I am finally back from a wonderful week at Disneyworld, yes, a full week. It was my first time being there for that long and I must say, I still would go back tomorrow if I could! It was so much fun with the whole family, minus Brian. He couldn't go (sigh). We missed him and even my 3 year old nephew, Wade ,asked, "where's Brian?". I told him he had to stay home and he said, "on trip day?" We did miss him. It's just not the same when he's not there.
I drove my parents down and we left Friday morning and returned this past Friday evening. At the beginning of the week it felt like time moved slowly. But by the end it seemed to be flying by. After spending a week with everybody I feel a little like something is missing right now sitting here by myself. As Wade says, "I need my friends." I had to call him yesterday to get my Wade "fix". I heard him ask Ashlie if Jennifer was still at her caste. He called his hotel at Disney his castle. Isn't that cute? He probably thinks the rest of us are still there!
Speaking of Wade, this was his first trip to Disney and being 3 years old we were all unsure what he'd think of the fireworks and the characters. For a little 3 year old those Characters must look pretty big!! He was scared of them for most of the week and Clark and Ashlie made sure there was distance b/t him and the characters. But on the last day we went to Chef Mickey's for breakfast and, breakthrough! He saw Mickey and the brightest smile lit up his face and he dove over me to get to Mickey, and then Minnie, and then eventually Pluto too. He never did warm up to Goofy like he did the others. He checked him out a little and did get close but there wasn't the love like with the others. He tolerated Goofy's goofiness. So here's a picure of him hiding from Eeyore at the first of the week.
And here he is on our last day with Minnie.
He also was afraid of the fireworks too but we saw them one night at a distance so there was no sound and he loved them. And so the next time we did see them up close he was not as afraid of the sound and by the next night, he loved them and watched with such childlike enthusiasm. He even loved the haunted mansion. Come to think of it, I think he liked everything! It's so fun to go to Disney with the kids. You see it in a whole new way and notice different things. I love going with Brian too it's just a whole different kind of fun.
But we were tired. Very tired. But the exhaustion is just part of it.
We did get to stay on the monorail and that was so exciting and cut our so much wait time since we didn't have to wait in line for a shuttle every day. Mom, dad and I stayed at the polynesian hotel. We found out when we got there they had upgraded us to a room on the bottom floor by the lagoon so we had a view of the castle!! SO COOL! And our back door opened up to a yard and beyond that a beach with a hammock and lawn chairs. That was a huge bonus.
We were on the dining plan which means you get a counter service meal and a dine in meal and a snack everyday as part of the plan. Every meal includes entree, drink and dessert. Needless to say we were full all the time!! I miss that good food I tell ya (But I don't miss the bloated feeling I got after every single meal!).
Here's a funny memory: We were walking the Jungle trek in Africa in the Animal Kingdom park and had stopped to rest. A couple was passing by and Wade just walked right out in front of the man and spread his arms and legs like he was not going to allow the man to pass. He would watch the man's feet and wherever he'd move Wade would move in front. The man was very good about it and thought it was funny. I thought it was hilarious! I was just surprised at how un-shy Wade was.
Another funny moment was at Chef Mickey's when Goofy sat in my brother's seat while he was up getting food and began emptying packet after packet of sweetener into Clark's coffee cup. Then he took all the "evidence" and put it onto the table of the family next to us, who also thought it was hysterical. I don't know how Goofy managed to get those tiny packets open with those paws of his. But he did and when he got up and left Jack turned to Jennifer and said "that was hilarious!" It was, and remarkably, Clark didn't even notice anything different about his coffee! We all waited to see what he'd do, and he didn't even notice. Funny.
Here are some more great pics that capture just a few of the many happy memories:
Lots of pink. I tried to throw in some other colors here and there. The blue and white shorts in the picture are so adorable. You can't tell it but they're little bubble shorts!!! I got her another pair that's pink and brown plaid. Just too cute. The brown dress is corduroy. I hope it will fit her in the fall. It's a 12 month size so it might be too small. It's so hard to tell. Jen got me the white sundress with the blocks on it. It is SO soft, sort of like linen but softer. That's one of Brian's favorites. Of course he picked out the "I love daddy" onesie! 
