Wedding Weekend

What an adventure we had this weekend!  We went to Columbus, OH for my cousin Tommy's wedding.  So many things for the kids to be excited about, seeing lots of family, staying in a hotel, swimming in the pool, going to a wedding (for the cake), but most of all flying on an airplane!  We got to the airport inplenty of time.  Walking in from the parking lot Grace stopped every time a plane took off (probably every minute) so it took us a while.  She was so excited to see airplanes!

We took got on escalators, made it through security, rode on a train and finally made it to our gate...and hour before boarding.  Long wait!  Finally we got on and the kids were just bouncing with excitement.

After a long taxi and an even longer wait to take off we were in the sky!  Glad its a short flight because they got bored and ate all their snacks pretty quickly.  But it was uneventful (and no one had to go to the bathroom).  So success!  Grandma and Aunt Pammie met us at the airport and we were off to the hotel for 3 days of fun with their cousin Wesley!

We were looking for something to do Friday and found a Graeters Ice Cream with a play place!  I mean it could not have been more perfect.  You can bring you lunch, play and get the BEST ice cream in the world for dessert.  They had a blast playing and sliding...they even had a banana see-saw!

After we rested the kids took Grandma and Poppy swimming.  They were all over the place, jumping and splashing.  It was great to wear them out!

That night the adults went to the rehearsal dinner and had a great time.

Saturday it was wedding day!  Everyone was looking super cute.  I was only a little nervous about the kids (I mean Grace) behaving during the wedding.  She was actually pretty good.  When Carissa walked down the aisle Grace said "Oooh Mommy, look it's a princess!"  Julianna was very into it too.  She asked all kinds of questions about who was getting married and who were the bridesmaids.  Did I marry Daddy, is that how you got your rings?  She was really paying attention!  We made it though the wedding and just as I was breathing a sigh of relief the usher signals our aisle to leave.  And Grace dumps my purse and everything in it on the floor.  Awesome!  Lipstick was rolling under the pews, I grabbed what I could and Brian went back for the rest.  You just have to laugh.

The kids went to the reception for a little while.  Carissa had made them each a bucket of fun.  So they had a great time playing with yo-yos and stickers.  They ate lots of food (mostly off other people's plates) and then the girls were ready to dance!  Of course no one was dancing yet but they didn't care!

The traditional sibling shot:

We had such a fun time with our family!  I wish we could get together more but we are all scattered across the US.  So wonderful to see you all!  We are even missing a few in this picture!

Congratulations Tommy & Carissa!  Thanks for a fantastic weekend!

Sports!

Fall brings another season of sports.  Julianna is finally old enough!  Jake is starting his football career with some flag football.  He is super excited and says he has lots of fun!  Every game it clicks a little more.  There are a lot of rules!  But he is playing with JP so that makes it all the more fun!

Julianna is playing soccer.  She is a natural.  She and her best friends, Lily and Hadley are on the same team.  They are all having lots of fun not to mention scoring lots of goals!  Julianna scored 3 in her first game!

Grace has fun on the sideline...or tries to join in!  Her time will come.

Disney World Day 7

Our last day.  Time to check out.  It's raining and not just drizzling.  It's pouring.  We are both tempted to just get in the car and go home.  But we paid for tickets and we promised Hollywood Studios.  And we have rain boots!

So we brave the rain and head to Hollywood Studios.  Of course we ride Toy Story first thing.  The line wasn't bad so we dried off and waited for one last ride.

We didn't ride much just walked around and waited for the Frozen Sing A Long.  We had to do that one again!  Even in the rain we managed to have fun.  We grabbed lunch on the way out and Daddy surprised us with dessert (or maybe he used our last snack credit!).

We said goodbye to Disney and hit the road.  This is 15 minutes into our trip:

and 5 minutes later:

and 5 minutes...from home!

It was definitely a fun-filled and magical week.  Even though Brian and I were outnumbered we made it.  Kids had a great time.  Not too many meltdowns.  Lot of memories made.  My very favorite quote came from Julianna.

