Half-Family Florida Visit

Every year since I've been living in Orlando my twin brother, Michael, has come down to visit me and I always enjoy his company. This year our mom decided to also drop by and check out my swanky Floridan lifestyle, which basically means half of my family came down to visit me! It was a great time having them both here for a couple of days, and of course I took a bunch of pictures along with some good videos. I hope you enjoy this epic blog!





Day 1






I picked up Michael at the airport a little passed midnight...he was thrilled to be back in Orlando once again.






We arrived outside of my place and Michael expressed his excitement.






Michael was still excited during our walk up to the front door of my place.






Before we left in the morning Michael took the challenge of trying to win the title of being a Buck Hunter Pro.






He was in the zone!






We eventually made our way to City Walk because that's where all the cool kids hang out.






It's also where all the cool kids wipe out on plastic waves.






I always get a little nervous around one out of three blue men from the Blue Man Group.....






.....and when the rest of them show up I become petrified!






When Michael comes down to visit we always get a picture of this thing. It's one of our only traditions.






Heather joined us for a day at Universal! She was nice enough to get Michael and I in for free because she's super awesome like that.






Heather told me this dude's name was Diego, so I played along and pretended I was his biggest fan.






Michael was very happy to be back at a theme park in Orlando.






We were even more happy to go on a nice and peaceful journey on the Mummy Ride.






Michael warned all of the other tourists to be careful.






They destroyed the Back to the Future ride and built this thing. Michael and I wanted to check it out.






Michael wanted to play a game while waiting in line, but Groundskeeper Willie was being such a jerk and said nothing to him.






I was stuck with Hans Moleman as he gave me the most current bus scheduling information.






We survived the creepy Krusty ride!






Michael took advantage of using the nearest pay phone he could find after exiting the ride.






Trouble with the law...even with the fake law.






Michael always parties hard with the cute Madagascar characters.






Michael was way overdue on giving me another fine New York greeting.






Heather patiently stands in line and deals with our buffoonery as we wait to go on the Rock It ride.






Everyone agreed that one of the characters at this Rock It ride was also an accurate caricature of Michael.






Michael's caricature kept following me around in line!






Heather had a bunch of giant Blue Man heads following her but she was okay with it.






Dora threatened to break our legs if we didn't get a picture with her...so we smiled politely for the camera!






Michael always complains about how ridiculous this view is every time we are going through City Walk.






We're at Islands of Adventure!






Me and Michael easily convinced Rouge and Storm to help us take over the world.






Cyclops wasn't too difficult to persuade either.






This was the last time me and Michael will ever trust an owl and turtle for renting a boat.






Michael offered to take Marmaduke out for a walk and regretted it almost instantaneously.






Michael has blown up this bomb before during a previous visit to Islands of Adventure. It's one of his favorite things to do.






He also ran away from this very same T-Rex a few years ago. Another one of his favorite things to do.






I shared Michael's terror with an encounter of a mutant dinosaur.






There's nothing like enjoying a spectacular view of the nearly finished Harry Potter castle while munching on some nice hot Jurassic POP popcorn. Nothing like it at all!






We didn't even last for one minute on the Dr. Seuss island before we were taken away by the authorities due to our mischievous schemes.






As punishment, Michael was forced to take a trip around the island on one of the kiddy rides.....






.....I was forced to eat this entire plastic lollypop.






This wasn't part of the punishment...but since we are twins we sorta had to do it no matter what.






Michael has officially had enough of the Dr. Seuss island.....






.....so we left Universal for good and everyone was happy!






Me and Michael headed over to Giordano's for dinner because that junk is always good...and it's sort of another tradition.






I try my best to stay calm as I wait for the pizza.






Michael passes the time by giving other customers a friendly New York greeting as they enter into the restaurant.






The pizza has arrived!






I'm ready!






We left quickly after eating because I didn't realize there were scary things hanging above my head.






We went back to my place to play a little bit of Jenga before my mom flew into town.






Liz came over for a bit to watch me poke at the tower several times.






She was wondering what my next move was going to be.






I like to study the tower carefully.....






.....and then think some more about which block to choose.






I picked a good one.






Michael picked one.....






.....it didn't work out too well for him.






JENGA!!!!!






Liz begins to build her own tower.






She was able to use all of the pieces!






She ponder other ideas on how to restructure her Jenga skyscraper.....






.....but it began to lean over a bit too much.






Oh well.






It was now time for Michael and I to pick up our mother at the airport.






She made it!






Let the fun begin!

Right away my mom complained about the Villaroma air freshener in my car. She also had a hankerin' for a midnight snack at Steak 'n Shake.






We made it to the Steak 'n Shake.






Michael and our mom predict what they will look like when they leave this place full.






