Magic Kingdom

We finally made it!  Our first park was Magic Kingdom.  It's the biggest one with the most to see.

It was quite an adventure just to get into the park.  We parked in the parking lot, then had to ride a ferry across the water to get to the actual park.  It felt like forever but it was worth the wait to get there.  Of course the boys enjoyed riding the boat.

This was right inside the park.  Lots of photo ops!  The boys were oh so excited.  ;-)

Nice and sunny.

Ethan took this one so the angle wasn't quite right...

Family photo while waiting for a show.

Once again I didn't ride Aladdin.  I don't ride anything that spins...even if it is a kiddie ride.  Hey, someone has to take the pics!

Watching Lady and the Tramp while waiting for lunch at Tony's Italian Restaurant.

Food looked scrumptious...but it wasn't.  I wouldn't recommend it.  And we're big italian eaters.

Ethan trying to pull the sword from the stone.

Caleb trying to pull the sword...(no it didn't actually move)



Waiting to see a Monster's Inc show in 3D.



It was really funny.  The characters interacted with the audience.

Checking out some of the awesome scenery.  See Rapunzel's castle in the background?  :-)

This is one of my favorite rides, the Jungle Cruise.  It's a big boat that rides through the Amazon type jungle and has a comdian type boat captain.  It's full of fake animals and people but it's pretty entertaining.





Having a little snack of popcorn and Sprite.  His all time fav.

I tried the pineapple ice cream concoction that everyone from home was raving about.  It was pretty tasty! 

They finally agreed to a few pics.  I'm sure I had to threaten them with something to make them take a pic! ;-)

Waiting in line to ride Buzz Lightyear.  It's a little lame-o but Caleb likes it.  It's got nothing on the Toy Story ride at Hollywood Studios.  But more about that ride in another post...

Inside the ride.  It's a laser game where you shoot tiny laser guns at the little "z's" hidden throughout the ride to get points.

So, Caleb was big enough to ride Space Mountain this year...again Momma's wishes.  I asked him a million times if he wanted to and he said yes.  I told him Daddy wouldn't be able to hold him, that it would go super fast, and that most of it would be in the dark.  He still said he wanted to do it.  I can't ride it because of my motion sickness so I waited in line with them until they were about get on then I went to the bottom and waited.  And waited.  And waited.  I seriously almost had a panic attack thinking about my tiny baby freaking out in the dark on that giant ride or flying out of his seat.  I waited about 20 minutes then finally saw them fly by me and barely caught his pic.  He looked freaked but he wasn't crying.  He said he didn't like it.  He said, "I do NEVER want to do that again!"  Score one for momma.  ;-)

I got the joy of riding these cars with him.  It was like the "old timey cars" at 6 Flags that run on that metal strip.  I pushed the gas and he steered...sort of.  It was pretty much bang!  Bang!  Bang!  All along the track until I couldn't take it anymore and took the wheel.  He wasn't very happy about it but I thought my back was gonna snap!  I think I'll ride with Ethan next time!

Crazy boy.

We stayed late for the Mickey's Merry Christmas party.  The kids had fun dancing with other kids and characters. 

There was a new Little Mermaid ride this year.  It was really pretty.  It's pretty surprising that there is a new ride from a movie that came out so long ago.  Just shows you how popular it is!

This was over in the newer area that we really didn't get to see much of.  This wasn't a ride, just a place for pics.  We had to run back over to the main entrance beacuse the firework show was about to start.

Spectacular firework show before the Christmas parade!

Love seeing the castle all lit up!  Beautiful!!

A little Christmas musical show outside of the castle.

Christmas parade!  Way too many awesome floats to take pics of.  I decided to soak in the moment with the kids instead.  :-)

Ethan showing off his new Mickey hat.

"We're so tired!  Carry us to the car!"  At this point I think it was pretty close to midnight...

...and they were out like a light!  Poor tired critters!


Next post...Epcot!

Downtown Disney

Our first trip to Disney World two years ago was very planned out.  We stayed at a Disney hotel, did the Disney meal plan...just Disney'ed it up.  ;-)  So we decided this year to go totally opposite.  We stayed in a nice Embassy Suites down the street from Disney World and did all of the dining on our own and rented a car.  We were surprised that the kids loved the "E" hotel (as they called it) more than the Disney hotel we stayed in before!  I did miss a little of the "Disney magic" of staying on property but it was nice to come and go as we pleased and not worry about waiting on shuttles.  We are undecided about what we will do the next time we go but I suspect we might stay at the "E" hotel again.  ;-) 

  The first day we got to Disney World we didn't have a full day to go to a park so we decided to go to Downtown Disney.  We had plans to go there the last time we were at Disney World but then Mondo got sick with the plague so we had to cancel those plans.  We had heard a lot about the downtown area but didn't really know what it was.  We actually went the first and last night we were there so these pics are from both of those nights.

