The Gaylord Resort here in Orlando does an ICE event every year. This year it was themed Merry Madagascar. Basically what they do is bring in huge blocks of ice that are sculpted into their theme. In the middle of the exhibit are big slides made out of ice that you can go down. We thought it sounded fun...so we went.
They have to keep the conference space super cold so the ice doesn't melt. This is at least a month long exhibit. To maintain a 9 degree temperature, they have freezing cold forced air constantly flowing. They give you these ugly blue coats to wear when you go in. We were freezing, even with our hats, mittens, etc. Cameron was so cold by the time we got to the slide, he refused to go.
The event sculptures basically follow the plot of the movie. Couldn't believe it was all made of ice...really cool.
This is the first big bike Cameron has been on. He really was never interested in his tricycle so had to basically learn from scratch how to pedal and steer. Keeps taking his foot off the pedal at the top then loses the ability to push down and not have it brake. Will take some time before he's ready to go around the neighborhood with us riding too. He's learning though.
Photos to round out their December fun. They weren't quite sure what to think of their blue squishy bath at first...then they thought it was fun. Cameron is finally ok with taking showers! Took long enough.
We got the house all decorated. Also got to stay up late a lot of nights to watch Christmas specials like Charlie Brown, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, and the Grinch. We also rented Arthur Christmas. Cute movie! Of course Cameron was then terrified that Santa was going to come into his room.
Cameron decorated a ginger bread house.
Lots of dancing to our ghetto christmas horse.
We went to Downtown Disney to see Santa! Cameron didn't want to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas. We had to help him decide what he wanted so he had something to tell Santa. He decided on the board game of Where's My Water.
David and the kids had a surprise birthday party for me. David was a little upset because they day they were planning it I decided to work from home. The only way he could keep it a surprise was to take Cameron out "Christmas shopping" so they could pick up cupcakes (since they couldn't bake a cake) and then he took me out for lunch so they could decorate while I was gone. They got a balloon that would never die! When you hit it the thing would play an Elvis birthday song. Lots of time spent dancing to that. Even Sonny got in on the decorating fun.
Just before Christmas, we got free tickets from work to go to Sea World. We stopped to see the Dolphin's swimming in their tank. Cameron got mad when he got a little splashed so he was quickly over it. We went to see Shamu. Neither of them cared much for the show. It's just not as exciting when no one gets in the water with the whales. They were really anxious to get out of there so the rest of the day was spent at Shamu's Happy Harbor for kids...riding all the rides. Cameron of course loves to climb on the nets. This was the first time he willingly got on a carousel and rode it!
They had their Polar Express experience. It really wasn't as good as we had hoped it would be. Cameron was all excited because he thought he was really at the North Pole in Santa's home. We did see his Christmas tree, he was there, and some animals...though it was a bit of a let down. Where you exit you walk into a souvenir store and Cameron said "Is this Santa's workshop"? He was disappointed because it wasn't and we just got dumped back into the park.
A friend from work had a bonfire the weekend before Christmas. Cameron was excited because he got to make reindeer food there! We mixed oats with sprinkles and glitter. Then on Christmas Eve, we sprinkled it all through our front yard. It helped the reindeer find our house and they got to eat it.
They also got to open 1 early present.
Of course Santa came! I was schooled that Santa likes chocolate milk like he does. Cameron also picked out peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. He helped make them. The kids got spoiled again this year.
Christmas morning they weren't up too early. Probably about 8. Cameron was so excited to see we all got bikes. Some of his favorite things - puzzles, games (Where's my Water & Headbandz), Mario Paper for Wii, Phinneus & Ferb Wii game, cake pop maker, and his ride toy from Aunt Lynn.
Haley took the kids to the Science Fair. They had a great time! Made friends with a little boy they met there there that was here on vacation (Jake). Cameron looked so cute with his little backpack on.
Then Haley had her niece over to play a day. The kids had so much fun. Jayden is Cameron's age. Apparently they got along really well! He was so excited that he made a friend.
