He arrived in the mail during UF's homecoming week. Perfect timing to join us in some homecoming related events. The University and schools shut down for homecoming so first up on Friday was the homecoming parade along University Avenue. Unfortunately it was raining so we got there late and it ended early. The parade itself has a very home town/college town feel to it but the kids like it. Poor Flat Stanley spent most of the time in his plastic baggie raincoat so he was unable to clap, do the Gator chomp or grab candy that was thrown from the floats.
On Saturday, we bought Flat Stanley a ticket to the Florida vs. Kentucky homecoming football game. We cheered the Gators to a 63 - 5 victory and Flat Stanley lost his voice from yelling so loudly.
Tebow running it in...
The marching band played and danced to Michael Jackson's Thriller during half-time. The crowd got into it. Don commented, "I believe this is the first time I have ever clapped for the band..." Terri, don't take offense. I think it's because back in the day he would leave at half-time, do shots, and race back for third quarter. It was called "Kamikaze half-time." They don't allow you to leave and return anymore so I think he realized what he was missing all those years :)
Then, per tradition, they bunch up and play right in front of the student section...
The obligatory gator photo...
He even bought himself a souvenir Tim Tebow jersey...
Oh no. A little too much fun for Flat Stanley...
One of our favorite places to visit is Payne's Prairie. We had yet to hike the Bolen's Bluff trail so we took Flat Stanley on Sunday. The weather was PHENOMENAL... 
We met a friendly little boy (and his parents) on the trail and the kids had fun exploring with him. Here they holding a fuzzy caterpillar on the stick...
Cattle, bison and horses can been seen on the prairie, but it is rare. In the 1500-1600s, Spanish colonists began cattle ranching in the prairie. The wild animals are descendants of those brought over by the Spanish and left to roam free after the British raids in the early 1600s. On our hike, We were very fortunateto see some of the wild horses! Seven of them were resting under shade trees right along the trail.
It appears they are used to people as we were able to get quite close...
Flat Stanley had his own adventure too. When we were gathering for a group photo, he decided he wanted to explore the prairie by himself and jumped from the observation deck into the bushes and grasses below!! Luckily, he wasn't hurt but he did get tangled in some vines and couldn't get out. Since we didn't have boots or long pants on (we were warned that moccasins were present), a kind stranger offered to rescue Flat Stanley for us. Three cheers for David!
Flat Stanley is now in the mail on his way back to our nephew Ben's school where he will tell all the students about his fun adventures in Gainesville, Florida.
One of our favorite places to visit is Payne's Prairie. We had yet to hike the Bolen's Bluff trail so we took Flat Stanley on Sunday. The weather was PHENOMENAL... 
We met a friendly little boy (and his parents) on the trail and the kids had fun exploring with him. Here they holding a fuzzy caterpillar on the stick...
Cattle, bison and horses can been seen on the prairie, but it is rare. In the 1500-1600s, Spanish colonists began cattle ranching in the prairie. The wild animals are descendants of those brought over by the Spanish and left to roam free after the British raids in the early 1600s. On our hike, We were very fortunateto see some of the wild horses! Seven of them were resting under shade trees right along the trail.
It appears they are used to people as we were able to get quite close...
Flat Stanley had his own adventure too. When we were gathering for a group photo, he decided he wanted to explore the prairie by himself and jumped from the observation deck into the bushes and grasses below!! Luckily, he wasn't hurt but he did get tangled in some vines and couldn't get out. Since we didn't have boots or long pants on (we were warned that moccasins were present), a kind stranger offered to rescue Flat Stanley for us. Three cheers for David!
Flat Stanley is now in the mail on his way back to our nephew Ben's school where he will tell all the students about his fun adventures in Gainesville, Florida.
