I was able to purchase the download of this picture of Lily and Wyatt from Disney Photopass. I think it is my favorite picture from our trip. I love the JOY on their faces. I love that they love one another. I love that they are happy!
Showing posts with label Disney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Disney. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Disney: Second Day at Magic Kingdom
Our last day at Disney was also our second day at Magic Kingdom. We got to the park early and watched the Welcome Show before the park opened. We headed back to Tomorrowland so that Erin could ride Space Mountain. Lily, Wyatt, and I rode on the Astro Orbiter (think Dumbo as a rocket) while Erin enjoyed a grown-up roller coaster.
After we met up again, we strolled to Cinderella's Castle to watch the Dream-Along with Mickey show. Then we headed down Main Street and did a little window shopping before heading back to Tomorrowland. Erin rode Space Mountain again while the kids and I went on Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority a second time.
We went into Fantasyland where we rode on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Lily met Ariel in Ariel's Grotto. After that, we went to Mickey's Toontown Fair to met Mickey and Minnie in the Judge's Tent. We had lunch at Casey's Corner, met Peter Pan, rode on Cinderella's Golden Carousel and The Magic Carpets of Aladdin before enjoying a Pineapple Float from Aloha Isle (super yummy!!!!). We did a little more shopping on Main Street and then met Pluto, Daisy, and Snow White before heading back to our resort.
We spent some time packing our stuff for our EARLY (6:45 am) morning departure before we went to Downtown Disney for dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express. We picked up a few last minute snacks and souvenirs before our last night at All Star Movies Resort.
After we met up again, we strolled to Cinderella's Castle to watch the Dream-Along with Mickey show. Then we headed down Main Street and did a little window shopping before heading back to Tomorrowland. Erin rode Space Mountain again while the kids and I went on Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority a second time.
We went into Fantasyland where we rode on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Lily met Ariel in Ariel's Grotto. After that, we went to Mickey's Toontown Fair to met Mickey and Minnie in the Judge's Tent. We had lunch at Casey's Corner, met Peter Pan, rode on Cinderella's Golden Carousel and The Magic Carpets of Aladdin before enjoying a Pineapple Float from Aloha Isle (super yummy!!!!). We did a little more shopping on Main Street and then met Pluto, Daisy, and Snow White before heading back to our resort.
We spent some time packing our stuff for our EARLY (6:45 am) morning departure before we went to Downtown Disney for dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express. We picked up a few last minute snacks and souvenirs before our last night at All Star Movies Resort.
Disney: First Day at Magic Kingdom
Tuesday morning began with a bus ride to Magic Kingdom where we had breakfast at the Crystal Palace with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore. We were delighted to be able to enter the park before it actually opened to get some great shots of Cinderella's Castle without other people in them. The day did start out with a few sprinkles, but by the time we were done with breakfast it was just cloudy.
Both kids enjoyed meeting the characters at breakfast. The food was yummy and I surprised the kids with personal cakes after breakfast -- Lily's cake was in a Princess Jewelry Box and Wyatt's cake was in a Pirate's Treasure Chest. The cake wasn't that great, but the kids loved the fun souvenirs that they were able to take home.
The crowds were small during our day at Magic Kingdom. We enjoyed short waits for The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Dumbo, Peter Pan's Flight, Mickey's PhilharMagic, it's a small world, and The Barnstormer. We took our time walking through the park and we were able to meet a lot of characters: Aladdin and Jasmine, Woody and Jessie, Donald and Goofy, and Princess Aurora, Cinderella, and Belle. We also watched the Celebration Parade while enjoying some popcorn!
After the parade, we went back to our hotel to rest and change into warmer clothes before heading back to Magic Kingdom for dinner and more fun. We ate dinner at Cosmic Ray's Startlight Cafe in Tomorrowland and then explored the rides and activities there. Wyatt and Lily enjoyed driving Erin and I around the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway. We also rode on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin before heading back to our hotel for the night. (We were going to stay and watch the WISHES fireworks, but I was not enjoying the crowds, Wyatt did not want to hear the noise of the fireworks, and we were all getting tired.)
Both kids enjoyed meeting the characters at breakfast. The food was yummy and I surprised the kids with personal cakes after breakfast -- Lily's cake was in a Princess Jewelry Box and Wyatt's cake was in a Pirate's Treasure Chest. The cake wasn't that great, but the kids loved the fun souvenirs that they were able to take home.
