Let's Get This Party Started...Disney that is...

A little background info on how this trip came to be...friends of ours in Cleveland (we will call them the C clan) were planning a trip to Disney. My girlfriend MA's husband had a conference down there so she decided to tag along. They happen to have family who can get great deals on hotel rooms and we scored a super duper deal and decided to tag along. We were to stay at the Sheraton Safari - sounds nice enough, right?

We left on Saturday afternoon with the thought to drive until we could drive no more. Total car time would be 10 hours, but since we didn't leave until nearly 2 we weren't sure we would get all the way to Orlando. The kids did FANTASTIC and we got to our hotel shortly after midnight.

I pack each child a backpack of toys for the car and was smart enough to put flashlights in them. The kids got a kick out of reading along in their books on cd once it got dark. Sidenote - this was our first trip where the kids wore headphones and watched individual movies on the dvd screens. FANTASTIC!

I like how Izzy propped up her flashlight - can you see it?




We got to the hotel and were NOT impressed. It seemed small and dirty, but it was also nearly 1 am so what did we really know? The next morning we opened the drapes, and looked through the bars on our windows to see the dumpster. Once outside we noticed the pool that looked "way cool" online now looked "way lame". The question was could we get out of our hotel commitment and if so, could we do it without offending our friends. Oh, our friends were actually staying at Coronado Springs which is a resort at Disney with the conference for the first 3 nights.

We found a great deal through AAA which only ended up being $10/day and included breakfast! We did have to drive about 5 miles more, but since we already were driving to the park and not taking a shuttle it was no big deal. Because we booked a Marriott and Pete has a platinum status we were able to get a free upgrade. We went from slummin it to a suite with full kitchen. This hotel also had a fantastic pool and playground for the kids.









We didn't actually swim after we switched hotels. Instead we headed to Downtown Disney to explore and find some food. We did lots of sightseeing and window shopping. We also played with toys in "the HUGE store of all stuff Disney has ever created" (not really)! We bought nothing, but the kids did get to pose with their most favorite characters...





After poking around Downtown Disney we met up with my parents. We had to find a Target to buy Pete a bathing suit - unless he wanted a Disney character one in which case there were PLENTY of those - and since my parents are only 40 min. from Disney they came to meet us. We met at a bookstore and had a quick visit. They would be coming up Wednesday to watch the kids so Pete and I could go out with our friends for dinner.

We all got to bed early that night. The kids settled in pretty well and even started off sleeping in the same bed.

Next day our plans were to go to Animal Kingdom...

Disney Preview

We had the most FANTASTIC time on our Disney trip! Our family was in serious need of quality family time. The last 8 months with Pete commuting have been difficult for each and every one of us. There isn't much that says fun for the entire family like Disney World. ...throw in some really great friends for the trip and it made it doubly (is that a word) fantastic!

Nothing says Disney with small children quite like Magic Kingdom. I could probably write an entire weeks worth of entries on this day alone!


A trip highlight...Pete being chosen by Belle to play the Beast in her Storybook Adventure!


We also took in lots of shows!


We met up with princesses...this was Izzy's one "must do" on our trip.


Drew likes to view the characters from afar...except for Peter Pan (maybe he figures he could take him in a fight?) This is by far one of Drew's most favorite memories.


Early mornings, jam packed days, and late nights were the norm. The kids did amazingly well and I can't recall a single major meltdown (MA correct me if I am wrong?). Finally on our last day Drew could not fight the urge any longer...


And poor sweet Izzy girl got sick on our last day. She is a trooper though! The girl woke up puking and insisted on moving forward with our plans. She knew the option to leave was always there, but no way was she missing out. I am pretty sure I am out of the running for Mother of the Year award for 2010 for dragging her around like this...


Not only did we do parks, but we got to swim too! Anyone who knows us, knows that I have two fish on my hands.


I guess I will break the trip down into pieces parts, but it might be a couple days before I get to it. You see, I have a free Shutterfly album to make that needs to be completed by the 31st.

Rub-a-Dub-Dub Fun in the Tub

I swiped this idea from a fellow mommy blogger - an amazing idea that I can't believe I didn't come up with on my own? If I knew how to link to her blog so you could see how way cool she is, I would, but I am not, so I can't :(

This afternoon craft kept my kids occupied for over an hour one day. I folded laundry, put clothing away, chatted on the phone, and listened as the kids giggled away in the tub.


That would be a "D" for Drew on his chest.







Nothing was safe from being painted: bodies, walls, cups...if only I would have been smart enough to give them wash cloths to clean off the walls when they were done.









