Mickey Mouse Hugs

We made it!  We flew in yesterday, and were sooo tired.  We had a very late night, but Today.  Today, we hit it hard. : )  Woo-Hoo, we love Disney!

We thought we were beyond this...but No.  He isn't so much a walker.  And All-Day Walker.

And we got to see the (old) HSM cast singing Determinate-one of the songs we just bought on iTunes! : )

Not bad, huh?  First shot!  They are figuring me out.  Get it right the first time, and done!

We split up: Ches went to get Fast Passes to Toy Story Mania, and we headed over to Tower of Terror!  But we stopped by Sorcerer Mickey for a picture with Disney's colorful creation (with God's help)!

Oh my, he's grown up!!!  This is us inside Tower of Terror ; )

Love that we can all ride scary rides together!  A super sweet girl gave us her fast passes since she wasn't going to use them! : )

And next?  Aerosmith's Rockin' Roller Coaster!  This is our usual path.  We don't deviate. ; )

Waiting to get on the roller coaster : )

Oh-my-goodness!  He's big enough to ride Tower of Terror--AND wanted to go on!!!

But.  Chicken'd out and hid.  I was absolutely okay with it..I was secretly scared for him to get on there!

Instead...we shopped around while we waited on the big kids.  Here are the gummy suckers I want.  Please.

Then while they rode the Rockin' Roller coaster one more time, I took Ethan to the Beauty and the Beast show.  The costumes were amazing, and we really liked it!

The big finale. ; )

He was sad I had no coins.  No coins = no wishes.  He thinks.

And then..some shopping.  He wanted this giant Buzz hat.  And Ches wanted to GET it for him.  Ha.

A frozen lemonade and some sequined Minnie ears.  What's better?

Next, we fit in some characters.  And while convincing Ethan to be really good..he shared how he could fit his fist in his mouth.  So proud of him.

Love. This. Mickey.  He hugged my kids like he hadn't seen them in a whole YEAR! : )

And this is AWFUL-I have a super-low chest with a strapless bra.  I'll certainly be doing better next time.  I'll have more Support.  (Ethan was trying to be a ninja.)

We love you, Incredibles!

And we had music and art lessons.

Tried to go back to Toy Story Mania, fast passes were out for the DAY by 10.  The wait was 55 minutes and jumped to 70 while we were debating the wait!

Then..on to see the Cars again!

..but apparently they are the latest or greatest anymore?  They had Lightning McQueen and 'Mater covered up, and Phineas and Ferb are coming!

(Yes, Ethan is in the stroller!)  We are now at the Muppet Theater.  They are not excited, but they've gotten to do big kid stuff, and there's a Trade Off.

Ethan taking aim at Gonzo.

Hahahahaha!  I need a Strap-On Breath Deflector.  and an Anvil Repair Kit.  For when mine breaks.

Want your helmets with or without fungus and mold?

They are so excited!  It's PlayTime!

With the girl in the black shirt!! No, no, no (I failed to crop-I'm in a hurry!)...at Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set!

She's been shrunk!  She's bug-sized in the backyard!

Obviously there's a time gap, but here is Ethan sprinting to the car!  Can you believe my digital camera caught his feet-BOTH off the ground!?

More time gaps..we had an hour of "Reception" at the hotel (including margaritas, fresh chips, pretzels, Chex Mix, goldfish, popcorn), and yes, it was pre-dinner.  Then dinner at Olive Garden, then Swimming!

More time gap..we swam till Late!  They started the huge movie outside on the screen..I'm telling you, I have to have a projector-So Cool!!

What a wonderful day.  The best parts: Clay kissing Ethan's head on the way back from the bathroom at dinner.  Just a sweet kiss as he walked by.  How grown up the big kids are-chasing Ethan down for us.  Ethan wanting me to hold him when he got a blister at the playground on the "web".  Ches being willing to man the stroller and piles of stuff while we rode rides.  Riding the coaster and feeling like the third (or is it fifth?) wheel when Clay and Mary Claire rode together and me behind them.  They are outgrowing me! ; )  Ches kind words to me, the kids doing their homework (Unprompted!!) after we got finished with baths tonight after nine.  Impressive.  Long prayers-praying for safety for each other, and they'd find the right toys, under $20.  Love their specificity (is that really a word?  I got no underline for spell check!), hahaha!

