7/5 - The Start to a Great Vacation
Once I checked in, I went back to the car. (yes, I left the family there while i got our room) I pulled the car around to the door nearest our room. Now, at first, I was a bit hesitant. I never like ground floor rooms. However, this one was not only right by the door to the outside, but right near the pool. It made it very convenient.
Once we got into the room, the guys did what they do best.
Steve of course got comfy and started reading.
Alex started to watch TV and Zach was no doubt playing around on facebook.
Meanwhile, I took some more pictures of the room.
All in all, I would highly recommend this hotel for someone wanting to stay near seatac airport or Seattle. The bed and bedding were very nice and very comfy! The only complaint I have is the water was super cold and took FOREVER to warm up!
Once I was done assessing the room, our first order of buisiness was to do what? Well, according to what we told Zoe and Alex - our purpose was to go there to swim. So swimming was first up.
Zoe was thrilled!
This water was also super cold. Despite the fact I rarely use hot tubs, I used the one here. With all the running I have been doing lately it was heaven.
These next pictures are pretty bad, but I thought I would share just so that you all can get an idea of what the pool area is like. The pool has little fountains that mark where the "deep end" starts. I am all of 5'4" and I could walk across the "deep end"
Once swimming was done, we decided to check out the managers evening reception. It was not our intent to make this our dinner, but after sitting down and eating this
no one was all that hungry. It wasn't all that bad of food... it wasn't great, but it was free!
Here is the "dinning room"
On our way to the hotel we had mentioned to the kids that we would be taking a trip to the mall. I needed to have my phone and ipad looked at. (there are no apple stores near my house so this is the closest) Also, there is a
Disney Store and I thought it would be a fun way to pass some time before our trip.
The boys went off by themselves to shop. (Zach needed some sunglasses) while first Steve, Zoe and I went to the Disney Store. No purchases for us... it is a small store and I didn't want to spend too much time there since we still needed to get back to do our reveal.
I think every day of a trip has to have some sort of mishap or frustration. Our trip into the Apple Store was this day's frustration. We have so many apple products in our home. Steve is a "computer guy" by both profession and for fun. I myself am not too slow when it comes to computers. However, both of us neglected to realize one needs an appointment to be assisted in the "genius bar". Upon walking in, we were greeted by a smug man who I only wanted to punch in the face the longer we stood in front of him. I doubt I can do an impression of him through my writing that will convey just what a jerk this guy was. Each time either Steve or I would say anything he would wince a bit and then scrunch his face and say something like "cha hmm... tteeyeah, I wish I could help" or "cha hmm, tteyeah, do you have an appointment" the "cha hmm, ttteyeah" was a noise he made as he winced. Each time brought me closer to exploding. Fine, we get it.. no appointment = no playing with "smart guys". There just wasn't the need to be rude or treat us as though we were stupid!
After our fun time at the Apple Store, we met up with the boys and we each got a sweet drink as a treat. Steve, Zoe and Zach all got bubble tea smoothies from Big Orange. This place is very yummy...and the tapioca pearls in it are perfect. Alex and I both got some Tai drinks. He got a coffee and I got a tea. Both were super sweet, and Alex could not drink his coffee. I loved my tea even if it had a radioactive orange color to it. I think the smoothies were a better idea, but I wanted to try something new.
After the mall it was time to go back to the hotel for the big reveal. We did video tape it, but I am not sure how I feel about sharing it. It isn't the most flattering.
The run down went like this...
Once we got back to the hotel, Zoe and I put together a Cars puzzle. As we finished it, I asked her if she was a fan of Cars. She kinda shrugged as she said "not really". I asked Alex if he knew much about the cars movies to which he said "no" I continued to question them as Steve took a video of us and our conversation. I asked if Zoe would like to see the character we had just assembled in the puzzle in person or to ride in a car like that in real life. She was very hesitant as she figured out what we were talking about but thought we were joking. I think it didn't help that I couldn't stop laughing. I even caused us to slide backward in the reveal by saying "Do you really think I could keep a secret that long" (Seriously... I am not sure how I did... I can't even buy birthday gifts early cause I can't keep it secret) Both Steve and I asked the two of them if they would like to go on a plane the in the morning. When they said yes, we said "ok, then we will fly tomorrow morning" Zoe still didn't believe us. Steve offered to let her see the park tickets. Then she became very excited and hugged me. She thanked me as she actually began to shake with excitement. Focus then turned to Alex and I asked if he wanted to go or have Kira pick him up. He was then very concerned because I had only asked him to pack for one night and he would not have any clothes if he went.