The crowds were small during our day at Magic Kingdom. We enjoyed short waits for The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Dumbo, Peter Pan's Flight, Mickey's PhilharMagic, it's a small world, and The Barnstormer. We took our time walking through the park and we were able to meet a lot of characters: Aladdin and Jasmine, Woody and Jessie, Donald and Goofy, and Princess Aurora, Cinderella, and Belle. We also watched the Celebration Parade while enjoying some popcorn!
After the parade, we went back to our hotel to rest and change into warmer clothes before heading back to Magic Kingdom for dinner and more fun. We ate dinner at Cosmic Ray's Startlight Cafe in Tomorrowland and then explored the rides and activities there. Wyatt and Lily enjoyed driving Erin and I around the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway. We also rode on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin before heading back to our hotel for the night. (We were going to stay and watch the WISHES fireworks, but I was not enjoying the crowds, Wyatt did not want to hear the noise of the fireworks, and we were all getting tired.)
Friday, March 12, 2010
Disney: Hollywood Studios
At 5:45 Monday morning we were all awake and ready to start our day (well, maybe we just couldn't sleep anymore). We got ready and went to the food court for breakfast and then loaded up for our day at Hollywood Studios.
We arrived before the park opened, so we waited "patiently". Once in the park, we joined the mad rush back to Pixar Place to ride on "Toy Story Mania!". Wyatt liked it so much that before we were even off it he asked if we could do it again --so we grabbed a FASTPASS so that we would be able to ride it again later without the wait.
We posed for pictures with the "Green Army Guy" and then went Playhouse Disney -- Live on Stage!
After the show was over, we went and met "Sorcerer Mickey" and strolled through Animation Gallery.
We went up Sunset Boulevard to enjoy a snack and then went back to use our FASTPASS for "Toy Story Mania!"
We had our picture taken with "Mater and McQueen" and visited "Buzz and Woody" (although the kids were afraid of Buzz and wouldn't have their picture taken with him).
We then went back to Sunset Boulevard to watch Beauty and the Beast -- Live on Stage. It was fantastic and both kids enjoyed it.
Erin took a turn riding Rock 'N' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith and then we ate lunch at Sunset Market Ranch.
We went through a few more shops and then went to Hollywood Boulevard to wait for the Block Party Bash to start. We enjoyed dancing and singing with the character from Toy Story before heading back to our resort for a little swimming, dinner, and bed.
We arrived before the park opened, so we waited "patiently". Once in the park, we joined the mad rush back to Pixar Place to ride on "Toy Story Mania!". Wyatt liked it so much that before we were even off it he asked if we could do it again --so we grabbed a FASTPASS so that we would be able to ride it again later without the wait.
We posed for pictures with the "Green Army Guy" and then went Playhouse Disney -- Live on Stage!
After the show was over, we went and met "Sorcerer Mickey" and strolled through Animation Gallery.
We went up Sunset Boulevard to enjoy a snack and then went back to use our FASTPASS for "Toy Story Mania!"
We had our picture taken with "Mater and McQueen" and visited "Buzz and Woody" (although the kids were afraid of Buzz and wouldn't have their picture taken with him).
We then went back to Sunset Boulevard to watch Beauty and the Beast -- Live on Stage. It was fantastic and both kids enjoyed it.
Erin took a turn riding Rock 'N' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith and then we ate lunch at Sunset Market Ranch.
We went through a few more shops and then went to Hollywood Boulevard to wait for the Block Party Bash to start. We enjoyed dancing and singing with the character from Toy Story before heading back to our resort for a little swimming, dinner, and bed.
Disney: All Star Movies Resort and More
I have decided to break down our trip into 3 different posts starting with pictures from around our hotel, All Star Movies Resort. This slide show also includes pictures of our traveling to and from Florida as well as traveling to and from the different parks.
We really enjoyed staying at All Star Movies. It is one of 4 value resorts that Disney has to offer. Our room was small (two double beds), but it was big enough to meet our needs. The resort was broken down into 5 different sections: Toy Story, 101 Dalmatians, Fantasia, The Love Bug, and Mighty Ducks. We were able to get a room in the Toy Story section! Each time we opened our door we were greeted by Woody, Buzz, Bo Peep, and Rex. We had to walk through the "door" to Andy's room to get to our building. Wyatt LOVED it! On Monday, we came back from Hollywood Studios to play in the pool, have dinner and get to bed early. We took some time to walk around the entire resort and see the different sections.
