Fish, Legos, and Voigts

Hey guys,

We hadn't anticipated doing anything out of the ordinary in the week between Christmas in Clare and New Year's Eve - that's generally that span of time where you don't know what day it is and all you do is graze on Christmas leftovers and slowly get fat. 

Well, out of left field, our old Florida (and College) friends, the Voigts, reached out and let us know that they were flying up for a week in order to celebrate the Holidays with their extended family in the Detroit area. Now obviously they're one of those couples that we drop everything for, so once we figured out that a visit with them over the Holidays was doable (they had one unaccounted day in their crammed itinerary they could fit us in), we made it a priority to make it happen.

We showed up about an hour before the scheduled meet-up time with the Voigts (at the Legoland entrance) so we could grab some lunch in the Food Court.

Kris and Lindsey landed on the outlets at Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills, kind of in the middle of where we were and where they were (45 minute drive for them, about an hour and a half for us.) The wives thought Legoland and the Aquarium might be fun to check out, too (not for our kids, of course, but for the Voigts' younger kids, Jackson and Ella.)

So here you go, gang - a random, non-Disney hangout session with the Voigts. Enjoy. . .

This Food Court is pretty bad-ass - lots of options to choose from.

Kris and I got our usual Mediterranean grub, while the girls grabbed some Chinese chicken fried rice. All these portions were absolutely nuts, so no one finished their food and we consequently had leftovers to snack on on the drive back home later in the evening.

After lunch, Kris ran the leftovers out to the van, and the girls ducked in to a couple stores (where Abby tried on Mr. T-ish necklaces.)

This isn't a full-sized, legit theme park (obviously), but a 'Discovery Center' - a smaller attraction that can fit inside malls like this one.

Abby, at the entrance into the attraction.

We met up with the Voigts around 1:30pm, and had to wait around a bit for Adam's sister to arrive. Eventually we got in and went straight towards the first ride (which was a knock-off of the Buzz Lightyear attraction at Magic Kingdom.)

The queue for the ride (since it was one of those shooting rides, I didn't have a hand free to take pics/video of the ride itself, but I suppose if you were really hard-up to see what it was like you could look it up on the ol' Internet.)

Exiting out into a Lego-version of Detroit. . .

Jackson, Ella, and their cousin, checking out Detroit (which was pretty frickin' impressive.)

The Little Caesar's Arena (and, if you look closely inside, you can even see the Red Wings playing. . .)

After mini-Detroit, you exit out into this mini-attraction/food court area. There was a play area, a spot where you could get snack food, and a few other smaller 'rides,' all geared towards super little kids. It became clear to us, at this point, that this 'Discovery Center' was geared towards kids aged 3 - 8, and that our kids were waaaaay too old for something like this.

Detroit vs. Everybody

We stood around for, like, an hour here, waiting for Ella and her young cousin to finish playing in this play structure. 

Alayna got a pretzel and played around on her phone, and we spent the time catching up with the Voigts. 

After awhile, Abby and I went in to check out a Lego Movie '4D' attraction (kinda like the Muppet 4D attraction at Hollywood Studios), which was about ten minutes long and pretty funny.

Just look at all the fun they're having.

This is what Legoland thinks of when they hear 'Famous Michiganders.' 

After Legoland, we walked through the mall over to the Aquarium. On the way, the girls pleaded to pop into some boba tea place so they could get their usual Asian specialty drinks. Kris - who also grabbed one - wanted a pic with the girls and all of their teas, and Lindsey decided to photo-bomb.

This aquarium was a nightmare. It was warm, dank, and waaaay too crowded - far more people were squeezing inside than there was room for, so you couldn't really move about freely to check out fish, you were just herded on through, anxiously looking for a free spot to step off into so you could catch a break. It was miserable.

Adam, as you can tell, wasn't having fun, either. There was a little more breathing room in this particular part of the aquarium - some shallow pool where you could touch coral and starfish and crap.

(Our girls are at center, petting. . . something.)

Underwater viewing areas.

The decor throughout this walk-through aquarium was pretty cool, more on par with Sea World than Disney, but definitely not bad for the Midwest. Still, I could've done with, like, half the people in terms of crowd size.

How festive.

This area had some breathing room, too - it was some digital fish aquarium where kids could design 'digital' fish and let them swim around in the water. 

My fish says 'FART' on it. 'Cause I'm awesome.

This tank held creepy-ass eels in it, which Alayna was enamored with.

Entering the Shark Tunnel. . .

(One of the girls took this one.)

(. . . I think these are supposed to be jellyfish)

Checkin' out more sharks.

Sooo this giant head - is this supposed to be like an alien or a mermaid or what?

Once we got out of the aquarium, Kris grabbed a pic of the girls inside this. . . tube?

The best part of the day (despite what Abby's face might lead you to believe), was when we ducked into this large bar/restaurant a short walk away from the aquarium. Apparently there was like a two-hour wait time for a table, but the whole place was empty. We soon realized that this was because they only had three people working that shift, so we just sat at a table and Adam and I made trips up to the bar to grab beers whenever the need arose. Eventually, a server was able to bring over a few appetizer and we killed a couple hours just sitting around and catching up.

Afterwards, the Voigts hit the road, seeing how they had to fly back home to Florida the next morning, so we let the girls hit up a couple more shops that they don't have at the mall in our neck of the woods. Alayna stumbled upon a K-Pop album section in some random store, but didn't end up getting anything.

