Winkler's 2010- The fun, the exhaustion, and the painful!

[princess&her4princes]

Alicia,
Great updates! Love the pics of Isabelle and Gabriel on the bed before heading out for the day, so cute!!!

The pics from AK are great! You got some great shots!!!

Can't wait to hear more!!!

 

[aksunshine]

After we disembarked from our Safari, we headed through Pangani. HaveI ever mentioned how much Isabelle animals? She wants to be a zookeeper!! And several other things! LOL!

The Silverback was posing for us!!!

Next Isabelle really wanted to "go on that train ride to that building, you know, mom?"...LOL!!!

Elephant Dung, and, yes, she knew what it was!!!!

To my fellow nursing mommies!!!!! There is an amazing spot to BF here!!! AND!!! I had never even been there before. Behind where you would meet Rafiki there are a series of doors. When the light says there is occupancy, head in. It is dim, be prepared. There are cushy benches, too. Then push the button to start the story. You decided if you want to listen to the story, it's cute. There are headphones for this. When you push the button inside, the light outside says not to go in!!! So you have some privacy!! Now, like I said, been back here dozens of times, NEVER knew these little rooms were there! Only drawback is the story is kinda short and when it is over, the light outside changes and lights come up. To start the story again you have to open the door and let it close again. Gabriel and I spent about 15 min here! It was cool, dim, and fairly comfy!

 

[jessica52877]

Loving the Epcot pics! Epcot is Mark and I 's favorite park

We just love Epcot too! I love the laid backness of the world! And love it even more now with the KP mission. Dallas is entertained while we enjoy.

Sorry I have been MIA, and not even first day done! LOL!!

So Epcot, on a Saturday night, during F&W brings DRUNK locals!!! We made it a bit past France, turned around and decided to head out. It ws just too much, too many people...

We decided to head out international gateway and walk over to the Boardwalk. I didn't get any pictures, really, but it was nice. Something I had always wanted to do. We walked all the way to Jellyrolls to check their times (Matt works nights, so we were tryingto keep options open if he couldn't sleep). We gazed out at the water, we watched a couple of Buskers, I stopped on a quite bench and fed Gabriel, then Matt ran into the brewery and grabbed him a beer and me a wine. The wine as way too dry for me, I sipped less than half and Matt finished it off.

We thought we might stick around for Illuminations from BW, but decided that fighting the crowd after, through Epcot, wouldn't be worth it, so we headed back the way we came. Exiting FW and heading to the busses just as Illuminations started.

I hate that there were so many locals drinking it up too much!

I am loving your TR though and kind of slow to start reading it! I love all the outfits so far and Isabelle is the BEST big sister! No wonder Gabrielle looks at her like he does.

 

[carrie6466]

It stinks about everything being so crowded at first Great pictures! Karl has that Jimney Cricket shirt that Matt is wearing LOL

 

[aksunshine]

Thanks for sticking around everyone!

Thanks Jessica, Gabriel really is in love with her. His little eyes just light up when he sees her.

 

[aksunshine]

Might be a good time to mention that crowds hadn't gotten any better. As we exited the train and headed for our usual lunch spot we were starting to notice that it was no better today than the day before. This is where pain starts coming in, too.

But before that, we talked as we were gettin ready to cross the bridge to DI abou Isabelle and riding Everest! So I ran up to get FP, while Matt and the kids checked the times of the bird show.

Matt and I went shoe shopping (really just for him, but what can I say?) a couple of days before we left. I had been on him about going for weeks. He didn't have ANYTHING suitable for our Disney vacay. I had assumed he would get Crocs, he always does for WDW, but he got a new pair of NewBalance shoes instead. Well they had these really cute Croc sandles for me. They are white, wedge soled, two straps, so cute!!! And on clearance (still $30, though )!!! I had decided to wear them that morning, mistake!!!!