The kids did great on both of our flights. We took a direct flight from Grand Rapids to Orlando this year -- so much easier! Our luggage was delivered right to the hotel for us (part of Disney's complimentary service). We also once again appreciated the bus service to the parks from our hotel! All we had to do was load up the stroller, walk to the bus stops, and climb on board.
We really enjoyed staying at All Star Movies. It is one of 4 value resorts that Disney has to offer. Our room was small (two double beds), but it was big enough to meet our needs. The resort was broken down into 5 different sections: Toy Story, 101 Dalmatians, Fantasia, The Love Bug, and Mighty Ducks. We were able to get a room in the Toy Story section! Each time we opened our door we were greeted by Woody, Buzz, Bo Peep, and Rex. We had to walk through the "door" to Andy's room to get to our building. Wyatt LOVED it! On Monday, we came back from Hollywood Studios to play in the pool, have dinner and get to bed early. We took some time to walk around the entire resort and see the different sections.
The kids did great on both of our flights. We took a direct flight from Grand Rapids to Orlando this year -- so much easier! Our luggage was delivered right to the hotel for us (part of Disney's complimentary service). We also once again appreciated the bus service to the parks from our hotel! All we had to do was load up the stroller, walk to the bus stops, and climb on board.
Disney: An Overview
The trip was a blast.
The weather was beautiful.
The parks (Hollywood Studios & Magic Kingdom) were visited.
The rides were ridden.
The parades were watched.
The characters were met (even by Wyatt).
The food was yummy.
The memories were made.
The pictures (100's) were taken.
The videos were recorded.
The sleep was lacking.
The flights are over.
The laundry is clean.
The picture updates are coming.
Friday, March 5, 2010
2 kids + 2 bananas + a lot of sunshine = a yummy morning
We had some rotten bananas in the house, so I decided that banana bread would be a fun treat for breakfast.
I enlisted the help of a princess
We are all getting very excited for our trip to Disney! The packing is almost complete. Lily's cold seems to be on it way out, but Wyatt's cold has just started full force.... LOTS of vitamins needed! The weather in Florida is supposed to be beautiful -- can't wait for flip flops and short sleeves!
I enlisted the help of a princess
and a football player (with some sunshine sprinkled in the background)
here is the result...warm banana bread
and two happy kiddos!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
an emotional week
It is going to be an emotional week, it already has been an emotional week.
On Monday, my sister, April's, father-in-law passed away. While it was not completely unexpected, it seemed to be sudden. Jim was a godly man; he is in heaven rejoicing now, free from the pain of this world. I asked Casey yesterday if she thought Grandpa Jim was in heaven telling Uncle Ryan all about how we were doing and all about Jessie (who was born after Ryan died), she got a big grin on her face and said "yup". Please be in prayer for April, Steve, Jack, Casey, Charlie, Jessie, and all of Steve's family as they are grieving the loss of a dad, husband, and grandpa.
For me, all the emotions come flooding back as I stop to think about his wife and all that she is facing. The ache and loneliness of living life alone. The nights lying in bed and not hearing the steady breath of her husband sleeping next to her. The lack of companionship at dinner each night. My heart is so broken for her! I know that it will be hard to be at the visitation and funeral later this week. It just brings back so many memories! My heart hurts for those who loved him most.
Ryan's birthday is also coming. The anticipation of Disney has helped to process through some of the sadness, but as March 2nd moves closer, my heart aches to celebrate Ryan's 29th birthday with him. I am sure that he would LOVE teasing me about the fact that I am in my 30's and he is still in his 20's.
An update on the kids (by request):
On Monday, my sister, April's, father-in-law passed away. While it was not completely unexpected, it seemed to be sudden. Jim was a godly man; he is in heaven rejoicing now, free from the pain of this world. I asked Casey yesterday if she thought Grandpa Jim was in heaven telling Uncle Ryan all about how we were doing and all about Jessie (who was born after Ryan died), she got a big grin on her face and said "yup". Please be in prayer for April, Steve, Jack, Casey, Charlie, Jessie, and all of Steve's family as they are grieving the loss of a dad, husband, and grandpa.
