Our Florida Family Vacation. People thought we were crazy to take a 2 year old on a road trip to see the final shuttle launch which could have been scrubbed once we got there. But we loaded up the car with bags of toys and headed out on a 2,500 mile road trip to the Florida coast anyway and embarked on a memorable adventure. I have always dreamed of seeing a shuttle launch and then they scheduled the last ones and I realized that my time had run out. It was now or never. So we, along with a million other vacationers, drove to Florida for a chance to see the space shuttle taking off for the last time, we hoped.

The Florida weather was in the 80s, a nice break for the 100 degree weather we're having at home, and the sky was overcast. Great for taking a 2 year old to the beach so you don't have to worry about sun burns but not good for launching a shuttle. We pulled into Florida and it started pouring. Then we heard that there was lightning near the launch pad and they had to make sure it did not mess up any of the electrical systems. Not a good sign. But we hoped for the best as we prepared for the worst. When it stopped raining, we took a walk on the beach. Levi loved the sand but was not sure of the loud waves.

The morning of the launch, I got up early, ready to pack up and get out on the beach to find a good spot. Now I will mention that we drove nearly 24 hours straight to get here so we were all pretty tired and had gone to bed early the night before. But it was like Christmas and I wanted to get a head start. Long story short, we left about 8 and found a pretty good viewing site at about 8:30. We found a beach at Patrick AFB where there were only about 15 people and we set up to play in the sand. I had wanted to get closer but I also knew that we needed to be where we could get out pretty easily and not have too much traffic and where Levi could play and be entertained. I was satisfied with the spot and the weather was still cool while we waited. The time passed quickly and we all had fun playing in the sand and enjoying being at the beach.

I didn't plan well as far as taking binoculars or a radio. We tried looking stuff up on Justin's phone but we couldn't watch the count down live. When the time came, we were looking in the distance where everyone else was looking (by now there were tons of people at the beach). We didn't know until later that the clock had stopped at one point and that the launch ended up being 3 minutes late. After 3 hours on the beach, Levi was done. He was tired and not entertained with the sand or his toys anymore. As it was getting closer to 11:26, we were running loads to the car, trying to get packed up so that as soon as the shuttle launched, we were out of there. at 11:26 or so I was trying to get my camera focused and was looking off in the distance at where I thought was the launch pad. Levi was crying. Then Justin grabbed my arm and pulled me in his direction and said it's there! I looked and saw the fire in the sky and the cloud of smoke behind it! We couldn't hear it because of the ocean waves so we just all stared at the sky. I'm guessing that we were about 12-15 miles away but I'm not sure. I tried to take a picture but my camera wouldn't focus and then I realized I was missing it so I gave up and just watched as far as I could until the shuttle was in the clouds. It happened so quickly. I wasn't prepared. I teared up a little but had to snap out of it when I heard Levi getting more upset and we had to grab the last few toy trucks and get him to the car. By 11: 35 we were loaded up and out of the parking lot and into the light traffic back to the highway. Levi was asleep before we got out of the parking lot and Justin and I sat silently as we left, me still processing what just happened.

I don't have any amazing pictures. It was for times like this that I wanted to have a good camera but I would have missed it all trying to get a bad picture. Thankfully there is the internet and I can see everyone else's videos and pictures.

Levi was wearing his Out of this World T shirt. Here he is playing with the Little People Space Shuttle that he got for the special day. I probably have played with it more than him, though.

When he sees a picture of the launch and is asked about it, he says Shuttle! And where did you see it? Beach! I'm proud.

So was my launch experience how I had always imagined? Not really but it was a great experience and memory and I'm very thankful to have the opportunity! Thanks guys!