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Going home.

Day 6: Magic Kingdom 365:328

All good things must come to an end :(

Today we revisited the magic Kingdom to finish our tour of the park, what was good about today? EVERYTHING!

The weather was perfect, 80 degrees and not a cloud in the sky

Bre got to meet all the princesses (you should have seen her face:)

Bre loved her little roller coaster ride and laughed the whole time

The kids got to pick out ONE souvinier, Lucas picked a little Mickey Mouse right away and has not let it go since.

Trevor riding Space Mountain and Big Thunder mountain 5 times each..

Smaller crowds today

Lucas taking a 2 hour nap

getting Ice cream

Pirates of the Carribean, just like I remember it as a kid

The sunsets out our window

finally being warm enough to swim in the pool

getting great take out after the kids are in bed.

Tonight...packing up and heading home tomorrow. This trip was a total dream that I don't want to wake up from. Next onto Christmas (I can't believe it)!

Disney tips that I want to remember for next time:

get a non-stop flight, preferably with an airline that offers TVs in each seat that can be watched for the whole flight:)

rent a condo offsite...multiple bedrooms a kitchen and a washer and dryer are a must...

We spent about $200 for the week on food making it here and bringing our own lunch (not allowed a Seaworld) vs. about $200/day buying food at the parks. Plus, who wants to spend all that time waiting in line for food, we wait in line enough for other stuff! Bring your own water too.

Buy t-shirts at Wal-mart (2 miles away) for 7 bucks each

Bring an autograph book from home-make one or buy it online

DEFINITELY book a character breakfast at Chef Mickey's.

Bring ponchos, umbrellas and warm clothes---you never know.

Buy your 5+ year old a lanyard to collect pins---all the kids do it.

When you enter each park, IMMEDIATELY head to the most popular ride and get a fast-pass, and then get more as time allows. We NEVER waited in a line once, even in MAJOR crowds.

For the under 10 year old crowd, I would reccommend getting to the parks early and then leaving before dinner. Getting our kids to bed by 7 every night led to a MUCH more enjoyable day.

Rent a stroller, we rented a double (REALLY nice stroller) from magic strollers.com for about $8 a day (and they picked up and delivered to our hotel.)

Get or Use a GPS, online directions are useless in navigating Disney because none of the streets are marked, exits are only labeled by the name of the park.

Day 5: Sea World 365:327

Sea World Favorite memories:

The dolphin show

The dog and cat show

eating lunch close up with the killer whales (complete with BEER)

winning stuffed animals at the games with our free passes

Manta: a super thriller roller coaster:

Duration, 2:35. Capacity, 1500 riders per hour. Max G force, 3.7. Height restriction, 4 ft 6 in

The little kid shamu coaster (Bre was tall enough to ride!)

the kids faces and clapping at the shows

Seeing the dolphins up close, touching the stingrays

The aquarium, penguins and shark encounter

Lucas with his dessert platter and black and white M&Ms

Lucas finally going to sleep after about a 60 minute screaming fit

Looking around and seeing so many people in the same boat as us.

The kids running down the hotel hallway to the room when we got home

getting take out after the kids went to bed early.

Day 4: Magic Kingdom 365:326

What can I say about today...it was fantastic:) We started REAL early with a 7:40 AM character breakfast at Chef Mickey's restaurant. All the classic characters were there and Breanna's face lit up when seeing them, it brought tears to my eyes seeing her so happy. Then we headed over to Magic Kingdom via monorail (and got to park FREE for the day!) There was so much for the little kids to do at Magic Kingdom, Bre and Lucas got to ride on their very first roller coaster

(and it was pretty fast!) and race cars . The only real glitch was that Space Mountain was closed for "technical difficulties" right when it was our fast pass turn to get on, we had to wait until later to ride it. Trevor rode everything and loved it all. The most amazing thing was that we never waited in one line to go on a ride. Between fast-pass and our special assistance card, we pretty much got right onto every ride (love the fast-pass). We are so happy that we get to go back on Sunday, there is just way too much to do in one day there. We hope to catch a glimpse of a few princesses our next trip back. Definitely a day to remember for life:)

About a very monkey Christmas

Yesterday, while it was raining here in Florida, Lucas, Bre and I caught the Curious George Christmas special on PBS. The kids were so excited, of course, because Curious George is their favorite character of all time. I sat and watched the episode with them the message of it really spoke to me. In the show, The man with the yellow hat was trying to find out what George wanted for Christmas. George is a monkey who doesn't talk and his Christmas list consisted of a few shapes drawn on paper.

