Trip to Tampa, Day 3 (and Photo Challenge Pictures)

Our final day in Florida, we headed to Busch Gardens.  For those of you who haven’t been there, it is kind of like a combination zoo / safari and amusement park all in one.  It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny. LaDonna and Dean loved the roller coasters.  There is a new part of the park called “Sesame Street Safari.”  It has shows, rides for little ones, and lots of water features. Jack loved both the animals and Sesame Street Safari.  Nick doesn’t really like thrill rides and he is too old for Elmo, so he was a little bored; but he was a good sport about it and even took some time to play with his little brother.

Here is a picture of Nick and Jack while we were waiting for the train to go through the safari:

Here are some pictures of the animals, including the cousin to the crocodile Nick ate the night before, at least I’d like to think so.

Here are some pictures with the Sesame Street Characters:

Here is one of Jack in the water park.  This picture says it all:

Nick had squirted Jack in the face with water, and Jack’s response was “that wasn’t very nice, Nick!”  A little while later, Jack got Nick with water and he was so proud of himself, he told everyone with a great big grin, “I squirted Nick!”

Photo Challenge #8 was: Hearts! If you look carefully at the intersecting water spray, you can see a heart. I also think it is representative of the theme, because you can tell how much these two love each despite the fact that they are trying to get each other soaked.

Photo Challenge #9 is: Friendship. It takes Jack quite awhile to warm up to people.  Even his grandmothers have a hard time getting a hug from him.  He really likes LaDonna and will talk to her, flirt with her, but then act all shy and not give her the time of day.  It’s really rather comical.  This picture of the two of them where Jack is sitting close enough to her to actually be touching her is the perfect representation of friendship.

After Busch Gardens we met Alison, Todd and Jillian at Tadpoles in Brandon for dinner.  We sat in the room with the arcade.  Jillian and Jack played air hockey and several video games, although most of the time they were not really playing. They were very cute together and the fact that they were entertained gave the adults a chance to relax and talk.  It was a great ending to a great day.

Jack keeps saying he wants to go back to “Frorida” and to the water park.  Me too, buddy.  Me too!