After our ninth road trip this past week, we felt energized and excited to jump right into our tenth road trip to celebrate my birthday. Not only were we ready for more fun-filled adventures, but my dear friend invited us to come hang out and celebrate together. I happily accepted the offer and booked another ride.
This time, we rode a medium-sized airport bus—our first time on one—and it was incredible. I was utterly impressed watching Ace remain completely unfazed while riding along the turnpike. Traffic, motion, noise? None of it bothered him. Truly phenomenal.
We arrived at Terminal C, which we chose because it was the easiest location for my friend to pick us up. No issues at all. Smooth and simple.
Ahhh, it was nice to be back in Orlando again. This time, the crowds were far more manageable compared to what we experienced earlier in the week, which made everything feel lighter and easier.
We explored the resort where we stayed and learned our way around. I remembered staying there a few times in the past and realized I had missed something—actually, quite a few things. With Ace, I let him explore and learn the layout naturally. He had no issues checking out the pool and hot tub areas. Of course, he knows better than to dive in, but he did discover a pool and hot tub pedestal… and yes, he chased it! Pedestal dreams never sleep.
Ace had already experienced an interactive game room during our ninth road trip, but this arcade was much larger. We even found something extra fun—a lighted platform that you can step up onto, walk across, and step off. What did Ace do? Completely unbothered. In fact, he seemed to think he was the Prince from Purple Rain, loving every moment of being in the spotlight with lights glowing beneath him.
That night, Ace slept beautifully on his own. The resort didn’t bother him one bit. He never reached for his toys to chew or play—nothing. Just calm, settled, perfect Ace. I am so proud of him.
The following day, my friend wanted to go to Disney Springs to refresh her orientation for an upcoming puppy transportation meeting. We were happy to join. I secretly hoped to channel my inner child—growing up eating M&M candies—while also giving Ace more exposure after all the transportation experiences he had already handled so well.
To my surprise (and delight), Ace handled boarding the slow-moving Skyliner extremely well. I didn't ask for it to stop or pause—we simply followed the cable and boarded smoothly. My friend was impressed, but she knew Ace would handle it with grace.
Ace and I finally experienced the life-sized M&M's and it instantly brought out my inner child. Growing up, I absolutely loved eating M&M's, so this felt like a full-circle moment. I couldn't resist seeing what custom M&M's would look like, so I had them created with Ace's face, his name, and his paw print. I chose four lighter colors—light blue, light purple, yellow, and white—so Ace would truly stand out instead of blending into darker candies. The result? Pure joy. It's so cool and completely made me smile.
After Disney Springs, we headed back to the resort for a wonderful birthday lunch. That's when the food coma hit—hard. I didn't even make it to the hot tub with my friend, especially since I hadn't brought a swimsuit. I was out cold... and so was Ace.
I honestly can't remember the last time I had a food coma on my birthday, but it was well-earned. We had a long, full day.
Of course, we still worked on staircases—two different buildings, totaling 48 flights of stairs, both ascents and descents.
Ace and I also met up with Team Trudy. It had been a while since I last saw them. Trudy is a puppy I spent a lot of time with while my friend was raising her, and she's about five-and-half years old now. It was so nice to see her again.
Basic skills and greeting protocol were in full effect because I required it. Ace remained completely still, not moving an inch. Trudy couldn't understand why she didn't get a chance to play with him, but Ace knows the rules—resort manners are a non-negotiable.
We all enjoyed a great lunch, followed by a paw print birthday cake. Thankfully, no food coma this time. We needed to stay alert and get ready to head back home.
So much fun—but my birthday celebration isn't over just yet. There may be something local coming up.
Another trip is on the horizon this month, so keep your eyes peeled.
This next one will be our first time experiencing it completely independently.
I created something truly special by combining photos and videos into one piece that flows from start to finish. It doesn't need to capture every moment, every minute, or every hour—just the essence of our experience together and the memories that mattered most.