Near the end, the Man was sad that he could not figure George out, so he thought George might be better off living with someone else who understood him. The man had a dream and suddenly figured out what George wanted. He got him the gifts and on Christmas morning, George gave the man a drawing of all his favorite times over the month of December and the man gave George his presents. They realized how very much they belonged together as a family.

What really touched me is how Much I think Breanna can relate to George. She has Loved him since she was two. You see, George doesn't talk and he is always getting into trouble just seeking to be understood, kind of like her I guess. Sometimes I too feel like other people understand her better than I, but in the end, we all just belong together as a family. Wow, deep stuff...

Day 3: Animal Kingdom 365:325

Today we headed out to animal kingdom. The weather was great and a little on the cool side. It was a great park that the whole family could enjoy.

We got there right at opening time and Trevor was able to get his first Character autograph. Then we all headed out on an animal safari. ALL the animals were out today because of the cooler weather, we saw rhinos, giraffes, exotic birds, crocodiles, lions and cheetahs. It was the highlight of the day! Then we headed over to a wild bird show and then to Expedition Everest, a wild rollercoaster. Josh lied to me that it was a tame ride, so I tired it (Trevor didn't dare). It was fast turning, backward and forward dropping in the dark roller coaster. I think my legs are still shaking (even though it was pretty fun.).

Finally, we rode a water rapid ride, Josh and Trevor first then Trevor and I. Trevor got soaked b/c he didn't have his poncho the first time. It was really fun! Aside from a little meltdown by Lucas over an ice cream incident, it was a fantastic day. We brought our own food (which is key) and Lucas even napped in the stroller. Trevor decided he was going to collect pins with the souvenir money he saved to bring and now has a lanyard with 3 pins from places we have been.

Right down we're cooking a small Turkey dinner at the condo and we're going to celebrate Disney style. After dinner we'll head down to the hot tub and the giant pirate pool. Early to bed tonight---tommorrow our character breakfast and Magic Kingdom!

With all of my heart I am Thankful that we are here for this amazing vacation and most of all that we are just together (so many families aren't able to be). Happy Thanksgiving!

Day 2....Rain/365:324

Well, we knew the forecast today was for rain, but decided to head out for a half day anyway to Hollwood studios (a lot of the park is inside.) Even with rain coasts and ponchos however we were drenched (at least it was warm). We rode Star tours a bunch of times and the muppets 3D show. After seeing a few characters, we scored some fast-passes and headed back to the condo (2 miles away). We hair -dryered off our stroller and used our dryer (yes a washer and dryer right in the condo is the BEST thing ever!) for everything else. While the little ones are resting with me at the condo, Trevor and Josh headed back to ride some of the bigger rides and see the Christmas light display when it gets dark. All in all, not bad for a totally rainy...and the rest of the week is supposed to be perfect. Stay tuned for pictures....

We're here!

We're here in Orlando and it couldn't have gone any smoother. We had a non-stop flight from Portland on Jet blue (which left on-time to the minute), landed, got our baggage and rental car and checked into our condo. This place is fantastic, we are on the 15th floor and we can see the Disney fireworks from here. As I write this, I'm waiting for Josh to get back from a 10 mile detour on his way to the grocery store (a mile away) while I got unpacked. We've had some thunderstorms this evening, so I hope the weather holds out for Magic Kingdom tommorrow! We'll post pics tommorrow!

P.S. If you ask Lucas what he is going to do in Disney World, he'll say, "were going to get lot's of juices there!"

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LEAVING....on a jet plane.

a year of saving, dreaming, planning, and getting ready all leads up to this day. Disney world here we come! See you in a week:)

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We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love.

