Florida

We got back from Reno the night of Monday, March 17.  I worked Tuesday and some of Wednesday and took dinner to a girl who had just had a baby on Wednesday night.  I don't remember Thursday day, but I had a Relief Society presidency meeting that night.  Got a haircut Friday afternoon.  We left for Port St. Lucie, Florida to visit Jim's dad on Saturday morning, March 22, so Friday night I was simultaneously unpacking from Reno and packing for Florida.

We flew on Virgin America, and it was a bizarre experience.  Some inexplicable music was pumping in the check-in area, and the place was decorated like a hip restaurant or something.  I didn't have time to get a picture that captured the whole thing, but I did snap this quick one of the girl checking in next to us, in gold tight-pants:

We thought we had time-traveled or been transported to another country.

Jem and Dolly at the gate:

The first-class section of the plane was entirely dark purple.  The toddler behind us was crying he was so freaked out by it.  The rest of the plane just had these pink and purple strips:

The safety video was done in song and dance - like rapping/hip-hop music and breakdancing, popping, and other street moves.  I had no idea Virgin America was so cool.

Dolly was ALL about Jim this whole trip.  Two of our seats were together; the other was several rows up.  We had been hoping to get somebody to trade, but it didn't work out.  I had Dolly with me at first, but then Jim and I traded seats at her request.  So I got to read Divergent for a few hours while Jim entertained Dolly.  (I'm embarrassed to admit to reading another young adult novel, but my Team of Rivals was in the suitcase.)  Awesome for me.

We got to Jim's dad's house Saturday night, chatted for a bit, and went to bed.  Sunday we mostly just ate.  Dolly thoroughly enjoyed her chocolate chip pancakes that morning:

Dolly took a nap that afternoon, and then we went to dinner (I think in a town called Stuart).  After dinner, we went to Jensen Beach, which was beautiful.  (I'd be much more tempted to swim there if I hadn't heard so many stories about shark attacks in Florida).  We took Dolly's pants off, and Jim took her down to the water.

She cried when we left.  Sad face:

Monday we went to the Lion Country Safari in West Palm Beach.  Lions are the main attraction, but they have a ton of animals (way more than Bear World in Idaho) - ostriches, camels, rhinos, a zillion antelope types, giraffes, tortoises, zebras, monkeys, chimps, etc.  You're not supposed to roll down your windows as you drive through (although we did sometimes), and it was a little rainy, so the pictures are lacking.  While we were parked right next to the lions, they got into a brawl.  It seemed as if the lady lions were all ganging up on one of the males.  It was really fun to watch, and I wish we had a video.  They look peaceful here:

That was the drive-through portion.  Then there was a zoo-like area that included more animals and some rides.  

Dolly loved the little toddler train.  She rode with Jem a few times when we first got there.

Ever was frightened by a camel.  Jim wasn't unafraid, himself:

There's a wet-and-wild section, which would be really fun on hot days.  The day we went was a little chilly, but Dolly thought she wanted to go anyway.  We got her swim stuff on, and then she wussed out and made me take her on the ferris wheel instead.  Then we went back to the water section, and she and Jim mainly just walked around the perimeter for a while:

Then we all went on the ferris wheel together:

The Dumbo ride:

We told Dolly she could ride the train again before we left.  When we got there, there was no worker, and Dolly started crying.  Then a nice man came and gave her a few private rides:

Two big thumbs up for Lion Country Safari.

After we picked up Dawn and Ed from the airport, we went out to a yummy dinner.  Jim did the thing where he orders nearly all the desserts, and they were enjoyed by all.

Tuesday we went on a little ride on Jim's dad's golf cart.  (He lives on a golf course.)  We saw a couple Sandhill Cranes with babies.  Apparently these cranes are all over here, and they make a lot of noise.  Got this terrible picture with my phone:

Then we went on a two-hour river cruise.  It only cost $25 apiece, I think, and it was really fun.  We were hoping to see gators, but apparently we were going the wrong direction on the river for that.  But the captain was super-knowledgeable, and he pointed out nests, birds, and cool trees/plants, talked about the history of the area, and gave all sorts of fun info about the houses along the river.

Bird on a post.

We had another enjoyable dinner Monday night, and then we flew out Tuesday morning.  Dolly wanted to handle the suitcase alone in LAX:

Florida was really pretty and green.  Next time we have to go on the river cruise south, see some alligators, and make Dolly's dreams come true.