Disney Magic

You know how I hate blogs that are way sappy? Well, I have to apologize to myself for being so positive, but this trip was so great I don't know how to bring it down to a tolerable level. So, bear (bare?) with me? While it was short, we got a lot accomplished and I feel full of Disney magic. I will take you in order of events. First, we left Thursday afternoon to drive to Tallahassee and spend the night. We planned to stay with Betsy and Gavin in Tallahassee, but Elise got sick so we got a hotel instead. The DVD player purchases specifically for this trip was its own set of magic. Best money ever spent and will continue to be.

We left early Friday and got to Orlando around 1:00. Glenn and Beth have a great condo! We took a walk around the lake by their condo first and tried out Bake's new shades. He left them on for 2.3 seconds.We headed out for Downtown Disney!

Baker got to ride a few rides to get warmed up for the parks. This is his first carousel ride. Izabelle kept saying "Ride Em Cowgirl" and "Giddiup" and Baker kept trying to repeat it too. Very cute!Attacking Donald and Daisy. Please notice Izabelle on Daisy's back.After Downtown Disney, we headed back for a delicious dinnner. Beth is an awesome cook (yes, I know you are reading this, but its true) She even made a Ho-Ho cake. Best.cake.ever.

We got up bright and early Saturday to head to Animal Kingdom. First stop: Safari. Bake was ready!

This giraffe was SO close.I have to say one of our favorite things was this "Festival of the Lion King" show (imagine that) but we were very impressed and entertained. Baker was glued to it. They make it interactive which is fun. It's very high energy the whole time. Fun for all ages. We also went the the Finding Nemo Show which was also great. I was relieved that Baker liked both and paid attention versus trying to get down, ect.Worn out after a few hours.

Let me point out that we did the Bug's Life in 3D and I do not recommend this for children under the age of 5. I was kind of scared and Baker would have been if he had been paying attention. This was the last thing we did at Animal Kingdom so he just wanted to stand up which was fine, b/c it was pretty intense. If you do not like bugs, DO NOT DO THIS.

Other high points at AK were Expedition Everest, Dinosaur, Finding Nemo, Dinosaur ride for kids, The Boneyard (playground that Baker was obsessed with. Thank you Glenn & Beth for chasing him in this playground while we rode Dinosaur)

Let me also point out that we only had to wait in line for ONE thing the entire time thanks to Fast Pass and Baby Swap. It helps to have people with you that know what they are doing!

We ended up getting to go to Hollywood (we all know its actually MGM) which was a nice surprise for us. I LOVE Tower of Terror and Rock N' Roller coaster. So, while Baker napped (again) we got to ride the big kid rides.Waiting in line for Toy Story Mania. Such a fun idea!

We put in a full day and really got to do/see alot at both places. I couldnt have been more pleased with everything. The weather was great, crowd wasnt too bad, Baker behaved so well, and we packed in ALOT of fun. Sad for the trip to come to a close, but we got to stop in Tallahassee to see these fun people!

I can't wait until Baker gets a little older and can really appreciate Disney and all of its wonder. I predict we go again at 4 or 5? It was indeed a very successful first trip though.

17 months and a trip

My sweet, precious, opinionated, hilarious baby is 17 months old today. Man, I love him.

We do not give him enough credit for how smart he is. He reminds me daily though. For example: The dishwasher was opened and empty. He picks up the silverware tray (empty) and then goes over the the silveware drawer and points at it as if to say "Shouldnt there be some of those in here?" I had no idea he knew where we got the silverware from.

So, in honor of his 17 months, we are going to DISNEY! Not really for his birthday, but wouldn't it be neat if we could do that for random birthdays? Anyway..here is the deal.

Glenn, Beth and Izabelle are living in Orlando until May and have graciously invited us to come stay. We really didnt think we could find a weekend until the end of May (sadly) that we were completely free, except this coming weekend. So, no time like the present, eh? We're doing it!

So, we are going from Thursday to Sunday. With a baby, we knew it wouldn't be wise to try to visit several parks so we decided to pick one. Animal Kingdom. Plus we want to be able to hang out with G, B & I as much as possible too.

