A Trail of Tears from Louisiana to WDW & Back Again! New PTR Link 8/15

[ladybugmom]

Awww!! Ya'll saw a bunch of characters early on!! LOVE the family pic with Minnie!! You should frame that one!! And yay for Soarin'!! It's a favorite of mine!!

 

[shelbys mommy]

After he settles down with Ben & finally decides to sign the books, he sees my shirt. Nutty with Chip & Dale. He makes the crazy motion by his head & points to me like I am crazy for wearing a Chip & Dale shirt. Ben looks at Goofy & says, "Trust me, she IS crazy." In not a nice tone I might add. If looks could kill, he would have dropped dead in the front of Goofy. Is this a sign of things to come on this trip?

 

[shelbys mommy]

Awww!! Ya'll saw a bunch of characters early on!! LOVE the family pic with Minnie!! You should frame that one!! And yay for Soarin'!! It's a favorite of mine!!

Yes we did! I was so happy since this trip was all about meeting the characters, which will kick in later on in our trip, once I convinced Ben THAT was why I wanted to come. His mom is not a big character meet & greet person & we missed out on alot of them in 07.

I love that pic too! That is definitely on the list to get printed & framed!

Soarin is awesome! I am not big on simulators. Most of them I find boring, like Star Tours. Did it on 07, I am good. But that one just rocks!!!

 

[therussells08]

Hey girl! Sorry it's taken me so long since your text, my internet has been out!

Brady is cracking me up! His facial expressions are adorable!

Sorry you didn't get any pics of Shelby with Stitch. But the other character pics are amazing!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that family picture! It's so cute!

That picture of the kids in Bruce's mouth is adorable, too! Shelby looks so happy!

I can't wait to read more about your day at Epcot!

 

[shelbys mommy]

Hey girl! Sorry it's taken me so long since your text, my internet has been out!

Brady is cracking me up! His facial expressions are adorable!

Sorry you didn't get any pics of Shelby with Stitch. But the other character pics are amazing!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that family picture! It's so cute!

That picture of the kids in Bruce's mouth is adorable, too! Shelby looks so happy!

I can't wait to read more about your day at Epcot!

I was wondering what happened! I thought for sure you would have been the 1st to comment!

Brady will crack you up this entire trip!!!

She cracked me up, she smiled all on her own for that pic!

I love that one too, seriously, it's the best one I got!

 

[therussells08]

I was wondering what happened! I thought for sure you would have been the 1st to comment!

Brady will crack you up this entire trip!!!

She cracked me up, she smiled all on her own for that pic!

I love that one too, seriously, it's the best one I got!

I know girl I was so mad at my stupid computer! As soon as you texted me I was trying to get on here! I love getting your text alerts about updates! It's great!

He is such a cutie pie! I just said this same thing to you in a text, but he looks like so much fun!!

Shelby is so photogenic! What am I saying, your whole family is!

All of your pictures are awesome! I can't wait to read more!

 

[shelbys mommy]

I know girl I was so mad at my stupid computer! As soon as you texted me I was trying to get on here! I love getting your text alerts about updates! It's great!

He is such a cutie pie! I just said this same thing to you in a text, but he looks like so much fun!!

Shelby is so photogenic! What am I saying, your whole family is!

All of your pictures are awesome! I can't wait to read more!

I would have been mad too!

I am thinking since 1/2 of Epcot took 2 posts, I hate to see Hollywood Studios! I have 366 alone for that park, not to mention Play & Dine! I have a feeling HS will drag on for a few posts!

Brady is something else. When people ask how he is doing, I reply back with "He's Brady." To love Brady you have to know him. If you don't know him, he is the most irritating, obnoxious kid in the world! And I say that with a mother's love.

Shelby is my mini me. If you go back & look at my pics on FB of when I was a baby, you can tell easily that she looks like me in the full. Koby is Ben in the full, Brady is a mix.