On the way to Pizzafari for lunch (we like the Italian snadwich there! And the AC!) I stopped at the 1st aid and got some bandages to try to stave of the friction. Then I changed Gabriel in the baby center. I didn't get to nurse in there, but they have private rooms that looked nice!

About Pizzafari, they no longer have frozen lemonade!!! Yay for us!! Matt and I always gave them to someone as we were leaving. Now they have a SUPER YUMMY chocolate mousse!!!!!!!

 

[mrsksomeday]

Hi Alicia, I am really enjoying your trip report. Everyone looks so happy. Isabelle has grown so much, she is such a beauty and Gabriel is so adorable.

Sorry to hear about the shoe issues and I hope the crowds thinned out for you. I can't wait to read more.

 

[jenshell75]

Hi Alicia, I am loving the TR and can't wait to read more. The children look fantastic in their little outfits. Can you tell me what pattern you used for Isabelle's pink flower top with the colourful ruffle ? it's so pretty.

Have a great day
Jen

 

[aksunshine]

Hi Alicia, I am really enjoying your trip report. Everyone looks so happy. Isabelle has grown so much, she is such a beauty and Gabriel is so adorable.

Sorry to hear about the shoe issues and I hope the crowds thinned out for you. I can't wait to read more.

Thanks! Doesn't take them long to grow up, does it?!

Hi Alicia, I am loving the TR and can't wait to read more. The children look fantastic in their little outfits. Can you tell me what pattern you used for Isabelle's pink flower top with the colourful ruffle ? it's so pretty.

Have a great day
Jen

Hey! No pattern on that top. It is an altered Pillowcase top. I just made it a halter instead.

 

[aksunshine]

I also forgot to mention that while waiting in line for the Safari (as well as many other things) Gabriel was snugged up in his Disney-fied Ring Sling from Sleeping Angel Inc. A VERY excellent buy!!!

As seen here. This was a month before our trip, bf while shopping at Home Depot.

He felt safe and comfy and not over stimulatd. Which was good for all. The only downfall was that since I was wearing him almost as much as he was riding, it wore me out, I think. Matt and I took things at the slowest pace we ever have at WDW, but we left more exhausted than ever too. Matt is easily explained. He didn't sleep...

Seriously...

Maybe 4 hours a night and that wasn't good solid sleep either.

So the only thing I could figure with me was Gabriel must have made me more tired than I realized. I am sure the RS played a large part in that, especially when it was 95 degrees! Wouldn't do it differently though!!!

 

[aksunshine]

After lunch, we headed back to Asia. I was so excited that Isabellewas going to ride "the yeti" with me!!! We had barely made it out of Pizzafari when Matt said his feet were starting to bother him, too.

We took the scenic route back, mostly trying to avoid the crowds. I am glad we did, though, it i such a pretty walk.

Isabelle seemed to be a bit scared of EE. The drops got her, I think. Poor thing. Got this cute pic after, though!!

We met Matt at the DVC booth. (they have already convinced us, lol! Someday...BTW, they are giving $15 in isney GC for each person who goes for the tour now. It would have been $60, yes they were going to include even the baby!!!)

It was time for the Flights show, so we headed in and took a seat in the back. Matt was really looking forward to this. We had managed to miss it in 08 and 09. In 07, when we went with Levi, he stepped out toward the beginning b/c Levi was fussy. So he missed most of it.

Notice Gabriel is in the rs!

After the show, Isabelle and Iused a parent swap pass we had gotten earlier and rode Kali Rv. Matt decided it wouldn't be good for his feet. Then we all walked back to use our FP on the safari. Again, bypassing the 20 + min waits for the photopass photographers. I told myself we would be back later in the week and crowds would be better. Weactually never made it back to AK...

 

[aksunshine]

We didn't get much of a "break" when we returned to Pop. We had to get ready for dinner at Teppan Edo! So we were quicky back at the bus stop, waiting...

