Epcot

Our first full day at Disney World was spend in Epcot. We were up bright and early to have breakfast with the princesses in Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. We saw Belle, Cinderella, Ariel, Snow White, and Aurora.

After breakfast we headed over to Test Track. Lance and Sam rode it first. By the time they were done, Reese and I didn’t have time to ride because we had to go across the park to use our Soarin’ fast passes. I still don’t know if I like the new way the fast passes are done but maybe I just need to be a better planner. While we were waiting on the boys we enjoyed watching these Jammitors perform.

In Epcot there were several games and activities for the kids to do.

There were also several characters around. It was so hot the whole week that any chance we got to sneak inside for a bit we did. We found Jasmine and Aladdin. Jasmine is Reese’s favorite princess so she couldn’t wait to see her.

I think out of all the characters we saw through out the week, these guys were the most interactive and super sweet. Both boys stayed in the stroller while Reese talked to them but then they both came over to the boys to talk to them. Hayes had my phone and was watching the parade from the Halloween party. When they asked him what he was doing I told them. Both of them seemed super excited and wanted to see themselves in the parade.

We also found Mary Poppins.

Because it was so hot and everyone was tired from our late night the night before, we decided to head back to the room to rest for a bit. We tried to get everyone to take a little nap but Sam was the only one to actually fall asleep for a bit. We were all so excited to head back in to Epcot because we were going to see get to see some of our favorite people. We hadn’t been able to see Lance’s cousin in two years because they were living overseas. The last time we saw them their daughter was two and a half months old and I was days away from having Hayes. Needless to say, every one was super excited to be reunited. After a quick reunion, we had to head straight to our dinner reservations. We ate dinner at Coral Reef. There is a large aquarium on the front wall so you can see sea creatures swimming around during dinner.

After dinner we got to ride several rides including finally getting to ride on Test Track.

Reese was super nervous but so excited to get to ride with Claire!

While Lance and Bryan took Reese and Sam on a ride, Claire and I took the babies on Spaceship Earth. This was the second time I had taken Hayes on this ride and both times he fell asleep. It was too funny.

After we all met up again, we headed out of the park around 9:00. We had lots of late nights and early mornings but everyone did great.

Magic Kingdom next…

Our Magical Vacation

We spent this past week at Disney World!! It was so much fun!

Saturday morning we drove to Tampa. I have family there and we decided it would be fun to visit them since we would be so close. The plan was the stay with my cousin who has a son the same age as Sam but on Friday he came down with a stomach bug. Instead we stayed with my aunt and uncle which worked out perfectly. My other cousin’s daughter, Ava (she is a year younger than Reese), was able to spend the night too so the kids had a blast. They all played so well together. As soon as we arrived the kids changed in to their swim suits and jumped in the pool. We really missed having Haiden there to play. They would have had a blast with him too.

Sunday morning every one was up bright and early. After a little more visiting and playing, we headed towards Orlando.

An hour and a half later, we were driving under this exciting sign!

We arrived before check-in so we played in the pool for about four hours. There were a lot of fun games happening out by the pool, there was a spray pad, and a huge slide. The slide was definitely the highlight of our pool time. I wish I had a water proof case for my phone so that I could have taken some pictures of Hayes on the slide. He had a blast and each time had a huge grin on his face as he went down.

We were all so tired but it was finally time to get cleaned up and head to Magic Kingdom for the Halloween Party. We went in to the park around 6:00 and the kids all had their costumes on. Reese was Pocahontas, Sam was a Ninja Turtle (but decided not to wear his turtle shell), and Hayes was a train engineer.

We headed over to Tomorrowland to ride the Buzz Lightyear ride. We saw that Buzz was out so we went to take pictures with him. Reese loved meeting all of the characters this time. Sam was not interested. He was a little nervous about them still. He didn’t get upset but he would just stand off to the side. By the end of the week he was at least giving some of them high fives but did not want his picture made with anyone. Hayes didn’t like them either. He would climb up us if we were holding him or turn away from them and say “No Mama No!”.

We were able to get a lot of fun rides in that night. The park was not crowded at all.

At the start of the party there was a dance party with monsters from Monsters University. Reese had a blast

While the boys stood off to the side.

Reese and I decided to wait in line to see the Seven Dwarfs. The only time they are all seven out together for pictures is during special parties so we knew we wouldn’t get that chance again during the week.

While we waited in line Lance took Sam to ride the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. He was super excited about his first roller coaster. Unfortunately that ended up being the biggest roller coaster he rode all week. We couldn’t get him on another one. He did ride that one again through out the week though.

We also watched a show at the castle, did some trick-or-treating, and rode several other rides.