I'll leave it at that, you can imagine our worst moments-a sweaty, hot day outside with thousands of other people, and as the day wore on..so did our patience.  But, we really did pretty well, I'm so blessed. : )
Sending you Mickey Mouse hugs, Disney pictures, and magical kids!

 

Memories

I finally got my Disney picture cd in the mail today!  Yay!  I will post a few pictures, even though the trip was about a month ago now.  Happy Memories.  I'm still glad we went, it changed some yuck into good. : )  Here's my favorite:

So sweet..makes me remember that night.. the night we got rained on running back to the car, and we smelled.  Ahh..good times!  heehee  That's what family is made of (not bad smells, just shared memories!).
Oh, and tinkerbell!  She was so cute!

And let's not forget the Buzz Lightyear Experience:

If you totally forgot the story (or didn't hear about it..) you can read it here.
Ok, so on with the show.  Today we were up early again, and had to hit the ground running.  It's going to be a busy week, and today I had to fit in grocery shopping and laundry.  Ethan and I also stopped by a couple houses..just for fun.  I really like one of them, but I'd probably want it rebuilt on a different lot.  It looks out into chicken houses and some barn/lean-to/horse stall things.  I love the house (smaller kid rooms and smaller garage size), but good.  Ches likes the idea of less yard to take care of, and I could clean less (maybe).  It's just a thought.  We always toy with the idea, and we are thinking.  I think if you aren't always conscious of what's going on in life, you aren't living.  I don't want to just coast along-I want to be actively involved.  That may involve downsizing!  We'll see how things go.
Tomorrow, another doctor's appointment for me.  I am going back to see my ob/gyn again.  We'd made an appointment to talk after the specialist appointment, but I already know my blood work was all fine.  Now, I guess we talk about what happens next.  Ches and I talked last night, and I decided (more me than him) that I could only do this one more time.  I can't take an endless stream of disappointment, so there has to be an end in sight if it continues to be devastation.  I have to know I can move on with my life.  I can live either way, and I'll be okay; I just want to know.  The not knowing what will be in a year is hard.  I'd like to plan for the future, whatever it is. I'd planned to go back to school before we decided to try again (and it became a passion-who knew!).  So, I'm psyching up for my morning appointment, and I'd like to go alone.  I have to discuss real options and what will happen.  I can't tell Ches to stay home, but I might if he asks.  If it's pregnancy, it's our decision, if it's my body, I think it's mine.  So pray for me!
Tomorrow is also Bunco (and we don't know where yet!), and Clay's baseball game.  Mom is watching Mary Claire and Ethan in the overlap, it's just crazy.  Wednesday gets worse with Girl Scout ceremony, JDRF ambassador event at Gator Golf (I'll have to take Ethan too), and another baseball game.  Summer will be a welcome calm after the storm!  We can't wait-although then the camps start..
Genevieve is still doing well.  Now, we can set her out the door, she'll do her business and come back to the door and bark!  She's so good.  She eats her meals, poops (sorry, but if you have a pet you understand) afterward, and takes a couple naps a day-we're kinda on a schedule!  I like a routine so we both know what to expect!  The only thing she's doing not-so-great is some chewing.  She's chewed my nice Pottery Barn bath mat, my wicker cubes & hamper, and some shoes. Mostly we've caught her before she's caused major problems.  She kinda chews/bites at the kids' heels/pants, and that makes them crazy.  Ethan is actually the bravest.  I think it might be since he's with her the most.  He'll play with her, run with her, and isn't afraid to pet her.  It seems like Mary Claire is still skittish (can you spell it better?) around her, and Clay will jump up on the couch to avoid her snappy playfulness.  They call her Nipper since she nips their heels.  Her bites don't hurt, but their fear makes them hurt.  Mary Claire cries.  Hope it gets better.
Ok, I should go to bed...Just one more picture: our day in Hollywood Studios!

Notice anything familiar?  Look closely... Yes, these were the same clothes we wore to Magic Kingdom in the very first picture!  We'd spent the day at Hollywood Studios, but I had to go back for the Wishes Fireworks-I just love going back at night-it's a whole other spirit being so close to so many people, and hearing Jiminy Cricket talk to you about dreams and wishes, and seeing Tinkerbell fly across the sky-so magical.  It's always worth going back, even the fifth and sixth times...
Take some time with the ones you love, even if it's a puzzle, game, a walk outside, or a vacation!  It helps you see the world in a whole new way.