Day 3 Memories - Hollywood Studios

The longest line we stood in all week was for Toy Story Mania...but it was so good, we braved the line twice.

As we waited to go into the Animation Academy Quinn fell fast asleep in my arms and Ethan found a place to rest on the floor.  We all watched as his eyes grew heavier and heavier until he fell asleep too.

 Karen volunteered to take the boys to the animation class so Clark and I could use our Fastpass on Rock n' Roller coaster...it was so fun...a little Disney date.

 During the major downpour we tried Tower of Terror.

Karen, Clark, Ethan and Caden went first.  When I met them at the end only Clark and Ethan wanted to try it again.  I loved it, and I will admit to pinching Ethan's leg a little tight on that first drop.

While I took the boys on the Toy Story ride one more time, Clark, Karen and Quinn found us the PERFECT spots to watch the big Fantasmic show.  Right before show time it started to rain.  We bundled up in our ponchos that were about equivalent to a cheap sandwich baggie and waited out the show.  They first announced it was postponed, and then announced it was canceled, but left us with a taste of the fountains and fireworks just so we would know how good the show was that we were missing.  That really was the biggest bummer of the trip.  But we did have some soggy hot dogs while we were waiting.

Day 4 Memories - Animal Kingdom

I didn't know what to expect from Animal Kingdom, I was kind of picturing a zoo with rides, but it is fabulous.  The themes of the park are so well done, it really was pretty.  The day started rainy so the crowds were really low.  Clark was able to spend the morning with us before going to his conference.

The boys loved the Kali River rapids, because it was rainy and chilly there were no lines, so they got to go 3 times in a row without getting off their boat.  Wet hair, don't care!

Ethan had been looking forward to the Expedition Everest ride for weeks!  We finally got to try it, he went twice and then that was enough.  Later that night I tried to convince him to go with me again and he said, "no way."  I tried to remind him that he was smiling so big when we finished last time we rode it...he informed me, "I was smiling at the end because it was over."  He wasn't so sure if that yeti was real or not.

Animal Kingdom is an animal reserve, so we were able to take a "safari" to view African animals.  The animals were really active and close to our Jeep.  It was a pretty awesome way to do a zoo.

As we drove Clark to his conference Quinn fell asleep so we decided to go to McDonalds for lunch.  Karen volunteered to eat her lunch in the car so Quinn could keep sleeping while I took the boys inside to eat.  So I went through the drive-through for Karen's lunch.  I ordered, I paid and then I quickly went and found a parking spot so I could take the boys inside.  As I was getting out of the car it donned on me that I had never picked up Karen's food.  OH.MY.GOSH.  I had to go back through the drive-through, everyone seemed to think it was pretty funny.  I decided I was a little sleep deprived.

The Finding Nemo musical puppet show was definitely a highlight when we went back that evening!  Amazing!  Even Quinn danced along to the music on my lap.

Day 5 Memories - Magic Kingdom

Our final day found us back at the Magic Kingdom.  While Clark went to his conference in the morning we ventured to the park.  It was so crowded and so warm.  We were glad to have a break to pick up Clark. After eating a good dinner we headed back to shut the place down.  It was open until 1 AM.  I really didn't think we would last that long, but we did!
The boys just couldn't get enough!  It was my favorite night of the whole trip!  The crowds were gone and we were able to go on any ride without waiting.  The boys somehow had boundless energy from somewhere and were literally running circles around us.  We did Big Thunder Mountain Railroad 5 times in a row.

The lines to meet characters were short too, so we got in on that action.  Quinn was less than impressed.

Donald made Karen come join him for a picture!

Poor Caden didn't even know he mooned Minnie!  He is a "crack" up!

I noticed the line for the princesses was really short, so I begged the boys for just one little visit to a princess. Caden loudly protested, but came with me anyway.  Right before we met Cinderella he said, "my whole wish came true because I made your wish come true to meet a princess."  It was really sweet.

As we started walking down Main Street USA to leave the park for the last time both Ethan and Caden didn't want to leave.  Right before the exit I told them I had one more surprise.  Right then the "kiss goodnight" music started to play...we took them into the town theater...there were no lines, and they had no idea what to expect.  The cast members were excited to usher us in, down a hall and around a corner, as we entered the room Caden yelled, "Mickey!"  They finally got to meet the big mouse himself their last few minutes at Disney World.  This magic Mickey even talked, so that was a pretty fun way to end the trip.  Even magical if I do say so myself.

Clark got to the car ahead of us and placed two stuffed yetis he had bought for the boys on their seats.  They were so excited and surprised when they got in the car.  They are totally convinced Mickey left them there for them.

Our feet were tired (according to Karen's fitbit we walked at least 7 miles/day) and we knew it was time to go!  Here's hoping we'll get to see Mickey again real soon!

Disney Dreaming

Our chain is getting shorter and the excitement is growing!  We've been planning and saving for this Disney trip for a long time.  Originally we had hoped to take the boys to California sometime this winter for a few days...but it worked out for us to go to Florida because Clark has a conference in Orlando...so Disney World here we come!
I had no idea that there were Disney "experts" out there.  I shouldn't admit how many nights I have stayed up way too late researching EVERYTHING!  I've also been having crazy Disney dreams, like about my boys being trampled by characters that are stampeding through the park, Ethan was able to grab on to Donald's tail and survive.  It's just time for the trip, these weird dreams are driving me nuts!  The crowd calendar is predicting small crowds, warm days, and rain...we'll take it!

The boys love studying the free maps and watching the trip planning DVD Disney sent us.  I've been making a few Disney crafts to take along.

So so excited!!!

Quinn - 15 Months

How is it even possible that my baby is 15 months!  The months just fly by with him.  I feel like every week he changes so much and there is always something so fun and cute he is doing.  I need to do a better job of writing things down.  So here is Quinn at 15 months:

 He is so playful.  He loves to play tag and be chased.  He loves balls, and throwing.

He loves to be big and mimic everything he sees.  He puts on everyone's shoes and tries to put clothes on by himself.  He loves to run with his brothers.  He has no fear.  He is a climber and it is terrifying to me.  He climbs on the chairs and if they are not right next to the table he will leap to the table, land on his chest and just hang their screaming until someone comes and saves him.  The other day Ethan went down the roller coaster surfing style on his feet, so now Quinn thinks that is what he should do.  My little daredevil makes me nervous, luckily he hasn't attempted to scale his crib yet.

Love the ear flaps blowing in the wind!

Good new is he's growing...bad news is we need new pants!

He insists on throwing his own diapers away.  It's pretty cute to hear him yell "I did it" after he does it.  Then he does a little victory dance, so proud of his accomplishments.  While he keeps the diapers picked up he destroys the rest of the house so quickly.  I can't keep up with how he transports items throughout the house.

He's getting old enough now that he doesn't like when his brothers try to take something away from them.  He gets a feisty look on his face and yells, "no, no, no, no."

His communication has really grown.  His big blue eyes and crazy long eyelashes are about the most expressive things I have ever seen, he doesn't even need to talk with those eyes.  He uses words, "momma, dadda, go, no, ya, I did it, and night night."  The other day Ethan pretended to sneeze and yelled, "ah-choo."  Now Quinn goes around yelling, "ah-choo," and then cracks up.

His milk allergy is still pretty severe and we've had more allergy attacks than I would care to admit.

He has 4 teeth on top, and 3 on the bottom.

He is as cute as can be.  His faces crack me up.  He is a dare devil, yet cautious.  He can melt hearts with his smile, but is guarded.  He is active, but will still snuggle a little.  I love my Quinn at 15 months!