Rest of Epcot tomorrow!!!!

 

[therussells08]

I would have been mad too!

I am thinking since 1/2 of Epcot took 2 posts, I hate to see Hollywood Studios! I have 366 alone for that park, not to mention Play & Dine! I have a feeling HS will drag on for a few posts!

Brady is something else. When people ask how he is doing, I reply back with "He's Brady." To love Brady you have to know him. If you don't know him, he is the most irritating, obnoxious kid in the world! And I say that with a mother's love.

Shelby is my mini me. If you go back & look at my pics on FB of when I was a baby, you can tell easily that she looks like me in the full. Koby is Ben in the full, Brady is a mix.

Rest of Epcot tomorrow!!!!

There's nothing wrong with that girl! Use twenty posts for HS if you have to because I am loving it!

I can see definitely see the resemblance between Koby and Ben and Shelby and you. And Brady does look like a cross between you both!

I can't wait to read about more Epcot!

 

[shelbys mommy]

There's nothing wrong with that girl! Use twenty posts for HS if you have to because I am loving it!

I can see definitely see the resemblance between Koby and Ben and Shelby and you. And Brady does look like a cross between you both!

I can't wait to read about more Epcot!

Play n Dine is 109 pics!!! That will be a 2 part post too!!! I am so very anxious to get my cd in!!!!!

If I would have had your number at Disney I probably would have called you crying. It gets that bad....

 

[Yankeemouse]

I'm really enjoying your report, great pics!! I know what you mean about the "heated discussions". My kids are now 19, 17, and 15 but when they were very young, and had schedules, etc, it often caused many pissy moments between hubby and me. But now, the kids can go off by themselves and hubby and I can actually chill out and enjoy each others company(plus the frozen margarita's at Epcot!) and we really enjoy it!!

don't get me wrong, I LOVED the times when my babies were small but its pretty great now, lol!

by the way, I noticed you were wearing white crocs, they look fabulous! I'm going to get a pair of those!

can't wait to read more!

 

[mickeystoontown]

I loved all of the pictures in this installment! They are fantastic! I remember the first time our kids got to see the characters. I think I was just as excited as they were!

Heated discussions in Disney? Oh no!

 

[shelbys mommy]

I'm really enjoying your report, great pics!! I know what you mean about the "heated discussions". My kids are now 19, 17, and 15 but when they were very young, and had schedules, etc, it often caused many pissy moments between hubby and me. But now, the kids can go off by themselves and hubby and I can actually chill out and enjoy each others company(plus the frozen margarita's at Epcot!) and we really enjoy it!!

don't get me wrong, I LOVED the times when my babies were small but its pretty great now, lol!

by the way, I noticed you were wearing white crocs, they look fabulous! I'm going to get a pair of those!

can't wait to read more!

They were fabulous, until day 2!!! That was 1 pair of shoes that did not make it home with us!

I loved all of the pictures in this installment! They are fantastic! I remember the first time our kids got to see the characters. I think I was just as excited as they were!

Heated discussions in Disney? Oh no!

I was way more excited than Shelby that is for sure! And yes, heated discussions in Disney! I am pretty sure it was the lack of sleep & all the heat!

 

[Believeinfairytales]

Awww, sorry you and the hubby aren't getting along that great this day. I can only assume it is because everybody is so tired from all of the traveling! Keeping my fingers crossed that things will get better for you!

Oh, I love Shelby's first character interaction. I can just see the love/happiness bursting from you. I know that feeling well and it NEVER changes, from the first character greet to the next to the next, I get those same feelings. That Disney feeling! And Mickey's interaction with her was just so heartwarming. Again, you gotta love Disney!

 

[shelbys mommy]

Awww, sorry you and the hubby aren't getting along that great this day. I can only assume it is because everybody is so tired from all of the traveling! Keeping my fingers crossed that things will get better for you!