I've been to Disney several times, but never Animal Kingdom. We think Baker will enjoy it the most because of the animals and such. It just so happens that I work with a guy who worked at Animal Kingdom and got us free passes! YIPPEEE!! I am pretty cheap so this almost free trip sounds AWESOME!

We shall see if the 8.5 hour drive will be easy with a toddler..ha.ha.ha. No worries I have my priorities straight. DVD player bought specifically for this trip- check. Carseat tray bought specifically for this trip- check. New toys- check. Bendadryl- check. (jk..or am I?)

In not as exciting news: The weekend was nice with the hot weather. Zoe got a HUGE inflatable beach ball that you connect to a hose and it squirts water out all directions. Baker laughed then cried, laughed then cried and it was over. Great for Zoe, not for Baker.

He did drive us around all weekend.

And last, I made something. Be very impressed.

Shirt- Hobby Lobby- $2.99

Iron ONLY applique- $3.00

However, they suggest adding a stitch around the edges anyway if you plan to wash it. Come on! Whats the point in "IRON ONLY" if I have to stitch it too?

Down by the river on a hanky pank...

We had a lovely little country Saturday this weekend, filled with family, four wheelers, fires, seafood, beer, boats and yeah..thats what it was.

I have a lot of fun with my extended family and I love that we still get together with aunts/uncles/cousins because once you get older I could see how easy it would be to stop getting together since we are starting our own families. There are 8 grandkids on my mom's side and Nathan and I are the only ones with kids yet. My grandmother (Honey) has a birthday in March and so do some cousins so we met at the "farm", which is down by the river, for a good time.

My grandparents have about 500 acres in Autaugaville and a place right there by the river bank. I remember going there some as a child, but we didn't go much. My uncle now redid some things and made it their place and my other uncle put his own trailer next to it. Don't worry, some things will never change...like the patio furniture.

I have to admit I had a few nightmares beforehand about taking a 1 year old because of the drop off into the river...

Me, Anna, Abby & Jamie

Nightmare #2- Guns. The guys (and girls) on this side of the family are not afraid to hunt or shoot a gun. I am TERRIFIED of guns. I knew they would have them out (and they did) and Baker does not know about gun safety yet.

Nightmare # 3- Dogs. Now, I am not totally afraid of Baker being around big dogs, but there were 6 dogs there between everyone and most of them are big. You just never know when a dog will snap at a curious toddler.

So anyway, I basically never left Baker's side and it was fine. He had a ball!

If you look closely, you can see B Dozen chit chatting with Jamie.

Hayes was there too! Whats great about this picture is that we have a similar picture when Claire and Cameron were this age, I was 3, with our Grandaddy in this very same chair. Priceless.

Anna likes to tell stories...

We had a TON of crawfish and other fixins. I didnt realize at a crawfish boil, you basically eat "trough style". It was fun.

All the girls
Brent was cold so he wore his hood and everybody kept saying he looked like a drug dealer. For the record, he is not.

I rode a four-wheeler for the first time since high school when my neighbor Jason had one and my parents would make me wear a helmet. I was always so mad that they made me wear a helmet, but as I was riding I thought "Baker will be wearing 3 helmets and bubble wrap. Good call parents.

It was another great time with family. I hope we still get together when all my cousins have kids. Right now I don't think they understand why its hard to bring babies around..

Good times ahead...

Just a sneak peek of the weekend:

Brent and I are long overdue for a date night. So, we took advantage of a recent Groupon (which I totally love by the way) for Chuck's Fish. I've been looking at their menu all day.

http://www.chucksfish.com/Chucks_Fish/Welcome.html

I am going to get to see this little guy on Saturday!

And my friend Betsy as well for Girl's Night in Birmingham! Meg & Katie too, but they live in Birmingham. Bets is coming from the Hass.

We are also pretty pumped about our new summer sandals. I failed to get Baker some Saltwater sandals last year because he wasn't walking so I thought it was a waste. These sandals just remind me of my childhood and I think they are precious. I'm thinking of getting them in red also.

Hope you have something fun going on too!