Monday, December 15, 2008

We're Home!!



That was by far the best vacation ever. Where do I even start. I think I'll just try to cover a couple of days today and then I'll tell you more later when I have more time. First off, we have to praise God for a safety, health and wonderful weather. We were so blessed during this trip. We didn't know how it would be traveling with Middle-G and all the extra things he needs done, but things went very smoothly. Little-G was perfect. Uncle M and my husband took turns and drove straight down with only a few bathroom/gas stops, about 24 hours. Little-G cried for a total of about 10 minutes the whole way. The kids traveled a lot better than I thought they would.

We got there a day earlier than we had planned because we drove straight through, so we found a hotel for the first night and went to Sea World the next day. It was a beautiful day. I think it was about 65, but it felt like 80 to us. We all had to change into shorts in the parking lot of Sea World because we were so hot. The kids loved it. I hadn't been there for many years, but it was just as good as I remembered. The boys just loved the whale show and the sea lion show. I think they especially loved the very friendly squirrels and birds who hounded us when we were eating.

That night we got to check into our Disney hotel. It was very nice. The landscaping was beautiful. We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside, so it was supposed to feel like you were in the bayou in Louisiana. It was very lush. Not anything like home right now! It was a tight squeeze with all 6 of us in 1 room, but I think everyone slept better than expected.

The following morning was our first day at Disney World. We went to the Magic Kingdom first of course. The boys loved everything. Their eyes were like saucers. It was really neat watching them see everything for the first time. They loved every ride. We were very surprised, but neither of them were afraid of anything the entire trip. Big-G loved the Peter Pan ride and Middle-G really loved the Pooh ride. We all had so much fun.

We didn't know when we planned this trip, but apparently we were there for the weekend that they filmed the Disney Christmas Day Parade for ABC. It is not at all what you would think. The whole thing is fake. All of the spectators are special audience members who act happy when the director tells them to. Those people had to stand in their spots from 8 a.m. until around lunch time before they even started filming. Then when they do film, there is no music or sound on any of the floats. I guess they just add that in later. So, basically a bunch of people stand around all day cheering at nothing. I guess it doesn't all come together until they put it on TV. We did get a couple of pictures of Regis and Kelly who were there for the parade. It was neat to watch. I always wondered how they got such put together tourist on camera at the parade.

I'll try to post a few pictures now, and then I'll fill you all in on some more details/pics when I have more time later.


Here are the boys at Sea World. This is one those rare pictures where everyone looks good.


Here is Shamu. This show was awesome.



Here is Little-G with one of those very friendly squirrels.


Here is me and my hubby at the sea lions.



Here is Middle-G and Daddy driving on the raceway.


Uncle-M and Big-G on Dumbo the Flying Elephant.


A very blurry picture of the backs of Regis' and Kelly's heads.