Orlando, FL Days 3,4 & 5

Alright, I'm really behind on my blogging & it's been a good number of weeks since the trip & I'm starting to forget things.  My memory is similar to Dori on Finding Nemo - so sad.  But I'm just going to throw pictures on & make captions for them.  We visited all the parks; Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom & Hollywood Studios & even Downtown Disney.

 Cinderella's castle

 There were a few days with thunderstorms nearby & the skies were awesome.  There was even one day we got drenched waiting in line for Aerosmith's Rock 'n' Roller Coaster.  This pic above is of Thunder Mtn. RR.  I don't know how to "doctor" pics so this is the real deal.  LOVE those clouds!

The electric parade in MK

 This is the Dinosaur ride.  You ride in a vehicle similar to Indiana Jones & you go back in time to when dinosaurs existed.  This is an awesome ride & Judd screamed like a girl too many times to count!

 This is also in AK as you head into Asia

 lunch at the Asian restaurant

This mountain is a ride called Mt. Everest & it's AWESOME!  Nothing like running out of tracks on a roller coaster & going backwards in the dark.  Definitely a top 3 favorite ride!

 This guy was outside of Africa in AK.

We went on the Kilimanjaro Safari ride in AK.  Such a great ride; elephants, giraffes, gazelles, rhinos, hippos, etc.  But of course the only pic of that ride I show you is of this tree.  They call it an upside down tree because the branches look like roots & it only has leaves 3 months out of the year.  I was so fascinated with it.

The vehicle you are in for the safari ride.

 Back at Hollywood Studios now....If I remember right this is the day we got poured on.  The clouds were so creepy around TOT.

This was part of a back lot studio guide/ride.  They were showing how they film fire & water scenes in movies.

 This was a car stunt show, so fun!

 Epcot is a fun place to walk around & see. We had lunch at a very yummy Chinese restaurant.

Over in Japan (in Epcot).

We had such a great time!  We now know why people spend 10+ days out there.  There is so much to see & experience, it's great.  However, we don't think we'll be taking our kiddos for quite a few years.  We gotta get out of the stroller & nap phase first.  Oops I forgot the Lego pic...

This Lego dragon was at Downtown Disney.

Orlando, FL Days 1 & 2

Judd & I were able to take a "Big people only" trip in May to Orlando.  It was too warm for me (mid 90's) & WAY too humid.  The best way to describe it is to shower & NOT dry off, just toss on your clothes & you're set for the day.  Ick!!  Before I get too much whinning in I will say it was a FABULOUS trip!  That's what I will focus on from here on out.  Judd had to be there for a few work meetings (oops, he missed a few) & so did many other EFS's so Tom & Deb (EFS & friends from AK) were there to hang out with too.

We stayed 2 nights in the Orlando JW Marriott before moving to Disney World. 

 The hotel entrance

 Outside by the pool

 A close up of the floating river.  We grabbed an inter tub & just floated along, it was so relaxing!

The backside of pool chairs & the cabana in background.

So we spent Day One at Universal Studios. 

 Captain America & Judd

 We saw the Blue Man Group that night, very entertaining.

 There is water everywhere down there, even in the middle of the parks.

 Dinner was at the NBA Restaurant

 Me, Betty Boop & Deb

Day 2 started at Hollywood Studios, which is where we discovered our #1 favorite ride, Aerosmith's  Rock 'n Roller Coaster.

 Judd outside the great ride

This is a bad picture of the inside of the ride.  You ride a "limo" down I-5 to the Aerosmith concert. 0 to 60 in 2.6 seconds, oh yeah!! 

We then went to Magic Kingdom where we saw an electric parade that night & rode Space Mountain.  Just for the record DL's Space Mtn. is so much better than DW's.  BUT their Tower of Terror & Thunder Mountain RR are better than DL's...Ya win some, ya loose some!

