We left Homestead around 10:30 AM and gave hugs and kisses to our family, and made the 3 hour drive back up to Coco Beach. We were driving across the causeway when we figured we might be cutting it close to going to the hotel, checking in, refreshing, then driving back to the location on Kiwanis Island where the buses would be picking us up. So we decided to head right the pick up location. That way we could have time to relax and let the kids run around, it worked out great as we were at a park. Bathroom break, STS-119 T-shirts on, snacks eaten and packed, all the camera and photo gear ready and so we just had to wait for the buses.
While we were waiting the kids and others found a tortoise who was, trying to cross the road. Many of the shuttle guests visited with it and then we made sure it made to the other side to safety.
The buses came and we had to show our ID, passes and then got to take about a 40 min. ride to Kennedy Space Center. It was so nice not to have to drive to it. On the ride over you could already see the traffic on the roads. The place seemed to fill up suddenly with the launch being a go. Everyone kept checking text and email or the web to make sure we had the most current news of it all being a thumbs up still. The kids of course had to use the bus bathroom a few times and did not seem so hungry to eat many snacks, it was a bit of a down time for us on the bus ride over. We made it to the launch location and with our special buttons on were designated as launch guests, it would allow us access to get out to the grassy area with bleachers set up just for us. Behind us in the main Saturn 1 building is where the astronaut families would over look the launch.
We walked around inside the building as we did not get out here when we spent a half day at KSC. They had some cool things to see, the lunar lander and other displays. We had about 2 hours until launch so that would give us time to let the kids chill out. They had this temporary post off thing set up where you could purchase a limited special edition envelope with the STS-119 patch on it and then on the inside it had a paper that explained about the mission. You could by one and then have it sent that day from KSC, they would put a special mark on the stamp of the date and note that the shuttle launched on that day. I bought three with the cash I had on hand and had them ready to be mailed out. The kids played outside on the grass then after a while we decide it would be good to feed them so we stood in the lines for food to get them something. While I was in line Glenn and the kids got to see the Antonelli family from up top, they waved to each other. That was cool! Before we knew it, it was like 15 minutes to launch so we went out side, the bleachers were filled up so we stood around the sides and listened to Mike Foreman and Garrett Reisman give an astronaut side commentary to all that was going on as the crew geared up for launch. We then positioned our selves by the fence so we could get a better view of the actual lift off. Then the time passed and you could feel the excitement in the air. All the astronaut spouses and kids could be seen from the balcony behind us and before we knew it the count down had begun. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 ... 3, 2, 1!
Kids with the tortoise before we load on the bus to KSC, my crew of 3 ready to go see the launch, me now really excited with my special button, us in front of the launch site shorty after we got off the bus, family picture in front of the count down clock they set up for us.
While we were waiting the kids and others found a tortoise who was, trying to cross the road. Many of the shuttle guests visited with it and then we made sure it made to the other side to safety.
The buses came and we had to show our ID, passes and then got to take about a 40 min. ride to Kennedy Space Center. It was so nice not to have to drive to it. On the ride over you could already see the traffic on the roads. The place seemed to fill up suddenly with the launch being a go. Everyone kept checking text and email or the web to make sure we had the most current news of it all being a thumbs up still. The kids of course had to use the bus bathroom a few times and did not seem so hungry to eat many snacks, it was a bit of a down time for us on the bus ride over. We made it to the launch location and with our special buttons on were designated as launch guests, it would allow us access to get out to the grassy area with bleachers set up just for us. Behind us in the main Saturn 1 building is where the astronaut families would over look the launch.
We walked around inside the building as we did not get out here when we spent a half day at KSC. They had some cool things to see, the lunar lander and other displays. We had about 2 hours until launch so that would give us time to let the kids chill out. They had this temporary post off thing set up where you could purchase a limited special edition envelope with the STS-119 patch on it and then on the inside it had a paper that explained about the mission. You could by one and then have it sent that day from KSC, they would put a special mark on the stamp of the date and note that the shuttle launched on that day. I bought three with the cash I had on hand and had them ready to be mailed out. The kids played outside on the grass then after a while we decide it would be good to feed them so we stood in the lines for food to get them something. While I was in line Glenn and the kids got to see the Antonelli family from up top, they waved to each other. That was cool! Before we knew it, it was like 15 minutes to launch so we went out side, the bleachers were filled up so we stood around the sides and listened to Mike Foreman and Garrett Reisman give an astronaut side commentary to all that was going on as the crew geared up for launch. We then positioned our selves by the fence so we could get a better view of the actual lift off. Then the time passed and you could feel the excitement in the air. All the astronaut spouses and kids could be seen from the balcony behind us and before we knew it the count down had begun. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 ... 3, 2, 1!
Kids with the tortoise before we load on the bus to KSC, my crew of 3 ready to go see the launch, me now really excited with my special button, us in front of the launch site shorty after we got off the bus, family picture in front of the count down clock they set up for us.
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