Disney Day Ten & Eleven

We slept until about 8:30 on Thursday.  I immediately started laundry.  It was time to think about packing.  The big boys spent the morning in the pool.  At noon, we left to visit a friend.  The 'quick' trip took longer than expected.  We were headed 'home' at 6:30.  We stopped for dinner, but the four year old got sick - so we headed back to the house.  I think it was sheer exhaustion (and maybe a little car-sickness).  Luckily, everyone was ok for the remainder of the night.

C and I didn't go to bed until about 11:30.  I didn't fall asleep until 1:30.  The 3:30 alarm, came far too quickly.  We managed to finish laundry, pack, and get out the door around 5am.  We were at the airport by 5:30; we arrived at the gate at 6:40.  It was only about 10 minutes before we were allowed to board the flight home.  By 7:20, the plane was taxi'ing down the runway.  Our trip to paradise was over.  We had all survived (C and I needed to get home - we were exhausted lol).  We were so proud of our three boys.  They were amazing little men.

My sister met us at the airport, as promised.  We arrived back at our home by noon.  We were pooped.  Later in the day, we ordered pizza and had friends over.  It had been a lovely trip but we were glad to be home.

Dorothy was right....'there's no place like home.'

Here are a few pics from the last leg of our journey....

Disney Day Nine

We woke Wednesday to a beautiful day.  It was our last day to visit the parks.  We were headed to where it all began....the Magic Kingdom.  Mom and Dad were joining us for the day.  It would be a wonderful day.

After arriving at the parking lot.  We procured a manual wheelchair to assist Dad in getting to the Ferry.  In the parking lot, we had noticed a large camper.  Outside of it, several adults were standing around a stretcher.  They were traveling with medical equipment.  We didn't make a lot of it; we simply noticed.

After a half an hour wait for the ferry, we could see the boat approaching the dock.  A woman gently hollered to gain the crowd's attention.  Her announcement indicated that a child from 'Make a Wish' was amongst us.  The request was simple: let him be the first to board the ferry.  The crowd was more than willing to accommodate this simple request.

The previously-noticed stretcher was wheeled onto the ferry first.  The young boy appeared to be between the ages of 7-10.  Numerous adults accompanied him, some wearing 'make a wish' buttons.  They traveled with tubes, oxygen, and the like.  People were teary watching this young man board the ferry to his dream come true.  We didn't know we would share space with a little king <3.

The Magic Kingdom was sensational.  We spent a better part of the day in one section of the park.  It rained, intermittently.  No one seemed fussed by it.  Before we knew it, it was nearing sunset.  It had been a beautiful, long, day indeed.  It was time to head 'home,' and so we did.

Thursday, we would focus on packing.

Friday, we were going home. 

Here are a few pics of our day.....

Disney Day Eight

Tuesday was another beautiful day.  We were excited about going to Epcot.  I couldn't wait to stand with my Dad, and watch the Illuminations fireworks/laser lights show at 9pm.

Unfortunately, Dad had overdone it the day before.  His foot was sore.  He made the difficult decision to stay home.  He hoped to join us for the Magic Kingdom, on Wednesday.

We were out the door by 11am....it would be a late night.  We were prepared, and excited! 

Epcot was as I remembered it.  We started out in the Epcot ball.... the adventure into space.  From there, we headed to the Dinosaur ride.  I wasn't concerned about the many reminders that "This will be a 37 minute ride, so if you feel like it may be too much for any member of your party, please exit now."  Piece of cake....so I thought.

About 7 minutes into the ride, Josiah had begun to fuss.  The bag of Nilla wafers would have helped.....but I had mistakingly left them in the bottom of the stroller, outside.  Pat-a-cake and hugs weren't working.  We were about 15 minutes into this dark ride; Josiah was now screaming.  He had crocodile tears!

C was frantically pawing through the diaper bag looking for any hidden treats.  Josiah took one sip of his water, then promptly threw it.  The Dorito was even less of a hit.  As I frantically tried to quiet Josiah, I looked around at Epcot's guests wondering how badly we'd be hated when the ride ended.....another 20 (or so) minutes away.

