Fort Summit KOA Florida: Feb. 17'th - March 17'th

Were at the KOA in Orlando and we thought that it being a KOA it would cater to the kids. NOT! They did not have one thing scheduled for kids during the whole month stay. Their heated 81 degree pool is not 81 degrees and hardly anybody in the park ever went in it. The kiddy pool is not heated at all and was freezing. The playground is a sand pit with glass and pickers and their equipment was breaking down. Minni golf cost each player $3.00. No book exchange, which I love book swapping. Plus they charge for coffee in the morning, never saw anyone charge for it before. But we make our own so no hard ship for us there.
Just a total let down considering we were stuck there for a month with no car and it cost $800.00. I am not a big KOA fan after this stay. I'm not sure if I would just stop at a KOA again after this experience. I always heard what a great family campground they were and this was not for families as far as I'm concerned.
I was not the only other parent who was upset with the place almost every parent I talked to was let down by their experience here also.

Florida Feb. 8'th - 17'th

OK so were back at Theme World again but my Aunt who is 85 is near by. We are also planning a trip cross country with our friends we went to see the shuttle with. Need to make tons of plans before the trip. We all went to a local flee market and each bought a souvenir. We stayed here a week and then we went to Three worlds for 3 days. Still staying near my Aunt.

Boon docking; Feb. 3'rd - Feb. 8'th

On the 4'th we spent the day playing at Jetty Park. The 5'th we went and spent the day at Merrit Island where we watched a gator, 2 armadillos, school of dolphins and a group of para surfers. Not to mention we watched one gorgeous sunset. Each night we stayed at a Walmart with allot of other RVers.
Then on the 6'th we met up with a couple we met back at Theme Worlds RV Resort and we parked in this empty lot across the water from NASA to watch the space shuttle take off. We were probably one of 30 RV's there to watch this great experience. there was a group of about 5 of us that all clicked and we had potluck dinners each night and We sat around and gt to know each other more during the days and share stories. Sunday the shuttle did not take off due to the clouds so we waited another day for the launch. On Monday the 8'th the Endeavor was launched and what a sight that was for all of us. This is one experience I don't think we will ever forget.

Lake Toho, Florida: January 27'th - Feb.3'rd

We went to Lake Toho which is a fishing resort and there is not one thing for small children to do. The weather was so bad that the fish were not biting and the gators were even hiding. All in all we had a miserable time there.
We ran into a couple with a RV allot like ours except it was diesel , same year and all. We walked thru each others and the layout was a bit different but the wall paper and wood was all the same.
The girls had a chance to pet a real alligator that were a pet of Wild Willy's who does air boat tours. Lexi received a special drawing from Wild Willy.
The Sand Hill Cranes were a hoot. They would make rounds all over the park, making their calls, to each RV to see who would feed them. They sound like the dinosaurs on Juristic Park. I loved them the most but there was also tons of other bird life there to appreciate.
Lexi was bored out of her mind there though so she drove us out of our minds.
We arranged to meet one of the FOTR families here so the teens could hang out. Krista did spend allot of time outside with their son playing Play Station allot.

Orlando, Florida January 20'th - 27'th

Were at a great little park where we are meeting all kinds of wonderful friends:

We pulled in and saw a FOTR bus family. Met some great couples who addopted us. Then a Canadian family of 6 including a new born who Lexi loved all the kids to play with. Then just before we left another FOTR pulled in. Krista loved hanging with their girls.

Lets not forget the fun at Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Oh ya, we had a blast! Lexi & I met Mickey and Minnie too. Loads of fun and we rented a car also.

We are near a Aunt of mine so we are enjoying catching up with her also.

While we were there they had a blood drive RV pull in and Haley & I decided to go donate blood. They could not get a good vain for me to give blood but I still tried and was pooked and bruised. Haley was a 1'st time donater and they found her vain first try and she took forever filling the 1 bag. But she was so proud and I was so proud of her for wanting to donate.

January 20'th - 27'th

Were at Theme World RV Resort in Davenport, Florida and what a surprise when we pulled in we found a member of FOTR there with their bus. What is great is we just read about them 3 days before and there they were. Were meeting up with them again at the next park. Then yesterday another FOTR family pulled in what a treat for the kids to meet other kids who are in the same lifestyle.
Tomorrow we go to Disney World thanks to a couple of great people here at the park giving us a free pass for the day. The girls are so excited and Haley is finally happy.
Met allot of great people here and the pool here is heated too. Were usually found there in the afternoon hanging out with the kids.