Michael can do a very good impersonation of our mother.






It's a close resemblance.

Michael, my mom and I have a conversation at Steak 'n Shake.







Time to eat!






Our mom was surprised at how inexpensive the bill turned out to be and called Michael and myself "cheap dates."





Day 2






The next morning we went to the local grocery store to pick up some food for breakfast.






Grocery shopping is always fun with the mother.






It's time to cook!






My mom and I team up.






Michael was happy to pitch in.






Time for breakfast...and then we're out the door!






And we're off!






My mom was probably dreaming of participating in school and impressed the teacher by knowing all of the answers.






We made a quick stop to pick up some citrus fruit!






I'm a big fan of free samples.






My mom caught on right away.






A few minutes later she fell back asleep.






We're back in the car and my mom was ready for the next adventure!






We drove up to St. Augustine and my mom was very impressed with the pineapple sculptures.

Michael and I tried to get our mom on top of this canon for a picture...but it didn't work out too well.






They were prepared for battle as pedestrians walked by.






We continued to wander through the sketchy streets of St. Augustine.






Michael likes group pictures!






My mom likes window shopping!






She also likes to try on trendy hats.






Hey, and so does Michael!






My mom was practicing on her spying techniques.






We continued to walk through the streets.....






.....and decided to take a break for a little bit to act all gangsta!

We walked over to Castillo de San Marco and my mom was ready to go down some giant stairs.






My mom might have been a little too excited about walking around the perimeter.






She was enjoying the nice Florida scenery.....






.....then Michael joined her.






They were bored with enjoying the scenery soon after, so they assigned themselves on pirate lookout.






We had a fun time hanging out around the fort, but it was time for us to get going.






We didn't make it far on our walk before my mom wanted to try out a vacant canon.






Michael and my mom continued to carry out their mission on pirate lookout. My mom preferred to take the low ground!






Michael doesn't scare me even if he does take the higher ground!






On our way back to the car we stopped to look at a palm tree like a bunch of tourists.






My mom was afraid of the little lizards in Florida and Michael kept pushing her into grassy areas where they might be lying around.....






....but my mom put up a good fight to stay on the sidewalk!






My mom gave a special farewell to the town of St. Augustine by chomping on a pineapple statue.






Next stop...the beach!






My mom quickly found interested in looking at seashells.....






.....so she started goin' to town!






Michael never quite knows what to do at the beach since he's used to the big city life.






One thing is for sure he wasn't going to assist my mom in picking up seashells.






My big long shadow was completely blocking their view.






Michael started to write our names in the sand, but he didn't get very far before he thought it was lame.....






.....so my mom finished it up for him.






She finished off strong.






It's truly a work of art.






Michael decided to be bold and touch the water.






They are so cute.






My mom continued to pick up seashells and show them off to her boys.






I thought I smelled something salty...I never could figure out what it could have been.






Michael waits patiently for our mom to finish up on her seashell adventure.






She reminds Michael that this is fun.






SEASHELLS!!!!!






My mom deserves at least one thumbs up.






Michael ordered me to stop encouraging mom because she'll just want to pick up more seashells.






They had such a nice stroll on the beach.....






.....until my mom found another SEASHELL!!!!!






It's now time to wave goodbye to the beach once and for all.






We were on our way back to Orlando.....






.....and our mom took another snooze and dreamt about being in school again.






We headed to Downtown Disney for a bit.....






.....and got us some grub! Fish 'n Chips to be exact.

My mom couldn't resist not to get on this motorcycle in a Harley Davidson store.






This will most likely be her next Christmas card picture.






Michael joined in on the fun!






For the rest of the night we headed over to Jellyrolls, which is a dueling piano bar that Michael and I like to check out.






Our mom seemed to enjoy it.






It was a non-stop-dueling-piano-playing-showdown!






My mom liked it so much she started dancin' with the jazz hands!





Day 3






The next morning we were all piled into the car and were ready for another adventure!






And by adventure I mean find a new pair of pants for Michael. Our mom loved it!






They continued to look around and take advantage of things they could by in Florida because of the cheap sales tax.






Michael gives a good hard look at a potential running shoe he might buy.






He found a couple he was interested in.






My mom saw a pair and figured she might as well give it a whirl since we were at the store.






It was a perfect fit!






Meanwhile, Michael found another pair he was interested in.






Then he looked at more options.....






.....and he found a few more pairs he was interested in. That boy sure likes to run.






Fun times at the shoe store.

Today was also my younger brother's birthday, so we all called him and left him a Happy Birthday voicemail.






It turned out to be the most excited adventure both Michael and I have ever experienced.






It was clearly the best adventure my mom has been on in a while!






It was lunch time and there was a Fudruckers nearby so that worked out nicely.






