GG's birthday celebration (part 2) continued the following day with the cousins going on an adventure through her neighborhood.  One of the first yards we encountered even astonished us.  The entire front yard landscaping was colored, recycled, rubber, with little metal birds nestled into the trees, they then found a tree and some shrubs with all sorts of bug carcasses which made their way into their zip lock bags to bring back for GG.

 

Family started to head home the Monday after the party but that evening there was still a fair share of us in town.  We hit a local pizza place and made our way to Pirates Cove mini golf.  

 Ahoy matey.

It started dry and sporadically rained on us but the rain was warm and there were plenty of trees to dodge under between drops.  We stopped keeping score after the second or third hole but in the end had a great time.

 

The kids found a cannon that conveniently ate the golf balls and although Uncle Jon couldn't get his hand in there to get them back they sure could and did it over, and over, and over.  And who knew but Reghan actually turned out to be quite the natural.

 

The following day we drove down to the Kennedy Space Center.  The kids were in amazement but ultimately, Steven and I were in our glory.  Now, clearly we're not a children anymore but for some reason, it seems like the space program was so much more when we were our children's age then it is now and this place made me feel like a kid again.

In 1983 Steven's family visited the Kennedy Space Center and as we walked through it, he said much of it was the same as he remembered.  Except, of course, for the stylish visors and attire of the time.

Pictured, Steven in rockin' red, Uncle Chris with that great hat, cousin Erika looking cute as ever, and we think that's Gram's and Grandma Janie in the reflection.  (Grana - good job on matching the tube sock stripes with their clothes)

Fast forward 30 years to Steven with no tube socks, at least today, and our happy family.

 

The newly opened and well done Atlantis exhibit so close we could almost touch it.

 

 

The kids had so many questions as we moved through the various static and interactive displays. 

 

They made a few trips through the "space station" replica with Daddy taking up the rear on the first round.

Ashlyn crashed a few times but that didn't slow her down.

 

The evening of was our last night there.  Grana had brought some kites and it was a perfect night for it; soft breeze, not too hot, and open space.

 Ashlyn found the perfect spot to open them and get them into the air.

 

The morning of the day we left we hit the beach one last time and caught a little friend that coincidentally made it into one of the sand toys and up to GG's place.  At first she didn't believe us that we caught a crab but once she saw what was on her counter all doubts were expunged.  After a while Reghan and Steven walked down to the beach and Reghan softly released it back into the ocean.  Right about that time, 2 dolphins made their way down the coast line about 50 feet off shore, exactly where we were earlier in the day.  GG had said that in all the years she lived there, she's never seen dolphins so active and so close.  A great way to close out our visit.

Well, almost a great way.  GG pulled out a photo album of the kids when they were smaller and the girls really enjoyed going through it with her while in between Heath would explain to her his Angry Birds game.

 As sad farewell.

Then into the air with our seasoned flyers and home to a dead battery in the car.  That's alright, our little troupers got set up with a past midnight parking lot picnic movie and waited it out till the service showed to jump us.