After an hour or two of shopping (and not buying much) we headed back towards the parking lot, and, along the way, Alayna grabbed one more tea for the road.

So there you go, folks - a short, impromptu reunion with the Voigts. Next time will probably be down in Florida, doing the Disney Parks in the Summer of 2024.

- Brian

Back to the Tropics, Day VI

  (contd.)

Day VI

Father's Day and the Voigts

We were able to sleep in a bit this morning, which - considering yesterday's frantic pace and early start - was very much appreciated, indeed.

Here's a glimpse at the sort of shit my kids decided to spend their money on in Epcot's Japan merch store the day before.  I thought they would opt for some ornate ramen bowls, or a couple pairs of flashy chopsticks, but no.  Frickin' Japanese candy that you can buy from Meijer.  I hate kids.

We were going to spend the morning hanging out in our condo pool, which we've done already this week, but this time around we planned on being down there for a few hours.  As such, Kris ran out early in the morning to a Dollar General within walking distance of our condo and bought a bunch of pool noodles and toys for the kids. . . including this $1 squirt gun that she got for me as a - wait for it - Father's Day gift.  This was all I got for Father's Day this year, which shouldn't be all that surprising considering that this often-overlooked 'holiday' was overshadowed by our Florida Vacation.

This classic photo op was taken in response to a similar one sent in our dad thread by one of my buddies who was hanging out on the beach somewhere in Michigan.  I think my pic was far better.

While Kris and Abby got right into the pool, the Cannonball and I decided to bronze first.  Gotta put some serious work into these Florida tans of ours. . .

Bronzing.

Kris ordered herself a Bloody Mary from the Tiki Bar (a little too hot out for my liking - I stuck to a Miller Lite - but to each their own.)

After awhile of sweating I finally got my ass into the pool, where I proceeded to do the usual dad stuff with the girls.

Broke out the GoPro for some water-friendly pics (I took a video but was too lazy to convert it in order to upload it here - Blogger is a pretty finicky platform for uploading video clips, my apologies.)

We grabbed the girls a few smoothies from the Tiki Bar. . . and let them drink them in the pool.  Screw it, we're on vacation.

After three or four hours down by the pool, we came back upstairs to the room, showered, and got around.  Then we headed back out in order to head to the Voigts' house, out in Winter Garden - we were planning on hanging out at their house (and pool) in order to keep things low-key for Father's Day.

It had been a few years since we had to deal with this frickin' gate - used to drive us crazy back in the day.  They don't have gated communities like this where we live.  Come to think of it, I haven't seen any gated communities in Michigan since we moved back, so maybe it's a Florida thing. . .

Kris tries her damnedest with the gate code.  Always takes a hot minute.

We rolled into their place in the early afternoon, and were met by their newest family addition, this miniature dachshund, which both girls wanted to adopt on sight.

Since we had last been to their house in 2019, Adam had recently converted his 'man room' into a home theater - probably the best home theater setup I've seen from any of the people I know.

He installed an automatic projector screen that lowers with a remote - Kris and I are already planning on buying one ourselves now.

As usual, shortly after arriving at the Voigts' house, Adam and I decided to run up to Publix in order to pick up a few things for dinner. . . and several things of beer (I was also running low on Bud Light Limes back at the condo, so I had to stock up.)

It started raining during our grocery run, but, as is the case with most afternoon, summer thunderstorms down in Florida, it didn't stick around long.

Adam 'twisted my arm' into trying some of the new Cigar City beers that have been released since I left.  I was always a huge fan of this Tampa-based brewery back when we lived down here.

Having a couple beers and trying out their fancy, new setup (this is Rogue One.)

Adam takes down orders for pizza (we were keeping it nice and simple this afternoon.)

Alayna revisits an old kitchen toy that she used to get a lot of use out of back in her younger years.  Didn't really hold up, though.

While Abby and the younger kids frolicked in the Voigts' pool, Alayna was satisfied just dangling her feet in the hot tub.  'Cause teenagers.

Couple of dads.

Abby and Ella (the Voigts' youngest), chowing down on some recently-delivered pizza.

Adam sure loves his Jai Alais (a little too hoppy for my taste, I'm not a huge IPA guy.)

Pretty decent pizza, but it's definitely not Buccelli's.

Adam and I came inside at one point and were promptly ushered to take a seat by these two, who had decided that they were going to run a 'restaurant' (Abby was being a pretty good sport with the younger kids. . . unlike her sister, who spent much of the evening on her phone.)

Ella runs a tight ship.

Ella explains the day's specials and takes orders.

The 'menu.'  Not ideal, folks.

Questionable service at this establishment, to be sure.

Our bill was a bit ridiculous, too - if you ask me, $20 for a mushroom salad is pretty steep.

Following our over-priced meal, we came back outside to sit poolside.

(I guess this happens frequently.)

Back in the pool. . .

One of my favorite Cigar City beers, you used to be able to only grab this at the brewery - pretty awesome that they sell it in stores now.

Adam is having the time of his life.

Meanwhile, back in the house. . .

Kris was super stoked that this beach ball matched her meticulously decorated nails (which were specifically done for this trip, of course.)

Sun beginning to set for the evening, kids winding down.

Towards the end of the evening, we once again had to bid farewell to our closest Florida friends - who were hands-down the closest thing Alayna and Abby had to an aunt and uncle for eight years.  Until the next Florida Vacation. . .

- Brian