My better late than never TR

[punkin413]

I must say, I'm pretty pleased with myself that I found something on my 1 trip this year that Dawn missed in her 3 trips!!

the one time ray and i went into minnie's house it was INSANE - kids everywhere!!!!! we couldn't look at anything without getting pushed out of the way. so we've avoided it ever since.

 

[kschafer]

the one time ray and i went into minnie's house it was INSANE - kids everywhere!!!!! we couldn't look at anything without getting pushed out of the way. so we've avoided it ever since.

A good lesson learned, if it's too crowded, go somewhere else. Fighting crowds loses magic! You should try to get back sometime (next year right!) although I personally would only go for Minnies house.

 

[kschafer]

A brief update this time!

Greg reminded me yesterday of something good that did happen right before we left MK. Remember the time we hung out in the gift shop in AK? Well, Patrick had gotten a couple pressed pennies and was carrying his book around. Well, he must have set it down to look at something and walked away from it. We had called several places but nobody had turned it in. They recommended waiting a day or 2 and checking with central lost and found outside of MK. Just before we left, we stopped by and they had it! It was just a little thing but Patrick was so happy to get it back, thanks to whoever found it and got it there!

Day 13 - Saturday, June 21 continued

We arrived at my parents house after I drove through the blinding rain and all 3 boys slept. When it finally stopped raining, we went for a walk to tour mom and dads park (I use the term "trailer park" loosely, it is a very nice and well maintained park) and the boys splashed in the puddles as we walked. We basically just relaxed and talked.

Day 14 - Sunday, June 22

This was beach day! All of us went out in the morning and played in the sand

and searched for shells and sharks teeth

Later that day, Mom and I took Patrick to the pool while Greg and Daniel napped (see MeMom, not a lot of room, this was our bed in the living room )

In the evening, Greg and I took the boys back to the beach to actually go into the water but I didn't take any pics, sorry

Day 15 - Monday, June 23

We did a few errands. My Dad's parents are buried nearby and I haven't been there since 1988 when Grandpa died. (Grandma passed away in Iowa in 1997 and her ashes were placed with Grandpa several months later and I wasn't there) so we visited their cemetery

We stopped at the farmers market and got a watermelon

After lunch, we took the boys to a local park to play in the jumping fountains

I pretty much focused on laundry after that (darn the crayons they give kids at restaurants!! Daniel put one in his pocket and we had BLUE crayon melted on 1 entire load of lights what a mess!)

Day 16 - Tuesday, June 24

We packed up the car this morning and headed back to Orlando, that will be my next update. You can see these few days were very laid back and relaxing (and quite wet actually!). The touring will resume in the next installment.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

and searched for shells and sharks teeth

Looks like a nice relaxing contrast to the hustle and bustle of Disney. What are you all holding in this picture with the long handles? A shell/shark teeth finder?

 

[kschafer]

Looks like a nice relaxing contrast to the hustle and bustle of Disney. What are you all holding in this picture with the long handles? A shell/shark teeth finder?

Yeah, it was a basket on the end of the handle. The idea was to dig into the sand along the edge of the water then sift through it. I tired of it quickly but Greg did have quite a bit of luck (he usually is when he is determined!)

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Yeah, it was a basket on the end of the handle. The idea was to dig into the sand along the edge of the water then sift through it. I tired of it quickly but Greg did have quite a bit of luck (he usually is when he is determined!)

Neat! Did you make them yourselves? Very creative. I love searching for shells. Never occurred to me to look for sharks teeth... now I will!

 

[jenjolt]

What a great beach day!!! Sun was shining, water was gorgeous, and the sand looked white...nothing less than perfect!!!!

The boys looked like they had a lot of fun!!!

Okay Katie...I'm going to save my first ride in the front of the monorail....April 2010...you and me girlie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Happy Elf]

This is such a cute picture!

I pretty much focused on laundry after that (darn the crayons they give kids at restaurants!! Daniel put one in his pocket and we had BLUE crayon melted on 1 entire load of lights what a mess!)

Sounds like something that would happen to me!