I'll tell you....when your child is screaming & disrupting other people (at a very expensive location), and you can neither exit nor stop them, tension starts to rise.

Due to a plastic spoon & a jar of baby food, I was able to feed Josiah (in the dark).  Though I missed most of the sights and sounds, I knew the glares would be minimal, at the end!  Lol.  I was never so grateful for a ride to end...

We went to lunch hoping to put Josiah in a 'good place'.  It was 3pm and Illuminations was 6 hours away.....it was the thing I looked forward to the most.  Josiah went into complete melt-down mode, during lunch.  I couldn't eat....too stressed out.  It was 4pm.  I announced, "It's time to go.  I can't deal with this!"

I was sad.  We made our way out of the "World Showcase."  We had eaten lunch in the USA so we were at the furthest point from the exit.  As we were crossing from the World Showcase into the 'front' part of the park, a kiosk caught the eye of our 7 year old.  Josiah was quiet (finally) so we agreed to stop.

The two older boys were given a play cell phone & asked to help save the world.  They were promoted to "secret agent" status and agreed to complete their assignment.  Josiah was still quiet and I remained cautiously optimistic about seeing the later show.  So.....we headed back into the World Showcase.

The boys had a great time traveling to the different countries, completing tasks (dictated by cell phone) along the way.  They had a blast!!!  We were so glad things had taken a turn for the better.

By 8pm, we staked out a good viewing location.  We hit the gift shop & returned the cell phone.  The big boys passed time playing with a third child.

At 9pm, Illuminations began.  It was everything I remembered & everything I hoped it would be.  Josiah was being an angel.  I was watching the show I had been anxious to see.  Yes, I was blessed.

By 9:30, we were heading for the car.  It had been a long day.  Everyone was tired but happy :)

Here are a few pics....

Disney Day Seven

Monday morning ushered in pure, and unadulterated, sunshine!  It was our originally-scheduled-travel-home-day.  I couldn't be happier that we were there to stay.  We were headed to the Animal Kingdom & Mom and Dad were joining us!

Upon arrival, we successfully procured Dad an electric scooter.  He was delighted!!!

We enjoyed great rides, fantastic atmosphere, and superb shows!  By 2pm, we were hungry.  Josiah was starving!  So, we headed for the gates.  The 4 year old had been asking for days; now it was happening.....Rainforest Cafe for lunch.  This would be the second, and final, time.

We enjoyed a leisurely lunch and browsed the gift shift.  Despite the early hour of 4pm, the thoughts of home (and the pool) proved too tempting.  We bid adieu to the Animal Kingdom, and headed home.

Tuesday, we were going to Epcot!

Here's a few pictures from our day....

Disney Day Five

We woke Saturday morning to raindrops falling on the pool cover.  Luckily, the forecast wasn't calling for a washout.  It would clear by noon.  Mom and Dad were planning on staying in, to nurse Dad's foot back to health.  We were headed to Universal Studios!

We arrived there around noon.  The lines were long, and slow.  It rained intermittently.  It took over an hour (and more money than I care to admit), but we were finally passing through the gates.

I had last visited Universal about 20 years ago.  Back then, there was one park.  Now there are two: Islands of Adventure & Universal Studios.  Not sure of the difference, we headed to Islands of Adventure. 

We visited the worlds of Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Dr. Seuss, and various super heroes.  We ate at a comics cafe and dodged raindrops.  It was 5:30pm by the time we headed to the 'other side.'  Yes, that was the Universal I remembered.  With only an hour until closing, we rode ET (twice) & drank milkshakes, before seeing the 7pm fireworks show.  A real rainbow even appeared in the sky before being swallowed by darkness. 

By 7:15pm, we were headed to the car.  It had been a long, expensive, day.  We had fun!  We would hit Hollywood Studios (formerly known as MGM) on Sunday.  I was so glad we extended our vacation.

Here are a few pics of our day.

Disney Day Three

Thursday was a lazy day at Disney.  We awoke to cold rain.  It was mid-50's with no indication of sunshine.  I was already yearning to stay longer :)  With Dad's injured foot, and inclement weather, it was going to be a chill out kind of day.