We waited for the 10:30 parade to start. While we were waiting Reese and I went in to some stores. We gave each of the big kids some spending money to spend on whatever they wanted. It worked out great because they didn’t ask us for anything. They just had to decide if it was worth it to use their own money for what they saw. It was really neat to watch them make decisions about their purchases. While Reese and I were shopping, both boys fell asleep in the stroller. They slept through the entire LOUD parade.

The parade had tons of characters, especially villians from Disney movies. It was a good parade but Reese thought it was scary. There were some scary looking “ghosts” from the Haunted Mansion ride. I guess it worked out well that the boys were asleep so they weren’t scared too.

To be continued…

Tee Ball

I think from the day Lance found out we were having a boy he has been looking forward to the day he could play ball with him…and have him cut the grass. Sam finally started tee ball this fall and he was so excited. Much more so than soccer! He has had several practices and enjoyed each of them. The dad’s come out of the field to help out and I think Sam likes having Lance there with him. This past Saturday he got his jersey and hat. He is number 3 on the Braves! So exciting! He didn’t take his hat off most of Saturday and has worn it at least once each day since then.

Yesterday they finally had their first game. I had no expectations for it at all. It was definitely slow going. Each kid on each team got to bat once each inning. They ended up only doing two innings (it took over an hour). And every kid on the team plays in the field. There are at least 12 kids on his team. In the first inning Sam played center-ish field. Their team was in the field first.

Then it was time to bat. Since Sam is number 3, he gets to bat third.

When they are up to bat, the coach pitches to them three times. If they don’t get a hit in those three pitches, they hit off the tee. Sam’s first time up, on the third pitch from the coach, he hit the ball! We were so excited for him.

During the second inning Sam got to play third base. I didn’t get to watch him because Hayes was all over the place but Lance said he did really great. He stopped two grounders as they headed his way.

The second time he was up to bat he hit a really great ball from the tee.

He had fun playing tee ball and I think he is really going to enjoy this season!!

Family Pictures

Sam’s teacher asked for a family picture for their classroom. I went on a hunt for a family picture and realized, once again, we hadn’t taken any family pictures in a while. Sunday we were ready for church a little early so we pulled out the tripod and got to work. It’s not perfect…but neither are we!

Here are some other fun pictures we got from the morning.

I am loving Hayes’ “Cheeeee” face.

Hayes was done…

Typical silly picture

#tbt

June 2009 ~ Sarah, Reese, and Olivia

August 2014 ~ Sarah, Reese, and Olivia

It did my heart so happy to see these sweet girls this past weekend. We used to see them at least once a week before we moved and we haven’t seen them since Christmas. When I was planning dinner with their mom I had this feeling in my stomach that I couldn’t figure out. I eventually realized that it was what it feels like to be homesick and I realized that it was this family that I needed to see so badly. We went through so much with their family two years ago when their dad and one of our favorite friends passed away.

I first met their family when Olivia was in kindergarten (two months before I was pregnant with Reese). I met her as “Lady Bug”. Everyone called her Lady Bug. (When she was born Sarah couldn’t say Olivia and would say “O Lady Bug” and it stuck. There are many variations of her name and my kids have mostly called her Buggy.) I was teaching a kindergarten/first grade class at our church when this precious little girl came in crying. I asked her if she would sit in my lap and she did. And she sat in my lap every single Sunday until my belly was too big for her to sit in it anymore (I imagine this is why Reese has always loved her so much…they had a special bond from the beginning). The next school year we started a life group with six other couples and her parents were in our group. There was an instant connection between their dad and Lance. Our families became very close. A few months later their dad was diagnosed with a very rare disease. He fought it so bravely for three years and the girls were so amazing to watch through it all.

I hate it so much that we don’t see them as often anymore. After spending the evening with them, it is definitely a goal to not go that long between visits again. The kids all picked right up with them and they played the night away. What a sweet, sweet evening.

First Day of School ~ Sam

This sweet little guy started back to school today. All along he has said he was excited about it but I wasn’t so sure how it would go.

We switched schools again this year. I wanted him in a school that had an early fives program but had the option of going four days a week. I also wanted a bit of a smaller school. The preschool Reese went to was a sweet and small school which we loved. Last years school was huge so I felt a little overwhelmed there.

Yesterday morning Sam was able to meet his teachers. They both seem super sweet and very enthusiastic. He loved visiting his classroom. It is super far from the carline drop off but I am sure he didn’t have any trouble finding it this morning.

Last year Sam did not want to go to school and had huge tears when I dropped him off each day of the first week. However, this morning he was super excited and continued that way as he walked in the door. I was so proud of him and how brave he was.

We actually met a little boy at Chick-fil-a who ended up being in his class and the son of a girl I play tennis with is in his class. I am so excited to see how this year goes. I can’t believe it is his last year of preschool!!