West Palm Beach '09

We headed down to West Palm beach again this year for our annual Sauer vacation. AJ did great in the car (portable DVD players are a lifesaver), and found new ways to entertain himself as seen below. He advanced to grapes on the way home. We did however, have one nasty puking incident. Still love watching him sleep... He only made it one night on the cool "Cars" air mattress since I found him curled up on the hard floor in the middle of the night. After that, we removed the mattress on the hide-a-bed and put it on the floor for him to have a larger space to sleep (he moves like a wild man in his sleep).

AJ being brave and adventurous in the ocean. He actually got tossed a couple of times in the small waves. He loved it at the time, but didn't want anything to do with it when we took him back later in the week.

Hangin' out in the ocean with Daddy and Papaw.

AJ LOVED being able to swin around in the big pool by himself (thanks to the life vest). He's very good about keeping his head up when he rolls over, and loves to swing his body and arms around to splash people.

AJ now tells you when he wants you to do something, so Papaw had no choice but to sit on the teeter-toter with him and Daddy.

One lucky kid!

AJ showing Daddy how to play shuffle board. His way is the right way of course!

On Wednesday we took a side trip to Lion County Safari where you drive around like they do in Jurassic Park to see different wild animals. Most of them are free to wander. The ostriches came the closest to our car, and we had to wait once for one to cross the road.

Wish I had the brochure to tell you the name of these animals. Elephants (could not get to your car).Again, don't remember the name.

The best area was where the zebras and rhinos were. Zebras not too much of a concern, but a little suprised that the rhinos were free to come up to your car as well (although they do tell you to keep your car moving at all times when approaching the rhinos).

After the drive -thru safari we went into the park to see more animals and have some fun. Here's AJ and I at the photo-op station.

AJ on the little kiddie train. He had to ride it by himself, since the rest of us were older than 12. He LOVED riding the "choo-choo."

AJ having more fun at the water play area. Of course, five minutes after I got him in his suit a thunder storm began, which ended promptly by the time we had changed him again. Oh well, it gave him a chance to cool off.

Learning how to feed the goats.

This was actually the highlight of the day... AJ feeding the giraffes. His giggle when he felt the giraffe's tougue was priceless!

Vidoes... 1) Our compromise to AJ jumping into the pool (he just didn't clear a safe distance). Of course, he did this over and over again all week. 2) AJ got really good at kicking his legs and swimming around in the big pool with his life vest). He still enjoyed the baby pool a great deal where he learned how to throw his whole body into to water to make a big splash. 3) We went into town one night for a nice dinner and to enjoy an outdoor concert. This video shows AJ clapping to the music. 4) AJ showing off his white-boy moves.