Josiah caught up on some much needed sleep.  The boys played in the pool.  Everyone enjoyed extra relaxation.  We nibbled for much of the day.

In the late afternoon hours, we get ready and headed for Downtown Disney.  Our destination: Rainforest Cafe (and perhaps, a little shopping lol).

When we arrived, Dad sat in the van while we shopped in a Disney store.  Then, off to the Rainforest.  Given the 70 minute wait time provided for the family ahead of us, we were delighted to be seated immediately..... it must have been the party of 7 that was to our benefit.  As always, the food was excellent!  The company, unrivaled.

We couldn't leave Downtown Disney without stopping by the LEGO store.  There were a lot of expensive choices thus we were ecstatic when the boys picked LEGO keychains.

We were quickly in the van and headed home.  The boys enjoyed another dip in the pool, then bedtime commenced.  Oh, Monday was coming to quickly....we haven't done enough yet.

Disney Day Two

At 2am, I was awakened by a sound I knew all too well.  Josiah was sick.  Why was he sick?  How long would it last?  I didn't know.  Luckily, I whisked him out of bed and subsequently saved the bedding.  We weren't up long.  We cleaned Josiah up, and were tucked back into bed.  It was a restless night; Josiah made little noises all night.

He slept until 10am.  An immediate bath was needed.  We stripped the bed, bathed Josiah, and fed him breakfast.  He still didn't act 'right' but was better.  Our initial plan of attack: no dairy!  My Dad had hurt his foot the night before, jumping into the pool.  Josiah was questionably sick.  It was cold and rainy.  We made an early decision to stay home for the day.

At noon, Josiah decided to take a nap.  The big boys stayed home with the guys.  Mom & I escaped to buy crutches & do a little grocery shopping.  We returned around 3pm.  The big boys were happy and Josiah was just waking up.  Dad was fitted with crutches.  We were in for the duration of the day.

When Josiah awoke, he seemed 90% better.  Dad was mobile again & all was well.  We enjoyed a home cooked dinner, watched tv, and hung out in the heated pool.  Life was good & we were blessed indeed.

Josiah went to bed at 8:30, a happy boy.  The big boys went to bed at 10pm.  We followed suit at 11:30pm.  I fell asleep grateful for my beautiful family & the life we have.

Here are a few pics from our day....

Disney Day One

Tuesday, we were up by 9am.  We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at home.  We headed out around 10:30.  A twenty minute ride brought us to the first parking lot.  A bus brought us to the front; a ferry brought us to the other side.  Excitement crept in.  We disembarked at our final destination: The Magic Kingdom.

The sights, sounds, and smells remind me of childhood.  Everything is different yet it has stayed the same.  Perhaps that is part of the magic....

It was a great day!!!!  We waited up to 30 minutes per ride, which was longer than I would've expected for January.  We enjoyed jungle rides and were transported into other magical worlds.

It was a long but incredible day.  The boys were great!!!

It was 8pm by the time we headed for the gate.  Catching part of the firework display on the way out, we were determined to beat the larger crowds out.  We were on the ferry, headed for the parking lot, as the firework display ended.  Mission accomplished!

As we boarded the bus for the parking lot, Josiah threw up.  Grateful for a beautiful day, I was reminded that nothing is guaranteed.  I rode 'home' hoping Josiah was just exhausted.  I knew the morning yogurt could've played a role.  I was praying the stomach bug had not returned.

Only time would tell....

Here are a few pics from the day.

We're Off; Josiah's First Trip

The alarm was set was 3:30am; I needed time for a wake up shower.  This has been in the works for a year....I mustn't oversleep.  We all got through the stomach bug last week.  Nothing can stop us now!!! 

Bed at midnight.  3:30 alarm.  Hit snooze, twice.  In shower at 3:50.  Already running late.  Awaken big boys at 4:15.  Already feeling behind.  By the time I get to Josiah's room, it's 4:30.  My sister is arriving at 4:45.

I had (basically) packed.  I still had my list of last minute items though.  The boys were great!  They were tired.  They were excited, even if they are not yet sure why.  We were out the door at 5:30am.  Traffic was light.  It was a nice ride in. 

