O-Town Family Christmas

My family drove from Plainfield, Illinois to visit me in Orlando, Florida for Christmas. I was very excited to see all of them and give the grand tour of where I have called home for more than three years. We did all kinds of stuff like seeing manatees, going to Disney World, throwing a bowling party with some of my friends, going to Clearwater Beach, playing mini golf AND SO MUCH MORE! So here's what happened in a little bit more detail.....





December 23rd






My family showed up at the office where I work and didn't know what to do in the lobby.






I was surprised they found me.






My mom demanded a tour of the office.






I showed them where I claimed my spot.






Michael claimed the Michael board.






We drove around and ended up at City Walk at Universal Studios. Michael loved it.






My mom was showing me which plush toys she was going to steal and then sell on eBay.






I don't think she knew who that character was but she was going to take it anyway.






Scott joined in on the bandwagon and decided to talk a Hulk shirt and sell it...but only after wearing it at least 6 times.






Not only does my mom enjoy stealing Universal Studios merchandise, but she also likes to hang out next to palm trees with it's own lighting.






It's time to party.






She wants the band to throw her a plastic bead necklace.






She got some.






Michael was happy for her.






Michael and I have decided that every time we're at the globe we must take a picture. I think this is #3 now.






My mom wanted to give the giant plastic snowmen some Christmas love.






But my dad wouldn't allow it!






So my mom ended up doing her "jazz hands" pose instead.






Scott and I like to make our mom feel claustrophobic.






Then Scott left because he thought what we were doing was stupid, but I stuck it out for ten more minutes.






My mom tries out fake surfing and it turns out she's not half bad.






But we were way better.






It was time to leave City Walk once and for all because my mom was getting delusional at all of the stuff on the walls.





December 24th






The next morning we headed over to Blue Springs State Park to check out some manatees and my mom is already on the lookout in the parking lot.






Still on the lookout!






After no manatees in sight in the parking lot, we headed down the walkway towards the water.






Success!






Michael points at something in the trees.....






.....my mom and dad look up at what Michael sees.....






.....Michael can't believe they are still looking up.....






.....my dad captures the Kodak moment.






All the hubbub was over a Florida squirrel.






Everyone is back to the manatee search once again.






Michael tries his best to enjoy "The Real Florida" with me.






My mom kept asking why the manatees are so big and no one answered her.






MANATEE!!!!!






My mom and Michael continue to look for more manatees in the spring.






Michael claims he sees one, but my mom doesn't seem to believe him.






Scott doesn't know what to think about any of this.






My mom discovered an old house and wants to check it out.






Scott and I try out the rockers.






"Warm today...warm yesterday. Probably be warm again tomorrow."






It's like you're looking into the future and seeing what I will be doing at 80-years-old.






My dad tries it out and does well.....






.....my mom probably needs a bit more practice.






Although she thinks she does just fine sitting in the rocker.






My mom tries on some Spanish moss for a new look.






My mom likes to tease other people who like to chew gum but don't have any at the moment.






Michael made a funny.






My mom wants to sit on top of this tree stump.....






.....almost there.....






.....she got on.....






.....and now for the big finish.






My mom has had enough of manatees and tree stumps and wants to get out of here.....






.....so we headed over to the town of Celebration later that night to see some fake snow.






Scott started to bust out some dance moves on the streets.






Then Scott and I claimed our spot at the movie theater.






The people of Celebration definitely had to think twice before going to see Marley & Me.






Even though I would have been nice and let them pass with only a small $20 fee.






Scott agreed to these terms as well and imagined the kind of suspenders he would purchase from the cash flow.





December 25th






On Christmas day we headed over to Walt Disney World because nothing else was open and we didn't want to hang out in the hotel.






We made it in and are ready for some fun at the Magic Kingdom.






But first, I got my mom a birthday button because she really wanted one since her birthday was the previous week.






Mickey and Minnie were so excited to see my mom with a birthday button that they wanted to get a separate birthday picture.






The rest of the family with the cute Disney rodents.






So long!






I took this picture of Michael with his dream home.....






.....he didn't realize what I was doing until a few seconds afterwards.






Michael wasn't sure if this floating ball was some sort of hologram.






My parents try out the motionless Dumbo ride.






This was quite possibly the first ride my mom ever enjoyed.






Michael has been tangled in orchestra instruments several times before so he feels Donald's pain.






My mom was being shy for half a second so she hid behind this thing.






Michael and I stand around in Fantasyland because there wasn't anything else to do.






Fantasyland was getting pretty dull after doing nothing; so me and my bros were hanging out like the cool kids do at the mall.






Mickey and Minnie showed up in a float and took up way too much space in the walkways.






Mickey doesn't care though since he owns the place.






Most of everyone walked in a normal fashion over to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.






Time to wait in line!






