Disney, Again

After our first trip to Disney World last year, we hadn't planned on going back anytime soon. But, when you tell your kids you're leaving them behind while mommy and daddy go to Costa Rica for a week (hello 15 year anniversary), you make it up to them by promising to take them to Disney World.

We had planned to have a more relaxed trip this time... less time waiting in line at the parks and more time relaxing at the pool. However, when a 3 day pass is basically the same price as a 5 day, well, you go ahead and get the 5 day pass. Park hoppers and water park fun? Go ahead and add that on too!

Here's what our itinerary ended up looking like.

Saturday, 10/4 – Arrive, pool, relax

Sunday, 10/5 - MK 9am-3:30pm, dinner with Travis family

Monday, 10/6 – HS 9am – 12pm,  Epcot (Food & Wine Festival) 2-7pm

Tuesday, 10/7 – Blizzard Beach 10am – 3pm

Wednesday, 10/8 – AM: condo pool, hangout. PM: MK 6pm-9:30pm (Electrical Parade, 9pm)               

Thursday, 10/9 - Epcot 9am-5pm

Friday, 10/10 – MK 9am-3:00pm

Saturday, 10/11 home 

We had exactly 6 hours of relaxation. However, our days at the parks we shorter and therefore easier and packed with fun. We still had lost of firsts.

Drew's first time on Space Mountain. He had been looking forward to that one since last year.

First time on Little Mermaid.  Last year, it didn't make the cut .

First time on It's a Small World, It also didn't make the cut last time.

Our first parade. This was one of our favorites. 

A quick morning at Hollywood Studios... we rode Toy Story Mania twice, Rockin' Roller Coaster twice, and I got Danny on Tower of Terror. 

Mimi stayed with the boys that afternoon so Danny and I could go to the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. Another first... hanging out at a Disney park with no kids. 

Small bites and beer tastings around the world. Yes, please!

First time at Blizzard Beach... We loved it! Well, except for Grant. He didn't want to do anything. If he can't research it and think about it for 6 months, then he's not going to do it. I thought we did enough research for the water park, but apparently not. He did enjoy the obstacle course though, and Drew loved everything he was big enough for. I'll never forget riding with him on the chair lift and him screaming the entire way down Teamboat Springs. What a blast!

After a relaxing day at our resort on Wednesday, we stuck to the plan and headed to Magic Kingdom that afternoon. Our main goal was to see The Main Street Electrical Parade (another first), but I took advantage of the FastPass+ system and scheduled 3 rides to enjoy while we were there. Needless to say, things did not go as smoothly as planned. First, we had terrible luck with parking. Second, we got stuck on People Mover for at least 30 minutes on a very humid Florida night. Finally, we make it to Space Mountain with one minute to spare on our FP+ window, and Grant decides he has to go to the bathroom. That means I didn't get to ride it either. We were so behind, we didn't even make it to Peter Pan's Flight. Instead, we searched out a spot to view the Electrical Parade while Danny got us ice cream. Ice cream makes everything better! Thankfully, the Electrical Parade did not disappoint. 

I also got two of my favorite pictures that afternoon in all of the chaos. These faces... 

Thursday found us at Epcot with the whole family. We got all of our favorites in including Test Track x2, Soarin', and the boys were thrilled to do Agent P's Adventure twice. Drew was a brave guy and requested to ride Mission to Mars twice! I was the "lucky" one who got to ride with him. 

Trying our best to smile when we were tired and hot.

Our last day found us back at Magic Kingdom. Unable to obtain a FP+ thirty days in advance for the new Mine Train, we headed straight to it at the park opening. The plan worked and we waited only 15-20 minutes in line.  As we were standing in line, I told the kids someday when they come back to Disney with their kids, they can say they rode the Mine Train the first year it opened. Not sure if they will want to ride it again though. It was over way too quick. They were less than impressed. 

"Glad we didn't wait 90 minutes for that!"

 Many more firsts found us on our last day... we actually made it to Adventureland! We rode Pirates of the Caribbean , toured the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse and visited Tom Sawyer Island.

Drew cooling off in the shooting fountain in Adventureland. 

One last pic before we leave the happiest place on earth. 

Catching up

My brother says I haven't been doing enough blogging lately. Hi ET!!!! So, here's my attempt at catching up a bit.

Grant started fourth grade and Drew started Kindergarten this year. Drew couldn't wait to go. Grant was not looking forward to getting up early and getting back into a routine. Actually, the first morning back, he was nearly in tears after trying to wake him. Yet, he came home that day saying fourth grade was pretty cool.

Drew did absolutely amazing with no tears. He had mostly been looking forward to riding the bus home with his big brother.

