Making Steve Irwin Proud

It was Turks and Caicos. That was my final choice for vacation this year. An all inclusive resort with me on the beach and a good book on my lap.

A particularly bad start to the hurricane season this year changed my mind and our plans.

I must say, Gatorland was never on the radar, but from the moment we decided to go to Florida, it was on Kaelan's!

She absolutely adores crocs, snakes, gators, any critter. She simply loves The Croc Hunter and feels that she is Bindi the Jungle Girl's long lost sister.

Look at that face! You could have filled that pond with cotton candy and lollipops and not gotten this reaction!

Okay. Let's just get this next series of pictures out of the way. I am certain I will be ousted from the "Parent of the Year" award banquet this year.

For the record, I was VERY much against this, but Kaelan and dad begged and assured me no live or limb would be lost. I am cringing. Just look already.

And the final pose......

Is your heart rate up? I know. I know! That is my baby holding that gator. Yes, I know the mouth is taped, but still....THAT IS MY BABY!

We took a nice long hike through the swamplands after that to calm my nerves.

Kaelan got lost in her thoughts out there.

Another one for the "Mother of the Year" album. Ha! The joke is on you! That sucker isn't real!

Don't worry, it got me, too. I almost gave birth when Doug and Kaelan tricked me with this one. He is fake. Thank God.

The folks at Gatorland are insane. Seriously, anyone who has a Jumperoo Show that consists of holding raw chickens up for gators to jump up and snatch needs to be examined in the head region.

Mom can stomach this type of Gator Wrangling.

See this guy? Well, there were hundreds him around the gator park, and despite their graceful demeanor, they are MEAN!

What you can't see in this picture is the skinny little crane attacking my bumside. Right there in this picture, I am being violated, and you can't even see it!

I guess it beats a sneak attack from a gator.

Just had to include some pictures from some of our nightlife fun. We headed over to Downtown Disney and Kaelan met up with some friends.

Captain Jack and Buzz.

We dined at some great places down in that area. One place, The T-Rex Cafe was a huge hit. Go if there is one near you!