Mystery Trip... Revealed!!

(This post has been sitting in my draft box for weeks.  I wanted to edit all the photos before posting them. But, I'm not going to.  Too many photos to share, and I want to get this post up.  And then another.  And another.  So, just enjoy these photos for what they are:  memories.  And ignore what they are not:  art.  Thankyouverymuch!)

This year, we decided to start a new Christmas tradition.  Instead of giving the kids a ton of presents, we decided to take a Mystery Trip.

We told the kids that we'd use the money that would normally go towards gifts and put it towards a trip.
 

They seemed excited.

Intrigued.

A bit worried that there would be no gifts on Christmas morning.  (Never fear!  Their grandparents covered that for them.  And, they did also have a bunch of goodies in their stockings come Christmas morn.)

This year's trip?
Drumroll, please...

Legoland...

Where we oohed! and aahed! over all things made of Legos,

rode a bunch of rides,

and walked all over tarnation.

He says that's his "pirate face."  Looks very similar to his "grumpy face" to me!  

Then, the next day, we moved on to...

Seaworld!

Apparently, at Seaworld, we were so busy taking it all in that I didn't take many pictures.

Maybe I was too busy feeding shrimp to the rays.  Boy, those things come at you like torpedoes when they smell food in the water!!

I think my facial expression pretty much says it all -- WHOA!!

We had a great time, and the kids are still talking about it.

In addition to physical pictures, we have mental pictures and many, many memories that we'll cherish for years to come.

The kids actually said this was their most favorite time during our trip -- a HUGE bubble bath in our hotel!!!

Now to plan for next year's Mystery Trip...