Thankyougiving Day

We got back last night from spending Thanksgiving and the weekend at Kevin's parents house. We had a great time. The girls had a blast with all of their cousins. All of Kevin's siblings were able to be there except his youngest brother that lives in Ohio. Uncle Scott and his family was greatly missed. It has been a while since we have seen them and we hope to see them some time soon.

On Thankyougiving Day(as Ashley called it) we arrived at the house and the excitement began. It has been awhile for the cousins to be together so our kids disappeared and found their cousins. Before long it was time for dinner and the house was packed.

The food and company was great. Thanksgiving was a really great day.


The rest of the weekend the kids played and played with their cousins. Madison and Ava Ashley, Ava and Alexia Allison having a photo shoot with Owen and Kylie. The girls really did have a great time and were really sad when it was time for us to come home.

Madison also got some basketball pointers from Uncle Brian for her upcoming season. Madison really enjoyed learning a little more about basketball.


Kevin and I also went shopping on Black Friday. We started out at 5:15 am and we were home by 7:30 am. Kevin said he would never go again it was too crazy for him. I feel like it was a total waste of time for me. There really wasn't anything useful on sale. It is kind of a shame because I normally am able to get most of my birthday and Christmas shopping done for the kids. Who knows if I will even try next year.

November 17th On our way home

We were so ready to go home. Our days were filled with lots of fun and lots of walking. We are exhausted. When I was making the plans for our flights I knew that we did not want to fly out to early and it was so nice to be able to sleep in and take our time getting ready. I wish I could say that everything went smoothly but it didn't. We had called to have someone come to get our bags and we waited and waited. The request never got put in so we had to call again and by the time the cart got to our room we had 5 minutes before our bus came to take us to the airport. We had it planned so we had time to get something to eat and take one last look into the git shop but we didn't get to do any of it. It was kind of frustrating but you have to run with what you are handed.

We got on the bus and then I started to have flash backs to the last time we were here and on our way home. Madison woke up with earaches but we knew the best thing for her was to get her home and to our own doctor so we stuck with our plan. As soon as we got on the bus she started complaining that her stomach hurt. I was horrified. I could not deal with her throwing up on the plane so I just prayed it was hunger pains. As soon as we got to the airport and through security we headed to find something to eat. Madison kind of picked at it but was still complaining that her stomach hurt. We got her some Benedryl to hopefully help with her ears. I was also hoping that it would make her sleep so there was nothing else. We also gave Ashley some Dramamine because she gets car sick and we didn't want to find out if she gets sick on the plane.
It was time to board our plane and it looked like they were all going to sleep the whole way which would be nice because Kevin and I are exhausted. I am happy to report that we did not have any incident but it wasn't sleep like I had hoped. Apparently Dramamine has the opposite effect on Ashley and she talked to whole way home. Now I know that she wasn't just excited on the way out to Florida but it was the Dramamine. She talked the whole way there too. Finally in Salt Lake when we switched planes I told Kevin that I could not take anymore so she has to sit with him. I don't know how he did it but 10 minutes into the flight he had her asleep and it was a quiet last leg of our travels.

It was so nice to be home and in our own beds. We had a great time and I am glad that we went. The kids have some great memories and all the family time was great.

November 16th Hollywood Studios

Our final day at the parks. You would think it would be sad but we were so exhausted. We were ready to go home especially Kevin because he has not been feeling well most of the time but he has stayed with us to help me out.

Our first stop of the day was the Indiana Jones Stunt Show. We have the game on the PlayStation so the girls had an idea of what to expect. They really enjoyed it. Next we were off to Tower of Terror. No one really wanted to ride it except Allison but we did it with her anyways. At first we thought we were just going to get the fastpass but the wait was only 5 minutes so we rode it. Madison wasn't happy because she did not want to ride it at all but I couldn't leave her down while I went on it with Allison. Madison survived.

The girls were really looking forward to lunch today because it was at a drive in. Anytime we would talk about our trip last time the girls would talk about eating here. It didn't have any spectacular food or anything, they liked that we got to sit in a car to eat. Allison was so looking forward to sitting in drivers seat and being the one in charge or so she thought. It was a fun place to eat and I am sure we will eat there the next time we go too.

After lunch we went to Toy Story Mania. The girls could not get enough of this ride. We really had a lot of fun to see who got the highest score. When we were done with the ride it was time for the parade. After the last time we were here the girls really wanted to see this because they throw balls out at the end and they wanted some. The girls were so excited because they each got one. Next we were on to American Idol. This one was really cool. They have a set just like the one on the show. The girls really liked doing this. At the beginning of the day people tried out to be on the show. The show had three people in it that made it in the tryouts. They preformed for us and then we got to vote on our favorite. At the end of the day all the finalist from each show competed in a final show and the winner got a special ticket to move the front of the line at any tryout for the real American Idol. We happened to catch the final show on one of the video monitors and our guy didn't get the golden ticket. After the show was over we were off to do some stuff for Ashley. We had told her that she could see a Playhouse Disney show and she was not going to let us leave without catching that. Before the show started she was lucky enough to get a picture with Handy Manny. She is so easy to please.

She loved the Playhouse Disney show. They hit all her favorite shows. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Handy Manny Little Einsteins. and My Friends Winnie and Pooh. She really enjoyed watching it and I think I saw Madison and Allison enjoy it too. Our final thing of the night was watching Fantasmic a laser light, water and firework show. I had heard that it was really great so I made sure that we did not miss it. The girls were really starting to come to the end of their ropes but after this we were done. In the end they were really glad to see it.
We had an awesome time and survived. I am so thankful that we were able to go and make all these special memories.