I was probably thinking to myself, "I can't believe mom is going on this ride."






My mom mentally prepares herself in a humorous approach.






Michael was terrified when our mom did an impression of Donald getting angry.






This is a pretty good lantern shot.






We got a sneak peek of what we were going to ride very soon.






My parents are ready to go!






Here is a video.






My mom clearly enjoyed the ride.






We headed over to Pirates of the Caribbean ride and were getting in the mood while waiting in line.






Then Scott left us when he saw this huge barrel of rum.






We survived the ride!






And now it's time to wear merchandise we would never buy!






Me and my mom long to be freebooters.






Scott wasn't getting into the whole pirate thing anymore so I roughed him up good when he wasn't looking.






Then I got him to act like a stereotypical Mexican for about two seconds.






I made it my solemn duty to guard the rest of the sombreros.






YOU TOUCH 'EM, YOU DIE!!!






Here is my family far away from the castle.






Here is my family really close to the castle.






Michael was eager to see the Monsters, Inc. comedy show.






But not as eager as Scott wanting to eat a jumbo sized monster snack.






Scott loves to be photographed.






My mom loves every single Stitch doll ever created.






They had hats...so why not try them on.






It's time for Splash Mountain!






Here is another video.






We all made it out alive so it really wasn't that bad.






Everyone in the back enjoyed it.






My mom gives two thumbs up for not dying.






This is our new family Christmas picture.






My mom is still giving thumbs up for life and my dad joins her.






We found a huge sleigh...so we all got in it for a picture.






My parents were debating if this ride was better than motionless Dumbo.






Twin shot with the castle.






Family shot with the castle.






We headed over to Space Mountain where my mom showed no fear.






My mom was really happy the ride was over.






My mom and Michael were so focused on getting to the exit they completely missed out on seeing the cool 80's technology and it's massive 20MB hard drive storage.






My mom just wants to get out and is not interested in seeing fake NASA equipment.






She waved goodbye to a robot she doesn't even really care about seeing.






Night has come and the castle is creepily lit.






Mickey and Minnie stop by to see what's up.






Then a few more animals come out and they all decided to light the castle for the holiday season.






Ta-da!






After the lighting of the castle we headed over to The Country Bear Jamboree.....






.....and we all thought it was ridiculous.






The grand finale was mind-blowing.






The host and his little raccoon friend told everyone to get out because no one took the show seriously.






When we left the show we bumped into Mickey again and this time he was showing off his crystal electric ball he's had since the early 90's.






A trip to Disney World wouldn't be complete without fireworks.....






.....along with smoking up the entire park.






Beauty.






Finale.






Now it's time to leave and even though it was a different way to spend Christmas day with the family it was still loads of fun.





December 26th






My mom is ready for some bowling so and busts out good ol' Big Red.






Michael is very excited.






My mom shows off her game face.






Scott has a better game face.






My mom can't believe she got a strike.....






.....and she still can't believe it.






Marcus enjoys a good friendly competition while Malek thinks it over.






You can see the fear in Tony's eyes, but luckily most of your attention draws towards his awesome red beard.






I'm ready for anything...especially gutter balls.






My mom leans to the side hoping this will improve her game.






I like to chillax while I wait my turn to bowl.






Scott thinks he's all that...which he probably is.






Ray steps up and takes a shot.






My mom was quite impressed with Ray's bowling performance.






Robert and Melissa think double hi-fives should be given out freely at bowling parties.






But me and Tony didn't think hi-fives were called for at this event.






Although Katie thought hugs were okay and Marcus was so excited he fell asleep while standing up.






It's my turn!






As you can see I have the best form for bowling.






Melissa waits for her ball to return and is wondering what Keith and Tony are thinking about.






Keith and Tony are thinking about taking up archery instead.






My mom tells Michael a little secret about bowling: aim down the center of the lane.






Ray, Keith and Tony try to be like me and start chillaxin' while they're not playing.






My mom has had enough of bowling.






Michael isn't finished.






I yelled at him while he was bowling to screw him up.....






.....it was not a good outcome for me.






Tony thought the whole thing was a little silly.






Robert likes to define words that Tony describes with by making faces.






My friends were shocked that it was already time to go.






My family was ready to go out and eat some pizza.






But before we did that Michael and I had to have a face-off.






Our mom did not want to stick around for that.






We headed over to one of our favorite pizzeria restaurants, Giordano's. Coupons are also a nice thing.






It was very nice of Michael to welcome me to the restaurant.






My parents wanted food NOW!






Scott and Michael waited patiently.






I continued to take pictures.






Michael drinks his pink lemonade as normal as he possibly can.






This goes the same with my mom.






The pizza has arrived and my mom declares it's time to eat!






Now you see it.....






.....now you don't.