Steve assured him that I had packed for him. This made Zoe realize that the suitcases she had got into were for this trip (oh
did I forget to mention that when the packing started that day, Zoe got into the suitcase I had packed for her and asked why there was a ton of clothing already packed, including disney clothes? Luckily, I have the fall trip that I was able to say the luggage was for) Once the excitement and laughter settled, Zoe became skeptical again. Little miss smarty pants began to think we were messing with her and wanted to check the tickets again. She suspected that they were old tickets from our last trip and so she had to check the dates. Once she saw current dates, she was thoroughly convinced.
After the reveal, I still had a bit more to shop for and so while they all went back to the pool, I went to the nearest wally world. (this experience almost claimed the "frustrating moment of the day" spot, but I survived it)
I arrived back to the room and got ready for bed far later than I had hoped. 11pm meant that if I were lucky, I would get 5 hours of sleep. Since we had booked a room with a king bed, and a queen sofa sleeper. Zach and Alex were in the queen and Zoe shared a bed with Steve and I. Now, if Zoe were a nice sleeper it would have been plenty of room. However, she is not and would not stop wedging her feet in my back. Finally between 1am and 2am I decided to use the cushions from the couch and sleep on the floor. Blissful sleep for an hour is all I got. Then Alex decided he wanted to use the restroom down the hall. (he was having tummy trouble and could not wait and Steve was already using the one in our room) I snoozed while he was out. At about 3am I decided to just get up and get ready to leave. We needed to catch the shuttle at 4:30am so as tired as I was, going back to sleep once Alex was back to the room didn't make sense.
Based on how the night went, I think I have decided that staying a room to avoid getting up super early at home is not the best idea. Even getting up earlier probably would have given me more sleep since I would not have been in the same bed as miss kicks a lot or in the same room as mr. wander the halls in the middle of the night and worry your poor mother. Then again, maybe it was all the excitement and none of us would have slept even at home. I guess if I really think about it, the night before we fly we never get any sleep.
Next Chapter:
7/6 - Seatac to Johne Wayne with Bleary Eyes
Or maybe put you to sleep. Still... glad you are here!!!
I am so glad you are here!! You love my ramblings? Well... just stay tuned I am sure there will be plenty more. 
Ok...so maybe it wasn't totally like that. If you followed my December trip, you know that Steve has a tendency to want to spend much time in the room...sitting...and his boys are not too different. I vowed at the end of the December trip I would not EVER ask him to go to Disney again (other than our 25 year anniversary...and even that has me kinda wondering) However, Steve suggested this trip...so I thought we would be safe. 
Unlike our nice gate that was near a bunch of restaurants in Decembe, it was a small gate in an area with barely anything near it. However this remoteness made it so that using the bathroom to do my hair was not so embarrassing since few people were coming in. Course, then again maybe it was because no one else was up that early. 
I have a feeling they do not fly often. Zoe may have bumped their seat a time or two. The seats were kinda bumpy for a while (yes, turbulence can make your seat jostle who knew?) and ultimately when I retrieved my bag from under their seat, they started complaining. Now, a simple could you not touch my seat would have sufficed. (and even then really?) However, they wouldn't let it go. I said ok and they kept up with "really, don't don't my sisters seat again". I wanted to say "or what?" and just when I was about to get a bit snippy they flipped up the seat divider as if slamming a door in my face. 
Meanwhile mom was catering to them in weird ways. When they had to use the rest room she instructed them to climb over the stranger in the seat next to them (who was asleep) Then when snacks came round, she all but told the flight attendant to give her monsters the sleeping person's portion because she wanted to make her kids feel like they had a lot. Even the flight attendant gave her a funny look like "are you kidding me?" At another point in the flight, they were unhappy with how Zoe had her table down and it was bothering them again. Mom told them to climb up to be with her if they wanted personal space. The persons next to her put a stop to that though...they didn't want to have one of those kids climb over the back of their seats to get to the mom. (how rude of them to not allow it 
) I suspect that is what the children were laughing at. By the end of the trip we would learn something else that was very important was not longer with us...and it very well may have been on this flight that the item was lost...but then again maybe not. In any case, these kids were overly entitled and little brats!!!
Woo Hoo for surprising the kids! I'm so happy that Zoe was excited.
to those bratty kids on the flight. They were telling YOU not to touch their seat. Really? Usually its the adult that has to tell the kid to stop messing with their seat. They do sound like spoiled brats and I would have a hard time biting my tounge in that situation. 
As for what ended up being missing... you will just have to wait all the way to the end of this TR since it wasn't until the end of the trip that I noticed something was not with us.
The ride was terrifying... the driver was flying in and out of lanes... going super fast. I did look into them again though for this trip. Because we had 5 people, in the end even with the discount it was about the same to take the Disneyland Express. I do have a complaint about the Disneyland Express though... it seemed to drive in circles. We passed our hotel, I believe 2 or 3 times before stopping. It was a bit frustrating. Oh well though.. .we got there safe and sound. 