Live and learn...next time, and I am sure there will be a next time, the kids will do the clean up.

Drew News

Today while dropping Izzy off at school I overheard Drew say, "We are going to get one of those when we move to our new house." He was in fact referring to a baby :-) Before you all jump to conclusions, I am NOT pregnant. I informed the other moms that there has been discussions regarding a third child, but we have also discussed getting a puppy and a swingset!

Drew started peeing on the potty about 4-6 weeks ago and has not had many accidents at all. Just like Izzy, he would ask us to put a diaper or pull-up on him if he had to poop. He has attempted to poop on the potty a couple times, but he gets very excited after the first "turd" hits the water and jumps off the toilet only to then have to go again as soon as you pull his pants up. ...aren't you all glad you are reading this? Well, today Drew came to me and said he had to poop and he needed to do it on the potty. I am happy to report that we have turned a corner and I might just now have a fully potty trained boy!

...and a couple things Izzy has said...
A few weeks ago I was drinking Starbucks late in the afternoon and Izzy asked if I drank coffee all day? I told her that "no, I usually just have a cup in the morning and then I am done." She then said, "Oh, cause then you just drink wine for the rest of the day." The worst part was it was so matter of fact! No Izzy, my little lovey, I don't start drinking wine until 5!

Tonight I used a "stemless" wine glass for the first time and Izzy asked me if it was because I broke all the handles off when I washed them. I have broken quite a few red wine glasses (they are super thin and I break them when I wash them) but I didn't realize she was so very observant. ...think I might have to start concealing my wine in a sippy cup - safe from small eyes and dishwasher safe!

Vanity Fun

Santa brought Izzy her much requested vanity for Christmas. With the vanity has come the desire to do her own hair for school. Here she is getting ready today.





Here she is the day after Christmas dolling up Drew.







Thankfully it doesn't seem to bother Pete to see Izzy playing hairdresser to Drew because he was the one who called me over with the camera.

The downside to the vanity is when make up goes terribly wrong. What started off as a little eye shadow quickly turned into Smurfette!

Great Wolf Lodge

I can't say enough amazing things about the Great Wolf Lodge! We had the most amazing time and the kids are already asking when we get to go back. For those who are unfamiliar with this indoor water park, you really need to look it up and then go!

I am taking all the credit for this fantastic excursion. Pete had his holiday work party in Charlotte this year and as much as we wanted to go I wasn't sure what we were going to do with the kids? This location for his party was nearly 2 hours from our house - too far to go for just a few hours and to far to leave the kids at home with a sitter. So, I suggested getting a room at Great Wolf and then asking some of our friends who live in Charlotte, with kids the same ages as our kids, to come over and "babysit". Pete was able to expense the room and we picked up the tab for our friends tickets. It was the most expensive babysitter we will probably ever have, but SO worth it!

We got the basic of basic rooms and it was still really nice. Every room comes with a microwave and mini-fridge. We plan to make a visit to Great Wolf a part of our Christmas traditions, even if it means travelling from Charleston, so maybe next year we will surprise the kids and upgrade to a cooler room.

Unfortunately Pete and I had to miss the fun night time stuff - pj story time, santa visit, snow in the lobby and puppet show. There is always next year...

I wish I had more pictures, but I was having too much fun playing with the kids. Another advantage to having another set of adults with us was that we were able to pair off and hit some of the adult waterslides. Here are a few pictures to remind us of some of the fun.

















Good times for sure!

Family Portraits 2009

I gave a preview of some of these photos back in October, I think? There were many more pictures to share, but I wanted to wait until I made some photo books for the grandparents for Christmas. Since Christmas has come and gone I can now share all our pictures.

We were originally going to have our portraits done in Charleston in September, but that was the weekend that Drew ended up so sick(and my kids rarely get sick!) so we had to reschedule. We are super excited however that our amazing photographer vacations in Charleston so she will still be able to do our yearly pictures even after we move.

This first picture is what we used for this years holiday card. With so many to choose from I suprised myself by limiting the cards to a single photo. We got lots of compliments from friends on the photo (probably cause you can't see Pete and me) so that was nice.


A couple of Pete and me :)




Some family shots...




check out Drew's tonsils in this shot...




I love Drew's expression in this one...


And I love this one because Drew is my lover boy for sure!


Some of the stars of the show...










Alisha wasn't really sure how these shots were going to turn out while she was shooting, but I LOVE them!






I think this shot is super cute as well...who doesn't love a cute backside?


Some of Drew - this first one is his "superhero" pose.
















And a couple more of Miss Iz