After eating all of that pizza my mom was still hungry for more...even if it was plastic pizza.





December 27th






The next morning Michael had to catch his flight at the airport so my mom and I took him over.






My mom says goodbye.....






.....and now my turn.






Michael finds goodbyes to be really boring.....






.....but my mom tried to convince him that they are not that bad.






We left Michael and assumed he got back to NYC safely.






Meanwhile, the rest of us headed over to Clearwater Beach!






Scott was confused for some reason.






So we walked for a while.....






.....until we got to a pier.






My dad and mom pose for the camera.....






.....but Scott and I pose way better.






Scott tries to hide behind his camera but I saw him.






Pier shot.






We spotted a pirate ship out at sea!






My mom started to do her impression of a pirate once again.






My dad made a few friends while out on the pier.






Scott really needs to watch his back more often for plastic creatures such as this.






I called my mom out to the ocean and lied that the water wasn't cold.






Now that we were out in the water we didn't know what to do.






My mom suggested to pretend surf so we did that.






My mom found a seashell and stole it from the beach.






Time to go.






We headed over to Crabby Bill's to get our grub on.






Scott can relate to this shirt.






My mom greeted a fake Santa Clause as we walked in. I didn't have the heart to tell her he wasn't real.






My mom posed with the hot sauce she will not be using on her food.






And my dad did a really good impression of Mr. Bill.






The food is here.






Scott decided to eat his money instead of using it to buy food.






Scott is always acting like he hates getting hugs from me.






It was a fun afternoon out at Clearwater, but now it's time to head back over to Orlando.






I introduced my family to Congo River Golf later that night.....






.....and they were interested in the baby gators.






Still interested.






My mom's impression of this bird is nearly identical.






Scott putts first.






Then my mom tries to follow his lead.






My mom nearly got slammed into an authentic congo jeep, but she was just happy her mini golf ball was okay.






My mom was relieved to discover so many different refreshments to choose from out in the congo.






Scott concentrates on blocking all of the distractions around him.....






.....including me.






Action shot!






My mom coaches me while I try to sink this putt.






I caught mama cookin' in the hut kitchen.






Then I told her to scram and proclaimed this hut to be my property.






Scott needed to hurry it up because we were on a sinking boat in the middle of the swamp...but at least the Four Points hotel was close by if we needed to wash up.






Scott thought he heard a crashing sound nearby, but he couldn't figure out what it was so he just moved on.






Some dude was walking around in the sand and was startled to see an alligator right in front of him.






So he wrestled it to the ground and then he heard someone yell out to him to open up the gator's mouth.






And so he did.






Then the guy started to show off a little bit.






He closed the gator's mouth back up and made it out alive...THIS TIME!






When I grow up I hope to be like that one crazy dude.






And then Scott would follow in my footsteps.






Okay, now it's back to the adventure!






We searched for survivors from the crash and there were none...so we played on.






They look almost alike.






My mom made the putt!






BRIDGE!!!!!






I think she's warming up for the next hole.






My mom lines up her shot for the last hole on the course.






My mom enjoyed this kind of gator rather than the real one.






Scott shows us all how it's done.






My parents watch from a distance while Scott tears it up.






The machine nearly exploded from Scott's mad skillz.






Scott acts like a gentlemen and allows the lady to try the game.






She wasn't doing too good.....






.....so she tried this game out instead.






She was mesmerized by the killer graphics.






She probably could have stayed alive a bit longer if she would have paid attention.






My dad tries out the basketball game to see what he's got.






He was sinking quite a few in there.






Scott was mesmerized by all of the sinkers.






Scott demonstrates that it's all about following through.






My mom stepped away from the arcade game she was playing but was still slightly mesmerized.






Then she began to demonstrate that it's all about following through as well.






Before we left the arcade room my mom needed to know one final thing...how is she rated? The suspense of waiting was excruciating.






Before we left we had to see the baby alligators one last time.






It's time to go...and from the looks of it I think my mom is still mesmerized.






We went to get ice cream here because it was "cute" according to my mom.






My mom likes to enjoy her cold ice cream in the cold dark night.






Until I set the flash on my camera and can see everyone for a moment.






No matter what she's doing...it's usually funny.






Scott was amused.






Good stuff.






Scott agrees.






Before we called it a night my parents wanted to do a twist while Scott decided to sit this one out.





December 28th






My mom shows off all the crap in the trunk because it's time for the rest of my family to head out.






It's too early for in the morning for Scott.






My mom wanted to ring in the New Year a little early with me so she set off a few party poppers she found back at home in Illinois.






We all stood around in an awkward silence before saying goodbye.






"So long mother!"






"So long Scott's fist and father."






Whenever Scott and I depart he always reminds me that he'll be watching.






And they're off!






My mom says goodbye one last time.....






.....and Scott is STILL watching!





The End.