Everytime we are near the busses, Matt makes new friends! LOL! Considering we had to wait 15 min, it was good! This time we happened to be heading to Epcot with a lovely family who had just arrived from Canada! Eh! Their daugter was a year older than Isabelle, but they enjoyed visiting. She had a disorder in her joints that kept her mostly in her chair, but she was able to walk some. We arrived to Epcot five min. tell our ressie! UGH!! Our new friends had the EXACT SAME ressie, so we walked together. Figuring we would all be a few min late! LOL! They weren't real sure where to go anyway.

We took a Friendship over to Japan, avaoiding foot friction for Matt ( I changed shoes ) Soon we were checked in and seated. With our new friends being setaed with us only a few min later!!!! LOL! It was nice!

Matt, Isabelle, and I had been to one hibachi before. In Denver with my BFF, Beth when my crazy a** decided to take a train out there, meet the woman Ihad become BFFs with andstay with her for a week! It wasan amazing trip!!! Her DD calls it "Hachi-Bachi"!!! We were excited to try it! Turned out to be a better show than the firs! So much fun!!!

Isabelle stirring sugar into her green tea. Look how GREEN!!!

VOLCANO!!!

It was all over too soon... We bid a fun trip to our Canadian friends as we went our separate ways. I had planned to catch Fantasmic!

 

[aksunshine]

BTW, I had a glass of Plum Wine with my dinner. Anyone know what brand it is that they serve? I want to try to find some! It was YUMMY!!!!!

 

[carrie6466]

That looks like a fun restaurant. I think I'll try to get that when I plan my next trip (not the Dec. one lol)

 

[brightvalleyjrts]

Your pictures are so good. You sure have some beautiful babies!! We also loved Teppan Edo. The boys thought it was super cool too. Can't wait for the next part of your TR!!

 

[carrie6466]

I actually was able to get a Teppan Edo reservation for 12/15, after changing a few other things around. Now I can't wait to try it.

 

[aksunshine]

Yay!! I think you guys will like it Carrie! Your DD will love it!

Thanks Nikki!!

 

[aksunshine]

Sorry it has been awhile! It has been a busy week getting ready for Isabelle's first sleepover! As I type this the girls are watching a movie andtrying Bernie Bott's every flav. beans! LOL!!!

 

[aksunshine]

I think Isabelle's favorite part of dinner was the chopsticks! LOL! She wanted to keep them! I told her, no, but we could look at the rather large collection in the store downstairs and buy her a set if she wanted. This might be a good time to talk about Isabelle's vacay money.

If you have seen the video of Isabelle's reveal, you know that she likes her spending $! Every year for the past 3 she gets about $50 to spend how SHE CHOOSES on vacay. The first year we gave her the $, the next 2 she saved up herself. This year she didn't have enough saved, so we gave her some. With Matt getting his BP all was good. She is very careful about HOW she spends. We remind her that we will be back to a place if she isn't sure about something. We ended up paying for all of her things this trip, so she got a LOT!!! :lol: I told her to save her $ for next vacay!

Anyway, at first she thought she was spending her $, in fact she thought that most of the week, so she was careful about spending, heck so was I! Matt told me get whatever, but I was stll hesitant!

So she wanted to look around the store before she made a purchase. A geisha put a pretty hair thing in. I was surprised she really liked it! She doesn't like her hair "up". But she still wasn't sure. We left empty handed.

I headed for Morocco to get my Henna. I got one last year and really loved it! Isabelle looked through the book and found a cute lizard and got that!

The only downfall to getting them so early is that they were gone (Isabelle's esp.) pretty much when we got home.

It was also lots of fun trying to keep Isabelle from smearing hers before it set and me not smearing mine while I fed Gabriel!

While Isabelle and I got our tats, Matt and Gabriel gazed at the lake and Matt made more friends!

 

[carrie6466]

I love the tattoos. Where did you get them? I've never seen them at WDW.