Great food with great people!






Our mom surprised us and bought a piece of cake.






Michael hurried up and took some before it was too late.






My mother was so kind to give me a slice and I gladly accepted the offer.






Happy and full are a good combination.






Next on the list...MINI-GOLF!!!!!






I didn't seem like I cared all too much, but I was definitely ready to play.






What a bunch of tourists!






My mom takes the first shot.






I only putt in the fanciest way possible.

My mom plays a mean game of mini-golf!






You have to be careful of those old rickety bridges!






My mom likes to play right through the obstacles.






This cave looked kinda scary.....






.....but it wasn't so bad when we were inside.






We could see the light!






Michael waited up on top to give me a good ol' fashioned brotherly love beatin'.






My mom thought we did enough dilly dallying and was ready to focus.






She did quite well.....






.....and deserved a rest on the bench.






My mom enjoys playing a hole where you have to lightly tap the ball down the hill.






She also enjoys taking a light stroll down the hill.

I almost got a hole-in-one. Michael was super jealous of my mad skillz.






My mom lost focus and hit her ball into a bush.






Michael and I told her lizards like to jump out and attack in bushes.

My mom was frightened by the "lizard bush" and then after retrieving her ball she dropped it back onto the course her own way.






Michael pointed in the direction where he was going to hit his ball.....






.....but he was a little off.






I'm not even sure if my mom was playing on a hole at this point.

My mom nearly fell off this life-threatening cliff! After playing thru she decided it was time to take a little break along the "river bank."






My mother enjoyed taking a load off along the river bank.






It was a nice round of mini-golf!

As for a grand finale on the course Michael and our mom do a little bit of a "razzle dazzle" tap dance.






My mom saw a dead body and was ready to leave.






So we hightailed it out of there!






We went back over to Downtown Disney.....






.....so we could ride this thing!






Michael was ready for it.....






.....and so was our mom.






Michael is in awe of the majestic flight he is about to embark.






The balloon is coming in for a landing.






My mom was really excited about going up!






But once we got inside she began to have second thoughts.






It's almost time for liftoff.






And away we go!

My mom actually did really good for riding a balloon ride up 400 feet in the air.






We made it all the way up!






I had the most amazing view of one of the parking lots.






I was proud of my mom for keeping her cool the entire time.






A thumbs up is good enough for me!

My mom hangs on tight as we slowly sink back down.






We made it all the way back down safely.

My mom liked the part of the ride when we landed on the ground.






We survived to tell the tale of the Disney balloon ride.






Michael and I were impressed our mom took such a good picture. We patted her on the head several times.






BALLOON!!!!!






We took a walk around and my mom had to pose with the pink princess.....






.....and then again with the blue princess.






These fairy wings were for kids but my mom could care less.






She wanted to get them but Michael said, "no."






My mom and I did our best puffy Mickey faces.






She was a lot better at being Goofy!






Michael challenged my mom in a sorcerer's duel.






He looks like he knows a spell or two.






Every time Michael sees this thing he likes to get a picture of him fillin' up on that plastic honey.






My mom just wanted a little bit of plastic honey on her cheek and that was good enough.






It was time to stop and smell the flowers before the magic brooms throw them away.






Too many twins!






We stopped in at a Disney art store and looked around.






My mom didn't know what to think about most of these paintings.....






.....but she definitely liked the one with sassy Tinkerbell.






That's a big blank plastic Mickey.






That's a lot of Mickey drawings.






We had a fun time walking around but it was time for us to head out.....

.....but before we could leave we made our mom get a little sprinkle of fairy dust all over her face!






Okay...now it's time to go.






We headed back into the non-touristy part of O-Town I had some friends over for games.....






.....and pizza! THANKS MOM!!!!!





Day 4






The next day we roamed around the streets of Orlando where my mom encountered plenty of Spanish moss, which is her absolute favorite!






We continued to walk around and get something to eat for lunch.






My mom seemed to be happy.






Michael was sorta happy.






Liz joined us for the feast...so I was happy!






It was almost time to start heading over to the airport, but before we did we took a walk around Lake Eola.






It was a nice day for a turtle fight.






Michael didn't really want to take a picture with our mom.






However, I didn't care so I jumped right in!






The swans kept a good eye on my mom.






We continued our walk.....






.....we stopped to take a picture.....






.....we got out of there quickly soon after since Michael was giving me a weird look.






Michael cranks up the trendy beatz.






My mom was already practicing at saying goodbye before dropping her off.






Michael loves getting hugs!






That's better.






Michael had a good time, but was ready to head back to the plush life in NYC.






Next up...drop off my mom!






It was great to have her come down to visit.....






.....and it seems like she had a great time too!





The End!