Downtown Disney

At Downtown Disney, we got to eat and shop a little at some fun places. They had some bands playing, a carousel, and a train. The kids each picked out a toy...well Carter picked out a Buzz Lightyear and Averi got CANDY, of coarse. I got a new Disney ornament to add to our collection of vacation ornaments. Then one of the workers that was sweeping stopped and asked Averi, "Where is your crown?" She just looked at her. So she said, "Every princess needs a crown!" Then she started folding a park map and sticking it together with Mickey Mouse stickers to form a crown. Later she came back by and made Carter a pirate hat. So fun! My parents just spoiled the kids a little bit more before we headed home after a long, fun-filled day!

Day 3 - Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom was SO amazing! We loved the Safari, the Nemo Musical, It's Tough to be a Bug, the Jungle Parade, all the scenery, the Flight show, the Lion King, and the train to the petting zoo. Also, Adam, Dad, and I loved Expedition Everest...we have a great picture with me screaming for dear life. The safari takes you out on a large jeep-type vehicle and you drive right by all the animals. We loved each place they portrayed, like you walk through Africa then Asia, etc. and the music and food corresponds. The Nemo show was one of the best at all of Disney World. And the parade was very cool. The kids favorite was probably brushing all the animals at the zoo.

What do you do???

When you have been stuck in the house for 3 days? You eat a lot and you get creative! Especially when your 5 year old does not like tv! I was so prepared for the "Winter Storm of 2011" to hit...spent lots of money at United and checked out 10 DVDs from the library. So far the food has been great...the DVDs haven't been touched! We have played lots of basketball, had a bouncy ball parade, excercised, made lots of pictures and paintings, playdoughed it, dressed up in every costume we own, looked at loads of pictures, they helped me fold clothes, made some jewelry, read books, tried to teach Raider some new tricks (yes, teaching an old dog new tricks doesn't work as well), and made lots of yummy food. We have tried to play in the snow a few times but with a        -11 windchill, we don't last too long! And we tried to get out last night to go to dinner and the town looked like a ghost town. Nothing was open...even Target. This might be the longest I have been without going to Target ever. It has been over 2 weeks...whoa!
So for our yummy meals...we have had lots! We had mini meatloaf, chicken-n-dumplings, potato soup, Ritz chicken, Denver omlettes, Mexican food, sloppy joes to name a few. And desserts...Struesal pumpkin muffins in the oven right now (they smell so good!), brownies, smores, and Lemon pound cake with lemon icing. Along with our snow desserts...snow ice cream and snowcones! Yes...you will have to roll us all out of here when the snow melts! Cold weather puts me in the baking mood. I have also had a chance to work on Blurb books...trying to catch up from 2009!
It has been fun spending this special time with the kiddos. I cherish the moments. The dress-up pics are coming! Averi discovered she"fits" in Carter's clothes!

Day 2 - Hollywood Studios

At Hollywood Studios, our favorites were the Honey I Shrunk the Kids play yard...Adam said it was the coolest playground he has ever seen and I think the kids would agree! It has huge blades of grass, and roots, large bugs, a dogs nose that sniffs, large toys like playdough and tonka trucks. SO cool! Then we went to some great 3D shows, loved Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast. The Hollywood parade was fantastic. We ate at the Prime Time 50's diner, our waitress was Aunt Cindy and she told Adam he better take his hat off at the table. She was a mess! We saw how they do stunts and make elements of a movie. We rode the boat to the Boardwalk for supper. The boardwalk is so beautiful at night with all the lights on the water. Then we went back for the extra magic hours. Carter danced with all the characters at Disney playhouse. We got to ride the new Toy Story ride Midway Mania with no waiting time, twice! That was all of ours favorite ride. Then Adam took me on Tower of Terror...which I will never ride again! He told me it wasn't that bad...didn't mention the 13-story drop after numerous other drops. I didn't think that seatbelt was going to hold me in! Then we rode the Aerosmith Rockin Rollercoaster, that was fun! We closed down the park at 11! SO much fun, Hollywood Studios!

Honey I Shrunk the Kids play yard

Meeting Mickey

On the Boardwalk

Dancing with the characters!

Disney World

We just spent a week in Disney World! It was the most wonderful, couldn't have been any more perfect vacation. We have been hoping for this trip for such a long time...we were suppose to go 2 years ago when Carter ended up with the infection in his bone and so that trip was cancelled. We really wanted to take Carter before he started Kindergarten and Averi was a perfect age as well. The best part of the whole trip was watching their precious faces. They were wide-eyed from the moment we walked through the gates until we left.
Luckily, Adam is a big kid at heart too...not many kids have a dad that sings all the Disney songs with them! We also had a great last minute surprise. My parents decided to join us! My mom has ALWAYS wanted to go to Disney World so they came along for half the week. I have 800 pictures so...I'm going to post a few from each day, or you can look at them all on the album on the right. Does anyone use Picasa and know how to post more than four at a time?? This is our first day, we went to Magic Kingdom. We woke up at 4 AM, flight left at 7 AM, and we closed down the park at 11 PM.  Needless to say, Disney is NOT where you go if you want to relax. We went nonstop every single day. The kids did awesome. I was so surprised and pleased, they didn't have a nap, fight, or complain, WOW...it must be the happiest place on earth!
Some of our favs from the first day were the plane flight, of coarse, Carter & Averi's first one. They loved it! We walked into Magic Kingdom and the Street Parade was going on so all the characters and princesses were riding by on the floats. That was a great start! Then they loved the rides, Peter Pan, Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Buzz Lightyear, Averi's favorite...It's a Small World...she said, "Look, Mama!!" the whole way through. They loved the carousel which Adam doesn't ride because it spins around (although he will get on ANY roller coaster!). Then the Electric Parade and Fireworks Show were AMAZING! Tinkerbell flew down from the castle! Fun filled day 1!