This is what an 800 passenger ferry looks like when there are only 2 confused & lost people riding it back to Magic Kingdom to catch the shuttle bus, which they thought was somewhere else.  When really the way back to the resort was where they were.  Can you say tourist?!  Oh & it was 11:45 pm when we caught the 20 minute ferry back.  It was a late night. 

Spring Soccer 2011

Savannah played soccer this spring & I'm sad that I never blogged about it.  She had a great time & was able to play with some of her great buddies from school.  She's in the back row 3rd from right.

Matthew's tooth

Matthew lost his first tooth on May 22nd.  It had been wiggly for quite a while & I'm glad to see it go!  It was replaced by a bigger, whiter & shinier tooth.

Don't mess with her!

Last night I went to my first Rugby game & boy was it fun!  I don't know the game & I never knew what was going on but when everyone else on the team cheered, I cheered too!  But I was so glad I went & watched Hannah (#4), she did awesome!

She is an animal on the field!  That girl would take anyone down, it was so entertaining to watch!!  There was one ankle injury & one chipped tooth.  Poor Hannah was the victim of the chipped tooth.

Luke turns 3!

Today was Luke's 3rd birthday.  We started out our morning looking for a Special Agent OSO toy that he wanted.  Judd & I had looked Saturday night at a few stores but no one carried it.  Of course you can always count on Toys R Us to have what you want.  He was very excited to go & pick out his toy.  He knew immediately which one he wanted & held tight to it for the rest of the day.  It even went grocery shopping with us.

The rest of the day was filled with playing, playing...

And a nap as I was making dinner

We had the family come over at 6:30 for cake & ice cream.

 His Special Agent OSO cake

 Opening a few gifts

 And another

 This is his quilt from Grandma Lavender.  The grand kids all get one for their 3rd birthday.  It has dinosaurs all over it, so cute!

 Blowing out the candles that he placed in the cake himself

And we also sang to Grandma since it is her birthday today too

I'm so grateful that my Heavenly Father gave Luke to our family.  He is an energetic, stubborn, playful & happy child.  Being the youngest of 4 means he has learned to assert himself & jump right in on the mix of everything as to not be left out.  Although he has been our most active little one he is also still very cuddly & I LOVE that!

Happy Birthday Luke!

Happy Birthday Judd!

Today is Judd's 35th Birthday.  Months ago he signed up to be a watch DOG at Savannah's school for the day.  For those who don't have the watch DOGS program it stands for Dads Of Great Students.  It's a very neat program.  They invite Dads, Uncles, Grandpas to come to the school for a day & be a part of the school day.  They're basically looking for good male role models.  So today was Judd's turn.  He & Savannah left for school at 8:15 & came home a little after 3.  The boys & I picked up Krispy Kreme to take to Savannah's class to celebrate her & Judd's birthdays.  That's when I snapped these 2 pictures.

 He looks thrilled, huh?

Jillian & Savannah passing out the donuts with their teachers help.  And the back of Judd's nifty "jacket" he got to wear for the day.

When Judd came home he said that was one of the best ways to spend his birthday.  He went to all the recesses & did under dogs & gave lots of high fives.  He gave all the girls in Savannah's class boy names for the day & they thought it was so funny.  He was even part of an assembly & played the bad guy who eventually ended up dead on the floor.  I can imagine how great he played that part!  He said kids came running up to give him hi fives after his stellar performance.  As Judd was earning himself an oscar on stage Savannah was busy letting everyone know that was her dad.  I'm so glad he performed well & that Savannah thought it was awesome!  He was even able to help with reading in a Kindergarten class that had 4 of his t-ball kids in it.  Apparently they were so excited to see him.  Savannah told me having Judd be the watch DOG today made it the best day of school yet.  Again, I'm so glad they each had a great day.

Judd & I finished the night with dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings.  We got a great booth seat & were able to watch the Blazers game & eat wings.  Even though the Blazers lost I think Judd had a great birthday!