Oh, I love Shelby's first character interaction. I can just see the love/happiness bursting from you. I know that feeling well and it NEVER changes, from the first character greet to the next to the next, I get those same feelings. That Disney feeling! And Mickey's interaction with her was just so heartwarming. Again, you gotta love Disney!

It was hot, we were tired, makes for a very pissy Joni! So....I was TRYING to be nice. Sometimes that didn't work lol

I was in tears when she met Mickey! That is such a moment I will never forget!

 

[shelbys mommy]

We are at Liberty Inn & Shelby is walking around. Koby & Brady decide that this is the perfect place to start fighting. So while I am chasing after her, Ben is trying to order our food & correct the boys at the same time. This would be the theme of the trip for them. Ben & I got the Double Bacon Cheeseburger, Koby & Brady got the nuggets & Shelby ate off of our plates. Well, 2 bites doesn't count. She really didn't eat much breakfast & now she was not eating lunch? This is not like her, she eats all the time! So after we eat, it's time for Pick A Pearl! If you remember in my PTR, I had ordered the carriages to put our pearls in. So I dig those out & we are off to Japan! Best experience EVER!!! This is another must do on our trips. As I mentioned before in my PTR, I want this to be a Mommy/Shelby tradition. Well, the boys were "why is this you & Shelby? Why can't we do it?" So me being the nice mommy told Brady that he could pick my oyster & Koby could pick Shelby's. Now after all the reading I have done, I told them to pick the biggest, ugliest, hairiest oyster they could find. My boys did not fail me or Shelby with their picks! And where was little miss Shelby for this? Diaper Changing time! So her & Ben missed out on the entire thing!
Getting Koby's oyster:

Getting Brady's oyster:

Koby's is on the left, Brady's is on the right:

Opening Brady's oyster:

8 mm white pearl! Great job Brady!!!!

Time to open Koby's!

She digs through the "meat" and covers her hands, she says he has picked a very special oyster! Well, from reading I knew what this meant, but Koby did not. She asked us if we knew why it was special. I play along & say no with Koby. Then she shows us this!

TWINS!!!!! 6 1/2 mm & 6 1/4 mm yellow pearls!!!!! I am soooooo proud of my boys!!!! They hooked Shelby & I up!!!!!

Measuring the pearls:

And she made the pearls into a Mickey head!

Getting ready to beat the drums!

Koby with his twins! Doesn't he look so proud?

Brady with his 8 mm pearl, crazy kid!

So after we walk outside (my 8mm white pearl is too big for the carriage. So Shelby's twins are for me & her. She has one in her carriage, I have one in mine. I will do something with my big one later on.) and I put the pearls in the carriages. Here is Shelby wearing hers!

****continued in next post****

 

[mickeystoontown]

Way to go Koby and Brady! An 8mm and twins! How lucky are you guys? I love the carriage pearl cage. It's so lovely on Shelby.

 

[shelbys mommy]

So after PaP was done, we are trying to head back to FW. I spot Belle & Beast & head to the line, Ben gets in a mood again & says that Shelby is hot & cranky. I say fine & storm off. I am headed back to the resort. Well, he sits down on a bench, not too far from where Belle & Beast was & I am off. Brady comes running after me & says "We are invited for a special character meet mommy! I need the books!" So I turn around with the stroller & head back. So glad I did! Here are a few of the characters we met! More pics will be on the photopass...how long does it take to come in anyway???

Now after we rode Soarin, Ben went to get fastpasses for....

