November renamed FFFM (forced family fun month)

As I mentioned last month, from here until the end of the year was going to be INSANELY, MIND-NUMBINGLY busy.  I was not exaggerating in the slightest.  Right out of the gate we had a cub scout camp out at Lion Country Safari.  Originally we had thought we would sit this one out or at the very least just the men would go.  It was a two-night cam pout starting on a Friday and we had both soccer and football games to attend on Saturday.  As luck would have it Ben and Lilly had early games and Lucy had a late one.  When we pitched the original plan of action to the kids, we got back a resounding NO from the girls.  They wanted to go camping too!  OK fine!  The hard way it is.  We packed up the car and planned on leaving after Ben's game.  If Lucy gets to play ANY of her game - BONUS, but it does not look good.  Her coach is on board so we feel good about "the plan".  She doesn't get to play.  Oh well, small price to pay to see real Lions from the comfort of our own car.  We drove over to meet the scouts and were feeling pretty good about ourselves because we were set to arrive before the van tour of the animals.  Of course our luck didn't hold, my long term readers are not surprised by this.  There was a mad texting back and forth and ultimately we rolled into the grounds a mere 10 minutes after the vans left.  No worries! They gave us the option of taking the tour in our personal vehicle, which we found out later was a major score because the park vans have no AC and the speakers/sound system is horrible and no one could hear the CD tour.  Yeah us!

Here is just a small sample of the animals we saw.  Yes there were lions but also zebras and gibbons, and monkeys and antelope and yaks of various species.  There is also a water park associated with the safari.  Had I been told it was going to be open, it is the first of November people, I would have come better prepared and brought bathing suits for the kids.  Normally that is a required clothing item on ANY trip but since no one mentioned it, and the last place we camped swimming was prohibited, I did not feel the need to pack them.  BIG MISTAKE.  Oh well, kids can just get wet in their clothes.

I am pretty sure this should be our Christmas card.

We got a fairly early start the next day to high-tail it home to prepare for Lilly's birthday party where we will CAMP OUT.  Yes you read that correctly, she wanted a sleepover camp out birthday party.  I wanted to go skating (ice or roller) but I got out voted - AGAIN.

Before we get to Lilly's birthday, the school had a Veteran's day celebration that we missed last year because Daddy was traveling.  I didn't attend it either because I did not realize exactly how big of a deal it was.  The kids were extremely upset about it last year so I told him we could not miss it this year.  I think the big draw for the kids is they get to walk around with their Dad and the whole school is cheering and clapping and singing.  It is quite a sight to behold.  So happy they were able to experience yet ANOTHER chance to be praised and told how special they are.  Ha Ha Ha.

OK, now onto the ONLY event worth even mentioning (as far as Lilly is concerned) - HER BIRTHDAY!! 

Yes, my sweet first child is turning 10!  That is simply mind-boggling, how did it ever happen?  I am sure as the years add up I will come back to that question over and over again.  WOW!  Again she wanted to have a camping theme sleep over for about 11 girls (including our 2).  We decided to have her party on the 10th even though it was a Monday to take advantage of the kids having no school on Veteran's day.  Jim was taking point on this one.  Lilly and I made the invitations and the cake.  Daddy was in charge of corralling and sleeping outside in the tent with the girls.  

Pretty sure we are over weight limit

Fire and sugar

Glow stick chandelier for the tents.

She is soooo excited!!

We had planned out this whole table with glow sticks out lining the plates and cups that we had seen on Pinterest.  It was going to be super cool, but then no one sat down to eat and basically grabbed up all the glow sticks to make super long chains.  Oh well, whatever, as long as they were having fun!

So after a relatively peaceful night (or as peaceful as it could be) we fed the girls some breakfast and after the last girl departed we did a speedy clean up and then headed out the door for another adventure!  Nearby is Shark Valley, in Everglades National Park.  We Jim had been wanting to check it out for a while but we weren't set up to transport all of our bikes and you would definitely want bikes for this trip.  In a nut shell there is a 7.5 mile paved "path" from the Visitor's center to an observation post where you can have unparalleled 360 degree views of the Everglades, not to mention a refuge for endangered Florida species like Manatee, crocodiles and panthers. 
So off we go with three unsuspecting children to ride bikes through the Everglades.  What could go wrong?  Well not much unless you count the incredible amount of complaining and griping that was going on by 2/5th of our party.  Everyone agreed the wildlife was incredible (although of questionable safeness) and the view from the observation tower was something we would not forget anytime soon.  By the end of it, everyone had ridden for 14 miles and all of our butts were SORE! 

A little too close Lilly!

Seriously BACK AWAY from the alligator

  

Don't try this at home people!

If you are keeping track we are only into the second week of November, surely nothing else could happen with the exception of Thanksgiving.  WRONG!  Both the girls made Honor Roll for the first 9 weeks.  Lucy made Gold Honor Roll which means she made straight A's.  We are so proud of her.  She has really excelled in 3rd grade.

Lilly made Silver Honor Roll which means she got all A's and B's.  She made Silver Honor Roll all last year and has set a personal goal for herself to upgrade to Gold before the year is out.  We know she will be able to do this because she is super dedicated.  Ben is also doing well in his Spanish immersion class, but this school doesn't hand out Honor Roll until 3rd grade - Sorry Ben!

  

Finally (finally) are to Thanksgiving.  This year we originally were going to hang out here in South Florida, maybe try to book a cruise, but last month when we were in Williamsburg we Jim had an inspired idea to drive up for another Wellons Family gathering.  Poor Lindley she was going to host us all!  So we piled into the car and up the Interstate we went.  It was really a great time!  The kids had a ball playing with their cousins and the adults busied themselves with enjoying the relative quiet of kids getting along!

So other than turning around and driving BACK to Florida which was SLIGHTLY a bit more painful then the drive up, we survived unscathed.  Buckle up - December is coming!