He says his favorite thing about Kindergarten is going outside for recess and eating lunch. His favorite special is P.E. and library. He's actually doing great being one of the leaders in his class. We are amazed at his reading level as well as his social skills. Recently when we attended a family night at school, every other kid we passed waved and said "hi Drew!"

Grants says his favorite thing about 4th grade is when the bell rings and the day is over. Despite this attitude, he's in the most advanced focus group. His favorite special is P.E. and library. He made Principal's list. Correction: he dominated Principal's list. He has become quite independent with his homework this year and typically completes it's all on the bus or at school. In his usual amazing big brother fashion, he always makes sure he sits with Drew on the bus.

Birthday Boys

Birthday parties seem to get more and more simple every year. And, I'll admit it. My blog posts do too, but I'm determined to keep it going for the sake of memories. 

For Grant's 9th, we celebrated at the movie theater. He invited his best friends. We saw Walk with Dinosaurs. We ate cake. 

I love him.

I love how Drew thinks he's one of the big kids. 

For Drew's 5th, we partied at the bowling alley. He was beyond thrilled to have all of his buddies from school there as well as Grandparents and cousins. Then he had a baseball game on his birthday

Sweetness x infinity

 

They are growing up so fast it hurts. But what are you going to do? 

Enjoy every moment. 

Be thankful everyday. 

Tell them they make you happy. 

Because they do. 

Thankful

11-25-13. Thankful that we have nearly made it through the coldest winter I can remember. 

Thanksgiving - Thankful for my wonderful in-laws. They are not really in-laws at all. They are family. 

Mom's birthday - Thankful for the most amazing parents. These two will do anything for you without thinking twice. 

Opryland Hotel - Thankful for these two healthy boys

Thankful for 4 generations.

Thankful that they still enjoy helping me make Christmas cookies. Yes, there is a soccer goal in the living room.

 Christmas Eve - Thankful for two sweet grandmothers. 

Thankful for four generations on my side too and so much extended family nearby.

Christmas Eve - Thankful they're mine.

Halloween 2013

This was the first year I talked the boys into coordinating their Halloween costumes. The second I suggested Mad Scientist, Grant was all about it. Drew had his heart set on being a ninja, but when I came home with the best Frankenstein costume ever, he decided he might be a ninja next year.

Grant, 8. Drew, 4

Day after  - sorting his loot 

Disney Part 2

Day 4 - Hollywood Studios. We were definitely wanting a day off by this day. I didn't have a "rest time" scheduled for this day, but we knew Hollywood Studios would be more relaxed than the Epcot and Magic Kingdom.

Again, we arrived at the park before it opened. We were at Toy Story Mania by 8:50am (10 minutes before the park officially opened!). Grabbed fast passes and were able to ride it again.

The boys loved Star Tours. I'll never forget the lady next to me couldn't get over how little Drew was and how much fun he was having on it. He had his hands in the air and was grinning the entire time. Grant loved it too, but was more concerned about the plot and how the story is different each time you ride!

Front row seats for Indiana Jones (code name 'Nancy').

 Erick was selected to be an extra. It was so much fun!

Lights, Motor, Action was another favorite especially when we saw McQueen. 

My hair after riding Rockin' Roller Coaster says it all!

Fantasmic was probably our favorite nighttime show even if we got a little wet.

Day 5 - Animal Kingdom. We were seriously considering postponing this day. We knew going in that 4 days straight at Disney theme parks would be exhausting. That's why we had planned all along to "recover" at the beach. But after checking the crowd predictor, which indicated much worse crowds for the following day, we decided to go for it. After all, it would be a shorter day and once again excitement would pull us through! 

Animal Kingdom ended up being our least favorite park. Maybe it was a little bit because of our exhaustion or the crazy crowds or maybe it was because we had recently been to the St. Louis Zoo. We had a blast no less. 

On Safari

 The boys hadn't planned on riding Dinosaur, but after Peyton said he would ride if they did, they both decided to be brave and give it a go. I don't think Drew let go of Peyton's hand until we boarded the ride. 

The gorillas were way cool. This one looked like it was starring right at us, but actually he was looking at his girlfriend behind us. You could see the whites of his eyes. 

Our last show. Finding Nemo

Having a blast with the whole family on Kali River Rapids!

You know the two people who go down first on the last drop get crushed with a giant wave? Well, that was Grant and Drew! They couldn't have been more excited.

Finally our rest and relaxation came on our last 3 days. We headed to Clearwater Beach. The water was beautiful except for a few stingrays. Danny stepped on one and was stung! We managed to avoid the hospital, but let's just say we are so grateful one of the boys didn't step on it. 

It was a perfect ending to a perfect trip. The boys are still talking about and can't wait to go back. When we got home, Grant made us each rank our top 3 rides. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad came in 1st. Recently, Drew made a wish with a coin in a wishing well. He told us he wished he could go to Disney World every day.

I wish I could go here everyday...