Celebrate

Two of my favorite places to visit in Orlando (other than Magic Kingdom, of course) are Downtown Disney and Celebration.  Not only are they exciting for the whole family, they also don’t cost a dime to enjoy, unless you’re like us and get dragged into stores and ice cream shops by two very persuasive little girls.

My sister-in-law Julie with our crew at Downtown Disney:

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The girls admiring the Seven Dwarfs made entirely out of Legos:

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Alli joining a merry Becky on the Downtown merry-go-round:

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Jim daring Becky to race through the fountain in Celebration (the girl’s got skills – she successfully navigated the spontaneous water bursts all evening without getting wet!):

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Susie and Jonathan sizing up a real baby alligator in the pond:

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Susie promptly recording this memorable moment in her new princess notebook (courtesy of cousin Alli):

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Alli and Susie – best buds:

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The guys keeping an eye on everything while sporting their new matching hats from Pappy:

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Some Like them Hot

Two words: HOT DONUTS.  If there was a theme of our week in Florida, that would be it.  We took the kids to Krispy Kreme, and it was love at first sight.   

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And of course, love at first taste (and second, and third…)

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What can we say?  We love hot donuts! 

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Magic in the Air

Ah, Magic Kingdom.  What can I say?  I love it.  Probably as much as the kids, and that’s saying a lot.  Especially since there were princesses involved.  Take a look:

Becky’s ready to get this show on the road. 

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Her whole world revolves around princesses, and these princesses did not disappoint.  She was star-struck.   

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Susie was also very excited, although a bit more timid.  I think she felt she was meeting royalty.  

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The girls found even the scenery to be awe-inspiring (Becky would like to take this moment to inform her viewership that her favorite color is red, just like Ariel’s hair). 

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The cousins all loved the live performances throughout the park.  

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They especially enjoyed their front-row seats at the parade (I think Jim was just happy we got to sit down for a moment!). 

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Jimmy found the whole experience to be entertaining, but exhausting. 

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We ended our amazing day with a visit to Mickey and Minnie (I had nearly forgotten about them, what with all the princess-obsession in our home).   

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The Magic Kingdom once again proved itself quite magical! 

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Beach Babies

The Monday after we arrived in Florida and met up with Jim’s sister Julie and her family, we all trekked over to visit their aunt and uncle at their condo on the Gulf Coast.  Even despite a feverish illness Susie was experiencing (which thankfully resolved with antibiotics later in the week), our time there was glorious.  The kids played at the beach, swam in the pool, and we enjoyed getting to spend time with long-distance family.  I wish we could have spent more than an afternoon there; the weather and water were perfect and we couldn’t have asked for better company.  When can we go back?! 

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King of the Road

Our trip to Florida was an adventure, thanks to our mode of transportation: Recreational Vehicle (RV).  Jim had not driven one before (long distance), nor had I ridden in one before, so neither of us were sure how the trip would go.  Thankfully, it was smooth sailing.  My in-laws joined us, so Jim and his dad were able to take turns behind the wheel, guiding the 40-foot long, 13-foot high, nearly 9-foot wide diesel monster down the road while I tried very hard not to imagine what an RV (and its inhabitants) looks like upside down.  They expertly drove all day and all night, finishing the trip in a whirlwind 24 hours.  My biggest worry about the trip (other than tipping over) was how the kids would do on such a lengthy drive, and I’m happy to say they did great.  They clearly inherited their daddy’s love for the open road.  I loved the fact that I didn’t have to censor my packing in the least, so I brought everything plus the kitchen sink.  Five pairs of shoes, no problem!  Two outfits per person per day, check!  A few extra strollers and pack n’ plays, done!  I could get used to that.

The kids assuming their positions:

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Jim and Dad, merry co-pilots:

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Oh, and the littlest co-pilot (no, he didn’t sit there for long, but boy he liked the front seat!):

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Sleeping through the rocky roads:

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Looking well-rested and ready to play:

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Dad and Jimmy napping to the rhythm of the road:

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Becky eagerly anticipating our Orlando arrival (“Are we at the princesses yet?”):

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Home

We just got back from a wonderful, action-packed vacation to Florida.  I’ll post pictures soon, but right now my priority is catching up on laundry since I’m going to be doing a lot of it.  Both Jimmy and Becky are down with flu-like symptoms, so I’m stretched a little thin at the moment.  Please pray for their quick recovery and everyone else’s immunity! 

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Bumps on a Log

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Driver’s Seat

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(I had to place him on and take him off.  He’s not quite coordinated enough to swing that chubby leg over the bike yet!)

Skee Ball

It may take the girls a dozen attempts to get each ball up the ramp, but their scores are improving.  “Bubba” (the family’s reigning skee ball champion) better watch out!

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Bless this Mess

This child’s shirt was WHITE when we started out the meal…and he was wearing a bib.   

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No wonder I feel like I’m doing laundry all day (And clearly I’m still not feeding him enough, since he feels he need to add napkins to his diet)!