For me, all the emotions come flooding back as I stop to think about his wife and all that she is facing. The ache and loneliness of living life alone. The nights lying in bed and not hearing the steady breath of her husband sleeping next to her. The lack of companionship at dinner each night. My heart is so broken for her! I know that it will be hard to be at the visitation and funeral later this week. It just brings back so many memories! My heart hurts for those who loved him most.
Ryan's birthday is also coming. The anticipation of Disney has helped to process through some of the sadness, but as March 2nd moves closer, my heart aches to celebrate Ryan's 29th birthday with him. I am sure that he would LOVE teasing me about the fact that I am in my 30's and he is still in his 20's.
An update on the kids (by request):
- Both kids seem to be feeling much better. The coughs and runny noses are pretty much gone -- yay!
- They have both given up naps for the most part, although they still get rest time each day to help restore my strength (and sanity) to make it through until bedtime.
- They are super excited about Disney. They will dance around the house singing "we're going to Disney!" and they tell everyone (including strangers) that we are leaving in a couple weeks.
- I realized yesterday how big they are getting when I was watching my niece, Jessie. She was standing on the floor looking up and me and she was so far away! I can't believe how tall the kids are getting -- especially Wyatt. He is starting to need 5T pants for the length!
- They continue to love going to AWANA Cubbies and learning their bible memory verses.
I will try to get some pictures up later this week, I don't think I have taken any in over a month! Thanks for your prayers for my sister's family and for me as we journey through this emotional week.
Friday, February 19, 2010
what's going on
So many things are going on right now, I just never take the time to sit down and blog anymore. Most of my spare time was being wasted on Facebook, so I have decided to give it up for Lent (if you are reading this on FB it is because my blog is automatically uploaded there). It was distracting me from much more important things in my life. I decided that I needed to stop wasting my time and refocus on the areas of my life God wants me to be working on -- mainly my relationship with Him and my relationships with Lily and Wyatt.
Winter has been difficult for me both mentally and emotionally. I have been stuck in a pit of sadness, loneliness, and self-pity. I need a change of pace! I have been looking for an opportunity to get away, to find some sunshine, and to create some new memories with Lily and Wyatt. So, we are getting ready for another vacation to Disney in just a couple of weeks. Our friend (and awesome babysitter), Erin, will be joining us because there was no way I was going to tackle flying and vacationing at Disney World with two three year olds by myself! We will spend three full days in the parks and I am super excited to be able to do even more with the kids than we did last year.
I am also really excited about the opportunity to raise awareness and funds for Cystic Fibrosis through Great Strides. I have officially restarted the "Sweeney Striders" team for this year's walk in Grand Rapids. I have been overwhelmed by the amount of support that I have already received from people joining me in the walk and from the donations given (if you are interested in joining me on the walk or in sponsoring me click here). I have plans in the works (well, just in my head right now) for t-shirts for the Sweeney Striders that will set us apart from other teams as well as honor Ryan's life!
Lily and Wyatt are doing fairly well, other than the colds, coughs, and fevers (Lily) they have been fighting. It is so hard to believe that in a few weeks they will be turning 4! I am ready to be done with "3" and all of its challenges, but I am not ready for them to be heading to school. If only there was a slow motion button on life!
And lastly, here is a video of one of my favorite songs right now, "Unredeemed" by Selah. I love the message that it sends, a message of hope in the promises God has made to redeem the things of this world that hurt so much. It is a great reminder to me that God sees and knows the pain in my heart, especially as Ryan's birthday approaches.
Winter has been difficult for me both mentally and emotionally. I have been stuck in a pit of sadness, loneliness, and self-pity. I need a change of pace! I have been looking for an opportunity to get away, to find some sunshine, and to create some new memories with Lily and Wyatt. So, we are getting ready for another vacation to Disney in just a couple of weeks. Our friend (and awesome babysitter), Erin, will be joining us because there was no way I was going to tackle flying and vacationing at Disney World with two three year olds by myself! We will spend three full days in the parks and I am super excited to be able to do even more with the kids than we did last year.
