DISNEY WORLD PART 2

Hollywood Studios


Star Tours and Jedi training were two of the boys favorite attractions


Jedi training. Our boys were sad they didn't get to participate, but we were not about to wait around 2+ hours.


The Toy Story Mania ride was awesome!



One of our favorite rides was Aerosmith's Rockin Roller coaster (James road it twice!!!). Unfortunately for Andrew the height requirement was 48 inches due to some upside down loops. He was not too happy about this as you can see from the above video.



The Tower of Terror was another favorite for Mark and I. Our boys however, were not so sure. Talk about butterflies in the stomach!!





Cocoa Beach

A cute (and feisty) little crab.....

....provided a lot of entertainment for all of us!

The kids had a blast playing in the ocean and looking for shells

It was a beautiful day! We were lucky to have such nice weather. I think the high was 78 degrees.

3 little boys covered with sand coming back from a day at the beach

EPCOT

Epcot was awesome. It was too bad we only had half a day to spend there. We really enjoyed the ride Soarin'. The boys enjoyed Nemo as well. Mission Space was a little intense, but we survived (although I don't think I'd ever do it again...talk about claustrophobia and motion sickness). We also enjoyed the world showcases, although we didn't get to spend much time there.

The last ride we went on was the test track. Zero to 60 in just a few seconds!

We had an awesome time in Orlando and at all the Disney Parks. We can't wait to do it again someday!!

DISNEY WORLD January 2010, Part 1

Magic Kingdom

Mark and Andrew on the Carousel

Bethany and James riding Dumbo!

Me, Amy, Kathryn, and Mark O. waiting to ride Dumbo

The Jungle Cruise

The whole gang (minus Creg the photographer)

Getting ready for Mickey's Philharmagic

It's a Small World

Tomorrow Land Speed Way

Stitch (stupidest ride...EVER)

Posing with Zurg, after our second time on Buzz Lightyear

Cinderella's castle

Other rides we went on: Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Teacups, Space Mountain, Country Bear Jamboree, Swiss Family Robinson Tree House, Big Thunder Mountain, Snow White, and Peter Pan!

Animal Kingdom


Kilimanjaro Safari (one of my favorites!)


Giraffes on the safari

Elephant on the safari

Huge giant bats in Asia (yuck)

The kids really enjoyed looking at all the animals

Komodo Dragon (on the rock in the center)

Action shot of James and Mark riding Expedition Everest

Kids with the Ape from Tarzan

Taking a picture with Donald Duck

In line at the Dinosaur ride

One of the Highlights of Animal Kingdom for me was the Lion King show!

As you may have noticed, Caleb did not make this trip with us. Back in August when I started planning for this trip, we were originally going to Disneyland. That is until my sister Amy called and told me of this great deal to Orlando through Southwest airlines. It was an offer we couldn't refuse. But because it was a short trip, with a long airplane ride, long busy days and sometimes more than one park a day, we decided not to take Caleb. He was safe at home and having a great time with the Carlston's. I did feel guilty about not taking him, but it was nice not having to worry about naps, strollers, rider exchanges, and in the end, I was happy he wasn't with us, but we did miss him.

Some of my favorite Andrew quotes of the trip:

-"Mom, why is Florlando so far away?"
-As soon as we took off in the airplane for the first time Andrew starts yelling excitedly at the top of his lungs "we're flying....we're actually flying..."
-We are on a fast rollercoaster ride and he asks me calmly," Mom are we going to fall off this thing?"

-One of his favorite sayings when he is really excited (which we heard a lot this trip), "Mom, this is the best day ever!"

Do you know anyone who is 100 years old....

and still alive?? I do. Her name is Billie Stoker and she is Mark's Grandmother. Last month she turned 100 years old and we had a big party celebrating her life! We had the opportunity to live with her for an entire year before we bought our house. She is a remarkable woman and has taught me a lot these past 11 years I have known her.

The monday before her birthday, the assisted living center she lives at had an openhouse for all of her friends and family. Andrew wouldn't leave his great-grandma's side the entire time we were there. He also sang Happy Birthday to her in a microphone in front of everyone present!

We had a big party for her the day before her actual birthday at our church. She had family come from California and SLC. It was a wonderful day!

Happy 100th Birthday, Grandma! We love you!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

The week before Christmas, Santa visited our house. Our boys must have made a good impression, because they were very spoiled this year. Not only are they going to Disney World, but they also got a motorcycle. And by a motorcycle I don't mean one of those big wheel battery operated contraptions, a MOTORCYCLE. Mark grew up riding dirt bikes, and this is just one area where I have had to compromise. James is in heaven. He is actually pretty good at riding it, but the poor kid hasn't had many opportunities because of the snowy, freezing cold weather. Their reaction to it was priceless. Christmas day we went up to Bear Lake and stayed at my sister in-law, and brother in-law's cabin. Last summer they built this beautiful cabin that the entire family can stay in. Our kids had a blast with their cousins. They went snowmobing and played games, and stayed up way too late.

New Years Eve we got together with our friends the Carlstons. We played games and the kids watched movies and played the Wii. New Years day, we went sledding! The kids had a blast! I was feeling sad because I had forgotten to take many pictures of Christmas, because i kept forgetting my camera, but half way during sledding I realized that my new phone that I got for Christmas takes fairly decent pictures. So here are a few of us sledding!

Every time Caleb went down he would say "more." Mark and I were cold and wanting to go home, but the boys kept begging to stay at least 5 more minutes. That is quite a change from a few years ago, when we couldn't even get them to go outside in their snow clothes!! Then we came home, made a snowman in our front yard, and had hot chocolate.

It was a great Holiday Season! Now we are looking forward to hopping on an airplane and getting out of the cold for awhile! Orlando here we come!