Sunday, March 30, 2008

Epcot














Sunday at Epcot- We had the Bought the Disney Meal Plan and had one quick service lunch, a snack and a nice sit down dinner to use each day- it turned out to be a very nice feature that we really enjoyed, we would not have gone to many of the fun and pricey dinners without it! As Breakfast was not included, most mornings we ate donuts, fruit, yogurt and muffins with milk and juice out of a cooler, it made it quick and convenient and the kids liked making in-room breakfast picnics on the floor with hotel towels. With some of us not feeling our best, we got a bit of a late start this day. After a morning dip in the Pop Century Pool, We arrived at Epcot around noon. We rode Spaceship Earth, Sorin and Mission Space. The kids loved Sorin and the three boys went a second time with Daddy. Epcot is a neat park with a focus on educational rides instead of just fun and thrills, but the kids still really enjoyed it. On the ride "living with the Land" the kids were glued to all the interesting things in the greenhouses as the boat passed through, as small as the kids were they still enjoyed these more educational rides. They liked seeing a pumpkin that was made to grow in the shape of a Mickey Mouse head. The Nemo and friends ride they kids loved as well, and in the aquarium at the end of the ride they learned all about Manatees and why they are an endangered species. At Epcot we bought a character autograph book and the kids had fun getting the signatures and their pictures with Many Disney characters like Mickey, Miney, Goofy and Chip and Dale. That night we ate at the Italian House in World Showcase. While we were waiting to get into dinner, we caught a street play; it was a spoof on Romeo and Juliet. I was pulled from the audience to be a cast member (The Jester); the kids thought it was funny! Every time the name Montague was said the audience made a hand gesture followed by a sort of farting noise, this was a favorite noise of all the boys for the rest of the trip, much to the adult’s dismay. This dinner was nice but still a bit on edge as we were all just at the end of the "Bug" and anything could still come up at any time. Brenner and Cayden loved the Round Fried Mozzarella and Noodles. As the Italian Restaurant was very nice and elegant, we were very grateful nothing "came up". Brenner did express that he did not like all the "Fancy Dinners" we were eating, this may have been partly due to the fact he likes junk food and also to daddy's obsession that he be on his best behavior at all times and the need for his napkin to be placed in his lap, he still does not understand the napkin thing. That night we caught the firework and Fire show called Illuminations, it was neat! This day the kids started to complain about all the walking, but for the most part were troopers for the trip! And as for the "Bug", the next day we all felt fine and were glad that it was just a 24-hour thing that did not destroy our vacation.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Magic Kingdom


Saturday at the Magic Kingdom- After a quick breakfast in our room, we were off to the Magic Kingdom. Lots of excitement to say the least! Grams and Pa had sent little coin purses with some money in them for each child to buy something fun, and this money was spent and spent again as the souvenirs piled up over the week, all the kids liked the many fun shops and felt that they needed something from each one they visited, and in the magical sprit of the moment, Mom's and Dad's found it hard to say no allot of the time! The first ride of the day was Pirates of the Caribbean, and the kids loved it. Brenner and Cayden had been to Disney Land two years before and seemed to remember many things, and enjoyed seeing some of the familiar rides, for little Mia on the other hand, everything was new! We did allot that first day, The Jungle Cruise, Swiss Family Tree House, the Tiki Room (this time Cayden was not scared of the lightning), Country Bear Jamboree, Aladdin’s Magic Carpets, Tom Sawyers Island, Splash Mountain (Brenner's first Thrill ride of many to come), Small World (Mia's favorite) and many others. After Taco Salads and Quesadillas for lunch in Adventure Land we caught a great parade and had Mickey Ice cream bars on the curb of the parade route. That night we rode the Monorail to the Grand Floridian and had dinner in the Cafe. The meal was good but stressful! Cayden caught a bug late in the day and with the help of Mommy, threw up in a garbage can outside of Small World and again at Dinner but this time all over Nikki. Brenner caught it on the bus ride back to the hotel and threw up in a garbage can on the way back to the room. There was speculation that they got sick from drinking water from a questionable water fountain on Tom Sawyers Island? Nikki and I had sick stomachs the following day and then the bug seemed to pass as quick as it came, thankfully without getting anyone in Cort's Family sick. The boys chose light up pirate guns in the pirate gift shop and had a pirate battle between the adjoining hotel rooms before they went to bed. Yo ho, Yo ho a pirates life for me!