December 16'th Apopka, Florida

Were in Apopka for Christmas and we have met some great people here. Most are snow birds and a few residents. There are allot of kids here so Lexi is a happy camper this stop. It has a restaurant and store here so not to bad for us. The day we pulled in they had a Christmas party for the children so we have been pretty busy since we pulled in. With all the kids here Lexi wants to be at the park first thing in the morning. I keep telling her normal kids are still sleeping at that hour. It's pretty cold out right now and the nights are even colder so I have the electric heater plugged in. I guess the cold is helping me to get more into the Christmas spirit though. It's hard to get the Christmas feeling when it's 80 out, at least for a Michigander. But the day after I want warm weather again (PLEASE).

From our family to yours,
Have a Merry Christmas & a safe and happy New Year.

2010 here we come!

December 14'th - 16'th Jetty Park

On the way there as we went over the bridge we started to hear a sound from the engine (it sounded like a belt). After we settled into our spot we found it was the fan belt to the alternator that broke and shredded. Our back neighbor was nice and wonderful enough to drive Eddie over to a place to pick up a new one, so were all good now. I'm so grateful he is able to fix everything so far that needed it. He is my superman.
The beach was amazing and a blast. Dolphins playing and riding waves all around us. The weather was perfect for those couple days and we took advantage of it by being at the beach. Lexi and I were there by 9am and we found the sand there is pretty good for building sand castles.
Krista went out a bit from shore and was finding hugh clam shells. We decided these were way to big to be made into practical necklace or earrings. So now we need to get crafty and find a use for them.
Body boarding was great fun with the boogie boards and Lexi found that the waves were big enough to flip her over if turned sideways.
We had a hugh tree over our RV that dropped the most gorgeous red flowers on our yard. I want one of those if we get another stick house. Have to find out the name of coarse and a yard to put it in. I hope to come back here again some day.

December 7'th - December 14'th Ocala RV Resort

This was a 1 week stop to get our bearing's and get everything done. It was supposed to be relaxing and a fun place to stop. The resort was a bit ran down and the pool was heated with a solar cover (not warm enough). The ants were all over their ancient playground and there was a slide that you could not slide down. It was walking distance to cracker barrel (plus) and it did have a ok clubhouse. Was not worth their price they charged.
Will not stop here again.

December 4'th - 7'th Manatee Springs State Park

WOW! We saw 3 manatee right away. I have been waiting to see a Manatee in person since I was 12 years old. This stop meant allot to me personally. Then we saw an armadillo by the sink hole that has divers in it most of the time.
Lexi was looking into the sink hole while I read the info board to her and then she was scared witless. A head with a mask popped up out of the green algae of the water. The diver felt really bad about scaring her and she was leery of that place for a while. I spent the whole day explaining divers and their gear to her and why they are under the water.
The birds there are everywhere. The nature shots I took were amazing. The natural spring is so warm there but the girls would not go in (the temp. outside was not warm at all).

November 30'th - December 3'rd Mexico Beach, Florida

We were only going to stay here for a couple days but a bad storm came through so we sayed a bit longer. The storm took out the WiFi so of course that put me back on keeping up my posts. The days were to cold and wet to enjoy the beach so we stayed inside and I caught up on laundry. Not to fun!

November 28'th - 30'th Grayton Beach State Park

We had a great time playing and walking the beach there. The dunes were beautiful and the park was just a great place to stop and visit. The sand was white and fine as sugar, the girls had a blast and it wore Lexi out by the end of the day. We stayed in the older section but some had a pond in their back yard, still if we ever stop there again we want to stay in the newer section with slabs (and less sand being tracked into the RV).

