The D and E Family: September 2008

Monday, September 15, 2008

4 Days 'Til Disney!!!

Em with her Disney chain - only 4 links left!

Many of you know that I have been doing some serious Disney planning the past week. I thought I would let you all get a good laugh at my expense and share some of my obsessive planning. Below is our "touring plan" (official Disney lingo) for just one day of six. This was compiled after consultation of a half dozen websites and two travel guides. Besides this I also have a list of each parks restaurants, what kind of food they serve and where they are located. For those of you wondering when poor Drew will get to sleep and eat - I have thought of that and there are plenty of attractions that dad, gramma, or I can miss to ensure that we don't send the poor baby into shock. As for Emily, we got her a cheap umbrella stroller so her little legs don't have to do the 5 miles we are expected to put in each day. For all you Disney-aholics out there (you know who you are), let me know if you have any suggestions to improve our plan. I have to give my mom her credit for the madness - she has put just as much work into this as I have, if not more. I know you are all saying to yourself "so that's where she gets it". So I hope you have all had a very good laugh but we will see who is laughing when you all come asking for my touring plans!!!

Monday 9/22 - Magic Kingdom
Arrive at 8:30 (30 minutes prior to official opening - Main Street opens early)
Dumbo Flying Elephant 1.5 kiddie-ride - ride 2x using Bubba relay - wait 24 people and have other parent get in line Fantasyland
Peter Pan's flight (fp) 3 ride boat through neverland Fantasyland
Many Adv of Pooh (fp) 3 ride through Winnie's 100 acre woods Fantasyland
Mad Tea party 1.5 teacups Fantasyland
Mickey's PhilharMagic (fp) 12 very cool 3D show with lots of characters Fantasyland
Cinderella Carousel 2 carousel Fantasyland
It's a small world 10.5 kiddie-ride Fantasyland
Spash Mountain (fp if > 30 min) 11 will get wet - middle is dryest, try wearing poncho, tells story about Brer, ups/downs (no babies) Frontierland
Big Thunder Railroad (fp) 3.5 mild roller coaster (no babies) Frontierland

Lunch
Tom Sawyer Island kids play area -explore caves, invade a fort, forge trails, etc turn in paintbrushes for surprise Frontierland
Break
Jungle cruise (fp) 9 riverboat ride through "jungle", corny jokes, Adventureland
Magic Carpets of Aladdin 1.5 kiddie-ride Adventureland
Storytime with Belle live show, get there early, chooses audience participants, signs autographs after Fantasyland
Dream Along with Mickey 20 mickey and friends stage show - lots of princesses! Castle
Dinner at 5:30 Grand Floridian Café
13 minutes from MK by boat; 17 minutes by monorail

In case you're interested in the big picture:

Sunday 9/21 - Epcot

Monday 9/22 - Magic Kingdom

Tuesday 9/23 - Hollywood Studios

Wednesday 9/24 - Blizzard Beach, Downtown Disney after dinner

Thursday 9/25 - Animal Kingdom, Dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table

Friday 9/26 - Magic Kingdom then Epcot Illuminations at 9:00

Saturday 9/27 - fly home and collapse from exhaustion!!!

If you are still reading this then you must be considering a trip to Disney in the future. Why else would you be reading all this madness. So for those of you still with me I'll share this tip - When you hear you need to make you dining reservations 6 months in advance, they are not kidding. We made ours 5 1/2 months out and there was only one opening for Cinderella's Royal Table the entire week.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Rollin'

Our baby boy rolled over for the first time last night! One of the rare times that I have left home without him and I missed it! But Don and Emily were playing with him when he rolled over so I'm happy they were there for the big moment. Lucky for me I have a wonderful husband that knew I would be sad I wasn't here so he took pictures for me. As you can see, Drew's fingers never left his mouth!

First Day of School

Em started her second year of preschool last week. She was SO excited! Her teachers are great - they have already made cookies and had a pretend camp-out. I should have done a before and after picture on the first day so you all could see how she looked at the end of the day - peanut butter from one ear to the other from lunch and barrettes barely hanging on along with flushed cheeks from all the excitement.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Pool Time

Anyone that knows Emily and I knows we love the pool! We spent a good part of this summer at our neighborhood pool. Drew also loved it - he napped better at the pool than at home. It must have been the little portable fan hooked to his stroller buzzing in his ear. Emily is a natural in the water. She's so fun to watch. People are often surprised that she's only four.
Opening day at the pool - notice the darker hair and a swimsuit not faded from chlorine and sun.
Our good friend Camden joined us for a swim. Emily finally found a sport she can keep up with him at!
This picture is at my mom's neighborhood pool. Aunts are so much fun!

Here's Emily with our neighbor and good pal Bradley. Em and Bradley had some good times this summer. They are quite the pair!

The beautiful baby girl with Drew is Bradley's baby sister. Drew bored her to sleep. I'm sure they will become friends just like their brother and sister.

I love this picture! There is some serious teamwork going on. Emily and Bradley are being helped by twins Charlie and Grace (our pool buddies - they are there as much as we are!) and another of Em's good friends Connor.

Julie and Abby were able to join us for several pool days during the summer - which Em, Drew, and I LOVED! And Abby is swimming now - we're so proud of her!

Emily and Abby built a fort using chairs. It was quite impressive - it had several "rooms".

Drew just chilling in the shade. Isn't he cute?

Finally at the end of the summer, our friends Shannon and Addison were able to join us for a couple playdates at the pool. Emily and Addison were so taken with each other! Emily could get such a big smile from pretty little Addison. It was obvious that Addison loves the water like Em.