 

[kschafer]

Neat! Did you make them yourselves? Very creative. I love searching for shells. Never occurred to me to look for sharks teeth... now I will!

I think my mom found them at a yard sale. They were a good way to sift out quickly the sand and leave the bigger stuff. I have always just picked up whatever was on the beach, never in the water.

Mom says she has never found good sharks teeth but Greg found 2 nice ones. One of her neighbors had given her a couple to "plant" for the boys to find (she had them in her pocket) but they were not very interested so she still has them I think.

What a great beach day!!! Sun was shining, water was gorgeous, and the sand looked white...nothing less than perfect!!!!

The boys looked like they had a lot of fun!!!

Okay Katie...I'm going to save my first ride in the front of the monorail....April 2010...you and me girlie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a beautiful day and the water was so warm. You can see the adults didn't go prepared to get into the water in the morning. When I felt how nice it was, I knew I had to come back with my suit later that night! I had a blast too

Jen and Katie: monorial drivers in training! Can't wait!!

This is such a cute picture!

Sounds like something that would happen to me!

That little boy is such a goof sometimes. He is so quietly expressive.

I hate to admit, this was not my first crayon in the dryer experience Lucily between stain stick and oxy clean, we got almost everything cleaned up.

 

[sunny_stace]

Yay!! More updates!! I'm definately sticking around for the rest! The last time I went to Seaworld I was 14! I love it there....or at least I did but I can never convince DBFF to go. She's not as much of an animal lover as I am...anyhow I will be glad to see it through your eyes!

I'm sorry to hear that your last WDW day wasn't full of pixie dust and magic. But I understand....once you get the "envelope of doom" it's all downhill. But yes you will be going back and you will get on HM! It's my fave and I will make you ride with me!

I love the beach too! It looks soooooo wonderful! Especially since I'm looking out at freezing rain right now! And it's always fun to bunk with family for a few days!

And I know I say it every update but I love your pics! Your family looks so nice together! And you just seem to capture things so perfectly!
Hope you're having a wonderful new year!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I am finally, finally caught up.

I really have loved reading about your trip and your family. I can't wait to hear about Sea World!

 

[MEK]

I pretty much focused on laundry after that (darn the crayons they give kids at restaurants!! Daniel put one in his pocket and we had BLUE crayon melted on 1 entire load of lights what a mess!)

.

Bad mom - you mean you didn't check the pockets????? I am laughing because once I put my DS's new cell phone through wash because I didn't check the pockets - sorry pocket checking is NOT my job! Unfortunately that cell phone was about 3 days old!

 

[k_reile]

ugg...you must have started a laundry curse. Caleb got sick on me yesterday and I was wearing a red pajama bottoms...well I threw them in with his clothes...I put all kinds of colors together with his clothes before. Well we just got a new washer, put in on the heavy duty cycle...and it must have been hotter water than normal but some of the items came out pink. I tried everything to get it out but I have cut my losses..it was just a couple of his wash clothes so it was not like I was out a lot

 

[ILuvCrush]

HI Katie!!
I'm finally all caught up. Sorry your last MK day was a bummer
At least it sounds like a few terrific days with your parents!! That's what every WDW vacation needs, a couple days to relax afterward

I'm looking forward to hearing about Sea World, we will be going in July...not sure how excited I am about it, but DS really wants to

Paula

 

[kschafer]

Well I'm back after having lost internet service for a couple days. Boy have I missed all of you! The good news is, I worked on my TR and the next update is ready to go!

I'm sorry to hear that your last WDW day wasn't full of pixie dust and magic. But I understand....once you get the "envelope of doom" it's all downhill. But yes you will be going back and you will get on HM! It's my fave and I will make you ride with me!

And I know I say it every update but I love your pics! Your family looks so nice together! And you just seem to capture things so perfectly!
Hope you're having a wonderful new year!

It's OK, I honestly think my expectations of this trip were unrealistic. Next time I will know to just enjoy the moment more. And YES, we will doom buggy together!

Thanks for the compliments

I am finally, finally caught up.

I really have loved reading about your trip and your family. I can't wait to hear about Sea World!

Glad you have you along for the ride LL. Seaworld coming right up!