Map of the United States: States we visited.

visited 19 states (38%)
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October 28'th Florida

We made it!!!!
Were finally in Florida, in the panhandle for now,
We were in our first ever tropical storm. It was not as bad as the weather experts were expecting but we did have allot of rain.
The park is mainly filling up with senior snow birds but what do you expect, Florida in the winter is full of them. Nice people and they seem to enjoy watching Lexi running us ragged. She loves the older crowd, she sees them as all grand-parents to her.
The no car is a bit hard seeing that the teens want to eat 3 weeks of food in 1 week and the cupboards are getting bare fast. They have a store at the park but they do not keep it stocked at all times.
Big plus is we have a heated swimming pool here and a HOT tub that is really HOT. There is a lake and boat rentals, a play ground, putt-putt, basket-ball, volley-ball, horse-shoe, movie nights, and a restaurant. We are not bored here at all.
Haley turned 15 while last week and we had a cake for her. Boy these kids sure do grow up fast, don't they? Makes it easier to enjoy them more now that were in a 33 foot space rather than a 3,000 square foot home. You can't help but see them all the time now.

Milan, Michigan July 20'th - Oct. 24'th

We are at KC campgrounds and we were only supposed to stay for 1 month. Sh_t happens and then you change your plans.

Our computer hard drive burned out while we were here and we had to get a new one installed. All our pictures of our travels were on the hard drive so what was not put to our my-space's was all lost. I did have a few on my phone I was able to send to my email and all was not lost completely. But it was a sad moment for me to lose all those memories. I did ask my daughter to back them up on disk a few week before but she put it off (a little to late). Now she does it about every other week. Since she is the one ALWAYS on the computer.

We were here at the same time they had their Milan Blue Grass Festival and it was packed to the gills. Great music and the bands were wonderful. Everyone in the park seemed to play an instrument so when the bands were not playing everyone else was at most corners of the park playing theirs. We met allot of great people and made some new friends.

The day everyone pulled out there was a fire left unattended and it was not in a fire-ring. To the eye it was a mound of ash, to a 2 year old kid walking barefoot it was a pile of sand. Lexi walked over it and it was still HOT and her little feet were burned on the bottom of them. One foot was really bad, the burn was under the curl of her toes. On the up side we were 1 hour away from her pediatrician and it was a month before it was all healed and no infections.

Ready to leave yet? Nope!

My Mother was taken to the hospital and was in serious condition. Didn't want to leave state till she was in the clear.

Leaving on September 24'th and the girls and I were doing last minute running before we hit the road and on the way back to the campground the minivan started to have smoke coming out of the dash. Yep, the dang thing caught on fire. No one was hurt but the van, the van is totaled. It looked like we were stuck here till the insurance was all settled.

Now we are only travelling in our RV and no extra vehicle at this time. We know it will be an adjustment but it will only be temporary.

Now it is October the 23'rd and we are leaving Michigan tomorrow and heading south for the winter. It's getting cold up here to but the fall colors are great. I will miss Michigan's full colors if we never make it back up here again.

On the Positive : Krista and Lexi both had a birthday while we were here. Lexi is now potty trained. Were going to save so much money not paying for an extra vehicle. Snow is not going to find me this year if I can help it.

Have Happy & Safe Halloween!

Jackson, Michgan. June 20'th - July 20'th

We were at Holiday Camp Grounds in Jackson about 1 hour away from family. We drove from Kansas to Michigan straight thru being chased by a big storm. It caught us a hour after we plugged in at the campground and the next morning I had to drive for a family baby shower.
Holiday is a tree filled park that made a hugh mess of the RV and no satellite for a month either.
Eddie hated it more then the kids did.
Our friends Colleen and Gary were at the same park and it was bearable with friends. The management was not too bright and would disappear for a day or two without notice. Not fun when you need change to do laundry. Will not stay there again.
No fire bans in Michigan so we finally get to cook outside over a open flame. We ate allot out side!
We went to our home town for the 4'th to celebrate in the morning and Colleen went with us too, she is my BF's mother. So were both from our small boating community where everyone knows everyone. We had allot of fun! That night the park had karaoke and we had so much fun with the kids and helping them pick songs. Eddie got up there a few times and showed off too.
Our oldest daughter stayed with her Best friend the whole time we were here so we were down to 2 kids mostly when Krista didn't have friends over to stay.
I spent alot of time potty trainning Lexi while we were here, almost getting it.

Northern New Mexico / June 5 - June 16, 2009

On our way to Albuquerque we stopped off at a couple of great places:

First stop was at the Walnut canyon Natl. Monument to see the ruins there and to walk allot of steps. It was a not planned stop but we were happy we took the time to stop there and learn more about history and the people who lived here.

