~A XMAS STORY~decorations, crowds, pixies..AND A BLOODY NOSE~ACTUAL UPDATE 11/9 p190

[timandlesley]

Dawn,
Loved the update. Looks like you guys had fun rafting for her b-day, thanks for sharing the pics.
Great AK day, love how whiny kids are easily happy with a stuffed animal : ) Made me sad when you said "Bye Expedition Everest, see you in a few years" happy and sad for you. But having a baby is SO worth it and I'm excited to go on THAT adventure with you guys as well! Can't wait for the Nemo pics!

 

[KristinAnne]

Awesome pictures! Did you notice the people behind Chris and Anna in their redneck photo? They look so bored!
Glad you're okay from your kayaking adventure. Kayaking is great, but tipping into the cold water does not sound like fun!

 

[xoktenox]

yayy I got mentioned in your TR! I'm honored

Great shots on EE, I never rode it before this trip so I didn't take any pictures on it for fear of losing my camera! LOL I now know that will not happen so next time!

I'm glad to hear that Chris wasn't the only one who fell asleep during Nemo! It's definitely the air conditioning after all that walking around and stuff. Glad Luke got his stuffed animal so Anna and Chris could ride EE!

 

[MagicShell]

I like your photopass pictures in front of Everest. They are very nice. I'm glad Anna got to ride EE. That is one of my favorite rides. Is Luke a momma's boy? I have a six year old momma's boy, and I love it.

 

[DisneyLaura]

at one point i looked up to see this. ray, anna and chris are all OUT! i guess the air conditioning in there and 3.5 days of going strong at disney world was getting to them all! me and luke were the only ones awake.

I thought I would be able to go on EE this year but it looks like my mom won't be coming with us. Next year I'm going with a big group of friends so we can do the kid swap thing.

 

[DisCanCan]

I have been a luker (and an occasional) on all or your trip reports & I have enjoyed all of them!! I am posting to let you know that last night I made your Mexican Lasagne & it was so yummy & easy to make!! Thanks again for your awesome trip reports & mini trip reports. Keep it coming!

Candice

 

[KatGarcia]

I am cracking up that everyone fell asleep!!!! The AC in there really is nice, huh?! Great shots of Divine too!!!!

 

[Lamping3]

I can so totaly see how they fell asleep! Honestly I have never seen a full showing in the Hall of Presidents. We always go see the show because my dad is really into the Presidents. Each time I remember seeing the begining and then someone is waking me up so we can leave. I think it is the combo of the ac and being seated after running on high for so long.

 

[wheresmygoofy]

This has been a great tr. My first that I have almost read of all of. You so now make it to were not only do I need to go again but around christmas time too. Ok maybe not all at once. Thank you for sharing this with us. Cant wait to hear the end.
Hope all works out for the best with brother and Margot. Funning how people can make simple things not so simple. Thanks again.

 

[DisneyJo]

So funny that they all fell asleep in Nemo you must have worn them out

 

[punkin413]

OMG! I am so glad I wasn't in that water!

AHHHHHHHHHH..I LOVE EE! It's even scarier at night! I think it's so cool you can see Epcot..and if you look way back you can see the Contemporary and Space Mountain!

Haha, just you and Luke awake for Nemo!

i've never ridden EE at night! how fun! maybe something to try for next time. i guess luke and i were the only ones who had any energy left!

I can't wait to ride Everest - it looks so fun!!!!!!

Plunging into that water sounds scary! Glad it all turned out ok.

it's such a blast! my second-favorite ride, behind ToT. it was scary but i knew i'd be okay - i had a life vest and it was shallow. but it was SO COLD!

Loving this update... since it is Disney month! Cannot wait to ride Everest again!

Looking forward to your Nemo pics. DH really wants to see this, and I have gotten mixed reviews..

yay for disney month!!!!! pretty soon it will be disney week for you! nemo should be comin up soon.

