okay seriously...this chapter is a snore. I apologize. It's mostly pictures. But in my defense I was so tired during this time that I didn't take in nearly as much I ordinarily might have. so...sorry. yawn snore. I will do my utmost to get a more fun chapter up soon.
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When last we met, the Campbellscot's had just finished up their lunch and headed out into the wilderness that is Animal Kingdom Lodge!
We needed to scout out the place that was to be our home for the next ten days!
The best part was...it was NOT raining. At all.
LOOKIT!!! Blue SKY!!! I have PROOF!!!
I don't think we really had any particular destination in mind. We just wandered and saw what we saw. Which kind of worked for us...b/c we were tired...and it was good to let Teddy run hither and yon exclaiming over everything.
That is one thing about Teddy that I hope he never loses. Every new discovery is so exciting...I can't tell you how many times that child has run up to me with a rock in his hand exclaiming "MissCammie! Look at THIS rock...isn't it so cool?" To me it's a rock...like the dozens I remove from his pockets DAILY before they go into the laundry.
To Teddy it's an amazing discovery with a story behind it...he'll elaborate on the cool rock with something like "Look at the way it's shaped...and colored...and it looks like it got broken over here and maybe a Mammoth STEPPED on it and it's a PREHISTORIC rock..."
He's all about the journey that boy!
Sally was content to hold her daddy's hand while we walked. She was checking things out...cautious and careful to the very end!
Our first discovery was...guess what...my FAVORITE...yep...DUCKS!!
Teddy was the first to spot them and called out "Lookit MissCAMMIE!!! It's WILD DUCKS!!! Your FAVORITE!!!"
Wild indeed.
they looked a lot like the fatty fat ducks that live in the park near our house...the ones who are so wild that they will come over and sit on your shoe until you give them some bread.
Sally cracked me up a bit b/c she rolled her eyes and said "Those are just regular ducks...that probably just flew in here b/c they smelled the food or something..."
still letting go of the grouchies it seems...
Sally was a bit more jazzed about the next animal we saw. She heard Teddy shout "GIRAFFES!!!!" and that was it...she looked up at her dad and Jay said "GO, check it out!" She was off and running. The Disney magic was starting to seep in.
after that Sally was romping around like she owned the place!
I love this picture of Teddy...little man on a long journey!
I gotta say...I was really digging Animal Kingdom Lodge so far! In terms of theme...this place rocked our socks off! I hope everyone stays at AKL at least once in their Disney adventures...it's a sight to see!
Rocking Chairs!!!
Flamingos...or Flamindos as Teddy pronounces it...even though he THINKS he is saying Flamingo. It drives Sally crazy that he can't hear the difference. It's just another darling Teddy-ism.
The kiddies really were enjoying their explorations. It was a new Disney experience for Jay and me as well. We'd never been down to these parts before. Cool as it was though...it was HUMID as all get out. I was starting to wilt. I really wanted our room. Time was really crawling along. We had an ADR for Chef Mickey's...our first night Tradition!! I wanted to have time to get settled...let the kids swim...get everyone showered and gorgeous...without having to rush around like crazy people!
I asked Jay how much longer.
another hour and a half...
Little bits of rain started to fall here and there. We decided to head inside before Fay made another appearance and soaked us all. I was already struggling to keep my Disney smile in place...having to walk around in wet jeans would be the end of me!
As we herded the kids back towards the resort, Teddy had to stop and exclaim over a little frog..."Lookit my frog! His name is Steve...He's an amphibian! Do you think he knows he lives at Disney? Like if his family moved here when he was little because they like it b/c it's wet here?"
undoubtedly.
Before Teddy had the opportunity to even contemplate putting that little frog in his pocket, I informed him that he needed to let Steve return to his family...they were probably waiting for him to get home so that they could go swimming...or take the monorail to Magic Kingdom...
"MissCammie...Frogs don't TAKE the monorail to places. They hop."
obviously...
Teddy searched for the perfect spot to return Steve to the wild. Along the way he spotted a lizard...and worried that the lizard might EAT Steve. So he settled on an out of the way of lizards area to let him go...but just couldn't decide...
JUST before I had to start counting...as I am NOT a fan of hemming and hawing...at all...Sally saved the day. She generously offered to let the frog go FOR Teddy.
He agreed. He so hates to let go of new friends.
As sweet as Sally was being...I know that she also wanted to go inside and figured she'd just take over...in a nice way...which I actually appreciated b/c I was ready to head inside as well.
Thanks Sal!
Sally freeing Steve...up high...hope he wasn't afraid of heights!
sad as Teddy was to see Steve go...he was immediately revived as we walked by the pool!
The rain drops got fatter as we headed towards the Lodge. It was time to go inside and engage in some retail therapy!
but before I go, a couple more pictures...b/c I SO meant for this chapter to be mostly pictures...it was all part of the plan.
it was.
seriously.
*ahem*
Teddy wondered if that was the "KINGS room"...
MORE rocking chairs!!!
okay...new chapter up soon...hopefully more fun.
)
trust me tell jay to build teddy a tree house or fort in the back yard so he has a safe place to go to get away from his sister I did it and it made my life sooo much better, you just can't explain things like this to little brothers
the rocking chairs! That Teddy is too funny with all his wisdom and knowledge. Retail therapy is good for the soul! Well, that and a Diet Coke! (or Diet Pepsi) 
We had a cigarette smell in our room at Pop Century back in 2004. At that time I think they allowed cigarettes to be smoked in rooms that were designated as "Smoking" rooms. When we opened the door to our "Non-smoking" room a blast of stale cigarette smell hit us. We were traveling with another couple and wanted the rooms next to each other, and since there were no other available rooms close to theirs, we agreed to keep it if they could get rid of the smell. They put this fan in our room for the three nights that we were there and the smell was pretty much gone by the second day. It was very disappointing though that we had to have that fan in the room. I was so annoyed that someone hadn't followed the rule of not smoking in this "non-smoking" room. (rant over)
Teddy's so sweet with his frog Steve! 
