Day 3: Animal Kingdom

Our Wednesday of vacation got off to an early start as we headed for Animal Kingdom. Unfortunately it was too early a start and we got there an hour before they opened because I'd mixed up their hours that day, but our gang graciously had good attitudes and when the park opened, we were there to witness it!

A highlight of that park was the Festival of the Lion King show, and even I was too busy watching every move to take any good pictures of it. Here are a few we did manage to snap:

We met Pocahontas...


Donald Duck...


and went on a real safari, complete with really bumpy roads and some good views of giraffes, crocodiles, elephants, ostriches, and hippos.


Here's a gorilla we'd seen walking through the wilderness trails before the safari.


SJ was most interested in playing with the "zips" on Grandpa's backpack during the safari!


Meeting Eeyore


Winnie the Pooh


and Tigger!


We ended our time at Animal Kingdom by watching the afternoon parade, which of course had its very own "wild" style to set it apart from the other parks' parades!


When we got back to the hotel, T and Grandpa took AG and LL to the pool for a while, and SJ was in bed by 6:15! With no naps every other day, we were all ready for an early bedtime so we could be ready to go again the next day.

Day 2: Epcot

Tuesday morning we headed to Epcot early and were greeted just inside the entrance by some of the lovely character sculptures, all created using shrubbery and plants, that were a special part of their annual Spring flower and garden event.

The girls and me with Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty


Cinderella and the Prince dancing in front of Spaceship Earth


Nana and SJ with Snow White and the seven dwarves (dwarfs?)


We rode Spaceship Earth, hit lots of rides and shows in the Land and the Seas (Soarin' and Turtle Talk with Crush were favorites!), and then went back to our rooms for some afternoon rest. We returned later and made a loop around the World Showcase, stopping to pose with Captain Hook and the TickTock Crocodile,


Lady and the Tramp in Italy,


then had a great dinner in Morocco. It was delicious, but we won't try to feed SJ couscous again soon! (We finally found something she won't just gobble right up!)


Finishing our loop, the girls saw Bambi and friends,


and then we found a good spot to watch Illuminations, Epcot's laser/fireworks show. Nana kept a wary SJ happy by talking her through the noise and teaching her to narrate the show for herself..."POP POP, BANG BANG, lights, pretty!"

Day 1: Magic Kingdom

Just a few quick stories about our drive to Orlando before jumping into the photos:

At the last minute we decided to leave on Saturday and spend a night on the way rather than drive straight through the whole way, as we'd originally planned. We made a stop at the Florida welcome center for a break on the way, telling the girls, "We're in Florida now!" As soon as we got out of the van to walk inside, LL said, "There will be lots of characters here!" (Thankfully she said this with excitement rather than fear. Can you tell we'd been trying to prep her for the parks since she is usually wary, or worse, of costumed characters?)

After our night en route, the girls knew we were headed to Disney World. First, however, we got in the van and drove around the hotel to the lobby for a quick breakfast before hitting the road. We'd driven no more than one minute, but as soon as we stopped, LL said, "Is this Disney World?!?" Clearly we could not get there fast enough!

So, finally, after arriving Sunday and a chilly evening swim, we started out big on Monday morning at Magic Kingdom. Here are some highlights:

The girls got a good look at the castle on the way in.


Meeting Cinderella's fairy godmother beside the castle (we didn't know we'd coordinated our outfits perfectly with hers!:)


Spinning in the teacups!


This is how SJ entertained herself (and us) while we waited to see Alice!


Everyone was excited to meet "the real" Alice!


Meeting Mickey and Minnie! SJ was fascinated, but kept her distance. In keeping with her other recent statements about gender issues, LL announced afterwards (with her hands on her hips), "I don't like boy Mickeys...I only like girl Minnies!" What a stage 3.5 is!


Riding the train with Nana and Grandpa before the afternoon parade


Another character encounter: Daisy Duck!


Following the parade, we went to storytime with Belle and got to meet her afterwards! LL's question was, "Where is your yellow dress?" Belle said the yellow dress was a very nice dress and she didn't want to get it dirty. All the "cast members" had the answer to everything...I guess you have to if you encounter very many 3-6 year olds!

Our "Magical" Vacation

We got home late Sunday night from a week at Disney World, and we've spent the last three days getting back into our real-world routine and chipping away at the mountain of laundry. We had a wonderful time, and I am looking forward to posting a few photos from each day in hopes that it will help me sort out the whirlwind of activity into some reasonable sections, as well as give those of you who are interested a little view into the fun.

The day we got there and checked into our hotel, we met Nana and Grandpa and took the girls to check out the pirate-themed kids' pool. They loved the water playscape with all the slides, fountains, and surprise "waterfall"!

All three girls enjoyed their first swim of the season! Can you tell that AG was cold in this one? The sun was going down and it got surprisingly cool before we left!


AG finding a way to warm up a little!


LL loved the waterslides!


SJ was a great splasher.


Day 1 in Magic Kingdom coming soon!

Our Big News!

It's about time to make an official blog announcement: We are expecting! Now at about 14.5 weeks, the baby is due on October 27 and all seems to be going well. I had an ultrasound a few weeks ago (at about 11 weeks) and it was great to see that little person, even the tiny fingers! It was a bit too early at that point to tell if we were seeing a little sister or brother, but we hope to find that out in June. T and I will be thrilled either way, though AG says she hopes for a boy and LL, a girl. (LL said, "AG, why do you like boys?") We feel so blessed and are thankful for this new life in our family. We appreciate your prayers and care for us, too!

April Scenes

The girls in their Spring/Easter pajamas...



AG riding the bike she got for her birthday...


LL and T before going on her 1/2 birthday date last week. She turned 3.5 on Thursday and he took her to celebrate at Chick-Fil-A. She was so excited and had been talking about it the whole day, and once she told me, "I'm going on a Daddy with my date!"


SJ looking at a book on the patio. She is growing up so fast! Last week at supper on night she gave me her cup and said, "Cup...walla...gont!" Pretty good way to tell me she needed more water, and we'll count that as her first sentence!

AG's 5th Birthday Party

Saturday we had a party at the park to celebrate AG turning 5!

The birthday girl!


Blowing out the candle on her quickly collapsing cake...


Playing on the slide with her friends...


SJ, the clover princess


Nana and Grandpa with the girls


Gran and PopPop with the girls


Pinata pick-up!

Happy Easter!

We hope you've had a wonderful day celebrating our risen Savior!

Here are the girls before church this morning:


Last week we all went to LL's preschool egg hunt. LL and AG romped around the yard and found some eggs, but don't let the photo fool you: SJ's favorite activity of the morning was playing in the cooler full of ice and drinks!

Eggs!

The girls had fun dying eggs last week. AG and LL did the coloring, dying, and stickering...





and SJ helped out with the breaking!