We were checked in early, played in a great kids play space, ate breakfast, and prepared to wait.  Josiah was cranky and unwilling to eat.  As his crankiness grew, so did my fear of how I would be loathed at the end of these coming hours.  Only time would tell.

We boarded.  Josiah had his own seat, complete with the CARES belt (FAA approved) - that is an ingenious invention, I must say.  The big boys settled in to their own soft leather seats.  Our exciting adventure was about to begin.

The pilot said good morning.  Normal procedures were discussed.  The flight took off without incident.  My early fears were laid to rest as Josiah happily accepted a bag of potato chips.  The boys watched Nickelodeon, followed by "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2."  Josiah napped on my lap for the last hour or so.  I buckled him back into his seat.  The first leg of this adventure was nearing it's end.

We disembarked, walked, took a shuttle, and quickly found grandma and grandpa.  They were so very excited.  I shared this adventure with my grandparents when I was five.  Now my boys are doing the same. 

We drove, ate, swam, and relaxed.  It had been an exciting, but long, day.  The boys keep asking what it will be like.... I tell them they can't even imagine :)

Here are a few few pics from Day 1.

Holidays and Happy New Year

It seems that Halloween ends and Christmas becomes this Mama's focus.  Do I have my list?  What am I going to buy for everyone?  How much should I spend on each person?  Etc.  Yes, Christmas definitely becomes a focal point in this house.

Thanksgiving was beautifully spent with family.

Two days later, a little elf arrived at our house.  This was to be our new family tradition. We read the book (the boys had already seen the tv special).  The boys set out on their task of naming our little elf.  Before long, the name "Stinky Chips" was chosen.  Stinky Chips was a good little elf.  He didn't get into much trouble and was only touched once by our oldest (age 6, at the time).  An emergency intervention gave Stinky Chips back his magic and the rest of his time here was without incident.

Yes, Stinky Chips helped pass the time awaiting Santa's arrival.  We did a lot (most) of our shopping online this year.  Gifts simply arrived at our doorstep.  We wrapped and labeled them.  It just seemed the easiest thing to do.  The oldest is in 1st grade, has almost-nightly homework, and karate 3x per week.  The middle child is in 1/2 day preschool, and is a whirlwind of activity in his own right.  Josiah has EI 2x per week, OT 2x per week, Speech 2x per week, and playgroup 1x per week.  After adding in random doctor's appointments, errands, etc, there hardly seemed time to shop.  Online shopping saved my sanity.

In the middle of Holiday preparations, we decided to plan a trip.  My parents are going to Florida in 2014 and asked us to join them for a portion of the trip.  So, after searching for the perfect price (which doesn't exist), we purchased airfare for us to fly to Florida.  Disney is the destination.  2014 holds something fun to look forward to....

We managed to keep the upcoming trip a secret....until Christmas Eve.  Then, we told the boys.  They are excited as kids can be who have no idea what to expect.  I am excited for them.  They are going to love it.

For the third Christmas Eve, we celebrated at my parents home.  We read the same story that has been read to my family since 1873.  We opened gifts from those would not see the next day.  We ate great food.  Once the older traditions were complete, we wrote messages on balloons to Scott (my beloved brother), formed a circle on the back deck (each with a hand on the balloons), played "We'll meet again" (Inkspots), wished Scott a Merry Christmas in Heaven, and released the balloons.  

The next day, we celebrated at our own home.  It's always fun when the big boys run downstairs to tell us that Santa Claus has visited our house.  We spent the day opening gifts, preparing (and eating) dinner, and visiting with family.  It was a lovely day.  Josiah was particularly fun this year.  He's two.  He's a fun age for a Christmas celebration.

Though I usually enjoy leaving my tree up, this year it only lasted a couple days into the new year.  Beneath the branches, had become a 'dumping ground' for all the opened but yet-to-be-put-away gifts.  Josiah had also become a master at pulling on those aforementioned branches.  We had a dumping ground under a very tilted tree.  Yes, it was time for the tree to go.

As the new year approached, one more test had been passed.  We made it through the month of December without RSV.  This is the first year Josiah has made it through the month of December without RSV and a resulting trip to Children's. 

Happy New Year!!!