Epcot

Epcot was the first park that we visited and that was a wise move.  I picked up my favorite accessory of the week... my photo pass card!!  I have to say that was one of my favorite things because I got a ton of pics and I was actually in a lot of them.  This is my favorite picture:

Christmas was everywhere that we turned in the parks, but I have to say that it felt all wrong in shorts and t-shirts!

Epcot is home to Test Track which we were lucky enough to ride multiple times thanks to 6 Fast Passes each day!!

Every ride at Disney is more than just a ride.  At the beginning of Test Track you get to build your own vehicle.  Here is Ryan's first design.

And Tyler's.  The options were crazy... you could customize everything and the boys sure did.

They loved everything about this ride including the car outside for those with disabilities to practice getting in and out of.

Something else fun about the photo pass is getting your ride pics which I would never buy.  This is my favorite.  All smiles in the front seat!

After taking your vehicle through a variety of tests, you are taken outside for quite a fast ride.  It was awesome!

Once we got off the ride there was a variety of other activities that the boys loved plus they got to check out the new Corvette!!  This pic is for your Grandpa!

Ryan was in a bit of a mood the whole time we were in Disney.  His face in the above picture was very intentional.  As soon as I took it, he came running over to see.  I'm ready for this faze to be over.

Another favorite was talking with Crush from Finding Nemo.  It seems that I didn't take any pictures of Crush except for this video.  This was our second time with Crush and this time, Crush picked Tyler out of the crowd.

So, as you heard, Crush asked Tyler who he was with and instead of saying his brother who was sitting right next to him, he said "my mom and dad" which resulted in Crush calling on me to raise my flipper.  Fun stuff.  I never thought I'd be bonding with a turtle over having all boys.  He explained that he has 67 sons.  Yikes!  After a few back and forths, I thought I was off the hook until a little later when Crush was explaining all the different ways to use the word "Dude."  At one point he asked everyone to put their flipper on their forehead and exclaim "DUDE."  I did not participate and Crush caught me.  Why couldn't Ty have just said he was with his brother??

Here are the boys after the first Crush experience sharing their best "Dude" face.

They had to have this picture.

Another Epcot shot.  Love it.  

In addition to some great rides and fantastic food, Epcot also offers lots of character interaction.  This pic is from our last day while eating at the Garden Grill, a rotating restaurant with a singing waiter and endless food.

These pictures are from our first day in the park.  The boys loved getting autographs.

I love this picture.  Could Ryan get any closer?

We spent a few minutes watching this Santa as he told stories and sang songs.  Little did I know that he freaked Tyler out a little bit.  On our last day I wanted to get a picture of the boys with Santa when Tyler told me it was a no go if Santa was green.  Ha ha!

I would go back to Epcot.  For one day.  So I can get coconut ice cream in France.

We enjoyed Epcot on three separate days, our first in the parks, our last in the parks and on Friday night where we met up with Sara's family to enjoy illuminations.  How lucky are we?

Disney

After months of planning and anticipating, early on a Tuesday morning we hopped a plane to Disney World!! 

Overall, it was a fabulous vacation.  It could not have gone better.  The weather was mid to high 80s every day with no rain... probably because I had 2 ponchos per person ready to go.  Nobody got sick... probably because I lugged a pharmacy worth of various medication with us.  We had just enough clothing... probably because I brought detergent and dryer sheets.  Nobody got a blister... probably because I had band-aids, ointment and moleskin ready to go. Yes, I over-packed.

Favorite Park: Hollywood Studios (because the boys like to watch things blow up!)

Favorite Ride: Test Track at Epcot.  Yup, sponsored by Chevrolet... shocking.

Best Meal: Rose and Crown Pub at the UK Pavilion in Epcot.  So Good!!  We had steak with fried fish and yorkshire pudding with mashed potatoes and yummy green beans.  Oh, and dessert was sticky toffee pudding.

Best Snack: Coconut ice cream in a waffle cone in the France Pavilion in Epcot.  Best coconut ice cream I've had since we went to St. Croix in 7th grade.  Seriously.

Worst Moment: Dragging Tyler kicking and screaming on to the Everest Rollercoaster and then pulling the lap bar down on him so he couldn't escape.  

Second Worst Moment: Being pulled over by TSA in the airport for the Pirates of the Caribbean Gun in our carry on.  Oops.

We stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort and our sections was called Martinique.  The resort was huge, but we were within a short walk of the amenities so it didn't feel all that big to us.  The boys had a great time everywhere we went including the pools with slides!

The room itself was basic, but more than adequate.  We experienced some pixie dust a number of times including towel animals left by mousekeeping.  The boys loved it!

They also enjoyed looking for Hidden Mickey's.  They found these on our last day.  Hidden Mickey's right in our room!! Unfortunately the search for the Mickey's didn't stay in Disney... last weekend Tyler found one in church.  Seriously.

I need a place to put our pictures from the last day in Downtown Disney so here they are.

Even the shopping was fun!

I was so excited to check seeing Santa off of our list.  Tyler was ok with going because he was a red Santa.

Having said all that, I have no need to go back.  Ever.  We've been home almost two weeks and I'm still tired.  Our next vacation had better involve my toes in hot sand gazing at the ocean!

Nine

On December 3rd our Tyler turned nine.  Can you believe it??  He's halfway to adulthood which scares the pants off of me.  We only have 9 more years to ready him for the world.  Think the world will be ready for him??

I do believe Tyler had cake 9 times to celebrate this birthday as we left for Disney on that day. He had cake after cake after cake.  Lucky boy.  But, we started with an early celebration at home.  He didn't mind.

His cake was small due to our impending departure, but it as made from scratch and enjoyed with Grandpa W and Aunt Donna which made it perfect.

 He is a very happy boy.

Very, very happy!

Isn't NERF supposed to be a toy?? Ummm... yeah... this thing is a bit crazy.

9 more years.  Look out world!

Five

How many times do you have cake when you turn five?  Five, of course!

1.  First, we spent some time with Aunt Donna on birthday eve!  Checked out the colored flames on the candles!!  Neat stuff!

This boy thoroughly enjoyed his birthday celebrations.  He tells me he grew an inch the night between four and five.  

Of all the candle blowing opportunities, I think this is the only one I caught on camera.  It makes me a little sad that he doesn't need help anymore.

I love this picture.  Such excitement.

Thank you Aunt Donna!!  It was exactly what he wanted.  I love that he actually thinks he's stronger when wearing his Hulk costume.

The morning of Ryan's birthday started with more presents... check out the Hulkmobile!!

I didn't feel like making a large breakfast that morning so we headed to McDonald's for pancakes.  The boys could not have been more pleased.  Tyler told me it was a perfect morning.  Love that.  We may have a new tradition.

2. Ryan had cupcakes with his friends at school.  I wish I could have run there during lunch, but last week was insane everywhere so it was not to be.

3.  Birthday night brought more treats.   We had more cupcakes and I was quite pleased with myself for not making a cake.  Surely 24 Spider-man cupcakes is sufficient, right?  (Yes, we had McDonald's for dinner too.  Ryan's choice.  Don't judge.)

He loved the card from Aunt Sara, Uncle Jason, Ava, Nora and Leah.  He even requested that Tyler read it to him before opening his gift.

He was very pleased that this shirt had the shirt that went with the card had Hulk on it!

Tyler picked out some Trash Packs to give his brother and Ryan was very excited to receive them.  He had purchased another set a couple of weeks earlier with some birthday money from last year.  Imagine my surprise when he offered to give Tyler his first set.  Tyler asked if Ryan if he was giving them to him because he got new ones and Ryan said "No, it is because I love you."  And, he was serious.  I have the best boys.

More presents including a sweatsuit from Grandma and Grandpa W that I wish fit me, a build-a-bear gift card that I am shocked we didn't have to use this weekend, and the much anticipated marble track.  All in all it was a great birthday.

4.  The next night was cupcakes again with his two best friends.  I didn't get many pictures of these three as they were quite active.  Their conversations are very funny.  At one point one of the boys announced that he had kissed Peyton, one of the little girls in their pre-school.  Ryan responded by saying "in your dreams."  I couldn't believe it.  They are five!!  Ha!

5.  So, as mentioned earlier, I was quite proud of myself for the purchased Spider-man cupcakes that would get us through Ryan's many celebrations... until he asked me when I was going to make his cake.  It was a double whammy... first, it made me sad that he was waiting and second, I was going to have to make a cake!  

But, it worked out.  Grandma and Grandpa C came out today so we had our fifth birthday celebration for Ryan's fifth birthday.  Perfect.