Our second stop was planned and that was the Petrified Forrest. Now that was very beautiful and a great stop to see. It was amazing all the colors in the rock forms that were once trees. I would love to stop here again if we ever get by there again in our future travels.

Now were in Albuquerque and were in a small campground. We went to turquoise Trail and drove over to Madrid which is like a small gypsy art stores and other goodies. This is the town where Maggie's restaurant is in the movie "Wild Hog's". I went back the next day with the girls to do more window shopping and picked up a couple gifts too. Beautiful drive to get there also.

We took one day to do the Rio Grand Zoo and it was a fun relaxing day at the zoo. Always love to watch the baby monkey's with their mothers.

Northern Arizona / June 1 - June 4, 2009

We went to Williams, Arizona to see what else, "The Grand Canyon". We had soo much fun there and Krista looks over the edge and says "it's not so big". I guess teens these days expect more. Lexi made me a bit nervous trying to get a closer look like everyone else. I had some great shots to keep me happy and to remember it all by. (we lost all pics when the computer hard drive burned out and I only backed up a few to my myspace page.)

Then we had a great time at Slide Rock State Park. We first heard of this place through another family's blog on family on the road. What a great time for everyone. Eddie and I jumped off the small jump by the river. We all slid down the natural water slides and had the rock burns and bruises to show for it. Lexi made some little friends in the shallow area. I would love to move here for the view alone.

Our last free day there we decided to let Eddie rest and the girls and I went to route 66 to do some souvenir shopping and have lunch. So much fun window shopping dragging the girls from shop to shop and picking up a few items for friends and family.

California / April 2 - May 30, 2009

We were at Joshua Tree Natl. Park for a week and we had a great time hiking and climbing. If your ever debating whether or not you should go there, you defiantly should. What a wounder of a place, so different in every different area you go too. We saw humming birds there and a desert tortoise. It was a great week!

We drove over to San Diego for a month and a half. We were at the Mission Bay area and we had so much fun at the beaches and parks. The beach shops were a favorite of our oldest daughter, Haley. The amusement park was Krista's favorite hangout and Lexi loved it all! We loved taking Roxy to the dog beaches and parks. Fiesta Island was amazing for dog lovers, you could let them off the leash and they could run the beach and play in the water. Roxy loves to run and swim even though Bulldogs do not do either one very good, if at all. By the way Bulldogs don't swim they sink!

We went to see the harbor seals who took over one beach. Dolphins swimming at mission beach with the surfers. At Mission Bay one day a seal was jumping out of the water trying to catch seagulls. we also went to Cabrillo Natl. Monument and saw the light house and whale look out. We also took the girls down to the tide pools to see what they could find and identify.

Arizona / March 19 - April 1, 2009

We went to Wilcox and we went to so many places there. Cheicaha Natl. Park, Cochise Stronghold Coronado Natl. Forrest, Fort Bowie, Dragoon Rock, Tombstone and a rattle snake store right by there.

At Fort Bowie it was a 3 mile hike and just as we were coming to the last curve to get to the parking area Krista walked up on a 6 foot diamond back who was coiled up and rattle going like crazy laying on the edge of the path. We were stuck waiting there for a half hour , the Ranger was new and unsure what to do. While holding a 2 year old this whole time and I had to carry her half way thru the hike, my back was screaming. I gave up on the Ranger and did a hugh No-No, I walked off the path and far around the area with the rattler and left with my family in tow. Our first and only encounter with a diamondback.

We went to Tusan to meet up with friends of ours. We were not able to stay where they were because they did not allow children there so we went down the street and stayed at BLM land and roughed it for a week. The view was awesome, our own cactus garden and a small mountain to climb right next to us. At night the stars were all over on top of us.

We went to the Saguaro National Park there to view the rock drawings and the grand cacti that is only found that area of the State. We went to Reid Park Zoo and the girls had so much fun seeing all the animals. They had an albino male peacock that was so majestic.

The Last place we visited in Southern Arizona was Maricopa where we went to see the Casa Grand Ruins. It was really interesting and we had a Ranger walk us through and tell us about everything plus she answered all our questions.