm that! Ouch! "Anyway" (Sam says this a lot, too), we thoroughly enjoyed our first visit of the season to the Catfish Place. We did have the world-famous hash-browns. Sam was right as usual. Excellent. Cory had the world famous coleslaw. Excellent. We'll be back! Cory took us on a different scenic tour going home. Lulu was impressed by the entire adventure. But, she likes most everything and everyone. Her sweetness oozes from her.
Once back at the RV, we just puttered around waiting for word that the Knapp's were in town. Around 9:15 PM, we strolled up to Regal Oaks where they will be staying for the duration of their visit. Regal Oaks is located just as you're coming into Tropical Palms. It is adjacent to our RV park. It consists of many, many townhouse-like condos. They have rented a two bedroom condo. It is beautiful and spacious. It has an enclosed patio with a hot tub located on it. The complex has a beautiful, huge swimming pool with fancy waterslides. It has
cabanas to rent. It has a restaurant on the grounds. Food prices are ridiculous.....terribly high! Needless to say, other than that ($$$), it is very very nice. And what we like about it, is that it is in short walking distance to our RV.
Finally, Sara texted us and said "we are here". I responded back and said "we are, too." It was wonderful to see them after these many months. We went to their condo and checked it out. It is perfect. It is located close to the swimming pool and the clubhouse. They also can walk out their door and go right through a metal gate and be directly in Tropical Palms. Lulu is thrilled. She has our family right in her backyard. She wants to jump up-and-down with joy but with no legs, it is tricky.
They hadn't eaten in many hours so they went up to Checkers and got a bite and brought it back to our RV. Sara wanted to get into the hot tub so after a brief visit, they headed home - which took one minute. Lulu would have jumped in the hot tub with her but doesn't have a bathing
suit that fits her. We may have to have one custom-made. She's trying to decide on a color.
Today, Tuesday, we needed to run to the store as did the Knapp's. They left before us because we went to Tuesday morning coffee. George and Carole joined us on the shopping excursion. The more the merrier. First, we went to Target. They were out of one thing we were looking for so we then ventured to my favorite big box store.....guess which one. Yep. Wal Mart. We scooted around their busy aisles and ran into Sam & Sandy....literally. Cory pretended to be a customer tripped up by Sam's scooter; falling into his basket. Poor Sam just watched in awe and amazement. What the heck?....just another day in Paradise and Wal-Mart.
The Knapp's were at our RV when we returned. We had bought some hot dogs (plenty of them) so asked Sam & Sandy to join us. George and Carole took a rain check. Sam & Sandy have met our families before so introductions were easy. I whipped up a salad and used the Cherry Pocket dressing on it.....sooo good. I wish you could taste it. I know you would
love it. They only sell it fresh in their styrofoam containers so it wouldn't last or keep until we get home. You will just have to take my word for it...unless you come down and go to this unique fish camp restaurant on the water. Hey, that's an idea. Think about it.
Weather is cooperating so far. It has been cool at night and early morning but warms up nicely as the sun rises. Tomorrow it will be back in the 80's. The Knapp's left in snow. Their plane had to be de-iced before take off.
Fast forward to Tuesday evening. Eating time again. Rick (Jay's buddy from Wellsville) and his sweet daughter, Ella, are vacationing here in Orlando also. They rode the car-train down here. It sounds wonderful and I would love to do that sometime. Lulu said that she would really like to do it also. She said she would ride with the engineer & knows that he would let her blow the train whistle. Whoo-Whoo. What a dreamer!
Anyway, we decided we would all go to Flippers for supper. Great. We walked up through Old Town to get to this delicious Italian eatery. The
Hot Dog lunch
Sam, Sandy, Cory, Sara, Lory, Jay, Lulu girls got breadsticks. They were huge and absolutely tasty, tasty, tasty. The rest of us quickly devoured their handmade pizza. Molto buona! Lulu ate so much (best she could with a paralyzed mouth). We took the annual Old Town stroll - doing some touristy gift store shopping on the way back to the Knapp's condo. It's been a great day.....especially because some of our family is here to share it with.
Tomorrow, more of our family arrive. Our youngest son, Tim, and youngest grandson, Conner will be here. They are flying from Rochester, NY into Orlando. We will pick them up @ 4:30 PM. Our daughter, Kim (Faber), her husband, Jim, their daughter, Haley and Haley's girlfriend are also arriving tomorrow. They fly from Rochester, as well, and get a rental car. They come in later in the evening. Tim & Conner are staying with us for two evenings until they can check into our timeshare on Friday. The Faber's are staying 2 nights at the big, fancy hotel in Celebration. Tim is probably mumbling "What's wrong with this picture"? He and Conner will be right at home in our wheeled house. They slept in our RV this summer
Lulu on hot tub
Lulu falling into hot tub when we, again, were all able to get together. The Faber's will check into their own timeshare on Friday, also. Both timeshares are located at Cypress Harbour near Sea World. They are beautiful places. We are so excited for all of their arrivals tomorrow.
Soon, all of our children will be here together. A Disney wish come true. Our oldest son, Cory, and his sons, Fox & Shenen, are driving down from North Carolina. They should be here Saturday or the latest, Sunday. All the guys are staying in our timeshare. Five of our grandchildren will be here. The 4 older grandchildren are in college and/or have jobs. We shall miss them a lot. But, we will still be thrilled to have as many of our family members here that will be here. It is not that often anymore that this many of us can get together at one time. We cherish these moments dearly. Lulu is beyond excited. She loves a crowd.
There will be places to go and things to do. We are just playing it by ear: one day at a time. Let the families decide what they would like to do.....it is their much
Lory & me
Living room in condo needed vacations. We'll just tag along in back like the old, oriental parents who always go with their family wherever they go. My mother always said we traveled like the "boat people". She loved it and so do we! Onward we go......be ready for your last minute directions.
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