~Mother Teresa

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Setting up our plays for football Sunday....

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If only every Saturday in November was this warm and beautiful, Happy Weekend!

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bedtime...

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Getting ready for the snow to fly.....it's a whole family affair...

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What we're doing these days after school....savoring every last snow-free inch of our front lawn, savoring every last minute of daylight.....

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Ready for school on this cold November Morning...

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Mid November and the rose bush is still blooming......

Waiting for Baby C

She is going to be one spoiled little girl (as it should be:)), thanks for sharing the day with us. Enjoy the photos!

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A fun little picture last rainy evening.....good chianti, good food, popcorn and a movie.

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If you can believe it...this cute Mom to be is 8 months pregnant (where is that belly?). Michelle was so blessed with tons of friends and family and gifts! What a fun day----glad we got to be there:)

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Look at these two playing so innocently together (this was taken just before they emptied all my closet shelves while I was in the shower.)

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Getting Started on my

December Daily....

I love this project:)

You are our inspiration.

With all the horrible things that go bad in this world...it's so nice to see people who are so committed to doing something good (and so close to home!). Happy Veterans day! (Pause the music below...)

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Seriously.....Already writing letters to Santa.

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Pizza night...

and cub scouts and swimming lessons......

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Just a little snack and some light reading.....

Time...

2009

2003

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The best Parts of Today.....

Breanna giving her pretend bread to everyone at church

You guys running across the whole lawn and diving in the leaf pile AFTER dark.

Breanna and Lucas playing so well together, laughing out loud to their little game.

Being home.

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What the kids were doing today......for about four hours on this crisp early November day.

I was at the 2nd annual Maine Down Syndrome Network conference all day today...getting information about friendships, special ed law, potty training and communication. My head is usually spinning after going to one of these things, valuable--but good thing it's only once a year. It takes a while to digest all that information. Tommorrow church, then a parent meeting for Bre's preschool. 16 days until Disney World!

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ready to go for a run with Dad....

I'm still here....

We got a new computer Tuesday so we are configuring everything and haven't had a chance to post pictures. It's been a busy week and this weekend looks busy too, I'm going to our Maine Down Syndrome conference all day tomorrow. I'm hoping to be caught up with photos and computer stuff by the end of the weekend! Thanks for visiting:)

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Loved this quote from this week's class....and YOU are having a GREAT week:)

It's getting COLD outside...

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What you need when you're two:

Marbles and blocks

good food and milk

paints, paper, crayons, scissors markers and glue

a bucket of rice and dried beans with cups and spoons and little cars

naps

hugs and kisses

a warm fire to play next to

mud and sticks and outside stuff

a little firmness and a lot of love:)

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Just checking out some new fish....

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You just can't help but love this kid.

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LIFE, right now, means.....

Hard work.

Lots of cleaning up, going from one mess to the next.

Baking with apples and Pumpkin

Making meals and cleaning up from them.

Sweeping up rice from the floor that falls from our homemade sensory bucket.

Getting drinks and snacks and vanilla milk from Smiling Hill
Farm.

Lots of , " I want...."

Breaking up fights

Being at home.

going outside and in.

Folding Laundry and putting away clothes.

Going to the laundromat(washing machine still broken!)

Organizing and reorganizing

finishing the boys room (complete with curtains and a fabulous re-purposed furniture set)

Listening to relaxing Music

Reading

Scrapbooking....Ali's class and thinking about the December Daily.

Swimming lessons, cub scouts and therapeutic riding

School and work

Doctor appointments

wearing contacts again!

Reading Starbright to the boys every night.

Helping Josh with fundraising and training for the Boston Marathon.

Exercising

Making Lunches

errands, planning meals and grocery shopping.

Sometimes taking half the day to get dressed and brush teeth

figuring out schedules

meetings at pre-school, special ed

POTTY training!

Charlie Brown holiday movies.

Laughter, tears, fun times

Stress and worry

Crayons, markers, colored pencils and paints

Little kid stuff.

taming tantrums.

The daily show.

thinking about the holidays.

Finding joy..one day at a time......