Friday, March 28, 2008

Happiest Place on Earth










Disney Memories 2008 Friday the 28th of March-
Editor's note- The writing entries for the Disney portion of this blog came from Gentry's journal of the trip and it gets a bit wordy and long, but it captures it all!!!
The trip is finally here! Finally the time had come for our trip to Walt Disney World, as a Family we had been looking forward and planning this trip for months. It was going to be extra fun because Cortney and his family where going to join us in Florida. Nikki and I worked 1/2 days and we picked up the kids from school and daycare and left for Disney World around 2:00. The kids were very excited! We only stopped once for food and a potty break and arrived in Orlando about 9:00, Cortney and his family had arrived earlier and where at Disney getting in some rides when we arrived. We checked into the Pop Century Resort and went to get something to eat for dinner. Cort, Mandy Austin and Olivia soon met us at the hotel and the kids had a cousin reunion! Each cousin got a Disney package with a Mickey/Minnie Mouse T-shirt, Disney PJ's and some treats. It was great to see Cort's family again. After several hours of catching up, we made plans for the next day and went to bed. Disney Here We Come!!!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Soccer Anyone


Brenner started out not liking soccer very much the first year. Now he loves the game, and he is very good. I think Cay Cay is at the place Brenner was and I hope he turns around soon and will like it as much as brenner does, we will give Cayden a few more season to see if soccer is for him.




Brenner's always going for the ball.

Go for the ball Cay Cay!!
Cayden is a very good little soccer player, but his favorite things are the snacks and drinks at the end of the game and the sand box at the soccer field.
At the end of the soccer season they have a party and get a trophy. Brenner and Cayden are being silly and have the cupcake toppers in their mouths.


Sunday, March 23, 2008


Easter morning the kids were very excited to hunt for their Easter baskets. The easter bunny every year hides their baskets and they have to find them. Mia's was in the oven. It was a good thing Mommy didn't wake up early and make breakfast and turn the oven on by mistake and burn up Mia's basket.

Here comes Peter Cotton Tail

Easter 2008- We had dinner and an Easter egg hunt over at Patrick and Stephanie's house. It was lots of fun.













Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Scary Easter Bunny


I think this hands down is the scarest looking Easter bunny I have ever seen. Mia would not even get close to him. We had a Easter party in our subdivision and one of the teenage kids tried to dress up like the Easter bunny. As you can see it didn't work out very well. The party was still fun. We had an Egg hunt, snow cones, popcorn and of course prizes and candy for the kids.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Green, Green, Green, Everythings Green!



What a wonderful tradition that we continued that started with Claudia. Every St. Patrick's day we have the green dinner. We had green alfredo, green punch, green garlic bread and of course green cake. YUMMY!!


Friday, March 7, 2008

Cayden's fifth Lego Birthday Party


Cay Cay's
1st friend party. He had picked out small lego fire truck sets to give to each friend as a party favor and they all spent time "LEGO BUILDING". After LEGO Cookie Cake eating it was time to open the pile of pressents- Guess what.... More Legos!!!




Yes, we wrapped his presents like legos. How cute is that, and yes those are legos inside that box. Like he needs more legos.

Wow this is a cool cake.


There was no question what kind of party little Cay Cay was going to have. He loves his legos. His traditional cake was also easy to make, and he loved it as you can see. Our little Cay Cay is five years old. He has gotten soooooooo big!!!! We love you Cayden.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Happy Valentines Day!

I think this Holiday is one of the kids favorites. It must be all of the candy and love letters that the boys get from the cootie covered girls in their classes, who knows. Can you say sugar high. Brenner and Cayden are holding their Valentines boxes that they made at school. Mia lached on to a Singing Hallmark Dog that Grams sent in her Valentines package to the kids.