I am also really excited about the opportunity to raise awareness and funds for Cystic Fibrosis through Great Strides. I have officially restarted the "Sweeney Striders" team for this year's walk in Grand Rapids. I have been overwhelmed by the amount of support that I have already received from people joining me in the walk and from the donations given (if you are interested in joining me on the walk or in sponsoring me click here). I have plans in the works (well, just in my head right now) for t-shirts for the Sweeney Striders that will set us apart from other teams as well as honor Ryan's life!
Lily and Wyatt are doing fairly well, other than the colds, coughs, and fevers (Lily) they have been fighting. It is so hard to believe that in a few weeks they will be turning 4! I am ready to be done with "3" and all of its challenges, but I am not ready for them to be heading to school. If only there was a slow motion button on life!
And lastly, here is a video of one of my favorite songs right now, "Unredeemed" by Selah. I love the message that it sends, a message of hope in the promises God has made to redeem the things of this world that hurt so much. It is a great reminder to me that God sees and knows the pain in my heart, especially as Ryan's birthday approaches.
Monday, May 11, 2009
DISNEY!
We had a terrific time on our trip to Walt Disney World. Here is a run-down of our time there...enjoy the slide show at the end! :)
Wednesday:
We left from our local airport without too much hassle. Both kids did AMAZING on the airplane. Wyatt even said "wee" when we took off. They both enjoyed the "bumps" (read: turbulence) and giggled throughout much of the trip.
We made our connecting flight in Atlanta with seconds to spare (not the most fun experience of my life, but we all survived). We then proceeded to sit in the airplane on the runway for an hour and a half...Lily and Wyatt did fantastic!
We landed in Orlando, grabbed our luggage, a bite to eat, and then the Disney Magical Express over to Disney World. We were greeted by my friend, Jenni, who I went to Clearwater Christian College with. She is actually a "Cast Member" at Disney and was able to bless us greatly during our trip! We found our cabin at Fort Wilderness and got the kids ready for bed. Jenni and I were able to run out and get a few groceries for our stay. Thanks so much for all you did, Jenni!
Thursday:
We began our day with an hour and a half transportation adventure. We took both a boat and a bus to get to our Character Breakfast with Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy at the Beach Club Resort. The food was delicious and worth all the effort it took to get there. Watching Lily and Wyatt interact with the different characters was priceless!
We then boarded another bus and headed over to explore Downtown Disney. The kids had fun going into all different shops and seeing Mickey and friends throughout it all. We all enjoyed our ice cream from Ghiradelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop. It was then back to Fort Wilderness from some rest time before returning to Downtown Disney for dinner at Earl of Sandwich.
Friday:
We met up with Jenni and her daughter, Lily, at Animal Kingdom. The first thing we did was go on the Kilimanjaro Safari. It was so neat to see the different animals up close! There was a baby giraffe only a few feet from our truck and a rhino actually crossed the road right in front of us. Jenni kept telling me that she couldn't believe how many animals were out...more than usual. We also enjoyed Finding Nemo -- The Musical while in Animal Kingdom.
After lunch, we all loaded in Jenni's car and drove over to Magic Kingdom. We were handed some FastPasses to the Winnie the Pooh ride which the kids loved! Lily was then able to meet her favorites: the princesses. Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Belle were all just waiting for her! :)
We did a little more wandering and then headed back to Fort Wilderness for some rest and some time to cool off (it was in the 90's every day that we were at Disney). No one slept, but we did cool off! We (my mom and I) also decided it would be in our best interest to rent a golf cart to help us get around. (That was the main draw back to staying at the cabins, you have to get on an "internal" bus just to get to either the boats or the other buses to get anywhere.)
We took our newly acquired golf cart back to the marina and took a boat back to Magic Kingdom for dinner and more fun. We all enjoyed "It's A Small World"; it was fun to watch the kids faces and they looked at all the different scenes! The kids and I then went on the Magic Carpet Ride from Aladdin (similar to Dumbo). Wyatt surprised me by giggling and laughing through the whole ride! They then enjoyed some Mickey Ear ice cream before we headed back to our cabin for the night.
Saturday:
We had a much more relaxed day on Saturday. We slept in (7:30 instead of 6:30) and then explored Fort Wilderness on our golf cart while we waited for my friend, Laurie, and her kids, Zane and Sophia to come for the day. Laurie and I went to Trinity Christian College together! We enjoyed playing at the park and swimming together in the pool (where Wyatt once again surprised me with his laughter!). It was so good to see Laurie and meet her kids (I haven't seen Laurie since my wedding!).