What a wonderul update! I love all of the pictures. The everest ones...the trails...you go girl! That is so funny...the pic of all of them asleep. Good thing you didn't fall out...someone could have snatched little Luke!


The birthday blast sounds like fun...until you mentioned 48 degree water. Brrr. I remember a little shower on that day. It lasted just a minute or two. We were over looking at the gorillas when it happened.

thanks! i think they were all just dozing. except ray....he was OUT! i bet he doesn't remember much of that show. that water was SO COLD!

I love ALL these pix.

thanks!

Gotta love when you can get a sleeping pic....

especially when the only one awake in the picture is the toddler!

I just have to say that AK is a gorgeous park. The attention to detail shows up in every picture that you took. Your comments about birds always crack me up. Birds don't bother me too much, so when you comment on it, it always makes me laugh.

This was a REALLY fun update. I can't wait to go on EE on our next trip!

it definitely is! AK is beautiful. i was attacked by a blue jay when i was 9 - scratches on my forehead and everything. so that's why i have a fear of our feathered friends. they freak me out!

Phew I am all caught up. I went Nashville over the weekend and couldn't Dis. I can't wait to ride EE. My trip is coming up so fast make my adrs tomorrow!!! I better get to sleep.

Speaking of sleep the pic of Ray ,Anna and Luke sleeping in Nemo is hilarious!!!

did you enjoy nashville? i grew up there and i miss it so! wooohoooo for ADRs! i hope you got what you wanted.

Dawn! I'm so glad you're okay. That's my worst nightmare when we go rafting. I hate more than anything to be cold. I hate those last scenes in Titanic. You are such a trooper to keep going.

Loved the update. It's funny how you and Anna got opposite pics on EE.

i felt like i was in those last scenes of titanic that day! you never know how much cold water hurts until you emerse yourself in it. i didn't have a choice but to keep going. otherwise i would've been stuck in the middle of nowhere in the woods!

thanks! i know - we are two peas in a pod!

Nothing like a little bribery! I think every parent useds it at some point.

the first time I saw devine I had no idea what it was and nearly peed my pants! I was totally fascinated by her but my kids weren't impressed.


That's cool about the temple mirroring everest.

so funny about devine! luckily i had seen her in pictures before so i wasn't startled.

 

[punkin413]

Dawn, I am glad you had fun kayaking this weekend -- I would have died -- pretty sure literally and figuratively .

Yeay for conquering Everest! Such a fun ride and that area of AK is so beautifully themed -- just love it!!!

about everyone falling asleep! I guess they were worn out.

it was definitely scary! you will be seeing that area of AK VERY soon.....like a couple of days!

another awesome update!! I love the photopass pictures!!

OMG!! The picture of Ray, Anna, and Chris out are hilarious!!!!!

thanks! yeah, there were all very tired. not me.....i run on fumes at disney world!

John has kayaked that river before. I have only done the Ocoee but it is always COLD!!! I can't believe that you and Anna took pictures on EE. I would be so scared that I would lose my camera. Good things you are used to Disney days or Luke would have been left to his own devices during Nemo.

i've done the ocoee but it was white water rafting, not kayaking. i don't remember it being as cold as this but that may be because i was 15 and stupid! i hold on tight to my camera when we start going backwards. so no worries!

"The Dam Store" reminds me of hearing about a bait shop that had a sign, "Best bait shop by a dam site!"

great update--sorry about the overturned kayak!!
great pictures on EE--however, my favorite picture of the day is of the sleeping friends!!

thanks! yeah, everyone seemed to like that one!

You were a good sport to go kayaking for Anna's B-Day....you were a trooper even when you nearly froze. Glad you warmed up in the end and didn't break any bones.

The long tailed monkeys are very neat!

I LOVE GORILLAS!! They are so facinating and loveable.

Thanks Ray for all the video clips along the way. It really adds to the TR.