It's about that time, so we start heading back after this nice surprise meet & greet. Now the meet & greet was behind a gate & only like 10 families were allowed in. I don't know if they do that alot, but we sure did feel special! I ride first with Koby & Brady while Ben sits out with Shelby. This is the 1st time Brady gets to ride Test Track. When we went in 07, the 1st thing he rode was Splash Mountain & he was terrified. So to see him ride the fast rides was great! When we turned that very 1st curve, I looked over at him & busted out laughing. His face was priceless! I thought he was gonna pee his pants! I thought for sure when he got off the ride he would have said that he was not doing it again. I was wrong! He loved it!!!! We walk off the ride & Ben is there with Shelby feeding her snacks. They take off & head to ride Test Track. I play with Shelby for awhile & they return. He still loved it & wanted to ride it again! I told him no can do, we have other things to go see. Ben & the boys wanted to do Mission Space. I did it last time, it was ok, not my thing though. Last time we was on the mild version. This time they did the not so mild one. I was more than happy to sit out with Shelby. While they rode that, I was walking Innoventions with Shelby in the air conditioning. Not long after I saw this when I looked in her stroller:

Ben said that the not so mild one was awesome & that Brady loved it too! Koby thought it was awesome like his father. And Brady once again said that he wanted to ride it again.


****continued in next post, too many pics!****

 

[shelbys mommy]

Way to go Koby and Brady! An 8mm and twins! How lucky are you guys? I love the carriage pearl cage. It's so lovely on Shelby.

I was a proud mama, that's for sure! They are picking everytime!!!!

 

[shelbys mommy]

After Mission Space, it was time for Journey into Imagination with Figment. I LOVE Figment. I think he is so cute! I couldn't wait for Shelby to ride it!

I was too busy holding Shelby to get any pics of the ride. After Figment was over, which Shelby loved!!! She clapped her hands the entire time & was smiling! Her naps were not long at all.

After some play time it was time for Turtle Talk with Crush! Last time we went Crush talked to Brady, so he was getting questions ready just in case Crush called on him again. No such luck this time. This was taken while waiting for the show to start:

Now last time Crush was soooo funny, this time not so much. Maybe he was having an off day. But I still enjoyed it. And once again, Shelby did too. After that was over, it was time for more water & Mickey Ice Cream! While waiting for Ben to come back with water & ice cream:

And I managed to snap this pic, that I just adore!

Now Shelby has to have Mickey Ice Cream on her 1st day! No ifs ands or butts about it! And I think she liked it!

Now all the while the boys are trying to kill themselves or have me beat the living crap out of them, not sure which one. And due to me correcting them & threatening to put them on their knees in the middle of Epcot, pull their pants down & spank them in the middle of Epcot, Ben was getting an attitude with me. Shelby was hot & fussy. I was DONE! I really wanted to see IllumiNations, but here it was 6:30 pm & we had basically done everything at the park we had set out to do, minus me walking around the countries, that Ben said no too (enter another heated discussion). So we agreed to head back to the resort. On the way out, Ben had said it had been years since he did Spaceship Earth. The kids & I have never done it. So we rode that. That was pretty awesome. No pics of it though. So we head back to the resort hot, tired & cranky. And we find this on our bed when we walk in, this was the last time we got something like this on our trip.

There was also these nice surprises waiting for us on our table!

Once I hit that bed I was out. The boys & Shelby on the other hand, not so much. I get woken up to a loud boom! Thunder! I glance at the clock, we had only been back at the resort for an hour! It stormed really hard for hours, so I was not too upset about missing IllumiNations after that. We had not eaten supper yet, so Ben headed out to McDonalds so we could all eat. I check my feet & I see the start of blisters forming & I am cursing myself for not bring my tennis shoes with me just in case. But like Scarlett O'Hara says, Tomorrow is another day! And what a day it will be! Koby's 10th birthday, Play & Dine at Hollywood & Vine for Breakfast & Hollywood Studios! Little did I know the surprise we would have waiting for us tomorrow when we got to Hollywood Studios!


Total wait time for us for any ride or meet & greet was 10 mins! And that was the Mission Space! We were able to walk on every ride that we didn't have a fastpass for! A sign of things to come? We'll see!

 

[tink7824]

Hey! I'm all caught up! love your TR so far! My Papa Bear and I leave in 24 days!