Before I regale you with yet another day of our vacation adventures….. a little personal history.

In case you hadn’t guessed? The husband and I don’t have any children. It was a lifestyle choice we made many years ago and haven’t had cause to regret it. But back in the early 90’s we took a neighbor’s child under our wing when her single mother was having a hard time.

 

 

She was the child we never had….

 

 

We helped raise her…..

 

 

 

And since she had no contact with her real father, my husband took over the role.

 

 

Attitude adjustments et al.

 

 

She wasn’t ours biologically…..

 

 

But she will always be the child of our hearts.

 

 

We’ve watched her grow into a beautiful young woman…

 

 

And now she’s happily married…..

 

 

With a child of her own….

 

 

And we feel like we have a grandchild as well. They still live in North Carolina so whenever we’re near…. we get together. She loves that we have a timeshare and enjoys staying with us at the various resorts. On Day 8 of this trip? She and her daughter joined us for the weekend before Christmas.

When they arrived? A goose traffic jam…

 

 

I love me some goosers… so pardon the ridiculous tone of voice I use in the video.

As well as me cursing out the idiot who was honking their horn at those sweet little waddlers.

 

 

After their 4 1/2 hour trip, Destiny and Gracie were hungry so we took them to that great seafood place we’d found… Fat Tuna.

 

 

We stuffed ourselves silly with hushpuppies, cornbread and shrimp and grits….

 

 

While the husband opted for a seafood pasta.

 

 

This was in anticipation of where we would be spending the afternoon and evening… because when you have a 7 year old? Sitting around chatting with a cocktail isn’t going to cut it.

So the husband and I did what we never… ever!… do.

We went to a theme park.

And it was just as awful as I knew it would be.

 

 

We stood in a long line to board the shuttle.

 

 

We crammed onto the shuttle like sardines.

 

 

We waited on long lines to buy overpriced tickets…. and not even a funny spare tire cover could make up for what we were about to experience.

 

 

(I hope he was talking about the jeep and not his wife.

I really do.)

But yes…. the husband and I shelled out $240 frickin’ dollars to visit Christmas Town at Busch Gardens.

 

 

No senior discount, no military discount, no under 12 discount.

Suck it Santa!

Did I mention it was also $20 to leave our car in the north 40,  somewhere south of bumblef*ck Egypt   parking lot?

 

 

$260 just to walk in.

Kill me now.

 

 

But we were there with people we loved…

 

 

And my husband… who never wants to pose for photographs?

 

 

Was posing all over the place…. and smiling.

Now that’s a true Christmas miracle!