We ate at Planet Hollywood for the first time.  The kids loved it!  Lots of things to check out.  And yes, I know we have those in Texas too.  ;-)

The boys were newly into Legos which was perfect timing.  There was a big Lego store in Downtown Disney.  There were some amazing displays inside and outside of the store. 

I mean, seriously, how long did THAT take to put together?!  Is it really ALL Legos??

Caleb is still a huge Toy Story fan.

The second night we were there we ate at T-Rex which was like Rainforest Cafe but Dinosaur style.  It was pretty cool.  This was the waiting area where the kids could dig for fossils in the sand.  I'm glad there was a soap and water station to wash their hand when they were done!

Inside the restaurant.

That was an actual person.  I don't know what he was covered with.  Every now and then he would change positions or put his hand on someone's shoulder.  Very weird.  Caleb thought it was the coolest thing.

This was in one of the stores.  Caleb loves Peter Pan and the Tick Tock Crock.

These nutcrackers were walking all through the downtown area dancing and interacting with people.

Playing with puppets.

Oh this store and the money we could spend....

My kids arent's into Mr. Potato head but if they were.....

Chewy!

I don't remember why Ethan was not happy in this pic.  I'm sure he was tired of posing for pics.

So strange to be in shorts around all of the Christmas stuff!

Cowboy Game!

It's shameful to say, but I've only been to one Cowboy game in my life.  You'd think living so close to a stadium we'd go more often!  I finally had the chance to go with Mondo on Thanksgiving day!  I'm not a huge sports fan but I was excited to go and see the new stadium.  I drive by it all the time but I've never been inside.

I was pretty excited that it was enclosed.  Especially since it was a little nippy outside.  It was pretty amazing!

We had some nice seats to be able to enjoy the view.  But like most people, I found myself watching the big screen more than the actual field!

I do make it into an occassional picture from time to time.  ;-)

It's not only nice on the inside, but on the outside too!  It was a great date night alone with the hubby.  :-)

Thanksgiving Day

We went to my Aunt Nita's for Thanksgiving.  We travelled super far...all the way to Arlington.  ;-)  It was great to be together with all of the family.  And it was extra special for my parents to be there since they missed it the year before with all of their surgeries!

For once, a decent family photo!

Mom, her two sisters (Nita & Melinda), and her cousin Jimmy (Aunt Lou's son).

My parents.  :-)

All of the kids had a great time playing outside.  The weather was nice so they pretty much stayed outside the whole day.  That always makes it nice because the adults can actually hang out and visit!

Thanksgiving Feast

A few days before Thanksgiving break, the kids had a "Thanskgiving feast" at school.  It's really not much of a feast but a trip through the lunch line.  ;-)  But lots of parents come and eat with their kids and they get to sit wherever they want in the lunch room so it's always fun.

My little pilgrim.

First time ever through the lunch line!

"You don't expect me to eat this do you??"  No, I packed him a lunch.  ;-)

My big boy.  Too old to get to dress up for the feast.  :-(

Of course he's a profession at going through the lunch line.  And he likes the nuggets so no packed lunch for him.  :-)

Birthday at the Ranch

In November, we celebrated by birthday and our friend Levi's birthday at his parent's ranch in Cisco.  We went with a few other couples and had a great time.  We shot guns, sat around a campfire, and grilled out.  Just a relaxing overnight stay...without kids.  ;-)

This is the entrance to their ranch.  They've really done a great job taking a piece of land and turning it into a weekend get-a-way!

Mondo had an awesome time shooting guns.  It's not really my greatest past time.

I posed for a picture with an arrow...that I never actually shot.

My pal Scott showing me how to shoot a gun.  I had no intention of shooting anything but everyone insisted I had to shoot one once and that I would like it.

They were wrong.  That little gun had a huge kick to it and I'm pretty sure I wasn't holding it right.  I hated it and only shot it once.

We ate dinner around the camp fire and told old stories.

Mondo, Levi, and Scott.  So great to have lifelong friends.  :-)