November 15th Epcot

This is my parents last day to be with us at the parks. We really thought they would enjoy Epcot and all it had to offer so we met them there. We had a hard time getting ready and getting out the door so my parents beat us to the park. We started out my letting the girls take them on their favorite rides. We went on tTest tTrack and Mission Space and then it was time for me to take Grammy on my favorite ride Sourin. I love this ride, it feels like you are hang gliding over California but you aren't moving at all. My parents really enjoyed it. Then we headed over to Seas of Nemo and Turtle Talk with Crush. Allison was determined that she would get her question answered so she sat close so she would be seen. She was so excited when Crush called on her and she got to ask him if it was warm in a turtle shell. I love to see how different all our kids are. Madison doesn't like any sort of extra attention to be brought to her so she would have never done that.

Before we had to leave for lunch we went to see Honey I Shrunk the Audience. The girls really enjoyed this one last time and wanted Grammy and Papa to experience it. It is a 3-D show that makes you feel like you really got shrunk. There are a few other special effects that you enjoy also. It was a lot of fun but also nice to know what to expect this time.

After the show we had to run to our lunch reservations in the Magic Kingdom. My parents didn't have park hopper tickets so they stayed back at Epcot for lunch and did a few rides while we were gone. We hoped on the monorail and headed for the Magic Kingdom and our girls were exhausted so we looked for a car to ourselves so they could stretch out.
The ride took a little longer then normal but it was nice because they got a short nap so we could continue our day.

Our reservations were at the Crystal Palace where you got to eat with Winnie the Pooh and friends. The girls really enjoyed this, especially Ashley. I find it funny that when you give someone something that they love over and over again they start to lose interest. Madison and Allison were getting so tired of getting a birthday cupcake every time that we ate. At one point Madison said that she was even sick of getting sung to. I am sure that it will wear off before her actual birthday.
Ashley never got sick of all the sweets that she was getting. I never knew that she had a sweet tooth before. She was in heaven the whole time. After we were done with lunch we headed back over to Epcot to meet up with my parents again. Now it was on to World Showcase to explore all the different country's represented. My parents and Madison stopped to catch a movie in the United Kingdom while the rest of us went on to do this new attraction Kim Possible. It was fun they gave you a cell phone and you followed the clues to solve a mystery. It took a little longer then is should of because of all of our helpers. Oh well it was still fun and we did get to solve our mystery. When we were done we met back up with my parents and walked around the World Showcase until it was time for the fireworks.
Ashley had fallen asleep so she missed all the fireworks. I just find it amazing that kids can sleep through things like that.
We had another fun day with my parents and we were very sad to see them go.

November 14th Epcot and Magic Kingdom

Today we were determined to be at the park when it opened so we were up early to make sure we didn't miss Ridley Pearson. We got to the Magic Kingdom before it opened so we got to see the opening show. The girls really liked seeing this again. They throw confetti and sing and dance. We are at Disney World so everything is magical even opening the park.

After the park opened we rushed to the store that had Ridley Pearson at it. Thankfully it was right on Main Street at the front of the park. We found it right away and since it just opened there was no line and we got right in. Kevin was in heaven. We got all of our books signed and got a few pictures.


Next we were off to the Monorail to ride over to Epcot. The girls were excited to be back at Epcot for the rides. We spent our morning doing the little rides that we didn't get to the other day when we were here. We waited for my parents to come but they were having trouble with their tickets. We had a lot of fun seeing some of the smaller rides. My parents figured out their tickets but we looked at things and decided to run over and meet them at the Magic Kingdom so we could see the fireworks that night.

Before we left we had lunch reservations at The Coral Reef. It was the coolest place to eat at. One wall of the restaurant was the side of an aquarium. I thought the girls would just think it was so cool but Kevin and I were more interested then they were. We were glued to the aquarium the whole time. At one point there was a scuba diver in the tank putting on a show for us. This sparked the girls interest and they started watching. At one point he was pretending that he was throwing a rock at the window and the girls thought that was hilarious.
We just had the best time at this restaurant. It was a great atmosphere and wonderful food. Our desserts were so amazing we just had to take pictures.
Now we were off to meet my parents at the Magic Kingdom.

Our first stop was Tomorrowland Speedway, Allison has been so excited to take Papa on this. She knows how much he likes racing and she wanted to drive him around on this. Madison drove Grammy around. Grammy thought she had a crazy ride but she should have been in my car with my driver. Ashley has no clue what to do behind a wheel. She just sits and turns the steering wheel from side to side. I am so glad they were on a set track or we would have been all over the road. She thought it was great that she got a license at the end. Next we took Grammy and Papa on the Mad Tea Party and promised to be nice to Grammy. Allison and Ashley rode with Papa and told him to spin it as fast as he could. He got it going faster then they had ever gone before. They loved it. Madison and I rode with my mom. We did keep to our promise and we were nice. Near the end of the ride my mom did give permission to spin. I think she ended up liking it.

We had a few hours before the fireworks so we took in a few shows and few more rides and then it was time for the fireworks. We loved these this last time and knew we could not leave without seeing the Magic Kingdom fireworks. It is kind of shocking that this was the first time that we got to see fireworks. They do them every night but our schedule was so busy so this was the first time we had a chance to see them. A friend had mentioned that they took earplugs with them for there daughter that was sensitive to noise and I am so grateful that she told us that. I grabbed some for Ashley and this was the first time that she ever enjoyed fireworks. I love that they do the fireworks over the castle it just makes the perfect picture.

The earplugs really worked because Ashley was asleep before they were over. It was another great day and I can't believe how well the kids are holding up. We have been going strong for 7 days and for the most part they have been on their best behavior. You can't ask for more than that.