Today we celebrated Madelyn's 10th birthday. Our day began with an all you can eat breakfast buffet since we would be skipping lunch. After digesting, Colby and Madelyn opted for swimming and diving in the pool. A friendly diving competition
ensued (pictures and video included).
Then we headed off for Madelyn's birthday mystery ride. It's a good thing I added an extra 30 minutes to our traveling time because, as is typical of me and Steve, we got lost. This time we took the
wrong turn right out of the hotel parking lot (LOL). But, after 2 hours we made it to our destination. It was then that we told Madelyn we would be looking for the wild ponies on Assateague and Chincoteague islands. We got aboard the Assateague
Explorer with several other families and eagerly anticipated seeing the ponies. But, the ponies had other plans and over an hour later there were NO ponies!!!!! Madelyn was bumming out! She (and the rest of us) didn't care how many egrets
or osprey or oyster beds we were seeing. We didn't care about the historic lighthouse or the story of the original town. WE WANTED TO SEE WILD PONIES! Then one was sighted - HOORAY! It was only one, but at it wasn't a total loss. So
the explorer turned around and headed back. Then, as we got closer to the dock I spotted them. A band of about 14 horses. So now the mystery ride wouldn't be a bust. The pictures are blurry, we were a bit wet since it was pouring out and
even the boat canopy couldn't keep us completely dry, but Madelyn was happy and that made it all worthwhile. After traveling back to Ocean City we ate at Jonah's all you can eat seafood buffet (don't forget we hadn't eaten since breakfast and Colby was
able to eat to his heart's content. Now we are waiting for Katie, Tom, Magen, Tommy, and Brooke to arrive. They are driving down to spend tonight and tomorrow with us on the beach.