We have been very busy.  First of all, thanks to Grandma who made the boys their favorite gifts this season -- fleece Cubs blankets. (I am so glad I wasted all my money on high-tech electronics!)

We have been running a marathon of sorts, trying to pack in as much as we can before the kids head back to school on Tuesday. 

Here's our completed itinerary:

• TradeWinds Island Resorts on St. Petersburg Beach for water slides, paddle boats, volleyball and ice cream!
• Busch Gardens, Tampa, for roller coasters and a really cool safari, where we fed giraffes
• Big Cat Rescue, Tampa, to research this venue for an upcoming article (Stay tuned...)
• Brooker Creek Preserve in Tarpon Springs for a hike and bird-watching with Grandpa, who taught Brandon how to use a compass and binoculars to see Florida's wildlife
• Clearwater Beach  for Frenchy's Fried Oreos and our favorite Beach Gameland arcade
• Parasailing -- The kids did this, not me! I chickened out, which is why I am not the "Adventure Expert"
• Naples to help clean up the beach on a Voluntourism trip (I plan to feature the new trend in an article next month about giving back to the community while on vacation.)
• The Southwest Conservancy for a lesson on Florida's sea life and ecosystem
• Nature's Wonders -- a program for kids at the Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples, where a Certified Master Naturalist taught my sons about taking care of the environment; they also got to touch turtles and a starfish and peer through a microscope!
• Thomas Edison's Winter Estate and museum for a history lesson and lunch on the drive home.

We really had fun and we all learned a lot! I have to confess I didn't recall that Florida's state bird is the Northern Mockingbird, or that the oranges in Florida originated in China. I was challenged by some of Florida's top naturalists who really know their stuff! 

Maybe they could help me with this question: Why don't my kids ever run out of steam?  As soon as we got home tonight, Jack pulled out his new "Wave" and hit the driveway to do some skateboarding. I am checking my e-mails, writing and waiting to collapse into bed!

I can't wait to start telling you about our adventures. Until then...