Houston we have lift off!

Last week we had the opportunity to view the Space Shuttle Atlantis launch. Now we have seen the shuttle launch from our front yard in Tampa and even from the porch of the marina in Swansboro but to see it on site, well we couldn't turn that down! Originally we were just going to drive down for a tour and then hopefully the launch. Somehow it morphed into another Disney Fest!! We spent Tuesday morning in Animal Kingdom and then we hit Blizzard Beach Water Park in the afternoon. It was a little hard to convince Ben that the water slide would be a good time, but once we got him to go down it, he was hooked.

Wednesday we started out the day with another character breakfast. Jim says it is our LAST one. Hmm, of course he said we were never going to Disney again and yet here we are soooo. As usual, the food was great, the kids were excited and all in all if it is indeed our last one, it was a good one to go out on.

The big score for me - I guess I should say the girls - was getting in to see the fairies. We had tried to get their autograph SEVERAL times in the past, but to wait any longer than 30 minutes just seemed like torture to me. We got lucky this time thanks to Jim. He remembered how badly the girls wanted to see them, so he reminded us shortly before that part of the park opened and we were near the front of the line. It was kind-of like going to the Doctor's office though. You are waiting in one room with lots of people, then you are let into another room where you have to wait with not quite as many people before you are ushered into "Pixie Hollow" to see Tinker Belle and her friends. I feel sorry for these guys. They are couped up all day in this little room. Micky needs to build some other place for these guys to be pronto! Especially if more movies are going to be coming out. But I digress. Tinker Belle, Fawn and Terrence greeted us, signed the book and posed for pictures. All in all, a successful check on the list. We FINALLY got her!! Ahahahahaha (manic laughter)

We managed to make it to the other Disney water park, Typhoon Lagoon Wednesday afternoon. Let me tell you there was no fuss at bed time. These kids played hard all day and by the time we finally let them sit, they were snoozing. Which helped because Ben was sleeping in a big bed by himself and we weren't sure how that was going to go over. If he had not been exhausted it could have been UGLY.

Thursday we drove over to the Kennedy Space Center for a 6 hour bus tour of the facility. Yes you read correctly a 6 HOUR BUS TOUR!! What were we thinking you are asking yourselves, well the gravity of the situation (one of the last shuttle launches) colored our impression of what it would actually be like. The children were too young to even go into the buildings so we had to utilize the divide and conquer strategy. As if it wasn't painful enough with just our 3 trapped on the bus, factor in six other children ages 7-3. Oh it was a JOY! Seriously, the kids did a great job of playing together. I had packed 2 Leapsters and 1 Tag Jr. for my children which all saw A LOT of action. Mostly we had to settle whose turn it was.

I must say it was an impressive tour. Jim was able to see the assembly room where the Space Station modules are being built. We both were able to get an up close and personal look at the Shuttle Endeavor that just landed three weeks ago!! I could have reached out my hand and TOUCHED it. Of course I didn't. The guide stressed that we should not touch anything, right, like I am going to touch something that cost THAT much money and have it break. I was impressed with how small the Shuttle is and just how thin some of those heat shielding tiles really are! We also stopped at the Visitor's Center and got to take a simulated ride in the Shuttle (VERY COOL) and tour a mock up. Not to mention all the rockets they have displayed around in the aptly named "Rocket Garden". At one point a man dressed in a full space suit came walking out to pose for pictures with people and there was NO LINE. Jim noted that it was especially sobering since we had just come from Disney World where we waited 40 minutes to get our picture taken with FAIRIES!

Friday was the big day! Despite the long long long day on the bus the kids willingly got back on for the ride over to the Space Center for the launch. It was AWESOME!!! But instead of trying to describe it, I will just show you.

Seriously, if you haven't made plans to see the Shuttle launch you need to do it. Unless the President changes his mind and decides to fund NASA properly, there will only be two more launches left!! (Do I sound like a broken record yet?)

For those of you interested in know how many days it takes a one dollar mylar balloon to deflat enough to float down from my 20 foot ceiling the answer is 95 days!!! The balloon finally gave it up. YEAH!!