Lily and Wyatt laid down for a nap, my dad took a hike, and my mom and I rested after Laurie and her kids left. After resting, we again went back to Downtown Disney for dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express. I thought the food was delicious! We did a little more shopping before heading back to our cabin one last time. :(
Sunday:
We packed up and got ready to start another LONG day of travel. It was a little stressful again in the airport, but we managed to make our flight. We got back home just before bedtime!
Overall, the trip was great! My parents were fantastic...I could not have made this trip without them! Lily and Wyatt amazed me with their flexibility and their enjoyment of all things! We were able to create memories that will last forever...and yes, I do hope to go back to Disney some day!
Wednesday:
We left from our local airport without too much hassle. Both kids did AMAZING on the airplane. Wyatt even said "wee" when we took off. They both enjoyed the "bumps" (read: turbulence) and giggled throughout much of the trip.
We made our connecting flight in Atlanta with seconds to spare (not the most fun experience of my life, but we all survived). We then proceeded to sit in the airplane on the runway for an hour and a half...Lily and Wyatt did fantastic!
We landed in Orlando, grabbed our luggage, a bite to eat, and then the Disney Magical Express over to Disney World. We were greeted by my friend, Jenni, who I went to Clearwater Christian College with. She is actually a "Cast Member" at Disney and was able to bless us greatly during our trip! We found our cabin at Fort Wilderness and got the kids ready for bed. Jenni and I were able to run out and get a few groceries for our stay. Thanks so much for all you did, Jenni!
Thursday:
We began our day with an hour and a half transportation adventure. We took both a boat and a bus to get to our Character Breakfast with Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy at the Beach Club Resort. The food was delicious and worth all the effort it took to get there. Watching Lily and Wyatt interact with the different characters was priceless!
We then boarded another bus and headed over to explore Downtown Disney. The kids had fun going into all different shops and seeing Mickey and friends throughout it all. We all enjoyed our ice cream from Ghiradelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop. It was then back to Fort Wilderness from some rest time before returning to Downtown Disney for dinner at Earl of Sandwich.
Friday:
We met up with Jenni and her daughter, Lily, at Animal Kingdom. The first thing we did was go on the Kilimanjaro Safari. It was so neat to see the different animals up close! There was a baby giraffe only a few feet from our truck and a rhino actually crossed the road right in front of us. Jenni kept telling me that she couldn't believe how many animals were out...more than usual. We also enjoyed Finding Nemo -- The Musical while in Animal Kingdom.
After lunch, we all loaded in Jenni's car and drove over to Magic Kingdom. We were handed some FastPasses to the Winnie the Pooh ride which the kids loved! Lily was then able to meet her favorites: the princesses. Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Belle were all just waiting for her! :)
We did a little more wandering and then headed back to Fort Wilderness for some rest and some time to cool off (it was in the 90's every day that we were at Disney). No one slept, but we did cool off! We (my mom and I) also decided it would be in our best interest to rent a golf cart to help us get around. (That was the main draw back to staying at the cabins, you have to get on an "internal" bus just to get to either the boats or the other buses to get anywhere.)
We took our newly acquired golf cart back to the marina and took a boat back to Magic Kingdom for dinner and more fun. We all enjoyed "It's A Small World"; it was fun to watch the kids faces and they looked at all the different scenes! The kids and I then went on the Magic Carpet Ride from Aladdin (similar to Dumbo). Wyatt surprised me by giggling and laughing through the whole ride! They then enjoyed some Mickey Ear ice cream before we headed back to our cabin for the night.
Saturday:
We had a much more relaxed day on Saturday. We slept in (7:30 instead of 6:30) and then explored Fort Wilderness on our golf cart while we waited for my friend, Laurie, and her kids, Zane and Sophia to come for the day. Laurie and I went to Trinity Christian College together! We enjoyed playing at the park and swimming together in the pool (where Wyatt once again surprised me with his laughter!). It was so good to see Laurie and meet her kids (I haven't seen Laurie since my wedding!).