Cool pics of Everest...very cool view from up there.

Awww, Luke picked a cute leopard. A perfect souvenier from AK.

....thank goodness you didn't fall asleep....

it was fun other than nearly drowning in freezing water! ray loves to video so it's good because i can click away with my camera while he takes care of the filming. luke loves his stuffed animals!

Also my worst nightmare to go rafting...mainly b/c I wouldn't want to fall out. I hate water even though I can swim. I am glad you are ok!!!

Love the update..your pics are always so nice

i love water but freezing cold water....no, thanks!

thanks so much!

Great update! So funny they all were out at Nemo!!!

i know! i guess it was time for the community afternoon nap.

good update, not sure what it is, but i can be going all day at disney and never get tired during the day, i know alot of people have to go back to the room to relax, which is fine, i dont know if i think it takes to long to do that, or what.

me too! i can go and go and go. the only time i've ever really gotten tired and called it a day before i planned to was the night before because i was sick. but usually i can just keep on going.....like the energizer bunny!

 

[punkin413]

Good pictures of and from Expedition Everest. Not my favorite ride at all, but I've only done it once, in all fairness. I have to do it without a Fastpass next time and get good queue pictures. I might ride for the sake of pictures from the top, or I might go out the chicken exit. That remains to be seen.

It's a challenge to stay awake in any cool, dark place in Disney World after going hard all the time. Once you get sat down anywhere, falling asleep just sort of happens before you know it. You should have pretended to be asleep and had Luke get the camera and take a picture of all four of you tapped out, leaving him all on his own. That might have been a shock for Anna and Chris!

Looking forward to Nemo pictures. That show is so colorful!

thanks! i didn't know you didn't like EE. it's so funny to me that you like ToT but not EE. ToT is WAY scarier to me than EE but that's why i love it so much. that's such a good idea about pretending to be asleep....that would've been awesome!

Dawn,
Loved the update. Looks like you guys had fun rafting for her b-day, thanks for sharing the pics.
Great AK day, love how whiny kids are easily happy with a stuffed animal : ) Made me sad when you said "Bye Expedition Everest, see you in a few years" happy and sad for you. But having a baby is SO worth it and I'm excited to go on THAT adventure with you guys as well! Can't wait for the Nemo pics!

thanks! yeah, it was fun aside from taking a dip in the frigid waters.

it's now 17 months and some-odd days! by the way, i went to the doc today for my yearly exam and she started me on prenatal vitamins.

Awesome pictures! Did you notice the people behind Chris and Anna in their redneck photo? They look so bored!
Glad you're okay from your kayaking adventure. Kayaking is great, but tipping into the cold water does not sound like fun!

no, i hadn't noticed them but i went back and looked. too funny! tipping over in the water was horrible!

yayy I got mentioned in your TR! I'm honored

Great shots on EE, I never rode it before this trip so I didn't take any pictures on it for fear of losing my camera! LOL I now know that will not happen so next time!

I'm glad to hear that Chris wasn't the only one who fell asleep during Nemo! It's definitely the air conditioning after all that walking around and stuff. Glad Luke got his stuffed animal so Anna and Chris could ride EE!

you're a celebrity! just be sure to hold on to the camera when you start going backwards. before that there's nothing to worry about unless you just accidentally drop it.

I like your photopass pictures in front of Everest. They are very nice. I'm glad Anna got to ride EE. That is one of my favorite rides. Is Luke a momma's boy? I have a six year old momma's boy, and I love it.

thanks! yes, luke is a mommy's boy! he loves his daddy and loves to do anything with him because chris works a lot and so luke really cherishes his time with him. but when it comes to being comforted he wants his mama!

I thought I would be able to go on EE this year but it looks like my mom won't be coming with us. Next year I'm going with a big group of friends so we can do the kid swap thing.

oh, bummer! hopefully it will happen next year. i'm sure you'll get to ride it soon! i don't know if you guys have thought about it but you can each hop in the single rider line while the other one stays with the kids and i don't think you'd have to wait long! you'd have to ride it alone but it would be worth it.