Julianna: Mommy, who built Disney World?
Me: Walt Disney
Julianna: I just love him.

Me too Julianna!  I may even have booked our next Disney adventure while we were there!  Disney is always a good idea right?

Disney World Day 6

Day 6.  I bet you are wondering if we are ever going to leave Disney!  Not today.  Today is another Magic Kingdom day!  Yeah!  We start off the day with another favorite, Chef Mickey!  Once again Grace wouldn't go near anyone except Minnie.  She stuck with the standard High 5.  

 

The characters came super quick and we were ready to hit the park in no time.  Magic Kingdom is the best.  I just love all the rides and atmosphere.  First on the list...Dumbo!

Since we were there so early and there was no line they actually let us keep riding.  Grace was in heaven!  Riding her very favorite ride over and over...in her Dumbo dress.   We hit the highlights (7D Mine Train, Tomorrowland Speedway, Small World, Winnie the Pooh, Little Mermaid) and a few we missed (Peter Pan).  Julianna loves 7D I got on with her and her hands go up in the air instantly.  I love how fearless she is!  That fearlessness took us to Space Mountain, and Jake telling her she is tall enough.  Well of course she had to ride it.  I tried to talk her out of it, but she was adamant.  So she did it.  

And promptly got off and said "Mommy, that is a VERY BAD ride!"  No tears just mad at the ride.

So it was almost time to go, just heading to Splash Mountain we run into the Morin's...again!  So we ride Splash Mountain together, twice and head out.  The rain is coming.

Jake and Brian headed to Epcot for some more crime solving while the girls took naps.  

That night it was raining.  But I didn't want to just sit in the room.  So Jake, Julianna and I decided to just go to Hollywood Studios and get wet.  Watch the Fantasmic show (yes we sat and waitied for 25 minutes only for it to get cancelled) and the Frozen fireworks.  They were really neat.  All the fireworks were set to music and changed colors.  It was so fun.  Glad we went!  Grace on the other hand was happy to spend time with Daddy.  I came back to her clutching a huge Minnie Mouse.  

The next day I was going to ride something with Jake and Julianna.  I said okay Grace you are with Daddy.  She said "Hmm, maybe Daddy buy me something."  Yep...she has his number!

Disney World Day 5

Thursday.  We have no plans for the day.  Just be lazy.  We slept in until maybe 8:30am. We decided to drive to Downtown Disney to pick up a few things.  Jake wanted to hit the Lego store.  He has really gotten into Legos and wanted to get a new set.

Once we got back to our resort we headed to the pool.  Water slide!!!  Our friends the Cristelli's were staying in our resort and so conveniently have kids the same age!  We met them at the pool and the kids had a blast.  Going down the water slide, playing in the pool, eating lunch.  It was so nice to relax and not be running around from ride to ride.  I think we all needed a day of rest.  The girls took naps and we got ready for dinner.

Months ago (6 actually) I booked all our reservations for dinner.  We coordinated with friends and ended up at a Luau at Ohana with two other families.  Talk about crazy!  Grace ate bread and I think that might be it.  I must have buttered that piece of bread 20 times.

The dinner was fantastic and the kids enjoyed all the different meats they brought around.  Jake LOVES pork so he chowed down.

Then the hula dancing started.  The leader gave everyone a lei and taught them to hula.  It was so funny.  Julianna was into it!

We had such a fun time and we so glad the restaurant could put us all together.  There were a lot of us!  6 adults and 9 kids!  Pretty sure the entire restaurant breathed a sigh of relief when we left.  It was pretty crazy, and loud! But the kids had so much fun!  And its Disney...all about the kids!

On a side note, War Eagle!  Brian was a trooper and didn't complain about our dinner being during the Auburn game.  Have no fear the Tigers were in his ear the whole time.  I got this great shot...of Grace and Brian, can you see his ear piece?

Another magical day!  Especially since Auburn pulled out a win!