Monday, October 15, 2012

So grown

 Showing off their new Polo jackets.
Looking like such a big kid now!

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Big kids now

 The kids got real lace up sneakers last week. They can both now tie their own shoes, which isn't the same developmental milestone that it used to be since so many shoes don't have ties anymore. Nonetheless both Addie and Ben can tie. This morning I told Ben to look like "little Brian." Clearly the outfit had to consist of jeans, a preppy shirt and a smile.
 Is it just me or does he not look like he's 14? And he's TALL now too.
 Addie had to accessorize in her true fashion.
Such big kids now. 

Monday, October 8, 2012

Last bit o' Disney

We went to the Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party, which we've never done before. We had heard that most people arrive in costume and you're allowed to trick or treat around the Magic Kingdom all night. In reality, most people were in costume; you could run around long lines to go through a candy stop and you could wait with a thousand of your closest strangers to walk through dimly lit grounds. Overall, it's a once in a lifetime activity, but too crowded for us. 
Alas, we had to go in costume, because if anything, we're festive. Muddy had the idea and I was the executioner...we were the dancing brooms from Fantasia, complete with buckets.  All 11 of us!
 This is the only pic I have of it, the rest are coming on PhotoPass.  Most people thought we were scarecrows...whatever. It was one of those delayed,  "ooooh, now I get it" sort of reactions.
 While in Animal Kingdom we did the safari again, and got up close to many animals.  That giraffe is about 12 feet from our truck. 
 Addie got her first pair of dangle earrings. She chose Minnie Mouse. Here she is proudly displaying them while hugging Guppy at the Whispering Canyon Lodge, where we had lunch before the Halloween party.
 In a very uncharacteristic Disney happening, we were privy to a crane carrying goods for the new Fantasyland.  It's interesting for the most magical place on Earth, where things just magically happen, to actually see them doing work. I do remember when booking it that there was a disclaimer that pictures of Cinderella's castle would be obstructed with a crane in the picture. True story.  And just as fast as it was there, the next time it was gone. I had to snap a pic while I could. 
 We had gorgeous weather the whole week, with the exception of a massive thunderstorm on our last night in Magic Kingdom. That didn't deter my little ducklings, who were thrilled to tunnel through the rain puddles.
 I was the crazy lady trying to capture some pictures with her cell phone camera while trying to not have it get drenched.
 Clearly, because it's so magical, there had to be a perfect rainbow as the storm subsided.  That's Cinderella's castle on the left, looking towards Space Mountain's needle to the right. We were walking into Adventureland at this spot and I was the crazy lady who had to walk backwards to snap a picture while trying to not get drenched.
 We headed over to Big Thunder Railroad.  We had told the kids they could choose their top four rides to do, since we had dinner reservations at 8:25pm. Their first choice was Big Thunder Mountain. As we got closer to it, we realized it was shut down because of the lightening and thunder in the area. We decided to wait it out and within 15 minutes or so, it had reopened.  Funny story- while in line waiting for it to open, this couple from Oklahoma started talking to us. We made the obligatory small talk etc.  Once they opened the ride, we headed to the cue.  Since my daredevils wanted to ride together, Brian and I sat behind them.  In the car behind us was the couple from OK.  As the attendant came around to make sure we all were strapped in safely, the woman asks "why do we have to have a lap bar?" And it turns out that she thought she was in line for the train ride around the Magic Kingdom!! The attendant did a good job of explaining it's a roller coaster without any upside down flips. The woman toughed it out and said, "I took a deep breath on each hill." Too funny.
 As we were waiting for the shuttle to pick us up from the hotel to deliver us to the airport, the skies opened up again and it poured, ice cold rain pelted us and blew sideways.  Benjamin took cover under the bench, on the warm concrete ground. 
Our last day was spent at Hollywood Studios.  We went to the American Idol Experience, which is sooo Addie.  They chose her to be "the super fan" and to be filmed cheering on one of the contestants.  Luckily for Addie, her woman was INCREDIBLE.  
Ok, I think that's it for this trip, until the PhotoPass pictures come in.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Other Disney stuff

Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Amanda surprised us by wearing blue t-shirts, announcing they are having a BOY! The back of their shirts announced his name, with middle names in honor of both grandfathers. Pretty cool.  So Addie and Ben will be getting a female cousin in December, with Adelaide as her middle name, and then a boy cousin in January/February with Guppy's name as his middle name (well, ok, not "Guppy" but you know)
 Awkward while waiting for a 3-D show to start.
 At Animal Kingdom waiting for a parade to start. Look at that nutty man in the background.
 Hey! We're bugs (and I have psycho eyes apparently)!
 Cutie Benjamin, who had spiky hair that morning that got wet on the rapids ride and in turn looked like this the rest of the day.
 While riding the buses between parks, we commented on how big Ben and Addie are now. We all can clearly remember holding much tinier versions of them on these buses not so long ago. 
 Top Gun, eat your heart out.
 Uncle Jeremy, Bub, Aunt Amanda and LouLou
 Clearly this kid is living in the lap of luxury and he's got massive feet.
 Benjamin definitely ate his Wheaties this morning.  He's so strong.
 Waiting to go see some characters.
With Donald. 
We have other pictures from Photopass which will be here soon and also I have more on my cell phone that I'll have to upload.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

We went...

to Disney!!
 The kids had NO idea where we were going, since when we got on the airport shuttle I told the driver "US Air" and he asked "Domestic?" I replied "yes." So the kids were convinced we were going to "Domestic!" Even when we were on the plane en route to Orlando, Brian convinced them we would arrive in Orlando and then drive to Domestic. Addie even said, "I've never been to Domestic before!" It was quite funny. The lady next to me said, "Wow, your kids really trust you."
Once we arrived in the Orlando airport, I told them they had the wrong shirts on and gave them their Disney shirts.
Ten minutes later, Benjamin actually said to me, "Wait, are we really going to Disney or not?"
Once we arrived at the hotel and checked in, we hung out in the lobby for a little while...
 and then Addie and Ben were shocked to see some other family members! It was fun because I had Addie, Ben, Brian, Muddy and Guppy looking at my camera like I was trying to take a family picture when LouLou, Bub, Kate, Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Amanda all walked up!
 Big hugs all around.  
Our first rule of this trip was to do it...to head to Hollywood Studios to ride the only ride that Addie and Ben haven't been tall enough for until this trip...Aerosmith's Rockin Rollercoaster!!
 Outside, all ready to go in!
 They loved it, just as we knew they would.
 This was our third or fourth time (sorry my eyes are closed).
We had to replicate Ben's previous sticker-wearing infatuation too. 
This was a very successful first day in our surprise vacation!

A major surprise

each day since school has started, I've put a new word in the kids' lunch bag. Ultimately they each had a note that said:
"Addie/Ben, do you want to go with Muddy and Ben/Addie and Guppy and Daddy and Mommy somewhere fun?"
They opened the last word on Friday September 21.  On Sunday morning at 5:45, we whisked them away for a surprise trip...