I have been a luker (and an occasional) on all or your trip reports & I have enjoyed all of them!! I am posting to let you know that last night I made your Mexican Lasagne & it was so yummy & easy to make!! Thanks again for your awesome trip reports & mini trip reports. Keep it coming!

Candice

thanks for reading and saying hi! glad you liked the lasagna! it is soooo good!

I am cracking up that everyone fell asleep!!!! The AC in there really is nice, huh?! Great shots of Divine too!!!!

i know! it's the AC plus just being exhausted. i could go forever in disney though - i'm just a freak!

I can so totaly see how they fell asleep! Honestly I have never seen a full showing in the Hall of Presidents. We always go see the show because my dad is really into the Presidents. Each time I remember seeing the begining and then someone is waking me up so we can leave. I think it is the combo of the ac and being seated after running on high for so long.

ray and i did the hall of presidents last april and i'm pretty sure i fell asleep too!

This has been a great tr. My first that I have almost read of all of. You so now make it to were not only do I need to go again but around christmas time too. Ok maybe not all at once. Thank you for sharing this with us. Cant wait to hear the end.
Hope all works out for the best with brother and Margot. Funning how people can make simple things not so simple. Thanks again.

thanks! hope you get to go at christmastime some day! and thanks for your kind words about my brother.

So funny that they all fell asleep in Nemo you must have worn them out

i guess so! i could go forever at disney and not give out. as long as i get at least 6 hours of sleep then i'm good to go all day!

 

[stacopp]

I just finished reading everything so far.... I love your trip report!!

 

[arkie]

Yeah prenatel vitamins!!! I'm so excited for you!. I love your reports, I am following both so keep them coming!

 

[rentayenta]

Love the sleeping photo!!!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

good update, not sure what it is, but i can be going all day at disney and never get tired during the day, i know alot of people have to go back to the room to relax, which is fine, i dont know if i think it takes to long to do that, or what.

It's called being young vs. old age!

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

bwahahahahahhahahaha they fell asleep! I usually do that on Ellen's Universe of Adventure or whatever the heck it's called. Can't help it. Movement, cool, dark...zzzzzzzz.

I can NOT believe that they sell Webkinz in Disney. hmm or maybe I can. Wierd.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

ohhhh prenatal vitamins! I think we will have a new "journey" report to follow, hopefully sooner than later! Good Luck!

 

[punkin413]

i had full intentions to get an update together at some point today. but instead i ended up sitting at a car dealership for a good part of the day. but the good news is we came home with this..........

i'm SOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!!!!!!! ray had 2 cars, neither of which had working AC. well, this past week his ford focus had some gas line problems (which he got fixed pretty easily) but he and i had had it with having to deal with these little problems. and with possibly starting a family soon, we REALLY needed another dependable vehicle (that had more than 2 doors!). so we traded in his ford focus and volkswagon cabrio for this baby. it's a 2007 honda CR-V. i already have a 2003 honda CR-V that's navy blue and we both love it so i knew when we found this one it would be great for us. ray's going to drive the blue one and i'm going to drive the newer car. I LOVE IT!!!!!! it's fully loaded with leather seats, only 25,000 miles and the best part.....the fact that it's VANDERBILT GOLD!!!!!!!!!

here are some more pictures......

me being very happy with my new toy!

i called anna to tell her we got the car and she wanted to come over and see it. she called me when she was on the way over and she said, "i just want you to know my son insisted that he run over there. so i'm in the car on the road next to him pacing him. he keeps screaming, "WOOOHOOOO" every now and then!" that kid is so crazy! it's probably about 1/2 mile from my house to hers. anyway, i ran outside and got a picture of them going down the road in front of the house, luke running on the sidewalk and anna in the car next to him.