Lily and Wyatt laid down for a nap, my dad took a hike, and my mom and I rested after Laurie and her kids left. After resting, we again went back to Downtown Disney for dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express. I thought the food was delicious! We did a little more shopping before heading back to our cabin one last time. :(
Sunday:
We packed up and got ready to start another LONG day of travel. It was a little stressful again in the airport, but we managed to make our flight. We got back home just before bedtime!
Overall, the trip was great! My parents were fantastic...I could not have made this trip without them! Lily and Wyatt amazed me with their flexibility and their enjoyment of all things! We were able to create memories that will last forever...and yes, I do hope to go back to Disney some day!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
It's Finally Here...
Today is the day. It is May 6, 2009. The kids and I (along with my parents) will be boarding a plane and heading to the place where dreams come true. I wonder what our trip will actually look like. What will make the kids laugh? What will put a look of pure awe on their faces? What moments will I cherish forever? I can't wait to spend this time with the kids. I can't wait to have this time away. I can't wait to create new and happy memories with Lily and Wyatt!
Today is the day. It is May 6, 2009. Today marks the 11 month anniversary of Ryan's death. I have only one more month to prepare for June 6, 2009. What will make me cry? How will I handle that day? What will I do to honor Ryan's memory and celebrate, yes, celebrate his first heaven birthday?
Today is the day. A bittersweet day. A day filled with great anticipation. A day to create new memories. A day to remember.
Today is the day. It is May 6, 2009. Today marks the 11 month anniversary of Ryan's death. I have only one more month to prepare for June 6, 2009. What will make me cry? How will I handle that day? What will I do to honor Ryan's memory and celebrate, yes, celebrate his first heaven birthday?
Today is the day. A bittersweet day. A day filled with great anticipation. A day to create new memories. A day to remember.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Updates on Life
The move went GREAT! There were over 20 people at our townhouse to help us move. They had everything loaded, moved, and unloaded in less than an hour and a half. By the time I went to bed last night 99% of the boxes were unpacked and put away! YIPPEE! Thank you, thank you, thank you to all those who helped with getting our house ready and with the move!
We have something new to look forward to -- we are going to Disney World! This is not something that I ever thought I would say, especially at this time in my life. We got a fantastic deal that was too good to pass up (Thank you, Jenni!). My parents will be joining us in early May for a 5 day vacation at Disney. We are planning to only go to Magic Kingdom and only for one day, but we will be staying at a Disney resort that offers many opportunities for fun and some much needed relaxation!
It is crazy to think back to one year ago and see where we have travelled. It was one year ago today that I was bringing Ryan to the ER in Grand Rapids to be treated for influenza and pneumonia. (He was only home with us 10 more days after that hospital stay.)
If you had asked me one year ago if I could be where I am today, I would say no. God is good. God is faithful. He has taught me much in the last year; some lessons I wish I did not have to learn, but I am thankful for the way he has helped me to grow. Our sermon this morning at church was on the secrets of being content with life. Listening to the sermon brought tears to my eyes, because I could feel and see God's blessings in my life in spite of the difficulties I have faced in the last year. I would not and could not be where I am today if it were not for him. Thank you God for your provisions and your promises!
(I will probably be rather quiet on the blog over the next few days, we won't have the Internet at the new house until Friday.)
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We have something new to look forward to -- we are going to Disney World! This is not something that I ever thought I would say, especially at this time in my life. We got a fantastic deal that was too good to pass up (Thank you, Jenni!). My parents will be joining us in early May for a 5 day vacation at Disney. We are planning to only go to Magic Kingdom and only for one day, but we will be staying at a Disney resort that offers many opportunities for fun and some much needed relaxation!
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It is crazy to think back to one year ago and see where we have travelled. It was one year ago today that I was bringing Ryan to the ER in Grand Rapids to be treated for influenza and pneumonia. (He was only home with us 10 more days after that hospital stay.)
If you had asked me one year ago if I could be where I am today, I would say no. God is good. God is faithful. He has taught me much in the last year; some lessons I wish I did not have to learn, but I am thankful for the way he has helped me to grow. Our sermon this morning at church was on the secrets of being content with life. Listening to the sermon brought tears to my eyes, because I could feel and see God's blessings in my life in spite of the difficulties I have faced in the last year. I would not and could not be where I am today if it were not for him. Thank you God for your provisions and your promises!
(I will probably be rather quiet on the blog over the next few days, we won't have the Internet at the new house until Friday.)
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