Bad mom - you mean you didn't check the pockets????? I am laughing because once I put my DS's new cell phone through wash because I didn't check the pockets - sorry pocket checking is NOT my job! Unfortunately that cell phone was about 3 days old!

I had checked pockets and found like 3 1/2 crayons. I guess I should have looked a little harder for the missing 1/2 huh!

I put DH's cell phone through the wash too. And yes, he blamed me for not checking his pockets this was after it had survived a trip through the snowblower last winter!

ugg...you must have started a laundry curse. Caleb got sick on me yesterday and I was wearing a red pajama bottoms...well I threw them in with his clothes...I put all kinds of colors together with his clothes before. Well we just got a new washer, put in on the heavy duty cycle...and it must have been hotter water than normal but some of the items came out pink. I tried everything to get it out but I have cut my losses..it was just a couple of his wash clothes so it was not like I was out a lot

I'm sure he won't care what color his washclothes are Good thing you learned about the new washer this way!

I'm finally all caught up. Sorry your last MK day was a bummer
At least it sounds like a few terrific days with your parents!! That's what every WDW vacation needs, a couple days to relax afterward

I'm looking forward to hearing about Sea World, we will be going in July...not sure how excited I am about it, but DS really wants to

Yes, the days of relaxation were nice! It revived us a bit for SeaWorld which was a fun change from WDW, my expectations were pretty low so it was fun to just go with the flow and not worry about lines.

 

[kschafer]

Day 16 - Tuesday, June 24

This morning we got up, packed our things and eventually headed back to Orlando (I think we left after lunch). We arrived to our hotel and checked in then promptly left again. We had tickets for SeaWorld that were buy 1 day, get a second day free. Our plans were really to spend tomorrow there but as long as we were getting 1 free day, we’d start this afternoon.

We didn’t do a LOT on this day and I can’t really remember what order we did things in but I have pictures of the manatees.

We were fortunate to get there around feeding time so they were busy chomping away on lettuce.

I love this picture!!

We checked out these little guys, so cute when they are this size! I don’t know what it is about alligators, I am fascinated by them (but I’m not crazy, I prefer to view them from a distance)

We went to the dolphin show which was REALLY good but we took no pictures, I don’t know why. There was a storyline complete with trapeze acrobats, dancers and divers. I highly recommend it

We wandered through the penguin/puffin exhibit. What I thought was neat was that they simulate the Antarctic day/night cycle for them so we were there at “night”. I hoped to make it back tomorrow during the short “daytime” they have in June. Of course I couldn't help but think of the movie happy feet and wondered what they thought of the crazy looking humans as they went by on the moving sidewalk.

We then had to choose between the cirque du soleil type show and the Shamu show, the boys choose Shamu. We got there a little late so we were up pretty high in the stadium. The show was fun, educational and touching. Just some various pics

Check out the birds hanging out. They keep fish to reward the whales in those boxes along the back. These birds were hanging out hoping to pick up a dropped fish or two!

Patrick was VERY disappointed that we were up high when he saw this

wait for it...

I promised him we would come back tomorrow and sit in the "splash zone"

Check out the roller coaster in the distance. I knew we wouldn’t have a chance to ride it but it plays an interesting role in tomorrow’s story.

At this point we were getting hungry and left to find non-park food and call it a night, we had big plans for the morning that the boys didn’t know about

 

[Lady Lallie]

I love, love, love manatees. There is just something about them that make me all gooey eyed.

Sounds like a nice, relaxing day at Sea World. I'm really intrigued about the roller coaster now...

 

[Megablocks]

The Shamu show looks wicked cool. The the manatees are soooo cute! I wish we had them at the New England Aquarium...

I am also interested in the roller coaster story and the surprise for the boys!

 

[Happy Elf]

That is such a neat picture! The boys look like they are taking everything in. The manatees are so cute!

 

[sunny_stace]

Oh I love all of those photos! I really do need to get back to Seaworld! I remember my mum and I sitting in the splash zone and just looking like we had stepped out of the shower! I thought it was the greatest thing but she wasn't too pleased!